I find this a good way of getting things done without feeling like I’m working all day.

I used to do 15min on 15min off when I was low in energy.

Today I’m doing it a little differently because I have different objectives to accomplish.

I want to read more bible, so that’s one 15min. I want to get housework done, so that’s another 15min.

I want to limit my time on the computer, so that’s another 15 mins and I want to finish a jumper I’m crocheting, so that’s the 4th 15min per hour.

I’ve set my timer for 15mins and am just starting it again at the end of each period.

I’ve also allowed 30min break for food/doing nothing at the end of each 2 hour block of 15mins.

So by about 7.30pm tonight I’ll have done 1hr 30 mins of work, bible reading, crochet and computer time and break for meals.

I think that is a pretty productive day!

What is Grace? According to Dictionary.com grace is:
the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God;
the influence or Spirit of God operating in humans to regenerate or strengthen them;
Also called state of grace. the condition of being in God’s favor or one of the elect.

So when I chose to believe that Jesus saved all of humanity, including me, when He took on the sins on the world and died of the cross He extended GRACE to us and now calls me one of the elect.
Also daily the Holy Spirit operates with GRACE in my life (and body) regenerating and strengthening me (as I go from glory to glory).
Both of these aspects of GRACE are freely given, unmerited favor and love of God which is more GRACE!  Grace upon grace.

The crux of Joel’s message was that God’s grace is sufficient always but we only need it for today.  Today is where we live.  Our minds might be in the past where we can’t change things or in the future where we can’t influence things but today is where we live and where our minds should be.  Practicing the Presence of God by Brother Lawerence was one of the most influential books of my life.  It changed many things, but mostly it introduced me to NOW.  God is here NOW.  You are here NOW.  You only have this second. Live NOW.  God’s GRACE is NOW (yet eternal).  We can rely on His Grace always, especially now.

My now is Sunday.  I am listening to quiet small birds enjoying coolness.  I am hearing the hum of the computer and the morning movements of people in the house starting their day.  I’m thinking of what to cook for the week as I shop on Mondays and I’m thinking of what I’ll be doing to relax today.  I try to treat Sunday as a rest day in my mind because otherwise I feel like I never stop.  In reality, the household needs never stop, of course, we eat daily, we do things daily and these things need to be cleaned up after.  But I give myself leniency on a Sunday to sit longer in between.  To do more crochet. To read more online.  To play more games.  To not exercise.  To do simple yet indulgent meals.  I guess it’s a kind of grace.

Groceries: I like to think about the week’s meals in advance because as I become more busy on shopping day my mind tends to become stressed and overwhelmed and I just want to get the whole thing over with and get home again.  The girls could be in a talkative mood or want to show me lots of things I’m not even looking for or I’m feeling a bit off with a headache or something else, so I can’t really think clearly and forget things if they aren’t on the list.  So the list has to be finalised.

I tend to be the only one to write on the shopping list now, even though it’s posted on the fridge, because it was becoming a wishlist instead.  Things that the girls wanted me to buy, not what we needed, started appearing.  Such as chocolate, soft drinks and other junk food.  Of course I do buy these things sometimes, but they’re definately not NEEDED.  I plan dinners down to the ingredients needed.  We are all pretty boring when it comes to breakfast and eat the same thing, so that is supplied.  Also with lunches, but not quite so boring, so I keep the fridge and cupboard supplied with enough ingredients for my family to get their breakfasts and lunches.  I ask what would be wanted for different meals and sometimes specific things for other meals are requested also.

I try to plan according to weather, seasonal availability and recent meals. We go around and around on the same meals much of the time, but you can only eat so much of the same thing.  Recently I’ve be trying to introduce one new meal a week.  Something a little different to what we would usually eat, such as Polenta Stuffed Capsicum or Ratatouille.  This week I think I’ll try a Chili.  Something I’ve never made and only eaten a few times because my Mum doesn’t like and can’t eat spicy foods, so I have limited experienced with it.  Just this morning I read three different recipes for Vegetable Chili from three different sources!  I think I have to give it a go.  Hope the family likes it.

Growth: This, trying something new each week, is a kind of growth for me because I’m a relatively new Vegetarian.  It’s so nice to have the energy to try new things and not be overwhelmed and too exhausted to do it.  My growth over the past few months has been mainly in the health and nutrition areas of life, but before that (and during) it’s been spiritual.  I’ve grown in many ways with God and am so thankful for it.  I’m glad He isn’t distant like people think He is.  I’m glad He cares for the little things in life and works it all together for good.

