$AVING MONEY During This Crisis

Being on a TIGHT BUDGET while adjusting to HUBBY retiring late last December was something we had to do to adjust to the new cash flow due to no flow.  We spent two months waiting for Social Security to KICK in before we really knew what our new LIFESTYLE would be like.

It doesn't take long for money to quickly disappear while on a FIXED INCOME as I have often heard it called.  It is very fixed.  Keeping myself busy was how I managed.  The middle of December I was hit with a horrible cough advancing to a January 1st FLU.  By the time the flu passed I was still deeply coughing.  It would ease up but not disappear and blamed this on asthma.  Here it is April and I am finally doing well before allergy season takes place.  The burning of the prairie has started and it's a health issue as the smoke causes more coughing and burning of the eyes.

February was a challenging month as we had to travel to Arizona to visit a dying brother in law, and be present for his funeral.  Took a different route HOME through more southern states to avoid snow. Exhausted comes to mind after driving nearly 40 hours round trip.  On the way HOME is when we detoured to TOMBSTONE to get a break from the real world to consider this a mini vacation for the whole day we stayed there.  A shame we did not stay longer.  A shame.  I have some memories and pics to stir up a fantasy get away from this horrible pandemic.

We rested and would eventually go to OKLAHOMA to see FAMILY and celebrate our Grandson's 13th Birthday.  We were on the edge of the beginning of stay at home treatment.  We were made aware of small communities looking like GHOST TOWNS as we traveled HOME.  EERY comes to mind of how the lack of seeing human life in the middle of the day presented itself.

Returning HOME when the State of KANSAS announced STAY AT HOME.  So we did and we are.  I ventured out on a Saturday wearing gloves and social distancing to shop at SAMS.  Inside it was nearly empty of people.  SHOPPED QUICKLY and got the heck out of Dodge.  One of the quickest shopping trips evah.

I will have to make facial masks now as it is critical to wear one when in public.  For now I will do my best to make a non-sewn mask using hair elastics for the earpieces.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/04/health/how-to-make-your-own-mask-wellness-trnd/index.html?fbclid=IwAR0MnYrQmqZHdejBwSKHRmopa-jH52d20l7vq1_SXxWXkr7edKLENZSPi4E


NOT GOING OUT TO EAT is where we are saving money.  I do not want to do CURBSIDE SERVICE for food fixed by others.  I cannot see how this does not cause a at risk increase of getting exposed to the coronavirus.  I have seen video of clerks at food windows touching the money then handing change back to the customer, touching each other's hands then handing the food bags to the customers.  This is not increasing the risk of getting exposed to this beast?  I don't know how human logic justifies this as being safe.

SO for real we are saving money by staying HOME and not dining out to eat.
Not buying fast food.
Less driving of our automobiles, less expense buying auto fuel.
Not going to the movie theatre.
Not going to places of businesses.
Not going to out.
Not going to see people to visit.
No spending period.

Enjoying the interior of our HOME.
Will need to pull weeds in the flower beds.
Watching FREE movies.
I will crank up the radio and dance.
Organizing rooms and cleaning.

I have truly spent way too much time on the computer watching the Coronavirus Task Force Briefings which were dragging on for two to three hours a day mostly with our President doing the talking.  Much of what he says is redundant.  Repeating himself often.

I have to discipline myself to stay off the computer and not listen to these briefings which are not brief.

I can get a brief briefing from reliable sights that I use to touch base with what has been stated during the briefings.  AND IF I SO DESIRE I can watch the entire briefing on youtube in their archives.

So I am staying HOME as most of the United States is doing and not spending money focusing on decluttering the rooms of my HOME.

Last night I watched videos of the WALMART LOT COP talking to the people in the parking lot about washing hands and no loitering.  I had read where only a few people can enter their store and waiting outside requires 6 feet distancing.  It was eery.  ALSO armed guards were at TARGET's entrance.  I sense that we are being groomed for martial law and being consumers likened to a third world country.  Rationing without so called hoarding.  

The economy is tanking.  Jobs are being lost.  Health visits are being limited.  AND there is great controversy about having a vaccine for this covid 19.  Latest I heard is that if a person does not have anti-bodies against this then a vaccine will have to be given so you can rejoin society.

This makes my hair stand up on the back of my neck.  What will be in the vaccine?  Will it assist you in getting diseases in the future?  Will you be denied the vaccine even if you want it if you are 80 years old?  Will you have to take it no matter what?  Makes me think of Biblical info about receiving the mark of the beast or you'll not be able to do business as usual.

I have found myself tearing up some because of this going on.  Be not afraid comes from the galley section of well meaning Christians.  I would rather be honest with God then pretend I am alright with all of this.

The truth will make you free,

d

Went Junkin'

Dear Ones,Thank you for stopping by and visiting my blog.
Had some free time today, so I went JUNKIN'. Had such fun. Wish we could have had a cup of coffee and visited today about "the best junk we ever did buy."






Went to a near by thrift shoppe that has a used-book section in it.Made it home with:*16 hard back books at $1.50 each from TIME LIFE The Art of Sewing circa 1974/75.
Carrying these to the car was like lifting weights. I'm sure I will feel it in my body tomorrow. No need for a membership to a Health Club when I can get away with this kind of exercise.
(Just think how much money I save. Do you feel the burn? No pain no gain!)

*A pressed glass punch tray for $14. Pictured above.
Twas beautiful. I just had to have it. Awe Martha Stewart eat your heart out!
(please know this about me...I have a sense of humor.)
I have several punch bowls with cups that this
* A Sesame Street Big Bird stuffed toy for $3.50 to go with the Sesame Street stuffed toy Elmo recently bought at our City Wide Garage Sale.
Looked like new.
Machine washed it anyways.Play it safe and sound.

