Lately I have read, seen and heard so many things that make me think about what makes a good steward. I am still amazed every day (not sure why) at the things some people do. Truly, nothing should surprise me anymore - but it does.
I think being a good steward involves EVERYTHING in life. How we manage and take care of all aspects of life.
Sunday, SAM responded with the question - what is frugal? I think Sam is very overwhelmed at this moment in life, and she asked that question in an exasperated way! Sometimes, we get into a season of life where we are spending a lot for one reason or another. Well, that happens. We are trying to rectify our lives and get things in order and make a new way - and spending happens. It is OK! Life happens.
Other times in life we are overwhelmed with stuff (I think many can relate) and we feel the urgent need to get rid of it. Even that is being a good steward. We are maintaining our home and our sanity and donating and gifting to others! That is good.
I saw a story on the computer about an actor, who is an Emmy winner, and has an estimated net worth of 5 million. He is an actor, singer, producer, writer, etc. (By the way I had never heard of him before). Anyway, he was complaining that he now has to sell his home, because of the strike going on in the industry. 4 months in and a millionaire has to sell. Hmmmmm, sounds like not good planning to me. Maybe living above ones means? There was talk of the strike for ages - yet he didn't prepare. Now I know I shouldn't judge - but this just sounds like "poor me" and an attention getter. Sorry, but I don't feel sorry for him. Yes, there are people in that industry that do make normal wages like most of us - them I have compassion for. We have all had situations arise that we were aware of in advance, and we planned and did our due diligence! We go and do something else if necessary to make ends meet.
Another story was about a lady in OH, who is 101 and is still working part time for JoAnn Fabric. Why? Because it keeps her young and active! She doesn't NEED the money - but she is using her mind and body in a proactive way! She still works and drives. That is a good steward! BRAVO
Friday, when I was at the grade school girls luncheon - one of the gals jokingly said - "should we all go back to work"? Oh, we all chuckled, and her response was, "well at least there would be help in the stores if we did". Good point! Just think if all the retired folks got a part time job, the work force would be fuller - of course, then someone would say they were taking jobs from others!!! There is no making some happy! You know what I mean.
It just seems so many do not want to work today. It does boggle my mind. I started at 15 and worked for everything I had or have. It is just what you did. But that is another story.
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I keep seeing the "use it up" or "every bit counts" challenge on sites and You Tube. Really - you have to make that a challenge? That is everyday life for many of us. We use everything we have, in some way or form, so as not to waste.
Many of us just do it! It is like for many of us, we know how much we have - so let us be responsible and use it and not waste it - before we get more. It is just smart and being a good steward.
Taking care of our clothes and our possessions, taking care of our pets, taking care of our families and friends, helping nature, saving money, it is ALL being a good steward. The earth is our home, we are a part of it, let us take care of all we can.
Go out there today and do the best you can. Use it up, wear it out, make do or do without. Recycle what can be - donate what you will, mend things and help others and yourself. Make those pantries and freezers count and fully enjoy your wonderful bounties!!!
Be blessed!
Continue being the good stewards you are!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what is frugal? It doesn't matter at all how much $ you spend. Frugal is putting your $ where it matters to YOU! I have no qualms writing a $40k check or handing over a $5 for something meaningful to me.
ReplyDeleteLiving below my means for so many years means I can do just that!
Yes mam. Meaningful is a great word. Not frivolous but meaningful. I agree, did it for so long that is pays off now.
DeleteI had to think on this for a moment because honestly I've never thought of myself as necessarily frugal. I just do what I saw my grandparents and parents do. I agree with Elle where she said frugal is putting your money where it matters to you. My grandparents were probably the definition of frugal but they did spend a lot on travel because that was what they enjoyed. I've seen some of the videos on grocery 'hauls' and the 'every bit counts' challenges and they do not appeal to me.
ReplyDeleteI agree. It is a way of life and one we learned by watching. We do what just makes sense. Being happy with what you have and what you do.
DeleteThose do not appeal to me either.
Yes, use it up here is a regular occurrence around here.
