Inspiration From the Past

About eight years ago I got my first Android phone and with it I discovered the joys of Kindle. It revolutionized the way I read and opened up a whole new world of books that I could read. Free books were plentiful, and the selection of free books has grown exponentially since then. One of the first free books I got for my Kindle app was The American Frugal Housewife, by Lydia Maria Child.

Though this book is nearly 200 years old, it is still amazingly relevant today. Included in its pages are tips for frugal living, recipes, and many anecdotal stories to illustrate the points Child is trying to make. I have read this book several times over the years and I have always found it inspirational.

It is interesting to discover that things were really very similar nearly 200 years ago. Wealthy people still set the standard and the poor tried to emulate them; often at the expense of their well being. Child uses many anecdotes throughout the book to illustrate her point, and those stories really could be from today. Most of the stories are examples of people misusing their money simply to look good to their neighbors. She always points out how that never works, and how the people are far less happy in the end because of it. I must agree with what she has to say, having made many of the mistakes she illustrates in my youth.

I highly recommend reading the book for several reasons beyond the tips it gives on frugal living. One, it’s free, and free is good if you’re trying to be frugal. Second, it’s a wonderful history lesson, and one you can often relate to. Though in some cases the language is difficult, and there are lots of words that have been lost to time, it’s still a fun read, and it gives a great deal of insight into how people lived in the early 19th century. Being an avid reader that was more than enough reason to read it, but you will have to make up your own mind. If you decide to have a look, the Kindle edition is free and the dictionary function of your Kindle (or Kindle app) will help with those strange words. It is also available on Project Gutenberg for those without access to Kindle.

I have tried to institute many of the recommendations from the book and around the web into my lifestyle, but have rarely been successful. Frugal living simply doesn’t come naturally to me. I continue to try though, and when I need a bit of help I turn to Ms. Child for support, and she always delivers.

This blog is dedicated to my attempts at frugal living, and all that entails. Some days that might be the latest great tip I have discovered for saving money, or maybe just my weekly meal plan, or talks about homeschooling (not exactly frugality, but it’s a big part of my life, so there you go…). Really, this blog will cover a wide range of topics that I find interesting and I hope you find them interesting as well, maybe even a little bit helpful.

I hope you will join me on this journey and find inspiration along the way. Have a great day everyone!