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	<title>Comments on: Simple Tips for Living on Little</title>
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	<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html</link>
	<description>Helping You Be a Better Home Economist</description>
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		<title>By: Mrs. Theresa Gould</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281460</link>
		<dc:creator>Mrs. Theresa Gould</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:39:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281460</guid>
		<description>Just think, Crystal, if you had not gone through those lean years, you might not have got to this point of earning income from blogging. It seems that when we are stretched outside of our comfort zones that the Lord prepares us for the next thing.

I know that as we are living on $2100/month as a family of nine, plus whatever extra the Lord chooses to bless us with, that we are thinking and doing things we might not have otherwise done or thought.

And we LOVE George Mueller&#039;s biography, along with The Open Door and Ten Peas in a Pod. All of these books are inspiring.

Also dwelling on the fact that the Lord is our Jehovah-Jireh - Our Provider and the many scriptures where He promises to meet our needs are great faith builders.

We are into our eighth month of unemployment and have stayed out of debt as well, but God&#039;s merciful grace.

Blessings,
Theresa

</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Just think, Crystal, if you had not gone through those lean years, you might not have got to this point of earning income from blogging. It seems that when we are stretched outside of our comfort zones that the Lord prepares us for the next thing.</p>
<p>I know that as we are living on $2100/month as a family of nine, plus whatever extra the Lord chooses to bless us with, that we are thinking and doing things we might not have otherwise done or thought.</p>
<p>And we LOVE George Mueller&#8217;s biography, along with The Open Door and Ten Peas in a Pod. All of these books are inspiring.</p>
<p>Also dwelling on the fact that the Lord is our Jehovah-Jireh &#8211; Our Provider and the many scriptures where He promises to meet our needs are great faith builders.</p>
<p>We are into our eighth month of unemployment and have stayed out of debt as well, but God&#8217;s merciful grace.</p>
<p>Blessings,<br />
Theresa</p>
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		<title>By: Marisa Moore</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281459</link>
		<dc:creator>Marisa Moore</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Fri, 08 Aug 2008 18:41:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281459</guid>
		<description>Great ideas!  I also appreciate your tips for blogging beginners as I have just started a blog that has to do with how to be eco-friendly by being frugal!  View it at http://greenismygoal.blogspot.com
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Great ideas!  I also appreciate your tips for blogging beginners as I have just started a blog that has to do with how to be eco-friendly by being frugal!  View it at <a href="http://greenismygoal.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">http://greenismygoal.blogspot.com</a></p>
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		<title>By: Lisa Merriman</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281458</link>
		<dc:creator>Lisa Merriman</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 07 Aug 2008 13:05:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281458</guid>
		<description>Today&#039;s post on my blog explains how I learned to live simply.

Take a look - but pardon my slightly sappy, PMS&#039;ing tone to it.

Great ideas!
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Today&#8217;s post on my blog explains how I learned to live simply.</p>
<p>Take a look &#8211; but pardon my slightly sappy, PMS&#8217;ing tone to it.</p>
<p>Great ideas!</p>
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		<title>By: learning the ropes</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281457</link>
		<dc:creator>learning the ropes</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:58:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281457</guid>
		<description>I have two tips that have proved really worthwhile for me:

1) Cut back your laundry expenses - With homemade detergent, line drying and little hand-washing to stretch the frequency of using the washer. You can really feel the difference if you live in a &quot;pay per wash&quot; apartment like we do.

2) Try sprouts to cut back your grocery expenses - They offer all the health benefits of fresh produce without costing half as much. I agree that you can&#039;t totally shut down using vegetables and fruits but the sprouts will stretch your grocery dollars in a pinch. They are easy to make and healthy too.

