Making Ends Meet

Setting the table in 1937, Vermont. 

 

Many of us are struggling with rising costs. Our housekeeping expenses must be kept under control. We are always facing some increase in utilities, gas, and food.  The cost of living is a challenge but with great care and planning, and the blessing of God over our households, we can find a way to manage.

We are running out of things and learning to get by until the next payday. Many live paycheck to paycheck or month to month.  We can only spend a certain amount each month. When a grocery item is gone, we need to manage without it until the next pay cycle comes along.

In our house we have run out of coffee a few times this past summer.  This has been a hardship for my husband. We talked about how much the price of coffee has skyrocketed. My husband said he would start rationing his coffee, making it last much longer than normal. In other words, he will have less.  We also started rationing butter and other goods. The portions are smaller. This should help us get through the rough times.

However, there is nothing pleasant about going without things, especially things for which we feel are necessary.  This is a temporary hardship.  We want to recover from the strain of high expenses. We need to be creative. One of the greatest and most expensive needs of a household is the cost of food. We need to put food on the table. In these days, this costs hundreds of dollars a month. 

We are saving money to pay for our annual property taxes, and the cost of kerosene to heat the house this winter.  We must not use this money for ordinary grocery costs. Money saved for such things cannot be replaced.  

When household repairs are needed, or new items need to be purchased, we have to bide our time and wait. Our toaster oven broke this year, making the toast feature unusable. To get by until we can afford to replace it, we use the "cook" feature on the dial to make toast. It is not ideal, and it is not the same, but it works for now. 

In these days it is harder to eat whatever is put before you. So many are plagued with allergies and health limitations, making food choices more limiting. We should not be buying luxury items or expensive groceries.  But if we have a basic idea of certain foods that are affordable, we can try to keep these on hand for when the money runs low. A dinner of oatmeal with fruit and toast is nutritious and easy to put together.  These days I am able to find produce from our garden and have a fresh salad each afternoon. This is such a blessing!  

Through it all, we will not dwell on hardships!  Getting creative and remaining cheerful is essential for a joyful life and for a happy home.  If we can set a pretty table and serve with grace and kindness, the meals will be more pleasant. 

We must focus on that which is positive and good and lovely. We will not dwell on hard times. Today, there is gas in our car. The lights of home are on. The birds are chirping, and the rain is gently falling. As we do our best to make ends meet each month, let us always remember to pray to the dear Lord for our daily bread. He will never let us down. We are grateful!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Peaceful living From the Old Days - Sunday Driver. 

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

Living on a Small Income - Standard of Living.  

  - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 Mrs. White's detailed explanation of keeping a financial journal and budget:

 

For old time encouragement in living simply on a limited income, order Mrs. White's book:

"An Old Fashioned Budget: Humble Financial Management for the Christian Housewife"

77 pages, paperback.

Mending for the Home

A living room in Virginia, 1929. LOC

 

On our walks throughout the rooms of home, it is important to see that things are in order.  A clean and tidy house is a restful place to be.  There may be a bit of clutter on a desk. There may be books on the table. Toys on the floor may also be a common sight. But if things are clean and decently mended, it brings a sense that there is a beloved housekeeper doing her part.

Sometimes I will notice old paperback books are starting to deteriorate. This often happens with children's books as well since they are handled frequently. I use clear packing tape to hold the binding and covers in place. This is part of mending in the home. It makes things last longer.

If a ruffle or hem in a curtain is coming undone, put that on the chore list. Or, if you have a few spare minutes, use a hand-sewing needle and put in some stitches to make the curtains nice and pretty.

Older towels and washcloths eventually begin to unravel around the edges. We can fold up the fraying ends, folding them over twice, and hand-sew a new hem. This will prevent further damage as we put them back in good shape.

When making the beds, we are careful to notice any holes or tears. These can be repaired quickly with a hand-sewing needle and a little thread. 

Worn carpets and rugs can even be mended when necessary.  In our old 1800's house, there are thin carpets in some of the rooms. They were here long before we became the current residents.  Around the perimeter of the room, it looks like whoever originally installed them, used some scrap pieces which are not attached to the rest.  This makes it difficult to clean when vacuuming.  The options include installing a metal strip to hold the two pieces down and in place. Or one could simply hand-sew the carpets together, which is what I would rather do since there is no additional cost for supplies. It is also a discreet and almost invisible method and will help retain the beauty of the room.

We certainly do not need to spend all of our time mending and fixing or even thinking about such things. But there is a tendency to put off repairs when we think it might take too long.  We are often too tired to manage it all and just need tea-breaks and rest!  It is not possible to accomplish everything in a day or even in a week. This is why it is always good when helpers are available.

