Saturday, April 9, 2016

A Thrifty Week at Harvest Lane Cottage #60


Hello Ladies!

Welcome to another thrifty week at Harvest Lane Cottage. I am honored by your visit. 

It's been a challenging week around here. First, we're getting used to my husband's work schedule.
 Yes work! 

Praise God, he found a good job. It's in a city about an hour from home, so he leaves early and comes home late, but we have hopes that he may be able to work from home after about six months. I've been trying to get the rest of the family into a routine that works with my husband's routine. I have added making his lunches and ironing his clothes to my regular work. It's a small thing compared to what he's doing for us. 

My kids have had their first experience with standardized testing this week. The younger two took the Stanford test, and Emily takes the ACT on Saturday. It's a new experience that I hope they take to well. This is our first opportunity to test. With all the extra driving for tests, taxes (my son's), and lessons, I haven't done much frugal work this week. But, as they say, every little bit counts!

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~ I packed lunches for my husband to take to work! I expect that saved $10 a day.

~ My husband and I carried our water bottles we got for Christmas.

~ My friend gave her daughter and my Amy a sewing lesson.

~ My son took me out to lunch.

~ I bought three ties for $1.50 each for my husband at a thrift store. 

~ I ironed my husband's clothes instead of sending them to the cleaners.

~ My husband threw out two shirts after sorting his clothes. One square foot of real estate!

~ I mended a pair of my husband's dress slacks with some mending tape I bought at Walmart for about $1.25.

~ We bought reading glasses and sunglasses for my husband at Dollar Tree. He's hard on reading glasses, so we just buy the cheapies. He needed sunglasses, because he drives east to work and west home. John Denver had it right. "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy...sunshine in my eyes can make me cry...."

~ We received a second-hand mattress for my son. He had been sleeping on an air mattress. Thank you G!

~ We saved $20 on our registration fee for our homeschool co-op, because we registered early.

~ We had to eat out after co-op today, so I took the kids to Sonic. We had their chicken strip sandwiches. They're only about a buck fifty here, so four of us ate for a bit over six dollars.

~ Someone paid for my younger kids' standardized tests for us. Thank you!

~ Our auto insurance company had a rate increase. We were charged $282 extra for the same coverage for the next six months. We were given a gift of $282 to cover the extra, so we will continue paying the same amount until November. Thank you D!

We've been blessed. So many people have given to our need. We have two more weeks to go until my husband gets his first paycheck. We have enough money left to buy gas and a few things here and there. He goes through two tanks of gas a week, and I'll probably need a tank or two before he gets paid. So far, we've been able to pay our bills. As we get through these last couple of weeks, I'm not sure if we'll be able to keep that up. 

Please pray for us that we'll be able to keep gas in the car, and that I'll be able to stretch our food on hand. As we get near to the end of our resources, and things have gotten more hectic, I've been feeling very stressed. Please pray for me to be calm and that I will continue to trust God. 

He has done miraculous things for our family—without government assistance from food stamps or checks or unemployment. We've also been blessed in that we have not had to ask our children for their savings. I want to focus on that trust and on the blessings not our lack.

Thank you everyone who has prayed us through this situation!


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How are you blessing your family with your thrifty ways this week?
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Look for the joy!

ஐღLauraღஐ 
...doing what I can with what I've got where I am 
on a short shoestring budget!

You might enjoy reading Do With Watcha Got Sausage Succotash.

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34 comments:

  1. That is awesome news...keeping you in prayer. Sigh, I know how hard it is...we are awaiting my tax refund to come in next week...sigh. Have a beautiful weekend, friend. Blessings

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    1. I pray that God will supply all your needs until then and beyond, Linda. Keep your chin up. We can get through these trying times. I know. We've gotten through years of them! ~smile~

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  2. So thankful to see and hear about God's provisions in your life! The SAME GOD Who has supplied in all of your yesterdays, will be sufficient in all of your tomorrows. Just a little while longer to go, and things will become easier, praise God! I am praying for you, Laura, and believing GOD.

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  3. I'm so glad your husband found a job. I'm curious, though - why wouldn't you use unemployment? I assume your husband has been paying into it all these years.

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    1. Oh Kay, we would have gladly accepted help, but we were not eligible.

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    2. Oh, I'm sorry - I mis read it as you didn't want to take it!

