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| Economy Quilt Block |
For the month of May, the Quilters' Book Club is reading and discussing Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas. We'd love to have you join us! Check out the book from your local library and begin reading!
The story takes place in Slatyfork, Iowa during the Civil War. Times were hard for the women who were left behind to keep the home fires burning. Several of us are making a quilt to go along with the books we're reading. If you'd like to make a block to represent the setting of Alice's Tulips, here are several patterns I found available free on line.
Economy Quilt Block
Iowa Star Quilt Block
Hard Times Quilt Block
Lincoln's Platform Quilt Block
The Frugal Patch Quilt Block
During the Civil War, women on both sides learned to live frugally. Hard times exist for many people in today's economy. Do you have a tip/tips to share with others on thrifty living? Inquiring minds want to know.
Remember that by commenting, you are entering your name in a giveaway to win Jennifer Chiaverini's latest book, Mrs. Lincoln's Dressmaker. If you are reading via email, click on the title of my blog post to get to my actual blog so you can comment and read the comments of others.
You might also enjoy reading my previous blog post here.
My thriftiest tips are: Cook instead of eating out. And, do all your running around from place to place while out on one trip instead of making several different trips from home to place. Just go place to place and then home.
ReplyDeleteOur ancestors are probably rolling in their graves from seeing all the waste of today that most folks do.
It is an interesting thing that both my husband and I grew up during war times. At the end of the depression and war time we had very little and learned to find pleasure in making things, even our own toys, and enjoying things that didn't cost money ... growing a garden with food and even pulling weeds. To this day, I have remained very frugal in my habits. On the other hand, my husband, growing up in war times, learned to eat whatever you could get right away and spend every bit of yen that touched his hand. Now times are tough again and he can not change that habit, buying things we really don't need and hitting my savings for what he feels we can't live without. The blessing is our six kids that learned about priority spending from me.
ReplyDeleteI wish it were as practical to use just cash in the US as it is in Japan. In two years living in Japan I have only used a credit card once. A cash envelope system has really kept me on track!
ReplyDeleteWe only use cash - no exceptions. We shop the clearance sections of the stores and really ask ourselves if we really need the items. We also take out our savings first when we get paid. This system really works.
ReplyDeleteGood suggestions so far for thrifty living. Here in the semi-desert of Southern California we're learning to conserve water. Now most folks won't want to do this but at my doctor's recommendation I only take 3 showers a week - that's because of my dry skin. This has helped lower our water consumption. I only use the dishwasher every third day - washing dishes for 2 doesn't take much time at all and it sure saves water and electricity.
ReplyDeleteI looked to see if there is a Slatyfork, IA. I found a Slatyfork, WV. It has just over a 100 population. Their biggest industry is logging while for the story's town it seems to be farming. FYI - slaty mean gray in color - sounds like the area where Alice lives. I like the epistolary nature of the book. I can read one letter and then get back to what I need doing.
I have enjoyed reading everyone's comments, thanks for sharing. It amazes me that we live in such a wasteful, throw away world today. I feel ashamed of the damage that we are currently doing to the planet.
ReplyDeleteIn the last 12 months, my husband & I have embarked on a lifestyle change. I no longer work & we are living on one wage, economizing is all new to me & I still have a lot to learn, but I am doing what I can.
Years ago when we were raising our children, I was an avid coupon shopper. I would scour the sales flyer from the grocery store, match coupons with the items we needed. For a year I saved all our grocery receipts because I wanted to see how much I had saved in that year. Overall, I had saved about 10%. However, shortly after my year of coupon shopping, the store not only raised their prices by 10%, but they also decreased the size of their standard sized packages.
ReplyDeleteNow if I cross a coupon of something we truly use, I'll use it, but that's it.
I think that living frugally means spending as little as possible except for whatever is really important to you....in my case ..I only buy the best fabric and yarns..but I sew on 1940's featherweight.. my only machine..why? Because I truly love nice fabric
ReplyDeleteWe have put up a sturdy greenhouse (alt. 7400') and are beginning our first year of experimenting with our own heirloom (non-GMO) veggies. The seeds don't cost much, and we hope to have better quality vegetables for a little labor in the garden. Are things coming full circle or what?
ReplyDeleteI've only worked part time (and seldom even that much in the past 10 years) out of our 25 year marriage. One of the things that I do to save money, and still be able to shop for nice clothes, is, to purchase most of my clothes at thrift stores. Yes, I have to check them over to make sure they aren't stained or torn, but, I can purchase my Chico's, or other nicer brands for about $4 each, while, my MIL buys hers at the Chico's store, and pays 10-20 times that much. Both my sons have learned to purchase some stuff at thrift stores, too, to save money.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to eat at home as much as possible and use a slow cooker. I know that when our life becomes busy and I'm not always at home early enough to cook dinner, our budget suffers from buying convenience meals. I yearn to live on the land or in a small country town and am hopeful that one day I will be able to learn to live more simply, but I fear that my husband will be a little less willing!
ReplyDeleteAll those blocks reminded me of the bit of history I learned reading last month's book The Quilter's Apprentice. I knew about the red square in the log cabin symbolizing the hearth, but didn't know a yellow square was for a light in the cabin window. Also a black square meant it was safe to knock on the door. Nice to know about the yellow - I like to put yellow in the center. Back to Alice's Tulips.... don't count this one for the drawing.
ReplyDeleteI also purchase clothing from thrift store and buy better quality fabric
ReplyDeletefor my quilts...I find blouses and tops for 4 or 5 dollars that would cost
me 40 or more at the mall....works for me!!