I have covered it in detail here
http://learningtherope.blogspot.com/2008/07/sprouts-easy-quick-healthy-versatile.html
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I have two tips that have proved really worthwhile for me:</p>
<p>1) Cut back your laundry expenses &#8211; With homemade detergent, line drying and little hand-washing to stretch the frequency of using the washer. You can really feel the difference if you live in a &#8220;pay per wash&#8221; apartment like we do.</p>
<p>2) Try sprouts to cut back your grocery expenses &#8211; They offer all the health benefits of fresh produce without costing half as much. I agree that you can&#8217;t totally shut down using vegetables and fruits but the sprouts will stretch your grocery dollars in a pinch. They are easy to make and healthy too.</p>
<p>I have covered it in detail here<br />
<a href="http://learningtherope.blogspot.com/2008/07/sprouts-easy-quick-healthy-versatile.html" rel="nofollow">http://learningtherope.blogspot.com/2008/07/sprouts-easy-quick-healthy-versatile.html</a></p>
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		<title>By: Lea</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281456</link>
		<dc:creator>Lea</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 16:43:29 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281456</guid>
		<description>.. our big thing was our house... I wanted a huge victorian what we could comfortably afford was an old farm house with about 1100square feet... Then there was the realization if God felt I needed to live in 1100 sq. feet... He must think I only needed 1100 sq feet of stuff... with 4 grown boys and 20 years later... we&#039;ve been debt free for years... got all but one through college or career choice ( youngest is still 17).. and are able to live well in this economy
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>.. our big thing was our house&#8230; I wanted a huge victorian what we could comfortably afford was an old farm house with about 1100square feet&#8230; Then there was the realization if God felt I needed to live in 1100 sq. feet&#8230; He must think I only needed 1100 sq feet of stuff&#8230; with 4 grown boys and 20 years later&#8230; we&#8217;ve been debt free for years&#8230; got all but one through college or career choice ( youngest is still 17).. and are able to live well in this economy</p>
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		<title>By: MaryAnn</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281455</link>
		<dc:creator>MaryAnn</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:54:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281455</guid>
		<description>I am all for living frugally, but not at someone else&#039;s expense.  A previous poster commented that her family has not signed up for internet service and that they simply use a neighbor&#039;s unsecured connection.  Unless that neighbor is aware and has given them permission - and I hope that is the case here - that&#039;s theft.

A better idea would be to use the internet connection at the local library.  Just my two cents.

********************
Money Saving Mom here: I agree, MaryAnn. If you don&#039;t have permission to use something, you shouldn&#039;t use it.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am all for living frugally, but not at someone else&#8217;s expense.  A previous poster commented that her family has not signed up for internet service and that they simply use a neighbor&#8217;s unsecured connection.  Unless that neighbor is aware and has given them permission &#8211; and I hope that is the case here &#8211; that&#8217;s theft.</p>
<p>A better idea would be to use the internet connection at the local library.  Just my two cents.</p>
<p>********************<br />
Money Saving Mom here: I agree, MaryAnn. If you don&#8217;t have permission to use something, you shouldn&#8217;t use it.</p>
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		<title>By: Sara</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281454</link>
		<dc:creator>Sara</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:34:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281454</guid>
		<description>I just have to agree with whole-heartedly with one of your posts! PRAY!
So many times we&#039;ve needed something that we couldn&#039;t quite afford, or DH didn&#039;t want to buy unless it was dirt cheap.
I&#039;ve found that if I pray, and ask God for the things we need, He almost always provides them (if not, we didn&#039;t really need it did we?). When I scour the stores and online trying so hard myself to find the thing we needed, I almost never can find anything. But when I pray, God provides it easily and always in an affordable way! And so many times I&#039;ve been overwhelmed by how God will provide things for us out of nowhere that I secretly wanted, but knew we would never get any time soon. He is so GOOD!
Instead of going to Him as a last resort, pray first, and you may end up being amazed!!
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I just have to agree with whole-heartedly with one of your posts! PRAY!<br />
So many times we&#8217;ve needed something that we couldn&#8217;t quite afford, or DH didn&#8217;t want to buy unless it was dirt cheap.<br />
I&#8217;ve found that if I pray, and ask God for the things we need, He almost always provides them (if not, we didn&#8217;t really need it did we?). When I scour the stores and online trying so hard myself to find the thing we needed, I almost never can find anything. But when I pray, God provides it easily and always in an affordable way! And so many times I&#8217;ve been overwhelmed by how God will provide things for us out of nowhere that I secretly wanted, but knew we would never get any time soon. He is so GOOD!<br />
Instead of going to Him as a last resort, pray first, and you may end up being amazed!!</p>
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		<title>By: Kasey</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281453</link>
		<dc:creator>Kasey</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 15:00:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281453</guid>
		<description>The best way I&#039;ve found to live on little is to find your joy in life&#039;s blessings, and to fill your time with worthwhile pursuits that don&#039;t cost you money- that way you don&#039;t have time to sit around and think about the &quot;stuff&quot; you don&#039;t have!