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  4. Laura~ You're almost to the finish line and life back to normal. Day by day you'll get through it and in a few months you'll be looking back thinking how much of a blessing this has been for you. He has carried you this far, he's certainly not gonna drop you now...smile...Warm Blessiings!~Amy

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    1. Amy,
      Thank you so much for your encouragement. I think my weariness has been getting the best of me. I have been listening to Azusa Now live, and I'm excited about what God is doing. Revival is now.
      Check it out! http://www.thecall.com/azusa

      Blessings to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,

      Laura Lane

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  5. I'm so glad something positive has happened at last, it's the little things that keep you going day to day,

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    1. God has been so good to us all along, Kate. Thank you!

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  6. Laura,
    I'm so happy your husband found a good job! Your attitude of trust and faith has been so precious and encouraging to me -- my husband is also unemployed and even though its hard at times, I know God will eventually provide the right job.

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    1. Thank you Dana. Be blessed and trust God. Faith is now.

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  7. Praying that your resources will stretch to cover these last weeks and that God would calm your nerves. I understand all too well. My husband just lost his job on Monday (along with several others in his department). We only have meager savings from my part-time work to get us through several months. We're in Southern California so rent alone is a huge expense. Like you, I will be relying on the Lord to see us through. :) Blessings to you as you adjust to the new schedule and use your creativity to stretch things a little while longer.

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    1. Thank you, Christina, it's going to be close, but God will provide more money, food, and supplies, if we truly need it.

      Our savings were not enough to last four months. We had no food stamps, unemployment, or temporary assistance. God just made our money multiply and people gave money and supplies to us. I also made a lot of things I would usually buy. Look back over my Thrifty and Frugal posts for ideas, trust God and pray pray pray! You must keep a positive outlook or it will be much harder. Hugs to you!

      Thank you for encouraging me.
      Laura

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  8. Praying for all concerns. God has brought you this far and He will continue to keep you in His hands. Huggles.

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    1. Thank you Michelle. Knowing you're praying has been a great encouragement to me.
      Huggles to you, too!

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  9. You truly inspire. I'm so glad your doing good. I know how hard it is to get schedules working. Sending you prayers and a hug! You've inspired me to begin writing about my frugal and thrifting. I've done that off and on but not regularly. I'm planning on doing a weekly Thrifty Thursday post. Thanks for sharing your thrifty posts! And thanks for sharing your prayer needs.
    Have a Blessed Week.
    XXOO

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    1. I look forward to reading your thrifty posts. Mine keep me thinking about what I can do to save, help me recognize my blessings, and keep me thinking positively.

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  10. looks like you all had a busy, but amazing week! thank God for putting your hubby in a great position to continuing caring your family! we may never understand it, but He is always on time! :)

    thank you for linking up with me last week, hope to see you again soon!

    xx, Chanda

    http://www.mschanda.com

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    1. Yes, it's been a long row to hoe. By the time my husband gets paid in two weeks, it will have been over four months without a paycheck! God is good!

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  11. Praise God for the provision of this job. I declare that all your needs will be met as you await your first pay check. After this period of your life seems a distant memory I believe that your life will be richer for being able to look to God for your provision, continuing to live frugally knowing that nothing in this earthly life is certain and that your family relationships have the most value in this consumer driven society. Just a quick observation. Whenever I relegate old clothing to the trash can I usually cut them into squares to use for cleaning rags. I find them especially good for any icky jobs that I would want to chuck out the rag afterwards instead of washing. God Bless.

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  12. I am so thrilled to hear the good news about your husband:)))) making his lunch must feel good knowing he is going off to work.

    In case you missed it, I have a giveaway great options:))))

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  13. I hope you were able to waive fees on the testing.

    I am so happy for you that your husband is now working.

    thanks for sharing!

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  14. Glad to hear your husband found a job after being out of work! And sounds like you've been very blessed with help from other people. Wonderful.

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    1. Thank you Melanie. We have indeed been blessed! God is a good father!

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  15. He has gotten you this far! I know He will provide Laura! Thank you for sharing with us! :)

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Thank you so much for "talking back" to me!

I read all comments and appreciate them.
Please make sure I have your email if you want me to respond or pray for you.

God bless you! This life only works with Jesus. The next life is a continuation of this one—make sure you spend it with Jesus. Jesus is the only way to God the Father!

Your blog friend,
Laura Lane
5 Year Cancer Survivor