Making Blessings Stretch

Alhamdulilah sometimes as parents we want to be able to give our children the best of the best and sometimes the best things to give our children may not have to be expensive.

 There are some of us who may be experiencing hard ships with finances and some of just may want to save money and do things in a healthy way.

There is no doubt that our homes and children can feel a financial difference if we began to make a big deal out of it in a negative way. When the money runs low... or iman should not. When the money runs low.. our hopes and trust in Allah are high...

We have to make our blessings stretch ... so tonight I sat down and thought of a few ways we can save money.

1.) Menu plan: yes this helps us to save money honestly. We take one day of the week and that is usually Saturday, to write down the weeks menu. Best thing in my opinion is to make a menu based ff of what you have in your home already! This way you're getting rid of leftovers and saving money. Then compile a grocery list of items you do not have to complete the meals you are putting together in your home. You may have flour and milk to make a cake, but no eggs. So you would put eggs on your grocery list.  Alhamdulilah menu planning also takes the stress off of, whats for breakfast, whats for dinner?!!! rush.

2.) Foundational Cooking- get back to the foundations of making it ourselves. Alhamdulilah we saved money making our own yogurt than buying it at the store. You get more of your money's worth making it and it last longer alhamdulilah! Also baking bread for us has saved money, there is so much you can make with flour that getting flour is cheaper than buying a loaf of bread, a box of crackers, and a cake combined... yes with flour you can make all those items (made crackers recently mahaAllah, turned out good)

3.)Homeschool on a budget/ educational materials- Alhamdulilah sisters if we can get together and start sharing our unused homeschooling materials with each other and those in need, many of us may not need to spend a lot of money for curriculums. MashaAllah even if we sell them, it does not have to be expensive for others to buy. Alhamdulilah  the local library has many books that we can constantly check out over and over again that can help us. I have been blessed alhamdulilah with good friends that has helped in our homechooling so much.

4.)Spend less on trips- One of the things we love about the summer time (and a lot in the winter too) are the free fun trips for children in our City. Each first of the month the museums are free and sometimes they are open with discount days. You would be surprised how much you can do for free on a budget, mashaAllah aslo never neglect the simple joys of taking a nature walk and exploring your local community. The fire station loves when you bring children in to visit... they were so happy when we brought the children by for a sit in the fire truck,

5.) DIY- alhamdulilah you can save the planet and save money by making your own natural and healthy products. No need to spend so much money on cleaning supplies. Alhamdulilah you can make your own:

Deoderize carpets-
Mix baking soda with a little scented oil, mix it together- test it on a small spot, for us our carpet was fine with it and we sprinkled it on the carpet then let it sit for a little and vacuumed it.
others have used baking soda with cinnamon or clove... just be sure to test it in a small spot inshaAllah

All purpose cleaner-
Vingar
Water
Tea tree oil .. mix equal parts water and vinegar and add tea tree oil for smell and anti bacterial benefits mashaAllah place it in a bottle and label it

You can also get cleaning done with baking soda, salt, lemon, vinegar and different essential oils help to enhance it.

Organic fruit and vegetable wash-
1 lemon
2 tbs of vinegar
1 cup water
Squeeze the lemons and mix with vinegar and water

Alhamdulilah there are many things you can make on your own that would be better for your family health wise and financially mashaAllah

Of all these we should always remember Allah, alhamdulilah it is all a test, how we respond and react is important... patience, prayer, and positivity .. subhanAllah needed this reminder! Our families also need this from us, and this was in my heart tonight so I am very happy to write and share it with everyone.. I really pray it helps someone... I know its helping me subhanAllah alhamdulilah


“We will surely test you with something of fear and huger, and the loss of wealth and lives and the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere, who say—when afflicted with calamity—“To God We belong, and to Him we shall return!” They are on those whom descend blessings from their Lord, and Mercy. Such are the rightly guided.” (Quran 2:155-157)