The Power of a Simple Life in Action - A Tale of Two Families

Rhonda and Jason are the proud parents of twoimprovement project ongoing and they really
and live in a beautiful house in the suburbs. Sincedon't understand how a family of five can have
their oldest just turned 16, there are now threeso little garbage going out. Marilyn is devoted to
cars in the driveway. The garage can't house athe proper nutrition of her family and loves to
car because it is full of storage and discardedcreate her own new, economical recipes.
items.Rhonda and Marilyn belong to the same ladies
Jason works in a law firm and his annual salaryauxiliary. Marilyn is always the first to volunteer to
has averaged a little over $120,000 for the lastbake for their meetings and bake sales, while
three years. Rhonda works as a social workerRhonda is always pressed for time and just picks
and her salary is ranged around $50,000. Rhondaup something from the supermarket. She
feels stressed and would like to be able to staywonders how Marilyn can afford to do this when
at home with her family, but financially they are inshe was is poor.
terrible shape.The ladies have weekly meetings and often invite
Every credit card they have is at the maximumspeakers, watch an interesting film or have pot
and the interest fees alone are killing them. Theluck dinners. Quite my accident one night the topic
mortgage payments, which seemed manageableof budgeting arose. Even though Marilyn was a
when they first bought the house five years ago,shy person, this was a topic that she excelled in.
are now cutting deep and the property taxesThe members were surprised at how
have risen to almost $5,000 in the last two years.knowledgeable Marilyn was in the subject of home
Most nights the family goes out for dinner oreconomics and budgets.
Rhonda brings food in. She has lost heart inWhat they were seeing in Marilyn was the result
homemaking, shopping and cooking and Jasonof many years of careful planning and intelligent
brings work home and is busy until the wee hours.decisions. She let them know that in time, it would
They hand their children money every day forbecome very easy, but in the meantime it would
their lunches and it seems that a doughnut, pastrytake work. In many cases there would be major
or muffin has to do for their breakfast.decisions. Many of these decisions would be
All the neighbors look up to Rhonda and Jason,unpopular with their family, but things that are
and are even a bit envious of their home, goodworthwhile are not always easy.
jobs and lovely children.Each week the group would pick a topic to
Bob and Marilyn have three children aged 4 to 8.discuss such as stocking their cupboards, recipes,
They live in a very small house known as aeasy cooking and alternative ingredients or
wartime home. They both worked very hard tosubstitutions. Eventually the discussions let to
pay off the mortgage loan on their property andenergy and the environment. The members were
they know that they can't afford to carry creditamazed how small changes would make
cards. Bob works for a small company and makesmonumental differences.
around $35,000 gross. Marilyn is in poor health andOne small suggestion would lead to fantastic ideas.
with the small children she can't work out of theOne example: A member in the group wanted to
home. However, she does quite well with her petcut back on transportation expenses. She owned
sitting, child minding and a few other sidelines.her own car because she drove the children to
Bob and Marilyn know that Bob's job is not asschool and did the shopping. Her own suggestion
secure as they would like it to be and they arewas to car pool. Marilyn's suggestion was for her
always planning ahead to a time when he mightto sell her car; save about $125 per month for
become unemployed. They carefully follow ainsurance, gas and oil. Walk to school with the
monthly budget. Marilyn has also become verychildren and since they lived less than a km from
interested in environmental issues and plans herthe grocery store, she could take her buggy. An
homemaking and activities to include a caring planalternative would be to use the family car when
for improvement.her husband was home. Oh, the ladies were
Their children spend a lot of their free time playingappalled by this suggestion. Eventually, however,
outside, running, skipping and just being kids. Theythey did come around and could see the benefit
have toys that were mostly purchased at thefrom this drastic decision. Even discussing the
charity shops and are happy with their belongings.saving of emissions to the ozone layer, etc. The
They do receive one new toy at Christmas ofchildren needed exercise as did the member and
their choosing.lived within a few blocks of school. It was a good
Bob and Marilyn have three sit down meals withsuggestion.
their children every day. When Bob can't make itThe members of the ladies auxiliary group are still
home for his lunch, Marilyn packs him a nourishinginvolved in making changes to their lifestyles and
take along meal including his thermos of coffee.look forward eagerly to their weekly meetings.
The family members are rarely sick and are theNow they have evolved into cooking and recipe
happiest you will find anywhere.discussions again, but as a group have pulled
Bob and Marilyn's neighbors feel sorry for themtogether and saved thousands already with
because they don't have two new cars, a homechanges they have made.