Guest post: Making Do with Amanda (who put our thoughts into words)

Hi friends, my name is Amanda.

I have the most unexpected and totally unearned pleasure of hanging out with you today! I say

that because I’m a blogging newbie and a Sister’s Four follower, just like you.

I submitted my “MAKE-DO” post to the Sister’s and after my endless chatter over making do,

was asked to share. Submit freak out, HERE. Haha

You all know these girls are talented on so many levels, sassy, funny, and colorful, thrive on

deals, are big thrifters, know how to style up their finds and are absolutely lovely!

Ya, I know I’m in over my head.

When it comes to Making Do though, I’ve done pretty well. WARNING: there will be endless chatter.

“Making-Do” isn’t a new concept to me. It’s one I’ve employed regularly throughout my life.

At 10 our home became a single parent dwelling; Mom, sis & newborn brother. With limited

income, some family support and for a while, government assistance, we made do. It’s not a

situation we thought we’d ever be in, especially us kids. Who knew, parent’s leave. I learned to

adjust to this new life.

Our “saving grace” was that we knew the Lord and had him in our lives. We had a great church

family who encouraged us too. When we were down, he picked us up. We continued to have faith

and trust that we’d get through that rough season. It’s from those moments that I learned to

value family and God above all.

As a kid I realized I could rearrange my room, decorate with yard sale finds, belts, etc. and

produce a change I was proud of. As a college student thrifted office attire and when married,

EVERYTHING! House wares, décor, clothes, jewelry, books, furniture, baby items………the list

goes on.

Hubby wasn’t too keen in the beginning, as he had lived a meager life as well. He was raised

with 7 other siblings, shared clothes, struggled financially and desired “nice things” after so long

of not having them. We both did, but we didn’t have the money either. We did the responsible

thing, we tithed and paid bills. It of course left us with little, so this is when I kicked thrifting

into high gear. I thrifted out of necessity but also out of pure enjoyment, the thrill of the “hunt”.

I knew I’d convince him after some great finds and name brand clothes on the cheap. I did and

HE WAS SOLD!

Over time our finances fluctuated, from 2 jobs, to 1, to 1 & ½ to none. I TOTALLY get what

Selina said about doing your best with little and struggling a bit more when there's actual

money.

WHY?! I'll tell you why. Because when you are limited you HAVE to be creative, resourceful,

budget minded, restrictive, patient and rely on ingenuity. In my case all the above AND trust in

the Lord. OR guess what, get NOTHING, pout, complain, lose sight of what’s really important

and miss the whole picture. It’s when I have money, that there’s a different kind of struggle;

HOW do I continue/desire using all of my previous methods when there’s no real need to? If

we have the finances, what’s stopping us from going instantly to buy instead of make, repurpose,

recycle, thrift, or go without? The truth is I WANT to be resourceful. Money isn’t the answer; the

more you make the more you spend. I will NOT be in that endless cycle.

So, I have asked the Lord to keep me in check with what I need as opposed to what I want, help

me from being materialistic, to think up ways of getting/producing what I want in the most

inexpensive ways so that it blesses my family and others. HE DOES!

Not because I’m cheap, I WANT to be a good steward of the money we have. I want to teach

my children to be wise, to invest in people and in things that will reap a reward not in empty

possessions.

Throughout the years we’ve lived by money saving methods, but the one that brings the most

pride has been from helping my family look GREAT not cheap, with thrift finds. In redoing

my own clothes or thrifted ones and wearing something “new”. There’s this non-drug induced

HIGH (I’ve never done drugs lol), from making something out of little or nothing, finding the best

deal or that great thrifted item. RIGHT?!

I think people associate thrifting, recycling, repurposing, crafting, budget minded people with

cheap, tight, stingy or just downright tacky but I DISAGREE whole heartedly. YOU out there

are the most SAVVY, outside the box, kind of people. You’ve figured out HOW to have what you

want without breaking the bank! Be proud!

So, if you’re new to “making do” whether it’s with clothes, shopping, cooking, crafting, home

décor, etc, keep it up.

If you’re a seasoned “make do-er”, way to go! Your wallet thanks you.

Amanda :)

Here's a peak at some of Amanda frugal finds and refashions: