simple abundance

spectator to the happenings

Although we live simply,  we are smart enough to know how blessed we are.  Though our income places us at poverty level, our eyes and brains tell us that we are not.  We budget, and make good choices when it comes to purchases.  Our needs are meager and we know how to maximize what we have.  Thrift stores in the winter and garage sales in the summer provide entertainment (truly a modern day treasure hunt), as well as our furniture, clothing, tools, toys, fertilizer, spices, books, games, plants, art supplies, sports equipment, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures.......  If you are patient you will find it.

notice the shorts and Ts!  the first  (and only) day like this  we've had~
it was delicious!

My husband and son hunt elk, deer, and antelope (dependent on the draw).  A couple of years ago my husband was wooed by his friend to a new found love, salmon fishing.  We will benefit from a few laying hens for the first time this year.

local organics

We also frequent the local canned food warehouse where if you pay attention to labels you will be feeding your family very well for pennies on the dollar.  I even find well known brand organics.  Our home is the local drop for a food co-op that  brings bulk whole foods right to our side yard where we unload the supplies from the semi, sort the boxes into piles by customer name, place frozen items in coolers, and tape invoices to the top of the piles for the members to identify at pick up.

sorted into piles for ease of pick up

In the summer, we tend a vegetable garden.  It's a good size for our family but as every gardener knows, no garden is ever big enough.  We add a little more every year.  This year we will take a friend up on his offer of some space (in his huge garden) to grow our potatoes and squash.

My industrious husband is hard working and non-complaining.  Therefore we never pay someone else to do work for us.  Never.  Larry is our plumber, electrician, mechanic, contractor, landscaper, painter, arborist...

those who are smart show up while the muscle is unpacking the semi ~
they get free delivery to their car

I lied.  We do pay doctors but we only go for emergencies (of which thankfully we haven't had many).  We try to eat well, and use natural remedies.  We believe antibiotics are overused and we use them only as a very last resort.  We very rarely need them.

a moments break while the delivery driver brings out the chilled and frozen

These are just some of the bigger things we do to save money and live simply.  When you think this way, you naturally do more.

We encourage our children to be generous as we strive to be generous.  It's only by giving that you realize how very much you have.  As a dear friend reminds us often, it's God's money anyway.  He's just letting us use it for the moment and redirecting it through us.  Rejoice today as you give some away, generously because you are rich...   

Blessings,  Debbie