We have an old fabric couch-cover on a small sofa in our parlour.  Hidden away, across the entire back of the fabric, is a large tear. I know how to fix this but have put it off for a long time. One day, as I was straightening the couch, I showed grandgirl the large tear in the back of the fabric.  I told her, "One day we will fix this."  Looking for something new and interesting to do, she responded with, "Why not right now?" I told her I thought it would take years! She just smiled and asked for the fabric. I set her up at the card table with my sewing box.  She had a lovely time with the rest of us all around reading, playing, and enjoying the day.  Soon I noticed she was ready to draw and color at the table. I said, "Have you had enough? Or are you taking a break from sewing?" She smiled as she told me, "I am all finished." I could not believe it as I looked at her work. There was not a single tear anywhere on the fabric.  She laughed, "And you thought it would take years!"  I was so thankful!

Getting help from the younger generation is a lovely way for them to experience thrift, old-fashioned values, and the cheerful joy one feels when doing good things for the home. I am also incredibly grateful for their help in homemaking!

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 

My Mother's Example - Housekeeping All Day.  

Beautiful Living - Feminine Grace. 

 Unwanted Advice for the Family - Quieting Myself for the Good of Others.

 

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

Remember to See the View

View from a bridge in Vermont. (Aug. 2025)

 

I love the old ways of quiet living. The rush and excitement of society around me is not something that blends well with a simple way of life. I have seen so many changes over many years. I remember sensing beauty and quietness of the soul from the old days. This was before many changes happened in our modern world.  Knowing  what life was like before these changes, makes it possible for many of us to remain steadfast on a quiet path of stability.

Despite all this, it is possible to remain on the old paths. As we walk, our thoughts are lifted upward, with a child-like faith in our Heavenly Father.  We go through days of difficulty, joy, weariness, and rest, with a steady sense of contentment, knowing we are serving the dear Master.  In this world, we are living as if in a temporary dwelling place. We long for day's end, when our work is finished, knowing a precious eternal home is being prepared for us. 

While we wait and serve, with a cheerful heart of gratefulness, we must remember to enjoy the blessings of each day. One must not get caught up in thorns of sadness and the anxiety of our time. There are many lights of goodness all around us. We have the churches, the Lord's children, and much goodness and kindness to cheer us along. Everything will be okay. All will work together for our good.

Some may go through this life seeing messes, corruption, fear, and hopelessness. The eyes have been distracted away from that which is lovely and good.  We must not focus on our trials. We must not dwell on the troublesome ways of the world. 

There are better ways to occupy our minds with such things that are hopeful. I was taking care of our medical patient last week. He was not feeling well. We were on our way to the hotel so he could prepare for a procedure at the hospital.  I noticed an incredible view over the bridge. A parking area was nearby. I asked him if he felt up to a quick walk to get a better view. He was cheerful and looked all around before trying to go with me. He was not able to  manage even a short walk, but encouraged me to go on.  I quickly walked to the middle of the bridge and got a picture of the scenery through a security fence. The water and the rocks and the trees and the sky brought a sense of awe and quiet. In that moment, there were no problems. All was well in the world as I looked at the view before me. This is what we have to remember. It is more than just stopping to see the view. It is absorbing the view. It is dwelling on the view. It is delighting in whatsoever is lovely and good all around us. Focus on the beauty instead of dwelling on the pain.  When this is done, when we remember this, stress will fall away. The things of the world will lose their glitter. The mind is renewed, and the spirit will soar with a sense of peace that passes all understanding.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives - 


Old Fashioned Advice for taking are of the family - - A Comforting Sick Room.

My Heritage - The Blessing of Being a Half- Southern Mama.

Hard Times - Living in Reduced Circumstances.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

Mrs. White's nostalgic book for Mothers:

"Old Fashioned Motherhood: Baby and Child Care Advice from a New England Housewife." 

62 pages, paperback. 

Managing a Large House

A New England Cottage, 1800's painting by Edmund Garrett.

 

In the 1950's it was common for many houses to be small and manageable. These were little ranch houses with 3 bedrooms and a bath, in family neighborhoods.  In this time period there were modern appliances to help with the housework.  It was possible for the routine duties of housekeeping to be handled by one person.  Today, I am noticing the construction of larger houses. There is a great deal of work and upkeep to manage such homes. 

As I think about what it is like to take care of a large property, I am reminded of a beautiful old house we used to live in, many years ago.  I hope this will give you some ideas.