* A porcelain musical figurine of little Bow Peep
from the ONCE UPON A RHYME COLLECTION
by Brenda Thomas
that plays "TRY TO REMEMBER" for $4.50.


















* Eight miniature white with gold trim
OVEN TO TABLE TO TABLE COOKWARE glazed dishes
for 60 cents a piece.

Not only are these pretty, but a economical find.
What a day I had! Know that God led me to these bargains and stretched my money...
I had a great time looking and shopping in the Kansas Flinthills.
May your home be a haven that you minister God's love to your family in.

Til next time, don't forget to pray,
Deanna
P.S. and yes, I do take prayer request seriously!

Homemaker With Heels On

Dear Ones,
Hello from the Kansas Flint Hills.  Bitter cold outside this morning. Around 6 degrees.  So it really is comforting to be indoors where we are warmed by radiators.  My sweet husband gets up early each morning to tend to our 4 outdoor Airedale Terrier Dogs then off to work he goes while I am a Keeper of the Home.


Most days, I generally write in my day timer to refresh my mind what I need to get done and/or hope to get done.  Nothing is cast in concrete. My day timer is actually just a spiral notebook that I bought for a quarter.  I prefer using it over the fancy ones that are on the market.  It doesn't matter how neat or sloppy I write in my spiral...I am relaxed to plan.  If I scribble out something, it's no big deal.

Since I have been a stay at home woman for years that doesn't carry a brief case and wear high heels all day, I was once asked, "What do you do all day?" I simply replied, "Everyday is different and every year is different."  This could have gotten into a harry discussion about what I do with my time as well as to having value as a human being.  But if I had been more on my toes, I could have used it as an opportunity to share WHY I choose to stay home.  Live and learn.

In the eyes of those that think a HOMEMAKER doesn't count because she's not making a paycheck and the use of my time is odd.  PRAISE THE LORD!  I have learned that ALMIGHTY GOD is who gives me value and I don't have to LIVE TO THE STANDARDS of those that cannot see the importance of a woman being a keeper of the home.  I honestly think that they don't know what this is.  Oh government...plezzzzz don't take this away from me!  PTL (praise the Lord) we can have our eyes of understanding opened to see things as God would want us to see. PTL, I live in a country that still allows women to be homemakers without getting taxed more for breathing air.

Have you encountered those that think a baby in the womb is just tissue and not really a baby?  Have you encountered those that think babies have no value because they don't bring home the bacon (cash)?  What about you have value as long as you make money and contribute back to society because you make money?  Couldn't we debate that the more money made the more value a person has? The issue of how they made their money isn't really important, just the fact that they made lots of money...so a drug lord that is rolling in the dough has so much more value than the little guy that pays his bills and gives an honest days work?  I don't think so. 

Using money is part of the system we live in, but it's not my god.  Value doesn't come from the amount of mula we make, but value comes from God.  We can have huge bank accounts and still have value in God's eyes.  We may only have two nickels to rub together and we still have value in God's eyes.  It's not the money that gives us value in God's economy.

Don't get me wrong.  I'm not saying money is all wrong.  It can be an answer to many things.  We still need to be responsible with what money we are allowed to handle.  I'm saying it's not the money that gives us our true value, tis God that gives us our value.

I use to not take COFFEE BREAKS nor down time during the day while at home because I thought I had to justify why I stayed in the home and had NO career.  I had to justify that what I did in the home had as much importance as the woman in the so-called work force.  That I worked just as hard if not harder than those employed.  My focus of what was important was in "want."

I fully understand that there are situations where women must be in the work force.  These precious women were not who I was in competition with.  When push came to shove, I was in competition with my own husband wanting his approval for being a Homemaker and not a so-called career woman.  As well as wanting to outshine the secular world that was breathing down my neck. 

Emotional support and the cheering section that could of been Homemaker Friendly was not coming from family and friends.  Not even the homemaker peers I was honored to associate with gave encouragement to be a Keeper of the Home. So I believe that it is part of my godly duty to CHEER HOMEMAKERS ON and that it's perfectly alright to be a woman that stays home to raise her own children or be a woman that stays home without children.  Homemaker with children or without children.  And to those dear ladies that wish they were home instead of in the work force...We can pray.  God answers prayer.  God is still on the throne and answers prayer.  He will show you the way in which you should go.

Thank God my thinking changed and I take coffee breaks, spend time in prayer and don't always get dressed before noon. Ouch, did I really admit that I don't always dress before noon?  Can that be possible.....what will you ever think of me?  

I still believe while teaching young children how things are done that order and structure are important teaching tools.  My presentation is so different now then what I practiced as a young homemaker and full-time momma before God opened my eyes on many things.  Thankful that HE did.  My husband has matured a great deal when it comes to wanting a wife at home verses being a playboy driving a new sports car.  God did a number on him as well.

This internet stuff with all these fantastic Christian Women Sites and Blogs is awe inspiring.  I am so impressed with the number of women that are sold out to Christ and desire to have a Christian HOME that becomes a HAVEN to respect their husband in and nurture their children in.  Praise God!

As for wearing heels?  Well, sometimes you've just gotta! Playing dress up isn't all bad.  Don't forget to splash a little good smelling parfum on behind the ears.

Til next time, may our homes be a haven that's a ministry to our families.

God Bless and don't forget to pray,
Deanna