The Free Finds

I’ve been a thrifty person since my second year of college. Why did it suddenly start my second year of college? 

Well, I recall being a shopaholic as a teen and into my early college years. I found tremendous pleasure in browsing the aisles in stores like Ross dress for less, Kohls, and TJMaxx. I would hang out for hours on Saturday evenings just picking out random stuff I didn’t need and buying another pair of classic black pumps when I already had 4. I also loved EBay and constantly was buying new used cameras and bling bling high heels because they were my obsession. 

I recall when I went to Santa Clara California for my freshman year of college, I continued these habits, except for now I was shopping needlessly at Trader Joe’s and Savers whenever I could find another person to drive me there. I wasn’t just a completely selfish and ungenerous person though. I also loaned enormous amounts of money to my then boyfriend (not wise) and gave large amounts to my bus captain leader for him to pay for the many promotions they’d do. I also bought very extravagant gifts for people I barely knew (another thing that was unwise).

I remember receiving my first overdrawn notice from my bank and being horrified that I had negative 23 cents to my name. 

I remember crying because I had to stop giving away large sums of cash to my bus leader.

I also remember going through my closet and feeling sick as I added up how much money I’d spent on clothes I never wore because it wasn’t comfortable. 

I went scorched earth on changing my ways. I looked for a job and found none…I stopped going to stores and if my friends would ask, I’d make excuses. I made myself so busy studying and going running that I would never have a reason to do fun things because fun things cost money. 

I went so far as to not go on college activities because of the pittance they would have cost me. 

In my second year of school and at a new college, I recall seeing my book list of required books and being SHOCKED that I would have to buy a book that cost $189 and another sight reading book that was $139! 

“I refuse.” I said to myself. 

I scoured the online rental prices and found the $189 book for $30 for a semester rental. I refused to buy the $139 book and (I’m embarrassed to say) never once studied for a single quiz, assignment or lesson in my four semesters of that class. 

I searched through the dormitory free boxes and did my “free shopping”. The exhilaration was still there, but without the pain of the negative bank account. 

I’m a very different person now from my 19 year old self. But I’m also that same person. 

Now I scour the bargain “fill-a shopping basket for $2” section of the Vermont discount store for deals. I browse on Facebook marketplace for free finds.

My thriftiness is intense… but I still have the urge sometimes to buy something I don’t need. I have to remind myself often that things are meaningless in the grand scheme of things. 

If I have things, it will be because they were free. 

I found myself last week, browsing the community Facebook page when I saw this photo. 

 

There were two chairs, with pillows included for free alongside the road just 2 miles from me. I’ve been wanting to get living room furniture EXACTLY like this. I’ve been looking and searching for my deal furniture for over 4 years. Everytime, the price is way too high. 

I got so excited. Like a little kid going to pick up their Christmas presents! 

I loaded all  the kids in Dan’s truck, rushed down the road, and found that the chairs had already been taken by another thrifter like myself. 

I can’t express the disappointment I had that evening, coming back home with the girls, who were just as excited as I was….(did you know that excitement is contagious?) 

I had to preach a mini sermon to myself later that night. Contentment is not found in a new set of living room chairs, or black pumps, or EVEN in scoring an amazing deal on Facebook marketplace. Contentment comes from thankfulness: Being thankful that I have a couch already!

Simple lesson. Easy lesson. But one I need every day. Being thrifty isn’t bad. But being a miser is. Getting excited about little things isn’t bad, but being discontent with the little things I already have is. 

There has to be a balance in all of these things. It’s a balance I’m still learning.

The end

Eliza and the Apple Doughnut

 Once upon a time, I went to the grocery store for milk.  While I was there, the doughnuts caught my eye and I asked my girls which kinds they would choose.  

"I'd like the chocolate glaze!" said Gwendolyn

"mmmm, the long creme filled one!" Lucie exclaimed, jumping up and down. 

"Apple!" Eliza said emphatically.  

I was skeptical. 

"Are you sure you don't want the chocolate covered one with pink sprinkles?" I asked.

Eliza looked through the glass case.  

"No, I want the apple one!"

We left the store with our milk and our precious box of doughnuts.  At home, after eating our lunch, the girls each got their doughnuts.  

As I was washing the dishes, I heard "Mommy! Mommy, my doughnut is filled with ewwy stuff! I don't like this!"  

I turned around to see Eliza picking out all of the apple filling that was in her doughnut.  

The End.

Life got away from me

 The beauty of blogging is that rather than being an instantaneous thing that doesn't require much thought, blogging takes intentionality and sitting down and organization.  

That sounds like something I clearly struggle with sometimes :)  This can clearly be noted by seeing when my last blog post was.  