First, I will tell you about the house. I was the mother of three small children, with a blessing on the way.  We had just rented a large 1800's Victorian house near the ocean in Massachusetts. The home had 3 bedrooms of servant's quarters on the third floor. There was an enormous wrap-around porch and an oversized front door. The main entryway was very large with a big fireplace. A bench was by the hearth for sitting to get warm, or to wait while a maid notified the mistress of the house that a visitor had come. 

To the left of the front door was a formal dining room. It was cozy with old fashioned wallpaper, windows with thick drapery, and a door leading to the porch. The entire house was furnished with old items that were worn but solid. Across the wide entry hall, on the other side of the house, was a large living room. It had a big fireplace on the back end of the room. Windows were all around 2 sides of the room, which showed a view of the porch. 

Back in the entry hall, near the front door, was a wide staircase. After walking halfway up, there was a landing to stop and turn to the left before continuing up the next part of the steps to the second floor. The back wall contained a stained-glass window. 

The downstairs rooms were dark without much light, until one went down the back hall to the enormous kitchen. It had a finish of burgundy counters with dark wood cabinets. But the most beautiful thing about this room was the large picture window, behind the breakfast table, which showed a stunning view of the ocean.

Off the kitchen, there was a laundry room, bathroom, and back entrance to the porch.  Just around the corner from this was a servant's staircase to the second floor, followed by another set of stairs to the third floor. 

There were three bedrooms on the second floor, along with two bathrooms and a large fireplace in the center of an open foyer. 

The three fireplaces were the main source of heat for the entire house and looked like it would keep the house warm and cozy. This would have required domestic help to keep the firewood loaded and the home-fires going.  The house also included a modern oil-heating unit but was still difficult to stay warm all winter without the use of the fireplaces. There were doors on every room, including the kitchen, living room, and dining room. This helped close them off, when necessary, to keep the warmth and coziness of heat inside each of the rooms. 

At first, I could not even imagine how I would ever keep this house clean! But something wonderful happened shortly after we moved in. Relatives came to pass part of the winter with us.  We gave a second-floor bedroom (with a large picture window) to my parents. They had a peaceful and lovely view of the ocean.  A third-floor bedroom, right near the back stairs to their room, went to my teenage sister.  They were in the process of relocating and had just sold their house. It turned out to be such a wonderful blessing to have them there with us for a few months. There were many people to help me with housekeeping, cleaning, shopping, and kitchen work.  

During those lovely months in that great big house, we enjoyed homeschool days, welcoming company, baking and cooking, and helping each other. When the baby was born, my parents were there to help make special meals. The first night home from the hospital, a dinner tray was brought to my room so I could rest in comfort with the baby beside me in a bassinet. I knew my other three children were being well cared for and were much loved. I enjoyed hearing the laughter, talks, and play in the other rooms throughout the house while I recovered.  The routine of home and order continued and there was happiness.

My sister told me recently that her favorite memory of living in that house was seeing me sewing in the old dining room by the dim lamps. I was making dresses for my girls for Christmas. It was so cozy to have the snow falling around that large house while we enjoyed an old-fashioned way of life. 

When it was time for our relatives to move to their new place, we missed them greatly. I was thankful, however, that my husband was able to be home a great deal of the time.  I remember bringing him the 2-year-old so I could make lunch. That little boy loved sitting with his father!  Or I would bring him the baby to hold just so I could take a shower.  I was always quick because I loved having the children with me and near me.  

Without that extra help from my parents, I had to think of ways to maintain the house.  It was too much work for any one person! There would be stress, worry, hassle, and poor health if I tried to do it alone.  

I will share with you some ideas that I have found to be helpful:

1. Divide the Work

We should have a written outline of the daily and weekly work that needs to happen. This can be divided up among family members based on their skills and abilities. For example, a 5-year-old can fold laundry. A 7-year-old can sweep floors, etc. 

In large homes, you might even consider assigning certain rooms to family members as their responsibility. For instance, a 10-year-old could dust, vacuum, and tidy 2 of the bedrooms, as well as the living room. 

When everyone is working together, they are forming a bond of unity. Each child will also learn to have a good work ethic and a dependable character. 

If the work is shared among the family, it will free up a great deal of time and energy. 

2. Close up the Rooms

When there are too many rooms to manage, some can be closed up for a season. This would be done by giving the room a thorough cleaning and then covering furniture with sheets to protect them from dust and damage. Then simply close the door.  Later, when the room is needed again, it can be "opened" by removing the sheets and doing a quick cleaning. 

3. Add Maid Service

In cases where it is not possible to manage all the work, it makes sense to hire domestic help.  This helps provide work to someone in need while helping the lady-of-the-house manage her home without being overwhelmed. 