ReplyDeleteThat is just what you do - it never ceases to amaze me that people need to be told to do that! LOL
DeleteI agree with you, Cheryl, that we need to be good stewards. Often people are so self centered and pleasure driven that they will indulge themselves no matter the harm they do to others and the planet. Just because you can afford to fly to Paris for lunch or coerce your friends and family to attend a destination wedding thousands of miles away, does not make it right. There is a climate crisis whether one chooses to deny it or not. When the water dries up and you are smelling your own waste because you cannot flush or the grid fails and you're suffocating in 3 digit heat, it will be time to fly off to a more moderate clime but most of the world's population do not have that option. Billions are suffering now. We who are privileged to have so much should not be such indiscriminate squanderers.
ReplyDeleteYes, those with LOTS of money indulge their every whim. I see some telling me to be mindful, as they fly off on their private jets for some other place to tell people the same thing. Shake my head.
DeleteGreat they can afford - it just doesn't make it right. Practice what you preach is my thinking!
We are so very privileged.
I also agree with Elle. Great post by the way, Cheryl. And yes, there are certainly times in our lives that cost more than other times. Our retirement move last year was pretty pricy! BUT we have a place to live out the rest of our lives.
ReplyDeleteThough still mindfully working through food stores, Safeway had prices good enough that Hubs will be there when they open. It isn't derailing from my August plan, because we have a kind of family co-op; all will be divided with son and BIL. They each live at least 1/2 hour from town. There are digital coupons for boneless beef sirloin steaks at $2.97 lb., Coffee Mate creamer 32 oz. size for $$1.97 ea. (normally $5.99), Lucerne 18 count cage free, large eggs at $2.47 ea., and no coupon items of Sanderson Farms whole chickens at 97 cents lb., 18 oz. fresh blueberries at $2.97 ea., and Dreyer's ice cream at $3.47 ea., limit 4. Friday Hubs will go back for Ragu Pasta sauce and Barilla pasta (3/$5), yellow peaches, nectarines and black plums (3 lbs./$5). This weekend son and BIL will take what they want to their homes. In turn, they pick up deals to share with us. BIL will give us fencing material, for example. You could do this with family, friends, neighbors, or co-workers.
The Proverbs woman was a business woman. At least one reader here buys goods at low prices to resell for a profit. My niece and God-daughter loves to find (and enjoy) designer goods at super low prices, then resells them when she's ready for a change. All are gently used by then. And she still makes money at it. If you have a passion for books, those can be purchased used, then resold when you're done with them. Might not be profit-making, but it's good stewardship.
I can't imagine working part time at this stage of my life. At least not until I have the foot/ankle surgery, which can no longer be put off. So many here do so much I (truthfully) can't do; I just do what I can.
--Elise
Hubs is back from Safeway. No whole chickens available.
DeleteTotal spent: $57.49
Total saved: $66.05
I agree. We save and have saved for the times we need or want something and do not have to go into extreme debt. That is what it is all about. Taking care of yourself and yours. I love that we can all do things that we want without worrying much. That makes life very enjoyable.
DeleteSo many ways to make a living and use things that keep the landfills clear. I love the reselling idea. SMART!
Good deals!
Elise, I don't see the P31 woman as a business woman. I see her as a dedicated carer of the home with a good head for business. Just my opinion lol.
DeleteYes, you're right, Debby. ;-)
Delete--Elise
P.S. and O.T., I have an appointment with the foot/ankle surgeon on the 21st and surgery will be scheduled for the worst of my two feet. It should be within 30 days of the appointment. When that's all done and healed (no pun intended, as I'll have pins in the heel) the less-severe-but-still-bad foot will need the same surgery. Yes, I'm nervous. Not of the surgeries themselves, but of the recovery.
Delete--Elise
Keep us posted and I'll definitely have you in prayer for that surgery. Will you be able to stay local?
DeleteEllie
Central Az
Glad you have an appointment scheduled. Hopefully you can have it done on the one and be feeling much better before the holidays! Keep us informed.
