Doubling Your Husband’s Income by Becoming a Frugal Homemaker

Forming Simple, Thrifty Habits to Cut Your Spending in Half © By Shari Howard McMinn

November 1, 2013

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Shari’s Credentials Who, What, Where, Why?

Personal • • • • • • • • •

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Married 25 years to Cary, now in Heaven 11 children; 10 living, 1 in Heaven 1 stepson, 5 biological, 5 adopted Successful career before homemaking City girl, now farmwife of 12 years Life-long Christian from multi-generation Christian family (prodigal in college and as young adult) Home school mom for 19 years Artist, Author, Farmer, Gardener, Homemaker, Servant of Christ Heart for encouraging younger women as they raise their families Titus 2:4 “That they may teach the young women to

Professional/Community • • • • • • • •

Owner/Operator with grown son, Zane, BLESSED CREEK FARM Owner/Editor with grown daughter, Hayley, EXPANDING HORIZONS MEDIA Retired Commercial Interior Designer; Golf, Hotel, Restaurant Facilities Retired CSU Master Gardener Volunteer Support Group Leader; MORGAN COUNTY HOMESCHOOL NETWORK Support Group Leader; FAMILIES BY GRACE 4-H Parent, Leader, Volunteer 18 years Member, Reformation OPC

be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children…” An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

The Cost of Living in Today’s World Item • Rent/mortgage • Groceries • Utilities (electric/heat/ac, water, phone) • Transportation/Gas/Insurance • Health/Medical • Clothing/Household • Education • Emergency/Debt/Savings/Taxes • Tithe/Charitable gifts *Does not include entertainment/vacation! +National ‘Poverty’ level $50,000 - family 4 An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Cost • 1000 • 500 • 500 • 500 • 500 • 100 • 100 • 400 • 400 • 4000 x 12=48,000+ I income at $48,000 or 2 at $24/24k or $36/18k

Your Current State of Contentment What is working well in your life? • Marriage • Kids • Work • Household • Personal time • Church • Friends • Family • Finances

What needs to be fixed? • Marriage – need more time • Kids – need more time • Work - too much time • Household – can’t keep up • Personal time – need more • Church – meeting needs? • Friends – no time for them • Ext. Family – too frustrating • Finances – a mess

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Needs vs. Wants: Your Priorities • • • • • • • • • •

What you HAVE to have What you DON’T HAVE to have • New, fancy, larger than needs Shelter – small, fixer upper • Convenience, fast, restaurant Food – basic, simple, scratch Utilities – elec, water, 1 phone • Tv/cable, a/c, 2+fancy phones Clothing – thrift; 8 sets/person • Department store new, 9+ 1 car – used w/ # seats needed • 2nd car, new, more seats Medical - Salud type • The best money can buy Tithe – 10% of income gift to God • Cash; could be skills or mat’l Savings – minimum 1% • Maximum for college, retire Home togetherness • Outside activities and entertainment, sports Put God first; trust His provision An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Develop Frugal Habits “Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.” Proverbs 17:1

Money

• Live within your means on husband’s income • Make a budget and stick to it • Live simply: TIME = LOVE • Forget coupons and buy only basic groceries in bulk • Use food coops – BB, Azure • Wear mostly hand-me-downs • Give gifts of time, not material • Recreate as a family at home • Hang w/ like-minded families • Strongly limit use of debt/credit

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Time Family devotion daily Get a good night’s sleep Turn off the tv; read, games Kids and hubby help w/ housework and cooking Fri night home spouse date Sat night home dad/kid date – Mom’s break time Exercise together for fun Eliminate outside activities except church

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Examples: Where and How To Cut a One Income Budget Further? Current Expenditures •

Two vehicles

How to Cut in Half •

One Vehicle: stay home 3-4 days/week and let husband take; take him to work otherday(s) so you can have car. STAYING HOME=MONEY SAVED!

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Two+ Cell phones

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One cell phone - plain jane:

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Groceries

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Buy in bulk: ie: 25# oatmeal instead of individually boxed or cereal;

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Don’t buy ready-made foods: fresh produce on sale – eat half, freeze

go back to what you were doing before you had two fancy ones; maybe who doesn’t have the car, has the cell phone? Kids DO NOT and SHOULD NOT have cell phones and internet access buy large meat packages and repackage in smaller for freezer. Store Brand vs. Name Brand: Dawn and Ranch dressing ONLY!  half in portion bags; make your own meatballs; pasta casseroles – make two, freeze one for later; make your own mixes for pancake, breads, cookies; cook 2-3x ground or roast meats and freeze extra portions for future meals; avoid buying chips, drinks; make 3 meals from one chicken: dark meat in casserole, sliced breast in salad, soup from carcass. Remember: kids usually love pbj or mac ‘n cheese every day! Coupons for non-food items vs. equal?

