Chapter 25: Providing For Your Household
Money is very difficult to come by.  In fact, one normally has to have a job to
have any money.  Me, I have a mental illness that disables me and prevents me from
working...So my father pays the rent, and my grandmother supplies groceries and
things for the house.
But Providing for your house is up to you.  When you go out to the stores with your
family member, you will need to think...what do we need?  What do we already have?
What can I get that I want?  It's all very strategic, you have to have a thinking process
when you are on a minimal budget, as I am.  If I see something that I fall in love with,
and it isn't too expensive, i ask my grandmother to buy it for me....and she often does!
I try to buy things that we need.  Sometimes its hard.  Like laundry and dish detergent,
toilet paper, cleaning supplies, etc...these things you are going to have to bring yourself
 to purchase--even though you don't want to spend your money on them.  Washing clothes,
for example...you just have to do it.  If you don't have a dishwasher, you can hand wash dishes
but you'll need to find a local laundromat if you can't afford a washer and dryer.  Stuff is expensive!
It's sad that poor people on minimum wage budgets never or rarely get disposable income.  Money
to spend "for fun".  When you are very poor you don't have the money to buy "fun" things or go on vacation etc.... but it's important to buy toilet paper and cleaning products, a vaccuum, etc.  I know they are expensive, but they are neccessary....a vaccum can be replaced with a broom.  I swept my carpets today, actually.  It's less expensive. Providing for your household, however much money you have...means you must remember to provide the essential things like groceries.  Children can spend their money freely, because they don't understand nor have to worry about grown up needs like food and cleaning.  But we're grownups, and grownups must clean the house, and put food on the table, even cook the food from scratch!  How difficult it is....It's sad.  Just do your best....cry a little...you'll be okay.  Making ends meet is impossible for me, because i'm sick...it's hard to depend on my family.  Your spouse can work...Best of luck!
In Jesus' Name,
Amen