As I stated in yesterday’s blog post, I was out of town house hunting all last week. We found one that I think will be absolutely perfect for us but the truth is, I think I’m a bit addicted now!
I grew up poor and in low-income housing. Sometimes, we would tour manufactured housing (which many of our friends from church bought) and they would feel so lofty and grand. We would dream about “someday” when we could afford a $70,000 pre-fab house. Imagining a stand alone house without neighbors connected and leasing instead of renting felt like we would have had it made. After our bankruptcy (which involved foreclosing on a condo- so still not an unattached house), I’ve again felt that way. We’re still renting but due to my husband’s job and my writing we’re able to afford a very nice home with a lot of space and one that we will be excessively happy in for as long as we live in the area. However, I still think of “one day” when we can buy or build our own house.
In the meantime, you might find me at local open houses just looking around and dreaming of “someday.”
Rose Fairbanks 
I hope you manage to live your dream one day Rose. But in the meantime enjoy the life you and your husband have worked hard to earn. Be happy in your new home 🏡😊
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Thanks! One day I think we’ll get there. My husband is with a good company that recognizes his worth and I have the best readers. We both work really hard and it’s finally paying off. 🙂
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We were also poor but my grandfather from Mississippi gifted all of his children with some acreage covered with pine trees. So my father cut some of the timber and shipped it north to PA and sold the property. He got enough money to buy an acre in PA…but he only built as he had money as he didn’t want a mortgage. So first we lived in tent which also enclosed the timber on that acre. Then the church men helped put in a foundation. So we lived in that for a while. No heat – a wood burning stove was set in what became the garage eventually. So it went. He would add walls and ceilings, windows, plumbing, heating as he had money. We lived many a year with only sink baths and fireplaces. Our beds were piled with many layers of coats and clothes to give us added insulation. I slept with my sister so we shared body heat while my brother slept alone. I was embarrassed to invite friends over as even when walls went up they were basic 2 X 4’s with only sheetrock, no paneling or wallpaper, etc. When I got into college my father finally sold that unfinished home and moved into a smaller finished home. I am so glad to live where I live now and to be able to buy a car brand new, not used and always breaking down.
Good luck with your dreams.
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Wow! What an experience! When you look back on your childhood are you mostly thankful or upset? I have mixed emotions but always thought my experiences taught me frugality and the importance of family over monetary things. When we lived in Alaska the cost of living was much, much higher than we were used to and I was able to put a lot of things I grew up with into use — like roasting a whole chicken and using all of it instead of only buying the breast. I never stopped shopping at yard sales and thrift stores so I often have sticker shock if I have to pay full price for clothes, even in a cheap store. But it has alleviated so much stress the last few years knowing I had safe, dependable vehicles, safe housing (even if it was sometimes with relatives) and could pay utility bills. Growing up we were constantly near termination on everything and I don’t know if that anxiety has ever really left me.
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I wore hand-me-downs a lot and learned to sew in school which I put to good use even after I married and was better off. I learned to smock and made many smocked dresses for my daughters which I have now seen worn by my granddaughters. I was very blessed to be able to get a college education and thus met my husband and have had a more financially secure life. But I also used my education to work and help out with bills. I ALWAYS told my children to never judge a person by their clothes, their cars, their houses or their jobs as GOD has blessed each with different IQs as well as different families into which we are born. And I think of children in poorer nations when I say that. We are blessed to live in the USA and have so many opportunities at better and comfortable lives.
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We never had much growing up though walls and a roof were always there. I didn’t know about “money” problems until I was about 11 and then I started to pay attention. I wanted to always be sure I made every effort to use money “wisely”. I didn’t think I’d need a lot, I just wanted to use what I had wisely. My husband and I have avoided all debt but mortgage and very short car loans. I don’t think my young children had any “new” toys that were not gifts from family. As adults they both have filled their homes with furniture from resale shops and my son has even learned how to fix video gaming systems so he can re-sell them. My mantra was always “I use my dollars as votes and I vote that’s too much to pay.” I can’t wait to hear my children say that to their children someday. Enjoy your new home, it will be wonderful I’m sure!!
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That’s spectacular. How do you make your living at writing? I don’t know how to get my feet wet in the business, any suggestions?
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I self-publish via Amazon, Kobo, Nook, iBooks and paperbacks via Createspace. There are loads of articles about how to market and find a niche etc. I certainly wouldn’t consider myself an expert or feel comfortable giving advice. Best of luck to you!
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