For me- I do scrapbooking and paper crafting, which can be expensive if you want it to be, or you can go to a craft store and spend only a few dollars on items that will last you a month! I also enjoy running, reading books from the library and working in the garden, all free and fulfilling.

I also try to show my kids the wonder in the world around them- I encourage them to have fun just being kids- riding bikes, playing in the dirt, walking through the woods and collecting leaves and rocks, splashing in the tub. That&#039;s how children throughout the last few hundred years have grown up, and society has fared pretty well!

Overall, just recognize that it&#039;s the simple things in life that most people are missing out on because they are constantly trying to fill the void with stuff! Don&#039;t worry about the stuff! Rather than spending money, spend time! Spend time with your family, spend time getting to know yourself, spend time helping others, spend time just looking at the world around you and feeling grateful to God for your blessings. The more time you invest in yourself and others, the less money you will feel inclined to spend, and you will be far richer and far happier than those whose lives revolve around their bank accounts.

Okay, my sermon is done. :-)
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The best way I&#8217;ve found to live on little is to find your joy in life&#8217;s blessings, and to fill your time with worthwhile pursuits that don&#8217;t cost you money- that way you don&#8217;t have time to sit around and think about the &#8220;stuff&#8221; you don&#8217;t have!</p>
<p>For me- I do scrapbooking and paper crafting, which can be expensive if you want it to be, or you can go to a craft store and spend only a few dollars on items that will last you a month! I also enjoy running, reading books from the library and working in the garden, all free and fulfilling.</p>
<p>I also try to show my kids the wonder in the world around them- I encourage them to have fun just being kids- riding bikes, playing in the dirt, walking through the woods and collecting leaves and rocks, splashing in the tub. That&#8217;s how children throughout the last few hundred years have grown up, and society has fared pretty well!</p>
<p>Overall, just recognize that it&#8217;s the simple things in life that most people are missing out on because they are constantly trying to fill the void with stuff! Don&#8217;t worry about the stuff! Rather than spending money, spend time! Spend time with your family, spend time getting to know yourself, spend time helping others, spend time just looking at the world around you and feeling grateful to God for your blessings. The more time you invest in yourself and others, the less money you will feel inclined to spend, and you will be far richer and far happier than those whose lives revolve around their bank accounts.</p>
<p>Okay, my sermon is done. <img src='http://moneysavingmom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
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		<title>By: Helene</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281452</link>
		<dc:creator>Helene</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:31:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281452</guid>
		<description>This is great. I&#039;m new to the blogging (frugal) world. I love the list especially since my mortgage takes up almost 50% of my income as a single parent.
I especially like the &quot;don&#039;t buy expensive gifts.&quot;
I graduated college with a bachelor&#039;s degree this past June after 30 years since high school of trying. I dreamed of an Oprah-style party :-)
The only gift I got was amazing. A friend I had watched go all the way to a doctorate (someone whose focus I kept as inspiration) made an 8 hour drive one-way to take me out to lunch to celebrate since he couldn&#039;t be at the ceremony. After he left I kept bursting into tears for at least 4 days :-) I used to think expensive meant great.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is great. I&#8217;m new to the blogging (frugal) world. I love the list especially since my mortgage takes up almost 50% of my income as a single parent.<br />
I especially like the &#8220;don&#8217;t buy expensive gifts.&#8221;<br />
I graduated college with a bachelor&#8217;s degree this past June after 30 years since high school of trying. I dreamed of an Oprah-style party <img src='http://moneysavingmom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /><br />
The only gift I got was amazing. A friend I had watched go all the way to a doctorate (someone whose focus I kept as inspiration) made an 8 hour drive one-way to take me out to lunch to celebrate since he couldn&#8217;t be at the ceremony. After he left I kept bursting into tears for at least 4 days <img src='http://moneysavingmom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' />  I used to think expensive meant great.</p>
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		<title>By: Hannelore</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281451</link>
		<dc:creator>Hannelore</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:07:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281451</guid>