A picture for today…”Tabby Meow”

This is our stray that came to stay with us for 10 months before passing away from complications from lymphoma.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

Lots to look at and lots to create.

http://www.favecrafts.com/

EXPLODING THE MYTH OF CHEAP FAST FOOD

One fast food corporation currently has a ‘meal deal’; for $4.95, you get a cheeseburger, a small soft drink, small fries, and an ice cream sundae.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? And $5.00 is nothing, right? But let’s say you have to buy three meal deals – that’s not $4.95 – that’s $14.85! Now, factor in the petrol you use driving to the fast food outlet, and while waiting in the drive-thru – add $3.00. If someone wants to upsize or have M&Ms in their sundae – another $3.00. A therapeutic cappuccino for Mum – yet another $3.00.
Suddenly, our original $14.85 fast food treat has blown out to $23.85!

For a little less, I could buy this list at the supermarket:

500g extra lean mince, $5.99
Hamburger rolls, $1.99
Cheese slices, $3.49
1.25ltr lemonade, $0.69c
2ltr premium light ice cream, $2.99
Chocolate wafers, $0.65c
Frozen French fries, $1.99
10 sachets of cappuccino or latte mix, $4.49

Total: $22.28

That $22.28 actually has the potential to save me buying:

15 cheeseburgers @ $1.95 = $29.25
5 toasted sandwiches on the go @ $3.00 = $15 10 ice cream sundaes @ $2.00 = $20
8 fast food soft drinks @ $2.00 = $16
Side dish of fries for dinner @ $4.00 at the fish and chip shop 10 cappuccinos @ $4.00 = $40

Total: $124.25

So a saving of $101.97 for my $22.28 spend! While fast food appears to be cheap at face value, it might not be the bargain you think it is. Always ask whether the ‘face value’ cost is all you’ll pay – it probably won’t be!

To find out more about Simple Savings, visit their website, it’s all self-explanatory.  I’ve been a member for 4 or 5 years now and believe it is worth the money.

Serves 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children (hubby wanted more!)

Put 1/3 – 1/2 of 500g packet uncooked tri-colour vegetable spiral pasta in a casserole (3L).  Drain a 420g tin tuna (in springwater), break up with a fork to desired size of chunks then mix in a can of cream of celery soup, 250ml cheese sauce and some pepper.  Pour over pasta and add a little water to make sure pasta is completely wet.  Grate some cheese over (about a cup if you want it really cheesey).  Add 1/2 to 1 cup of mixed frozen veg (or just peas and corn if you prefer – basically getting some veg in there, improvise!) Bake in 180.c/350.f oven with lid on for 45min remove lid and bake for a further 15min.  Serve up and dig in!

We discuss vegetable and fruit gardening, slowing down and being mindful, cooking simple food, keeping chickens and worms, composting, green cleaning, stockpiling and preserving, living well on a small amount of money, working within the community and how to change the habits of a consumer to those of a conserver.

Rhonda Jean uses friendly conversation with bits of life journal to convey to younger people (and others) how to find your own brand of simple living.  She intersperses her posts with photos of her home including her garden and crafts. I find it very inspiring, and so do all the readers.  She welcomes comments and replies in a bit of a forum threadlike fashion.

She posts on the idea of simple living from time to time as well as what she is doing.  Below is an excerpt from one of her posts.

Whatever your circumstances are, you can fashion a life that will simplify your daily tasks, help you nurture yourself and your family and lead you to discover that a simple life is like a patchwork – it’s pieced together slowly, unpicked sometimes, composed of a mish-mash of colours and textures and is different for everyone, depending on the fabric of your life. But when one stands back from a completed patchwork, it’s complexity becomes apparent. It’s no longer pieces of this and that, it builds into a functional piece that gives warmth, beauty and comfort.

If you like the idea of slowing down and jumping off the neverending treadmill of the ratrace, no matter where you are, take the time to read her blog.  It will be well worth it.

Down To Earth – Rhonda Jean

Excerpt from “Not the step-by-step guide to simple living”

To be prepared in the event of a loss of our home or assets, an insurance loss adjuster gave me some tips today on how to expedite a full claim, it necessary, as well as answer many questions that you will be asked by bankers, government and other bureaucracies.

Some of the tips are:

·        Scan all your personal documents such as:

o   Insurance policies

o   Registration papers – vehicle

o   Drivers licences

o   Property titles

o   Valuation certificates

o   Marriage licence

o   House plans

o   Building permits

o   Prepare a list of account numbers – utilities, banks etc. And a separate list of PIN numbers

o   List of names/addresses/ contact numbers for family/ friends

·        Prepare a detailed inventory of all items in your home – room by room – don’t forget garage and garden sheds

·        List collections piece by piece e.g. CD’s – list each title of all CD’s

·        Clothing- count everything and list e.g. 20 pairs of socks

·        List all of garden features and valuable plants/ features

·        Take photos of all collection pieces.

