Tuesday, July 26, 2011

One Way to Save

I don't necessarily recommend this method of saving money, but it worked for the parents of a friend of mine. She said her family lived in an apartment in a complex full of people. Her mother wished for a home, and she told the children, "We will have a home."

While her husband went to work and the children went to school, her mother took in ironing. Everytime she was paid, she put her money through a slit in a large pottery pig she had bought at a market. This money no one ever touched. The pig sat in the corner of her bedroom, and no one paid any attention to it.

After thirteen years her mother announced to the family at dinnertime, "We now have enough money to put a down payment on a house."

And my friend said, "And that is how we came to move out of an apartment and into our very own home."

I loved the story for it showed determination and patience. More power to those who wait.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Sewing Bargains in Bulk

Remember I mentioned how enjoyable and useful hobbies are. I sew a great deal and I have since I was a child. One day I went to a “sale”. An individual was selling fabric in her garage sale. I looked about and told her I wanted to purchase the plaid flannel. “How much of it do you want?”

After hearing the price, which was reasonable, I told her I wanted to buy the whole bolt. “Why?” she asked.

Because I just decided to make robes for all the men in my family and then give them as Christmas gifts. That included one husband, three sons, and one son-in-law. And that is what I did. Robes are very easy to make. No buttons and now handwork. Each robe cost me about ten dollars to make. And they were greatly loved and I see some of the relatives still wearing the robes.

Another time when we visited England I found some white linen at a very good price. I bought the whole bolt, which was much cheaper there than in the states. I knew in advance how much I needed because I had already measured my patio doors. When I returned I made simple linen panels that attached to the rod with grograin ribbon. The panels were copies of some curtains I saw from a well-known department store, but mine were much cheaper.

These are stories of bargains which resulted in little work but much pleasure. Hopefully you will get the idea and the desire to do the same thing.

Sewing Bargains in Bulk

Remember I mentioned how enjoyable and useful hobbies are. I sew a great deal and I have since I was a child. One day I went to a “sale”. An individual was selling fabric in her garage sale. I looked about and told her I wanted to purchase the plaid flannel. “How much of it do you want?”

After hearing the price, which was reasonable, I told her I wanted to buy the whole bolt. “Why?” she asked.

Because I just decided to make robes for all the men in my family and then give them as Christmas gifts. That included one husband, three sons, and one son-in-law. And that is what I did. Robes are very easy to make. No buttons and now handwork. Each robe cost me about ten dollars to make. And they were greatly loved and I see some of the relatives still wearing the robes.

Another time when we visited England I found some white linen at a very good price. I bought the whole bolt, which was much cheaper there than in the states. I knew in advance how much I needed because I had already measured my patio doors. When I returned I made simple linen panels that attached to the rod with grograin ribbon. The panels were copies of some curtains I saw from a well-known department store, but mine were much cheaper.

These are stories of bargains which resulted in little work but much pleasure. Hopefully you will get the idea and the desire to do the same thing.

Sewing Bargains in Bulk

Remember I mentioned how enjoyable and useful hobbies are. I sew a great deal and I have since I was a child. One day I went to a “sale”. An individual was selling fabric in her garage sale. I looked about and told her I wanted to purchase the plaid flannel. “How much of it do you want?”
After hearing the price, which was reasonable, I told her I wanted to buy the whole bolt. “Why?” she asked.

Because I just decided to make robes for all the men in my family and then give them as Christmas gifts. That included one husband, three sons, and one son-in-law. And that is what I did. Robes are very easy to make. No buttons and now handwork. Each robe cost me about ten dollars to make. And they were greatly loved and I see some of the relatives still wearing the robes.

Another time when we visited England I found some white linen at a very good price. I bought the whole bolt, which was much cheaper there than in the states. I knew in advance how much I needed because I had already measured my patio doors. When I returned I made simple linen panels that attached to the rod with grograin ribbon. The panels were copies of some curtains I saw from a well-known department store, but mine were much cheaper.

These are stories of bargains which resulted in little work but much pleasure. Hopefully you will get the idea and the desire to do the same thing.