Monday, December 05, 2005

Lifestyles of the Average and Unspoken

My mom lamented the start of another workweek. She moaned, "You are so lucky you don't have to work!"
I thought for a minute and replied, "You know what? I am lucky, but I work very hard not to go to work!"

How frustrating when a friend wishes she could have "your lifestyle" or complains about never having any money, yet consistently makes choices that prevent her from coming home. The unspoken, "behind the scenes" work is what keeps our household under budget. I'm all for squeezing the most lifestyle from our paycheck, but maybe I'm doing too well concealing how little we actually spend. How do you strike the right balance between living well, by the world's standards, and being known as the tightwad on the block? Or should it even matter?

5 comments:

Mrs.Garcia said...

Thank you for posting about the Lifestyles of the Average and Unspoken. I really enkoyed reading this. I was wondering besides Buying Homes fixing them up living in them at least two years and then selling them what other tips,suggestions, or advice can you give me to help generate some extra income coming in to our home so that My Dear Sweet Loving Husband is not Bearing the Full Load(the Burden all on his Sholders). Thank you for your help in this issue and Matter.

Meredith said...

The Proverbs 31 woman had several profitable enterprises, but I'm saving that for another season in my life. Right now my first priority is being wife and mother. I ease my husband's burden by being available to him, emotionally and physically, as he writes his doctoral dissertation at night and manages the details of his new job in the day. I ease his burden by constantly showing contentment in what we have. I ease his burden by creatively stretching the income he provides, and when the budget snaps, by doing without. I would still like to develop a business for my own satisfaction and income, but for now, being wife and mom is enough for me.

There are many resources online for beginning a home business. Crystal from http://biblicalwomanhoodonline.com has a complete course for women and a book called Homegrown Business that might give you more ideas.

Headmistress, zookeeper said...

Fantastic post. We have been told by people driving brand new cars and living in homes with new built in swimming pools how 'lucky' I am that I can stay home and don't have to work.

Both my hubby and I work very, very hard to make sure I can stay home.

Headmistress, zookeeper said...

Fantastic post. We have been told by people driving brand new cars and living in homes with new built in swimming pools how 'lucky' I am that I can stay home and don't have to work.

Both my hubby and I work very, very hard to make sure I can stay home.

Monica Wilkinson said...

Yes, I have had the same comment and it all comes down to a matter of priorities and choices. I think it should not really matter if we are known as a tightwad - what should matter is what people see when they look at our lives, our family, our home. Is there love and peace there? Is there contentment and the love of God shining forth? That is what matters. Thank you for posting this! I am continually grateful that I can be at home. And I encourage my husband and thank him often for being supportive!