·        Take photos of the property from different angles – including garden and outdoor features

·        Include aerial photos – Google earth is helpful.

Once you have all of these details, burn a CD or put on a memory stick and then keep in a safe place.- remember where it is.

Update this information at least annually or when you have made a substantial addition to assets etc.

This will assist in returning life back to a bit of normality in very stressful and trying times.

Let us all hope that we never need to refer to this list.

I can’t promise more money coming into your possession, but I can outline some things that I’ve learnt that can make the money you receive cover more of your expenses.

A budget according to dictionary.com is: an estimate, often itemized, of expected income and expense for a given period in the future.

Economy actually means the same thing but is applied to a working system already and concentrates on the frugality of it, making it cost the least amount possible.  I was floored to read that an obsolete use of the term was to run a household!  This should be the most common use of all…perhaps we can turn that around!

In saying all that lets see what we need to do in this time of global economic crisis and in some parts of the world, recession.  We need to look at every cent (or whatever your smallest denomination of money is) and account for it.

1 Get yourself a piece of paper and a pen.

2 Write down how much money comes into your household from work, government benefits, interest from the bank, any other earnings. This is your total income.

3 Write down ALL expenses for a given period (a year is a good one).  Mortgage/rent, electricity/gas, water, insurance, cost of licensing, running and maintaining all vehicles, medical bills, travel expenses (bus, train), parking expenses, food shopping, other shopping, entertainment, gifts (birthday/christmas), hobbies, school books, school fees, takeaway meals…everything in your life that you have to pay for.  This may take a long time, or if you’re really organised not long at all.  Please don’t estimate everything because if you are finding it hard to make ends meet then there is something you may be underestimating your spending in one or several areas.  Keep receipts, ask for receipts if the person doesn’t automatically give one.  This total number you come up with is your expenditure.

4 Now that you have a number for both, it’s reconciliation time.  Time to see how the numbers compare.  The first number, your income should be bigger than your second.  If it isn’t, that is your goal.

There are two was to do this and I’m only covering one.  The ways are – make more money and reduce spending.  We are looking at the reduce spending side, which feels like you make more money if you do it right.

5 You need to look at your expenditure list again.  Closely because something HAS to give.  You have to make choices to take control of your life.  Do you do anything that is needless spending?

For example  -drive your car to work and pay for parking

- get takeaway breakfast, lunches or dinners (or all three) because you are pushed for time or are not organised

- need to keep up the Joneses (who may be in a worse situation with you so don’t covet their life)

- buy the kids everything that they ask for, no matter the cost

- drinking alcohol or smoking

I could go on, but you get the idea.  What do you do to combat these things?

- take public transport if possible, this cuts costs and reduces wear and tear on your vehicle.

- organise your pantry/freezer and put together a meal plan, and follow it

- be satisfied with the possessions you own and look after them, mend them if broken instead of throwing them away

- don’t buy the kids everything they want.  They won’t die, really.  You have to be tough and teach them, surely they’ve heard of the economic crisis, if not, tell them about it.

- drinking and alcohol are huge drains of money if you let them be.  There is no nutritional benefit (although some can argue the once a day wine etc).  Let me put it this way, there is not documentation of someone being worse of or dying because they didn’t smoke or drink…think about it.

While saying all this, there is also something called false economy.   Something that people practice everyday, unfortunately.  They think they’re getting a great deal by buying the whole pumpkins that are on special, so they buy it instead of the 1/4  they usually buy.  DON’T.  Just buy what you need.  You can cut your spending.  You can also cut your rubbish/trash.  Most people in Australia throw away 1/3 of their groceries!  This is madness.  Say you have 3 meals in your week with potatoes and you need 2 potatoes at a time – just buy 6 potatoes, don’t buy the whole 4kg bag, it’s more than likely that you aren’t going to use it all before they die.

Now you can take this a step further after a while or if you’re already at this stage.  Look at the nutritional value of the food you already eat.  Do you drink a lot of coffee?  Perhaps you can cut down and add in some cups of tea, tea is WAY cheaper.  Or instead drink some water, they’re always telling us to do that!  Do you buy those little packets of museli bars wrapped in three layers of plastic?  You know a bag full of bags of bars all nicely organised in a plastic tray?  How much of the cost contributes to the packaging?  Try making your own snacks or buy fresh fruit and do the old fashioned lunch box for work.  You may feel a little dorky but look around, a lot of others do it too.

Some thing has got to give in this current situation, don’t let it be you.