Life as of late since my last post:

In May we celebrated lots of birthdays and had one big party for the kiddos.  It was a lovely time with those who love our kids. We also had a revival meeting at church and had an evangelist in for that.  Lots of preparations, and inviting happened.  Then I also planted our garden.  Dan wasn't able to get the tractor started to plow up the ground, so I used just the rototiller.  This resulted in the rototiller belt burning up three different times.  The ground never did get a thorough tilling, so this summer we've had groundhogs, rabbits and mice making homes in our garden.  That's uncalled for in my opinion, so I've decided we'll never do that again.  

But since there's no point in crying over spilled milk, I've made do with the holey garden and I've gotten good at stomping on the groundhogs home.  Throughout June, Dan has been working very hard on the property and fixing the farmhouse.  I did my routine cleaning of houses, gardening and raising the kids.  

July was when we celebrated Dan's birthday at Applebees.  The power went off as soon as our meal arrived at the table and we ate in darkness while there was a tornado outside and trees everywhere were down.  We were hoping the meal would be free then, but because they actually served us the food, we still had to pay full price.  No discount for eating in the dark.  

At the end of the month we went to the Northeast Vision Summit again in New Jersery.  It's always a great time and we come home thoroughly encouraged.  Saw friends, spent time talking with others who are in the ministry, and our girls loved their classes....well, all except Clara.  She was so ready to be out of the nursery.  :) 

When we arrived home and promptly came down with a viral flu of sorts.  It wasn't fun for about 2 weeks while we kept thinking we were done with it and then the next kid would get sick.  The garden produced lots of squash and zucchini in August and Cantaloupe.  Unfortunately, the rabbits chomped off 2 plantings worth of green beans, so we haven't harvested a single one of them.  We've gotten 4 very large cabbages though and several pickings worth of broccoli. The red raspberries have also been wonderful this late summer/fall. 

My father-in-law came to stay for 2 weeks. and help Dan at the farmhouse.  They accomplished much and the girls enjoyed spending time with Papa so much.  SO far in September, we've been doing school now for several weeks, gone on two field trips (I'm determined to get several in before the snow flies), and am finishing up the garden escapades. 

I'm canning the last of the tomato sauce I've made from the garden harvest and then it'll be on to making applesauce from drops at the local orchard.  It's been a good, busy summer.  I'm sad to see summer ending, but I'm also ready for slower days and less stuff to make my schedule full.  

How has your summer been?    

Next post will include photos. 

Vacation 2024 in the Books!

 Good morning!  I am determined to stay semi up-to-date with my blog for a few months at least.  :)  So here is update number one!  This past month, we were able to go on our family vacation for the year.  We usually go in the fall, October....but since that is a month that usually has lots of church events and plus, the start of hunting season, we decided to do earlier in the year.  

We decided to keep closer to home this year, and went to New Hampshire which is roughly a 3 hour drive.  We were able to hike mountains, spend time at the lake, and also take a day trip to Maine! 

My 3 little hikers.

The Lakes region of NH is beautiful!

Dan and the girls, building a sandcastle on the lake beach right near where we were staying.

The girls absolutely LOVED swimming at the pool at the resort where we stayed.  I'm thinking swimming lessons are in order!

On our way out of town one day, we stopped at the Kellerhaus, which is a neat, candy/ice cream shop.  Apparently the oldest in NH.  The ice cream was good! ALbeit , very overpriced.  :) 

The Ocean.  In the very far distance, you can see Goat Island and the lighthouse there.

Another day, another castle built.  Of course this was more authentic because it could be decorated with seashells since we were at the OCEAN in Maine.

The best kinds of messages in the sand.

The cutest Clarabelle!

Nubble Lighthouse

Endicott Rock where there are inscriptions from the 1600's

Downtown Laconia.

We all voted this years vacation as one of our absolute favorites so far.  We also spent one day just relaxing, and one day exploring antique shops and a few thrift stores.  I made almost every meal (except one) at our resort kitchen and so we were able to save a lot of money.  

It was a good week!

Baby was born.....A long time ago :)

Life has flown by and I thought of my blog yesterday and recalled that the last time I posted, I said that I was due to have my fourth baby GIRL.  That little girl has since joined our family (I should HOPE SO! 😁)  and we love her so much!

She was born the end of October and we named her Clarabelle.

The girls love her and so do we.

I'm going to slowly begin updating my blog.  It may take me quite a few weeks to catch back up, but we'll do it!  Hang with me folks!  Those of you who have continued following my blog despite my neglect for it deserve some prize.  Drop a comment below if you are still following!