To become a homemaker means to sacrifice. That means not as much money coming in, most times and learning how to live beneath your means all the time. Meaning that your family is living under the paycheck that is brought in without having to rely on a second paycheck or overtime.
Which is the biggest complaint. Most people want a traditional marriage, but a modern lifestyle and those two just don’t go together, like at all.
Living Beneath Your Means Lets You Stay Home To Take Care Of Your Home and Family
So, when people decide to take the leap for a traditional marriage (a wife at home and husband the beadmaker) they quickly find they can’t do it because they’re in debt, used to a more lavish lifestyle, and like being able to freely spend money when they want or with everything they have on their plate there is no way to feasibly get rid of an income.
Which if that’s what you’re looking for in life, then more power to you. However, I find that these relationships are a little more rocky and they’ve come to me with complaints about their relationships, but don’t want to make the leap to get the relationship they want. It is because they don’t want to sacrifice the luxury.
Sometimes you can’t have your cake and eat it. But to those who are ready to make that leap into a traditional family and into home making, living on one income is very doable. Some sacrifices will have to be made, but overall, I find making life simpler makes life more enjoyable.
Plus, we’re coming to a point in our lives where the economy and world have lost their minds, and there may be times where we are going without or dealing with one income. Living frugally and under your means is important in general, but a lot of us have had so many pretties flashed before our faces that stuff has become idols in our lives.
What Is Living Beneath Your Means?
A lot of people don’t quite understand what this means. For some reason people thing living beneath your means, means you’re just poor, without anything.
I’ve heard my friends here how my husband and I live, and they usually say, “I could never live like that.” I mean to each their own, but my husband and I don’t live bad.
To live beneath your means, means you live on 1 paycheck comfortably without a second income or without overtime or help. Grant it, there are situations where this isn’t doable, and I get that. But, many of us, can’t grasp not having extra.
My husband and I have a small home, and our home is filled with nice things. Are our cars old? Yeah, but they run just fine. Do we have the latest tech? No, we replace things when we have to. Do you go out a lot or go on yearly vacations? No, we don’t. We save up when we want to go somewhere and when there are no plans we enjoy our community and surrounding areas.
In a way, living beneath your means is a contentment with what you have, which is usually less than others, but not always.
How Do You Live Beneath Your Means?
So, I guess the big question is, how do we live beneath our means? Well, there is no way to say it, you weed out all the things that are sucking the money out of your budget.
Well let’s look at our lives and our family and funds.
Major Expenses In Our Lives
A lot of people have bigger houses than they actually need. Do you need an office, extra rooms, a 3 car garage? Or is it a want?
Do you need 2-3 car payments or is it a want?
All the extra stuff, extra furniture, electronics, jewelry, knick knacks, decor, is that a need or a want?
Start going through your stuff and if it is a want rather than need, then downsize. We live in a 2 bedroom apartment instead of a 4 bedroom house that we used to own and even when we build our house we don’t plan on having something huge.
My husband’s car is paid off and mine was a cash car. We bought it years ago off of craigslist, is it the prettiest? No, not by a long shot. Newest. Definitely not. Does it get me from point a to point b safely? Is there room for my babies? my groceries? Is it comfortable? Yes.
This is the biggest and usually hardest part getting below that line. Start minimizing your life.
Bills
Let’s take a look at our bills now.
We ditched cable, we don’t really watch TV and when we do it’s usually on free apps or something like Youtube. Even if you decide to splurge for a streaming service, it will be cheaper than cable or satellite.
Places like Comcast try to shove these services down your throat, you don’t have to get them.
They also like to do big bundles. Do you have a house phone because it is “cheaper” in the bundle? Do you use it? If not, get rid of it. It is a waste of money.
Unless you’re working from home or gaming is a serious hobby, you don’t need the most expensive internet. Companies tend to like to give you more than you need, but most companies will let you track how much data you actually use to decide what kind of plan your need.
So that is something you should definitely look into, because the internet gets expensive.
Cell phone wise, as much as I’d like to get rid of mine, are kind of a must nowadays especially with my husband’s job.
But we use Cricket, they’re cheaper than most places, and their phones are soooo much cheaper, but still pretty good quality and we rarely have problems with signals.
We don’t skimp on insurance for our cars, because with the way people drive it is kind of a must.
Our electric bill fluctuates as most people’s do. In the summer, it can be well over 200, but I’ve found ways to keep it below that by doing things by hand including: dishes, laundry, using less lights, and keeping the air steady throughout the day/night.
Stop using credit cards for everything. Credit cards are great for building credit and for once in a while if there are emergencies or even at the end of the month for a couple groceries. But if you don’t have the money to pay them off, stop using them.
