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Servant2theKing
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| Posted: April 22 2009 at 2:37pm | IP Logged
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Along the lines of other threads on frugality, simplifying, and references to consumerism, I'm trying to focus on a simple and very helpful concept a dear homeschooling friend shared with me...using what we have. The "use what you have" idea she shared was in relation to homeschool curriculum...it certainly applies when sorting out homeschool choices each year and saves a great deal of money.
I'm finding it also applies to other facets of life, especially during these challenging times. Years ago, a beloved aunt shared a catchy little poem that went something like; "use it up, wear it out.....or do without." I've wracked my feeble brain for the rest of the words, in hopes that it can further inspire me in the quest to make do with what we have, but the message is clear even with a few missing words.
Just now, while working in the garden, the "use what you have" mentality inspired a solution to a dilemna over what to do with all the bare spots, where our dogs have uprooted perennials I had planted, which we can't afford to replace...we have loads of wild violets on our land, and lovely chocolate mint that is running rampant in our vegetable garden...I hope to transplant what we already have into those bare spots. I won't be discouraged by the mess our dogs created, and additionally, am no longer discouraged over not being able to afford replacements.
Anyone else on the "use what you have" track?
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All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
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amyable
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| Posted: April 22 2009 at 2:42pm | IP Logged
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"Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" 
I love that saying. I unfortunately go back and forth with it - being frugal to the max, even with homeschooling, then going overboard with things like new curriculum.  Well, it's not really *overboard* but it's far from my frugal ideal.
Goodness, the house just imploded around me (3/5ths of the kids are crying - they were all totally fine a minute ago!)  so I'd better run! Hope to enjoy this thread. 
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Amy
mom of 5, ages 6-16, and happy wife of 
The Highly Sensitive Homeschooler
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Lauri B
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| Posted: April 22 2009 at 3:02pm | IP Logged
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There's always a middle ground, I believe. We tend to be very slim on possessions. I try to give something away (or throw something away) for everything I bring in - but we've been married 20 years, so we have the necessities and are usually only replacing. When we were young marrieds, naturally, it wasn't the case. I think TOO frugal thinking can lead to a little bit of selfishness. I know a family member who is frugal to the point of being stingy and a hoarder because she's so afraid she'll need it someday. Fifty years of this leads to a disastrous clutter. 
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dawn2006
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| Posted: April 22 2009 at 9:34pm | IP Logged
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Yes, I have been using that thinking when looking at what to purchase for next year. I can really only do so much in a day so I'm only going to buy the very basics and nothing based only on "well, that looks good." I'm meaning to go through our games and books and everything, get it all nicely organized, and when I get that feeling of wanting something new I'll just 'go shopping' in our shelves.
Good points.
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Dawn Farias | wife to Ariel | mom to Gabriel 9, Daniel 7, Elizabeth 5, and Michael 3 | blogger at Be Absorbed | native Texan but currently living near Seattle
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:47pm | IP Logged
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Something new I have been doing now that I've learned to sew is to take dresses dd has outgrown, cut the tops off and add a simple waistband to make skirts out of them. She should get another year of wear out of them this way.
And now that we live in the Keys and I have no need for my long, hot blue jeans, I have cut them off and made them into capris, adding a bit of decorative ribbon at the bottom hem. Saved me some money, and they look pretty cute, in fact dh thought I had bought new capris!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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RamFam
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:55pm | IP Logged
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lapazfarm wrote:
| And now that we live in the Keys |
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Forgive me, but weren't you just us-schooling in Alaska and NC?
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Leah
RamFaminNOVA
Tom ^i^, Kyle (my Marine), Adeline '00, Wyatt '05, Isaac '07 Philip '08,Michael '10, and John Xavier Feb '13
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: April 23 2009 at 8:57pm | IP Logged
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RamFam wrote:
lapazfarm wrote:
| And now that we live in the Keys |
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Forgive me, but weren't you just us-schooling in Alaska and NC? |
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Yes.
We moved to the Keys in February.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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helene
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| Posted: April 25 2009 at 9:40pm | IP Logged
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I pretty much "use what I have" every year. But that's because I've been at this a good long while and have found what really works for our family. In the beginning there were some "extra" purchases I made while sort of stumbling around and not sure what to use. I think its fair to stumble and oops! buy a bit too much in those first years of figuring it all out. But now I'm not even tempted to buy more because I really like what I have and would not want to replace it, and shelf space is at a premium!
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Happy Mom to five girls (20,17,13,11and 4) and five boys (19, 15, 10, 8 and 6)
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Use What You Have