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Clothing, appliances, toys, books, household

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Utilities

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Used for everything: (I do buy new underwear!)

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Use less:

Hand-me-downs; exchanges; thrift stores – especially sale days; swap shop; freecycle network;. Seniors in your church may have extras like freezers they are no longer using. Layer clothes, bedding in winter; tolerate hotter weather in summer – south windows covered, windows open for breeze; seal cracks, heavy towels or blankets over leaky doors and windows; use less tv and computer - tech free days; energy saving appliances when new; hang laundry out to dry. Get up at sunrise, go to bed at sunset to use lights less, save $.

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Examples: Your Wardrobe Thrift Store • Knit hat $0.99 • Jacket 9.99 • Shirt 3.99 • Purse 5.99 • Jeans 9.99 • Belt 4.99 • Shoes 5.99 • Socks 0.49 TOTAL $42.42 x 2 x 12 = $1,018.08 monthly = 84.84

Department Store • Knit hat $9.99 • Jacket 39.99 • Shirt 19.99 • Purse 49.99 • Jeans 29.99 • Belt 19.99 • Shoes 39.99 • Socks 2.99 TOTAL $212.93 x 4 x 12 = $8,184.48 monthly = + $170.51

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Examples: Your Dinner (family of 4) Home-made • Gr. chuck 1# $3.99 • 1/2 pkg buns sale 0.49 • Condiments-Generic 0.49 • Lettuce ½ head 0.79 • 4 potatoes 0.99 • Oil, seasonings 0.49 • Milk – ¼ gal 0.99 • Dishsoap 0.19 Total 4 servings $8.52 x 365 $3,109.80 Monthly $259.15

Store Prepared • • • • • • • Fast Food: $6.99x4 = $27.96 •

Beef Patties 1/3 bx $4.33 1/2 pkg gourmet buns 0.99 Condiments-Brand 0.99 Lettuce ½ bag 1.49 French Fries 2.49 Oil, seasonings 0.49 Pop – 4 can variety 1.98 Paper plates, utensils 0.49

x 365 $10,205.40

+$7,095.60 Restaurant: $9.99x4 = $39.96 x 365 $14,585.40

+$11,475.60

Total 4 servings $13.25 x 365 $4,836.25

monthly

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

+$1,726.45 +$143.87

Think of Your Life as BLESSED, not Stressed Personally • Learn to enjoy homemaking as your ‘job’ or ‘hobby’ for now • Think of things to please your husband that are FREE  (s – x) • Spend time enjoying your children, doing things w/ them • Read, exercise at their naptime • Don’t spend time with friends or relatives whose lifestyle you covet • Keep track of things you buy to track and find your weak spots

Family/Friends • Learn to cut your family’s hair, mend clothes, paint rooms • Swap clothes with a friend your size to change wardrobe (this works for your kids, too!) • Start a weekly FAC playgroup • Start a monthly dinner potluck w/ other families – rotate homes • Make and keep friends with other frugal families • Have more children – you can take them to Heaven, unlike material possessions

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Shari’s Frugal Forty (10 minutes - Read over handout; mark things that appeal to you)

SHORT TERM GOALS: What are three NEW things you can do this WEEK to start being frugal?

LONG TERM GOALS: What are three other NEW things you can do this MONTH to become more frugal?

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An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Share and Care (15 minutes - break into small groups)

A. In your small group, list a few things you are already doing towards becoming a frugal homemaker. Introduce yourself, then share your successes with your group.

B. Share with your small group one of your current struggles with frugal homemaking. Ask others for advice; write down ideas you could try. Pray for the person on your right.

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An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Homework Follow-up at home this week: 1. Pray, seeking the Lord’s wisdom and guidance to become a better steward of your family’s resources. 2. Talk with your husband in a gentle, non-threatening way regarding your desire to be a better steward. Ask him what he thinks you can/should do to help your family in this way. Listen and obey! 3. Pray together as husband and wife (if he is willing) to work together to improve your family’s financial situation, seeking the Lord’s will.

An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn

Need More Help? Have Questions?

Shari McMinn

can be reached via

• Email: [email protected] • Phone: 970.483.5654 (please leave a message if no answer) • Home: 13457 Shamrock Mile Road Fort Morgan, CO 80701 (by appointment only) • Websites: www.blessedcreekfarm.com www.expandinghorizonsmedia.com To God be the glory…in Christ alone. An 'If We Can Do It...You Can Do It' Presentation © 11.1.13 Shari Howard McMinn