		<description>&quot;Recycle&quot; your children&#039;s clothing. By this, I mean to buy from the thrift store and after they wear the clothing, sell it at consignment to make some money on it. My children are very well dressed on thrift store/garage sale finds. I am constantly amazed at what people give to Goodwill. I frequently find Ralph Lauren items/expensive boutique dresses/nice shoes that look like they were never worn for $1. I also frequently sell them (after we&#039;re done with them) for MORE than I paid for them. Then, I take the money I make and buy more clothes. I only have to ask my husband for a small clothing allowance (say $100 for 5 children-3 boys, 2 girls) a couple times a year and this is ususally for items like shoes, underwear, socks, special outfits, or things I have not been able to find elsewhere. I am not discouraging giving hand-me-downs to others (we have both done this and been the thankful recipients of such hand-me-downs!), but I do think it is good stewardship to make some money where I can to lessen my clothing budget.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>&#8220;Recycle&#8221; your children&#8217;s clothing. By this, I mean to buy from the thrift store and after they wear the clothing, sell it at consignment to make some money on it. My children are very well dressed on thrift store/garage sale finds. I am constantly amazed at what people give to Goodwill. I frequently find Ralph Lauren items/expensive boutique dresses/nice shoes that look like they were never worn for $1. I also frequently sell them (after we&#8217;re done with them) for MORE than I paid for them. Then, I take the money I make and buy more clothes. I only have to ask my husband for a small clothing allowance (say $100 for 5 children-3 boys, 2 girls) a couple times a year and this is ususally for items like shoes, underwear, socks, special outfits, or things I have not been able to find elsewhere. I am not discouraging giving hand-me-downs to others (we have both done this and been the thankful recipients of such hand-me-downs!), but I do think it is good stewardship to make some money where I can to lessen my clothing budget.</p>
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		<title>By: Chris from St. Mary's</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281450</link>
		<dc:creator>Chris from St. Mary's</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:42:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281450</guid>
		<description>The link is working for me.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The link is working for me.</p>
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		<title>By: Kristine</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281449</link>
		<dc:creator>Kristine</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:42:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281449</guid>
		<description>One thing we did recently was get rid of our cable.  We downgraded from basic cable to the basic basic service which is essentially &quot;bunny ears&quot; through the cable company.  We get the major networks, PBS and a couple other random stations for $10/month.  I wasn&#039;t ready to give up TV altogether, but this way saves us about $50/month.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One thing we did recently was get rid of our cable.  We downgraded from basic cable to the basic basic service which is essentially &#8220;bunny ears&#8221; through the cable company.  We get the major networks, PBS and a couple other random stations for $10/month.  I wasn&#8217;t ready to give up TV altogether, but this way saves us about $50/month.</p>
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		<title>By: Leisa</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281448</link>
		<dc:creator>Leisa</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 13:09:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281448</guid>
		<description>First, I want to tell you how much I LOVE your blog!  I learn so much from it and it is a tremendous encouragement to me.  I checked out the Frugal Gifts link (which worked fine for me) and have my Christmas gift list over half completed (with what will be lovely but very inexpensive gifts), which is nothing short of a miracle for me.  Usually I am frantically searching the mall on December 23 for ANYTHING I can find...not this year though!  Thanks again for all the great ideas!
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>First, I want to tell you how much I LOVE your blog!  I learn so much from it and it is a tremendous encouragement to me.  I checked out the Frugal Gifts link (which worked fine for me) and have my Christmas gift list over half completed (with what will be lovely but very inexpensive gifts), which is nothing short of a miracle for me.  Usually I am frantically searching the mall on December 23 for ANYTHING I can find&#8230;not this year though!  Thanks again for all the great ideas!</p>
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		<title>By: Seesawstar</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281447</link>
		<dc:creator>Seesawstar</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:43:11 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281447</guid>
		<description>My suggestion is not to sign up for Internet, cable, or home phone service.  Our TV was broken in our recent move and we&#039;re waiting for the moving company to compensate us, so I wasn&#039;t going to sign up for cable and pay for it while not having a TV to watch the cable on.  So far, we&#039;re spending more quality family time and reading more.  We already decided not to get home phone service, because we only use our cell phones - for an additional $20 towards our plan, we get more minutes than we can ever use, whereas any home phone service is over $20 in this area.  As for internet service - we&#039;re piggy-backing off someone in the neighborhood without a secured connection.  Just by not getting these three &quot;essential&quot; things, we save nearly $100 a month.