DeleteYes, Ellie, it will be done locally. This doc comes highly recommended, too. And yes, Cheryl, my hope is it will be healed/recovered in time for winter. Told Hubs this week it's been so long that I can't remember what it's like not to have pain when walking. --Elise
DeleteGood post today, as was yesterday's. I've eased up on the frugality out of necessity lately. Our life has changed, and certain allowances are necessary.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was still going to church, too many times stewardship was preached only as giving your money and time to the church. I would hope that in the past 20 years that churches have come to realize that stewardship extends to all aspects of one's life.
By the way, the two Red-Bellied Woodpeckers in yesterday's photo are a male and his juvenile offspring. He appears to teaching the youngster how to eat bugs off the bark of the tree.
--Frances in the Trailer Park
Frances, when planning for retirement, we tried to plan for the stages of retirement; there ARE stages and allowances DO need to be made. Churches around here still focus on stewardship as giving or tithing. Honestly, there's so much more to it than that. --Elise
DeleteI agree with you. Life changes at different stages in life as do our finances. The 'preaching' of money was the main reason I stopped going to 'traditional' church. It was very off-putting. We need to take care of ourselves and our families too.
DeleteThanks for that info - I thought it was a female. How cool - just shows that animals teach and take care of their own too. I love that. How sweet.
Hope you are both well!
Frances, our priest teaches time, talent, and treasure. It's especially nice when talents are shared. We have great ministries because of this. For a couple of years, there was a very talented man teaching wood carving. Oh, the creations!!
DeleteDebby, that's one of the reasons I've looked into returning. There's a collection every Sunday-as there is in any church-yet that doesn't seem to be the main focus. Events are held throughout the year to fundraise. Bake sales. Garage sales. Festivals. Craft fairs. Silent auctions. Some even host weekly Bingo. One about 1/2 hour from here has a Thrift Shop. In another direction, one rents out its Community Center for local events. A pizza parlor in our son's town donates a portion of its sales to the local Catholic food bank. In our area, the Catholic churches seem to do a LOT of outreach. --Elise
DeleteI'm not certain I consider myself frugal, as I do have a few indulgences that I tend to enjoy occasionally - travel being the most expensive of those. But even my travel is done as inexpensively as possible. My flights for my next cruise were a bargain at $228 return from Fort Lauderdale to Saskatchewan. I was able to use AirMile points to pay for the flights so I'm only paying for taxes and fees.
ReplyDeleteI've become better, since retirement, at the reduce, re-use, and recycle. Being in the office came with coffee and lunch invitations, ticket purchases for co-worker's kids school/activity, parking, dry-cleaning of clothing, and the additional clothing itself.
I am one of those who think most older people should step out of the work force, especially those at the higher levels. If they've planned right, their retirements should be well funded.
I worked with a fellow who refused to retire for many years (he was waiting out another fellow he disliked with a passion.) He finally gave up and retired at 72, was diagnosed with leukemia a year or so later and was dead before he reached 75. I've always wondered if he ever regretted not retiring sooner.
However, entry level positions aren't an issue, because it's likely they are part-time and simply provide an opportunity to continue to socialize and earn a bit of fun money - and they are often jobs that young people who are embarking on their careers are not interested in.
I do believe it might be considered frugal - as you know what you enjoy and want to do, and you make the best plan for it. You are not a frivolous person. You follow your passions. That it cool.
DeleteWorking CAN be expensive with lunches, clothes, co-workers stuff, gasoline, etc. People don't often take that into consideration.
There are many young people who will never be 'career' people - they just don't want to work. That is how it is around here. They are want stuff - but don't want to earn it. It is very aggravating.
We are given so much from the Father and I try to be a good steward of those gifts. I agree with Miss Frances: there is more to stewardship than giving to the church. We have been provided lots of "grow-ceries" this summer and it is our duty to not only enjoy them fresh, but to preserve the bounty for winter.
ReplyDeleteWe are blessed. Yes, I agree as well. I give donations to organizations that I truly believe in and want to help and I do much for people and my family. It is giving to the church - but it is giving. Being a good person is so important. I want to help my area first.
