Frugality bringing you closer?

**ecomama** · 10-07-2011, 08:56 AM

Hello,

Granted it has only been a week or so since we've needed to tighten our belts. I've noticed some positive changes. We all eat at the table and the food is healthier. We needed to cancel after school activities so we are home. I have time to cook and we don't have any money to go out. The two girls still fight a bit....but not as much.

I asked the kids for ideas of how to save money and that we will get through this as a team. DD is packing lunches now: $60 a month savings! She is trying to save enough money out of the budget to get back into gymnastics. It is all a lesson. I hope she isn't too young to learn it though. I put it as a game and it is very little stress on them.

There is defiantely more dialog at the table. That has to be a good thing.

**Mojjo** · 10-07-2011, 10:47 AM

Yup...it did for us too.

**Ceashels** · 10-07-2011, 10:58 AM

When Greebo and I first started naming our money and budgeting, the whole experience of discussing our finances brought everything else closer together for us.

**janal14** · 10-08-2011, 08:28 AM

While we're ok financially right now - though that may become more difficult as I work on the process of applying for disability - I'm a pretty frugal shopper, and it has brought both my fiancee and I closer, as well as given us more things to do with his daughter. My fiancee and I love shopping at thrift stores together, even if we don't end up buying anything, and he's great to bounce ideas off of for what I'm going to make with my frugal grocery finds. He let me rave about my first trip to the bent and dent store yesterday for 15 minutes...he wants to go with me in a few weeks. In addition, we buy most everything clothes wise for ourselves and his daughter at the thrift stores - she likes going with us and hunting for 'treasures'.

We have also been able to accumulate quite a board game closet through very careful thrift shopping - got to make sure all the pieces are still there, you know. We spend a lot of time playing games together, and we would NEVER have been able to afford the extensive collection that we have if we had to buy it at full price - we wouldn't even have a quarter of what we have now.

**perSue** · 10-08-2011, 10:04 AM

ecomama, i've noticed the very same things in my family. we eat more together, less take out, dh packs his lunches most days (better than not at all previously!), we eat seasonally and dh is starting to appreciate leftovers (something he wouldn't eat before).

so, small things, but they add up so quickly! it's definitely nice.

**pollypurebred39** · 10-08-2011, 01:28 PM

Well, yes and no.

Yes in that we are in that do or die Walton's kind of mentality where we all have to do our part to keep our ship from sinking. Our family has become bonded in a way that would never have been if not for these hard times.

No in that keeping our ship from sinking is hard work and togetherness is a thing of the past. Everyone is going in a thousand different directions and I stay here and keep the home fires burning. I think all of us are quite lonely and miss each other.

**Menifeemom** · 10-08-2011, 04:24 PM

It has been bringing us closer. We have been cooking together, playing more games, and enjoying storytime as a family. The girls have gotten excited about planning fun events for the family like picnic dinners on the carpet, craft nights, and etc to replace the activities we used to pay for. Overall it has helped strengthen us as a family.