We live super frugal most of the time, but had been splurging on stockpiling. I wanted a years worth of food in house and basically was preparing for inflation to hit. Good thing too, because DH got laid off.
What with our garden and bartering we got plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. I baked most of our baked goods. With the exception of milk (and I am still working on this) during the first stretch he was out of work I went three months without buying any groceries.
We ALWAYS buy used. The only thing I buy new is shoes for the kids. I'll buy used dress shoes that they only wear once or twice, but growing feet need proper footwear or they have problems later in life (my pet issue, sorry) We owed only our mortgages (yes, two) But, we had already saved up a year's worth of mortgage payments so we both knew that was going to be OK, we had a year.
The thing that killed us and nearly undid everything was health insurance. I have a chronic health condition that requires meds and makes me hard to cover. We got the kids on a state CHIP program for $80 a month, but coverage for just me was $700 a month. That really hurt. It really hurt me emotionally because I felt like I was such a drag on the family budget. But, DH assured me I earned more than I cost just in providing food through my garden!
DH worked twice as hard laid off as he did employed. He did everything he could. Whatever job he could get he took. He got lots of odd jobs and wasn't too proud to do whatever was needed.
We came through. He worked a contract job for four months which was awesome - good money but no insurance. But, he got a good job at almost exactly a year.
One year. And we owed less than we had when we started the year. We were closer than ever and really appreciated each other! The kids had learned quite a few lessons and had become more compassionate. Toughest year of our lives. Best year ever.
He's working now and making good money. I still think the economy stinks and don't trust the dollar any more. So I am spending right now - restocking. Fixing and replacing what got worn out, expanding some of what I wanted before that we realized we would have liked to have had.
Once I would have saved more - but now I am spending. I don't think the money in the bank will be worth as much as having what we need, having things to eat and barter and being out of debt. I don't use credit cards. I don't borrow. I never buy what I cannot pay for with the cash in my hand.
What with our garden and bartering we got plenty of fresh fruits and veggies. I baked most of our baked goods. With the exception of milk (and I am still working on this) during the first stretch he was out of work I went three months without buying any groceries.
We ALWAYS buy used. The only thing I buy new is shoes for the kids. I'll buy used dress shoes that they only wear once or twice, but growing feet need proper footwear or they have problems later in life (my pet issue, sorry) We owed only our mortgages (yes, two) But, we had already saved up a year's worth of mortgage payments so we both knew that was going to be OK, we had a year.
The thing that killed us and nearly undid everything was health insurance. I have a chronic health condition that requires meds and makes me hard to cover. We got the kids on a state CHIP program for $80 a month, but coverage for just me was $700 a month. That really hurt. It really hurt me emotionally because I felt like I was such a drag on the family budget. But, DH assured me I earned more than I cost just in providing food through my garden!
DH worked twice as hard laid off as he did employed. He did everything he could. Whatever job he could get he took. He got lots of odd jobs and wasn't too proud to do whatever was needed.
We came through. He worked a contract job for four months which was awesome - good money but no insurance. But, he got a good job at almost exactly a year.
One year. And we owed less than we had when we started the year. We were closer than ever and really appreciated each other! The kids had learned quite a few lessons and had become more compassionate. Toughest year of our lives. Best year ever.
He's working now and making good money. I still think the economy stinks and don't trust the dollar any more. So I am spending right now - restocking. Fixing and replacing what got worn out, expanding some of what I wanted before that we realized we would have liked to have had.
Once I would have saved more - but now I am spending. I don't think the money in the bank will be worth as much as having what we need, having things to eat and barter and being out of debt. I don't use credit cards. I don't borrow. I never buy what I cannot pay for with the cash in my hand.
