One of my life mentor’s was a lady name Beverly. She had an uncanny talent of making the most from a dollar. She not only ran a household with 2 growing boys and a husband. Did I mention Beverly and her husband took in hippies and help them get their feet on a more productive path.
Beverly should be given saint hood just because all she accomplished, in addition to how she turned saving money into an art form. She stretched every penny to manage a family, small farm, 10 goates, 3 chickens, and a seasonal vegetable garden. I challenege any Fortune 500 CEO to accomplish what she did.
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I lived on their goat ranch aka farm during the early 70′s. Even back then their mountain hid away was a through back to a much more peaceful period of time, that will only be matched by Heaven.
Enough with the sentential look. Now let us look at how Beverly and her husband saved money without the feeling of poverty.
No Box Cakes – It was a inside joke that you could not find any or even any cake mix was found on the property. Beverly and the other women who lived there made cakes from scratch. A lost art in the 21st century. They took flour, baking powder, eggs, goats milk, and brown sugar to make cakes that rivaled any bakery in the whole state of California.
What is a television? - Even back in the early 1970′s the idea of not having a television in one’s home was a hideous thought. Entertainment was reading, board games, horseshoes, and a few practical jokes. It was amazing how we pasted the time. It did not hurt us. In the years that follow the residence became surveyor, writers, engineers, and a couple of preachers.
Family Time is Important Time – Beverly and her husband were insistent on everybody getting to every evening. This was time we shared the day’s events. We discussed what was working. We offered suggestions on making things better.
People Do Have Talent – I still don’t remember why all the talented musicians appeared on our step. Folk, gospel, blues, and bluegrass musicians seem to be giving concerts in the large living room area once or twice a month.
I don’t want you to get the impression that we did not go into town. We did. We all had jobs outside of our chores around the ranch. Some were taking adult education calls, while others were going to college. Many of us married and moved away when it was time to leave this sanctuary.
Beverly created this environment with little or no outside finances. Years later I ran the numbers on what it would take to make the difference they did. It could not be done today. Over head cost that people are not willing to give up today are:
- Cell phones $50 per person per month
- Computer with internet access runs about $30 per computer per month
- Cable or satellite TV is another $40 to $50 per month
- Gourmet coffee’s is $90 per month
That totals to over $200 per person per month including extra electricity. What about the lack of interpersonal interaction for having time consumed for these extras of the 21st century.
The bottom-line to Beverly’s art of saving money was a simplier life. You don’t need a lot of money to have a nice relaxed enjoyable life.
Great information here. Thanks for sharing again!