DeleteI like having part time work, it keeps me on the go, on my feet, busy, active, connected, contributing. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to do it, but I hope till I drop! :)
ReplyDeleteMaryB
Good for you. It is admirable. I have been asked if I would ever 'go back' to work. Not sure - it would depend on a lot of things, I think. You keep doing you! It keeps you fresh.
DeleteThis is a great post and I have enjoyed reading others comments. I think being a Good Steward takes planning for all aspects of life. My husband and I both grew up in homes where our parents had to be careful with their money so use it up was just normal to us. When our children were small the mortgage rate went up to 15% so the car had to go and we had to manage on a lot less.
ReplyDeleteRefuse, recycle, reuse was a saying the the UK a while back and they are 3 good words to live by.
Thanks. I grew up that way too. It was just a way of life. It kind of manages to stick as we get older. Just makes good sense.
Delete3 good words indeed!
For me, frugality is knowing the difference between a "want" and a "need". Sometimes, we can afford to spend on the "want", but it shouldn't be at the expense of a "need." There are some families I know well whose teens have never worked a day in their life because the family can afford to provide for every need and most (if not all) want(s), and prides themselves of that accomplishment. But, their children, once thru college and living on their own have no concept of frugality or even family budgeting, do not comprehend "wants" vs. "needs", and cannot function without guidance and sometimes $$$ from mom and dad. What we (or at least I) learned through summer and part-time (during the school year) employment goes well beyond the extra pocket change I had for things I wanted to splurge on.
ReplyDeleteYES!!!!! Parents think they are being such GOOD parents - and they are doing no good whatsoever for their children. It really is sad. I think we are close to a period in time, that most young people will rely mainly on their parents and those parents may never get to retire. It has kind of created a bad situation. Entitlement.
DeleteOnce I started working, I paid for the things I 'wanted'. Mom & dad took care of basics - but I had to buy the rest. I sure learned a lot.
Wow, 101 and still working, I’m going to have to look up that story.
ReplyDeleteI think feeling useful is important to everyone, and when some give up paid work they struggle to replace with something that gives them that feeling. This was certainly the case for my partner. After working in coal mining all his life he lost what made him useful. Of course this isn’t the case for everyone, but I think men find it a bit of a struggle.
Being a good steward to me means making the most of what you have, be it $10 or $10,000.
Once again, there have been some great thoughts from others, this is such a great place!!! Louise
Yes mam. 101 from Ohio and works at Joann's - gives you something to Google!
DeleteI agree - I think retirement is sometimes worse for men than women. Often times, they just don't know what to do with themselves.
I agree - no matter what kind of money we spend or have - we need to be mindful.
Thanks - it sure is a good group!
Working at Joanns would be like a kid in a candy shop for me. There is always one more sewing, knitting, crochet, jewelry project that looks fun!. I'm never bored for this reason. However, it stretches the limits of the frugal definition. At present, I'm sincerely hoping to complete the projects I have before I die. My sister jokingly says there will be a truck load of craft projects that follow her Hearst. Ha!
ReplyDeleteEllie
Central Az
LOL -need to take care of the unfinished projects? I think there must be something in our DNA - as I do believe most women have unfinished projects.
DeleteYour sis is funny. I can just see it!!!!!! LOL
To me being frugal is saving money in one place so you can spend it on the things that matter and give you joy later. We are frugal so we can travel and help our sons when possible.
ReplyDeleteGrowing things, using items to the best of my ability give me a great deal of joy. Finding new ways to save helps a lightbulb go off in my head and makes me think of even more ways.
God bless.
YES, YES, YES to your first sentence. That is what it is about - I mean we aren't getting out of here with the money - so YES!
DeleteIt does become kind of a game or challenge within oneself. I agree.
If seniors worked, I am quite sure we could and would give good customer service instead of flinging a finger at the right direction. We would know where things were.
ReplyDeleteI do believe that you are right. I agree, customer service would be better.
Delete