Debt will keep you in debt. Credit, loans, all of it is a hot mess that will keep you working for many many years. Avoid them when you can.
Budget. Budget money to all your bills first, then important expenses like gas, food, etc, and then if there is left over most should go to savings, and a little to entertainment.
The Kitchen
Let’s focus on the kitchen now. This includes the grocery bill and groceries.
We tend to waste a LOT of food and eat a lot more junk which is why a lot of us are tired, sick, and fat.
So here are some things that can not only get us healthier, but save a lot more money.
First and foremost, make a menu!
Each day plan out: breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverages, and snacks. If you know what you want to get, you won’t be tempted to buy other things.
DON’T go to the store hungry. You will buy so many things you don’t need because you’re shopping with your stomach.
Coupons are your friend. Any time you can nab some coupons, use them. Check the sales paper and buy what is on sale, but unless it is on your list or you can use it later, don’t buy anything just because it is on sale.
If you’ve never used fish sauce but it is on sale, you’re likely to never use it, so you don’t need it.
Hunting and growing your own food can save on a lot of money over time. Planning your garden for the different seasons can save money here and there and hunting can fill the freezer for some time.
My husband hunts and we had breakfast meat and dinner meat for months. And let me tell you that saved a pretty penny especially when grocery prices started inflating.
Make your own pantry staples. You can buy a mixed seasoning for 4-8 dollars, and while initially it may cost more to make your own, it’ll last longer if you can make big batches.
Don’t throw away leftovers, be creative and eat them again! There are shows dedicated to reusing leftovers and you can do this too.
Go meatless a couple days a week. Lentils and beans are great! They don’t have to be bland or sad. Potato Lentil Dahl is a regular on our menu.
And lastly, learn to cook. Eating out, packaged food, it all costs a pretty penny over time.
Entertainment
This one is a little tougher because people like going out, doing new things, they like spending money. And once in a while that is okay, but all the time, not so much. We have houses and so many people are rarely in them.
Being active is great, but sometimes staying in or in the yard can save money and rebuild relationships with your family in a more intimate way. Plus, you can explore your community!
Staycations, at home dates, cookouts, backyard camping, are great ways to be busy outside.
Spend time at local parks, local pools, community events. Go to the library and if you do splurge try going to places on off hours (matinee at the movies anyone).
Always check for discounts if you’re military, teacher, elderly, or a first responder.
Board games, talking, and reading to your family are also classic ways to stay entertained.
How To Live More Frugal
Trimming money from bills and major expenses is great, but sometimes saving money from smaller sections of our lives can add up! These living frugally tips are basic, but things I did growing up and things I do as an adult. So hopefully they help you too.
Thrift Stores
We are not beneath thrift stores and if you’re lucky enough to have some good thrift stores go there! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve found name brand clothes with tags still on them. Vintage décor that is worth a pretty penny, cheap books, board games, etc.
Dollar Store
I don’t buy everything at the dollar store because a lot of stuff is low quality, but basic medical supplies like band aids, snacks, cards, soap, and basic items are cheap here.
Buy Quality
I know, I posted the former before this, but buy quality pans, clothes, blankets, and shoes. The 2 dollar items may seem like a good deal, but they’re gonna fall apart real fast and you’ll just spend more money replacing them more frequently.
Make Your Own Things
A quilt can cost a few hundred dollars, making one can take a quarter to half that depending on size and how elaborate it is. Crocheting a scarf, slippers, and such can save money as well. Learning to mend your clothes so you won’t have to spend $25 or more buying new pants or a shirt. If you can mend that tiny or big hole it’ll save money in the end.
Home Remedies
Cold and flu medicine is a lot of money especially if your whole family is sick. A sock full of rice can easily double as a heating pad. Minor stuff like tea for a sore throat, some ginger for a tummy ache can save you money. I’m not saying skimp out on medical attention, but sometimes it’s cheaper to take care of yourself than to shell out $20 or more dollars on a packet of pills.
Be Content With What You Have
This is the biggest one! You don’t need the newest cars, biggest house, newest tech, etc.
Living frugally may be a shock if you’ve never had to do it before. But it’s really not that hard to live beneath your means and if you can learn to be content with what you have, you find won’t need these things.
Things tend to rule us, and are idols in our lives, it’s time to step away from the money, from the things, and it is time to focus on God, our homes, our families, friends, and communities. And sure we can do that with a job, but our jobs tend to become idols and come first, to fuel our addiction to stuff.
Once you learn to have contentment with what you have, you find that stuff isn’t as important. You start focusing on God, family, friends, people who are important to you. We buy things to fill a void because we think it makes us happy. Happiness is fleeting, joy is eternal, and joy comes from love which comes from God and loved ones.