We&#039;re only going to be here for 4 more months, so our family challenge is not to get phone/Internet/cable while here.  Besides, it&#039;s not worth the hassle to set it up only to cancel in 2 months.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>My suggestion is not to sign up for Internet, cable, or home phone service.  Our TV was broken in our recent move and we&#8217;re waiting for the moving company to compensate us, so I wasn&#8217;t going to sign up for cable and pay for it while not having a TV to watch the cable on.  So far, we&#8217;re spending more quality family time and reading more.  We already decided not to get home phone service, because we only use our cell phones &#8211; for an additional $20 towards our plan, we get more minutes than we can ever use, whereas any home phone service is over $20 in this area.  As for internet service &#8211; we&#8217;re piggy-backing off someone in the neighborhood without a secured connection.  Just by not getting these three &#8220;essential&#8221; things, we save nearly $100 a month.</p>
<p>We&#8217;re only going to be here for 4 more months, so our family challenge is not to get phone/Internet/cable while here.  Besides, it&#8217;s not worth the hassle to set it up only to cancel in 2 months.</p>
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		<title>By: Rachelle/mamabear</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281446</link>
		<dc:creator>Rachelle/mamabear</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:39:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281446</guid>
		<description>Crystal-

I was not sure where to post this. I just wanted to tell you and your readers I have a nice FREE Give Away on my blog. It starts today and runs till 8/14/08.I thought someone may enjoy a free gift basket! Good Luck
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Crystal-</p>
<p>I was not sure where to post this. I just wanted to tell you and your readers I have a nice FREE Give Away on my blog. It starts today and runs till 8/14/08.I thought someone may enjoy a free gift basket! Good Luck</p>
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	<item>
		<title>By: holly</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281445</link>
		<dc:creator>holly</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:23:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281445</guid>
		<description>I found other ways to meet our needs. In 1990 cross stitch was popular. I made all of our gifts. When I went to have one framed she asked me to cross stitch pieces for her to hang as display in her shop. I traded my cross stitching for materials and framing my gifts. I asked for a smocking class for my birthday gift ($75 back in 1989) and was able to dress my kids in the clothes I liked. I baby sat for extra money. I cleaned three classrooms each day to pay for my daughter&#039;s Christian school tuition.
There was a time I didn&#039;t even have money for garage sales. I made sure to get clothes or things we needed for Christmas and birthdays from parents. I took good care of our good clothes b/c we couldn&#039;t go buy anything else.
I learned to cut up chickens and make one stretch for 3 meals( when it was just the 4 of us) and reduced 1# of hamburger to 3/4# to make it stretch, adding in beans and rice or pasta or potatoes.
Clothes were all seperates to make many outfits. Also, most of the fabrics could be worn 3 seasons if you stick with cottons and colors that are not specifically summer or winter looking. (Khakis over cordoroy, just add a sweater over tops)
Number ONE- when we have been at our most financially tight times I never allowed myself to hold onto things or money or food. Continue to entertain and give to others even if you look at it and it is all you have for the week. God is so good, and He always returns what you need. When you entertain have the others bring part of the meal and share together. Stretch what you have with fillers like beans and rice.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I found other ways to meet our needs. In 1990 cross stitch was popular. I made all of our gifts. When I went to have one framed she asked me to cross stitch pieces for her to hang as display in her shop. I traded my cross stitching for materials and framing my gifts. I asked for a smocking class for my birthday gift ($75 back in 1989) and was able to dress my kids in the clothes I liked. I baby sat for extra money. I cleaned three classrooms each day to pay for my daughter&#8217;s Christian school tuition.<br />
There was a time I didn&#8217;t even have money for garage sales. I made sure to get clothes or things we needed for Christmas and birthdays from parents. I took good care of our good clothes b/c we couldn&#8217;t go buy anything else.<br />
I learned to cut up chickens and make one stretch for 3 meals( when it was just the 4 of us) and reduced 1# of hamburger to 3/4# to make it stretch, adding in beans and rice or pasta or potatoes.<br />
Clothes were all seperates to make many outfits. Also, most of the fabrics could be worn 3 seasons if you stick with cottons and colors that are not specifically summer or winter looking. (Khakis over cordoroy, just add a sweater over tops)<br />
Number ONE- when we have been at our most financially tight times I never allowed myself to hold onto things or money or food. Continue to entertain and give to others even if you look at it and it is all you have for the week. God is so good, and He always returns what you need. When you entertain have the others bring part of the meal and share together. Stretch what you have with fillers like beans and rice.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Katy</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281444</link>
		<dc:creator>Katy</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 12:17:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281444</guid>
		<description>Wow, thanks for this post!  I&#039;m bookmarking it!  :-)