4. Invite Relatives to Stay

This is my favorite option. When there is plenty of room it is so nice to have family come and stay. In the old days, an aunt, grandmother, or cousin in-need would come and help the family in exchange for room and board. One would want to make sure the relatives were of good character, honorable, and dependable. Their addition to the household ought to be considered a blessing and not a hindrance. I imagine a dear grandmother who loves to cook and bake. She has a pretty room, with a view of the landscape, all to herself.  When she finishes helping for the afternoon, the children often find her reading the Bible in a rocking chair. They are grateful for her company and help in keeping house for her beloved family.

There are many ways to manage a large house. We have to consider our standard of cleanliness and order. Do you have high standards or moderate ones? Consider what is most important and what you are capable of doing.  One does not want to be fretting, nagging, and suffering to keep to a higher standard than is possible. When a housekeeper is able to face the day's work with a sense of calm and cheer, her level of work is right where it should be. 

Whether the house be small or large, the same routine of daily and weekly work is required.  Even though it takes much longer with a large house, it can be a lovely way to spend one's days. May you find a way to manage things beautifully with joy and a love for family.

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

Old Time Manners - Waiting for the Door to Be Opened.  

A Simple Life - How to Stop Buying Things that Clutter up the Home. 

Ration Books from 1942 and helpful advice - Adapting to the High Cost of Living.

- To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

 

Find cleaning inspiration and encouragement in Mrs. White's book, "Gracious House Keeping."

"Gracious House Keeping: Advice, Encouragement, and Cleaning Help for the Christian Housewife."

Complete with Encouragement and Work Charts to cheer you along in your homemaking!

115 pages, paperback.

 

Adding Loveliness to the Day

Flowers and fingerbowls at our table last night.

 

I have been going through a great many paper napkins lately. The cost is getting to be too much.  But with frequent company of little ones, and a need for good manners, I use napkins at the table for all meals and snacks.  The use of cloth napkins with small children would require many changes of table linens, unless we use fingerbowls. 

Last evening, I set out a tablecloth and prepared a few things for company. Grandchildren were expected to arrive this morning. I wanted to present them with my new plan and delight them with the beauty of an elegant table.

During our time of morning refreshments, I showed the children little dessert bowls. This was to hold crackers, cheese, cookies, or even blueberries from our garden. Whatever snacks we expected to enjoy would be served in the little bowls.

Animal crackers and homemade cloth napkins at our table this morning. 

The grandchildren looked at me with happiness as they sat at the beautiful table. I used a pretty creamer as my water pitcher.  I asked grand-girl, "Would you fill up the water pitcher?" She was delighted with this special chore. Then she walked around the table filling up the little crystal bowls with water. "Only half full," I told her.  These are tiny 2-ounce cups that look so pretty at the table. 

We always ring the dinner bell when serving meals or snacks at our house.  Someone stands in the doorway and rings the bell. Soon all the children stop whatever they are doing and come running towards the table. 

I showed them the fingerbowls. I explained, "The napkin goes on your lap. After you eat, or whenever you need to use your napkin, carefully swish you fingers in the fingerbowl and then dry them with the napkin." Then I demonstrated how this works. Soon they tested it out for themselves. I watched throughout our time at the table and noticed that even the 4-year-old did this with great care and interest! 

When it was time for lunch, I removed the tablecloth and became more practical. I set out placemats at each spot. This would be much easier to keep things neat. I would not worry so much about the children getting everything messy. 

Placemats and fingerbowls at our table. 

The children did so well with our new formal way of enjoying meals and snacks.  It added a touch of class and manners to the atmosphere.  Part of the routine of our day often includes the teaching of etiquette and courtesy. These lessons can happen naturally throughout the day. 

Living in an old humble house can either be pleasant or difficult, depending on the attitude. We have limited resources here, but this can lead to creative ways to add beauty to our lives. I want to be cheerful and happy as I come up with ideas for making the best of our circumstances. 

My whole purpose had been to save money on napkins. It turned into something far more special. Whether we have something as simple as grilled cheese sandwiches or chicken with potatoes, it is a joy to linger at a well-set table. 

Today, as we said grace before our meals, I was so thankful for the opportunity to add a little loveliness to our day. 

Blessings

Mrs. White

From the Archives -

To Cheer up - Surrounded by Good Things in the Home. 

Financial Struggles - A New England Winter on a Small Income. 

A Mother's Greatest Use of Time - A Humble Parlour as a School of Theology.

 - To find out more about this blog, or Mrs. White, please visit our About page. -

For happiness and cheer in the kitchen:

Mrs. White's old fashioned cookbook focuses on serving meals and setting the table in a humble home.

"Serving in the Kitchen: Cookbook with Recipes, Advice, and Encouragement for the Christian Home"

152 pages, paperback.