Last week I was interviewed by a newspaper reporter regarding our family’s thrifty ways. Although I was a nervous wreck when I found out she wanted to talk to me, actually talking to her was fun. I love to talk about money (well saving money) and it is nice to have an audience.
Talking to her was actually a reality check for me too. Last month one of my couch cushions came apart. I have to admit I was a bit excited. Did this mean I finally “needed” a new couch? Our couch has been through eight moves, and has numerous stains and other marks of being in a family of eight. There are sharpie marks on one side and bright red marks on one of the seat cushions. Its beautiful deep red color has faded a bit to a rust color (not my favorite). This torn cushion might have been my ticket to a new a couch. As I looked at my torn cushion over the next few weeks I dreamed of a new couch. After talking to the reporter I woke up. I can sew and I knew I could fix my cushion. Although fixing my cushion meant I didn’t need a new couch anymore.
So, last week after talking to the reporter I pulled out a needle and thread and fixed my cushion. It looks as good as new and after walking by it this weekend several times the couch doesn’t look so bad either. I flipped the cushion with the red marks and hung a throw over the part where my kids added their artwork with a sharpie. The couch is still very comfortable and I am comfortable knowing that the money for a new couch is still sitting in my savings account instead of sitting in my living room.
One day we will need a new couch and that is fine. But until then, I am content with what we already have. How many things in our lives do we throw out just because we don’t want to take the time to fix them, or we just want a newer model? I know I am guilty of this. Getting a little more life out of things in our house is a great money saver. Even putting off your grocery shopping for a day and eating a crazy “whats left in the pantry meal” can eventually add up to some grocery savings. The next time you are tempted to toss something and buy new think again. Maybe the item can be fixed or reused or even passed on. Perhaps it is something you can live without. I am always surprised on trash day the perfectly good items that are sitting by the curb. Reduce your expenses as well as your garbage and try to make do with what you have.
Cushion before
Cushion after
If you just can’t get enough of my thoughts on thriftiness you can read the article in the Fresno Bee.
For more thrifty tips visit Mary.
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{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice article! Good message too.
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Good Morning, Toni~
I agree with you completely – we have become a society of throw-it-away-and-buy-new-whether-it’s-necessary-or-not. I have to diligently remind myself to repair things, or else we would go broke in a week. I have a large pile of hand sewing minor repairs to make; you’re convicting me to get them done and put those articles of clothing back into circulation. *sigh* Thanks, LOL!!
Have a lovely week!
Blessings,
~Shani
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I LOVE that couch! That has got to be one of your BEST investments! And I like the color… I have never even noticed the stains and marker marks. Well, maybe the cushions could use a little more filler… look on the curb for thrown out cushions then take their filler and add them to your cushions! Puffed again! Actually I might have thrown away a torn couch and gone out and bought better one at a garage sale or thrift store, or maybe recovered what I had. All in all I am glad you still have Ole Red.
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I definitely agree with you and the posters. People need to rethink their purchases.
For example, for our renewal ceremony we paid cash. There was no debt. I don’t know why people feel that they have to put on a huge show. Keep it small and shop around.
My best find – Etsy.com. I found a pair of beautiful earrings for only $5!
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Thank you for sharing this. We have been trying to make do with what we have recently and the children have really learned from this. I used to run out to the store to buy something but now if for instance I am out of one thing for a recipe I can either borrow it from a friend, use a substitute or do something different. We haven’t felt like we are missing out at all.
My hubby has been the worst with this, but he has gotten so much better and actually rethinking a LOT of things. Praise God!
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You are so right. I am guity of this. I need to earn to sew. How wonderful you were interviewed!!! You have such great things to say!
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Read the article. Wonderful!
Congratulations.
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Yep — it’s much cheaper to learn to be content with the things you have.
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Thank you so much for your encouragement to us all to be more responsible with our finances! You would think it would be easy to thrive on one income as a single girl, but the single life certainly has its spending challenges. Thank you for bringing conviction to my check card!! We miss you down here!
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Ohhh this such a vital thing in tightwadry. You have to learn to live with what you have as long as you can. I have somthings that are not perfect and if you do certain things it works pretty good. Like if you hold the handle in such a way my tea kettle will work a little longer till I have the money to get a electric tea kettle. Or if you put a clothe under the hoses of the portable dishwasher when in use it will stop it from leaking onto the floor. Yes, its important to be able to live with what you have. To be content.
Blessings in Him<
-Mary
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Good for you! I had to do the same thing a while ago. That is a good lesson to remember…make do with what you have, but you always know something will come along that you need that might be free!
You know Grocery Mama (http://grocerymama.typepad.com/grocery_mama/2008/10/good-housekeepi.html)
is giving away a Good Housekeeping book; Great Deal and Smart Steals…if you didn’t know that you would like to.
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Oh my! Sorry for the typo at the end. I meant that if you didn’t know I thought that you might like to.
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Toni-
Congratulations on the article! It was very well written and I hope many take a good long look at their “needs’ and “wants”. Thanks for being a model to us all!
Erin
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I am inspired. I quit my job a year ago to be a SAHM of three boys (ages 5, 3, and now-surprise- a 4 month old). We literally live on half the income now. We do have two car payments, student loans, etc. but have decided to make this work because it is important. My kids will never be this young again. I am committed to getting our debt paid down too- one frugal day at a time
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Great interview! I’m glad to see common-sense frugality getting some play in the mainstream media.
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Thanks for the reminder. Kind of a bummer (I’ve been in the mood lately for a new couch – dang it). Way to nudge me back in the right direction!
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I love that couch even though it makes me sneeze because of it’s feathers. One of the reasons why you can keep it so long is because you bought a high quality couch to begin with. If you bought a cheap one 8 years ago, I am sure you would have had to replace it by now. On many things, like this, paying a little higher price upfront, save you money in the long run.
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If you can sew, maybe you could make a slipcover for your couch. I’ve seen fabulous ones for big $$ in magazines and catalogs. Much less expensive than a new couch but it will transform your old one.
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How cool you were interviewed because of your frugal attributes!
I had used (got-for-free) couches until about 5 years ago. Then we got the couch we have now. Which I hate. But which I have to keep for several more years because I paid so much for it, I cannot justify throwing it out! LOL
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