And to Rach, the gift ideas link DOES work for me...
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Wow, thanks for this post!  I&#8217;m bookmarking it!  <img src='http://moneysavingmom.com/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>And to Rach, the gift ideas link DOES work for me&#8230;</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Jennie</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281443</link>
		<dc:creator>Jennie</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:36:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281443</guid>
		<description>We make the most of our FREE dates by swapping babysitting with another family so that we both get free babysitters by alternating with each other.

Sometimes we are blessed with free movie tickets that come from grocery store promos too, and that&#039;s the only time we go to the movies!

We love redbox too because rentals are only $1 and we can watch at home and don&#039;t need a babysitter.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>We make the most of our FREE dates by swapping babysitting with another family so that we both get free babysitters by alternating with each other.</p>
<p>Sometimes we are blessed with free movie tickets that come from grocery store promos too, and that&#8217;s the only time we go to the movies!</p>
<p>We love redbox too because rentals are only $1 and we can watch at home and don&#8217;t need a babysitter.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Lauren</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281442</link>
		<dc:creator>Lauren</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:35:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281442</guid>
		<description>Hi, I just read your post and wondered if when you say you stayed out of debt does that include student loans?  Just wondering because both my husband and I are both in school.  Thanks for all your input here; it&#039;s been helpful to survive while this season of life.
Blessings, Lauren
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Hi, I just read your post and wondered if when you say you stayed out of debt does that include student loans?  Just wondering because both my husband and I are both in school.  Thanks for all your input here; it&#8217;s been helpful to survive while this season of life.<br />
Blessings, Lauren</p>
]]></content:encoded>
	</item>
	<item>
		<title>By: Jenni</title>
		<link>http://moneysavingmom.com/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html/comment-page-1#comment-281441</link>
		<dc:creator>Jenni</dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:34:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://moneysavingmom.net/2008/08/simple-tips-for.html#comment-281441</guid>
		<description>(1)Shop in your closets - I have a stash of arts and craft supplies that I&#039;ve accumulated over the past few years with the hope of making something from them (this includes watercolor, scrapbooking, etc.)  Instead of going out and buying anything for fun, I want to make a goal of using up my supplies this year.

(2) Start a book club or film club - I love libraries, too!  It can be fun to get another girlfriend or two in on a book club, and host in their own homes with homemade goodies and drinks.  Most libraries also have some foreign films, and you could have a food theme centered around the nationality of the film (French, or Asian, for example).

(3)Start a garden!  It&#039;s great if you have your own backyard, but also fun if you can get a plot at a community garden.  Our plot costs us only $25 a year to rent, and is ample enough to plant all sorts of veggies, and organic too!  Instead of feeling like I&#039;m missing out on something by not going shopping, I go to my garden every few days to see what&#039;s growing.
</description>
		<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>(1)Shop in your closets &#8211; I have a stash of arts and craft supplies that I&#8217;ve accumulated over the past few years with the hope of making something from them (this includes watercolor, scrapbooking, etc.)  Instead of going out and buying anything for fun, I want to make a goal of using up my supplies this year.</p>
<p>(2) Start a book club or film club &#8211; I love libraries, too!  It can be fun to get another girlfriend or two in on a book club, and host in their own homes with homemade goodies and drinks.  Most libraries also have some foreign films, and you could have a food theme centered around the nationality of the film (French, or Asian, for example).</p>
<p>(3)Start a garden!  It&#8217;s great if you have your own backyard, but also fun if you can get a plot at a community garden.  Our plot costs us only $25 a year to rent, and is ample enough to plant all sorts of veggies, and organic too!  Instead of feeling like I&#8217;m missing out on something by not going shopping, I go to my garden every few days to see what&#8217;s growing.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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