January 20, 2011

Make it do, or do without.

Gosh, thanks everyone for all your input! Truly, I have learned much and will be reviewing your comments again and again as we try to find something that will work!

You guys are great, you know that? We should have a party at my house.

An all chocolate party of course.

But I had to laugh at Jess's comment about all our broken stuff.

It's true that perhaps we could have replaced many of those broken baby things.

But I have never heard of Freecycle, so I will definitely be checking that out. And Craigslist for East Idaho STINKS! Trust me, I check it all the time. Luke hates garage sale shopping almost as much as rubbing my feet, so I often don't get a chance to sneak away for those.

Generally, we wait for a really good sale, check out the local second-hand store (cause D.I. is bad here too) or we simply do without.

Like Boyd K. Packer said, "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without."


We tend to do that a lot.

For example:

We don't have cable. Just don't want to pay for it. So our kids watch movies.

Thank heavens for the library.

Well, our DVD player broke.

Instead of buying a new one, we pulled out Luke's ancient of days dinosaur of a laptop, and hooked that up to the TV and used it as a DVD player.

Then the computer started getting all weird. Half the time it wouldn't play the movie, then the keyboard quite working, and little Alayna monster has pulled off about half the keys anyway.

Instead of buying a new one, we pulled out the little travel DVD player that Luke got at a work Christmas party a couple years ago, and hooked that up to the TV.

Then, over time, the kids kept messing with all the wires that connected the TV to the little player, and eventually, they ruined the wires.

So now, they have been reduced to this.



But hey, it works for now. And even though we've had a few choice fights over all the kids trying to see, I think we've got it about figured out.

Someday we'll get a new DVD player, but not for a while.

Oh, and that's why Jacob wears pink snow boots too. Since we have 'em, might as well use 'em!




What are some of the crazy make-it-work things you've done?

22 super cool people speak:

Bethany said...

I love the boots- my brothers definitely had some pink stuff but none of us older girls were completely girly so they got away with some yellow/blue too :)

Anyway...the back of my car was run into last summer and now my car is black with a white back. It looks like a skunk but you know what? I don't want to pay hundreds of dollars just to have it painted!

Letters to Jet said...

that quote by elder packer is one of my favorites! we don't have cable either. don't feel bad about not knowing what people are talking about when they discuss tv shows - you're not the only one! all of our furniture is second hand and probably will be for a long, long time! with the exception of our bedroom set which was a wedding gift.
and i'm loving the pink boots!!
ok i'm going to stop. this comment is getting way too long and obnoxious...

Brittney said...

you guys are amazing at making do.

Brenick said...

wow!! and people tell me that IM frugal. well, you can have all the glory, cuz i am not even close to being as frugal as you! mommy needs the kids to be distracted by their shows for a bit! a dvd player is a necessity!! LOL!

The Bagley Family said...

Most of our furniture is other people's castoffs...
Our DVD player, portable DVD player, GPS and VCR are all broken...
We used to sleep on a mattress that was over 60 years old...ya it was gross but Free!!
When we have people over for dinner we use plastic plates and cups because I only have enough plates for our family..and none of them match.

Every bureau in the house is either A)missing a drawer
B)missing handles
C) has the bottom of a drawer broken
D)all of the above

Half the house is renovated, the other half is gyproced but not crack filled, crack filled but not painted, plywood but no real flooring...

Jocelyn Christensen said...

Poor Jacob!!! Aw well, my girls all wore Guy's hand-me-downs...girls can get away with it easier though! :)

Susan Anderson said...

I'm impressed!

=)

Lisa said...

At least he'll be in touch with his feminine side, and his wife will really appreciate that. You're already a good mother in law. Sorry about the DVD player. There were many years we lived by that law. Now, we toss hundreds out the car window just for the rush. No, really, we do. Too bad we don't live by you, or you could drive behind us, clutching at the wind. :)

Pitterle Postings said...

Oh yea, I have so been there. Not so much now. At least we don't have to eat mac and cheese for three months straight. Now we have canned (jarred) chicken! Love the dvd player and the pink boots. My grandson was up here this week and it was cold. He had to wear his aunts pink jacket and snowboots. Life is hard when everyone older than you is a girl!!

Rachel Sue said...

You guys are in IF right? It's been a while since I've been there but the DI in Rexburg used to ROCK. Seriously, best one I have ever been to.

And you know what? In my personal experience, something always turns up. It seems the Lord appreciates frugality so when we really need something, but work at finding a reasonable way of obtaining it, He generally helps us out.

TisforTonya said...

and all I can see there is the boots.

they'll be closer friends for the experience of watching everything together in close proximity - you're doing them a favor :)

Mama Smith said...

After the first "4" babies...(I might add that you were #4) the CRIB was completely DEMOLISHED/WORTHLESS...so, when Bekah (#5) came along...money was tight...I didn't want to waste more money on buying another crib...so, I emptied one of our dresser drawers and propped it up on the side of our bed...and that was Bekah's bed till she out-grew the DRAWER...(smile) It worked beautifully...After that, we just had her sleep in the "play-pen"...

Michelle from Fun On A Dime said...

Love the boots! That is all T wears right now and if lil Sis had a pair that were the slip on kind, she would be wearing them, too!

Lindsey Buck said...

You should try some online stuff sometimes! I'm not sure how much Hulu does for kids shows, but it's free. :) Good to see that the kids are doing great with the current solution!

Stef said...

Oh my gosh that is so funny! Seriously. All of it. I love it! And the pink boots was the icing on the cake. You are my hero!!

ldsjaneite said...

I've been trying to set up my new home-two years after giving away most of the furniture that was given to me. Sad day. The nearby DI is not bad, but I still find myself turning away from electronics that cost more than $10! *gasp*

Maybe I'm just sore because my new job can't make long-distance phone calls, so I was "required" to get a local number. Eeks I forgot phone service could be that expensive! But I totally get you on the "make do." Or rather the "do without." Good thing I live alone again. Roommates would kill me for how cold and dark I keep my apartment!

hjsmith said...

Hey stranger(:
I can so understand. Sorry you never heard of freecycle. I hope it is a good one for you out there. Here in Louisiana our freecycle and even vraigslist kinda stink. I am all for used and working stuff, that is how we can make it work here. I will admit with the twins turning 4 this year we are pretty much starting over with all our baby stuff and a tad bit overwhelming to say the least, but like yourselves will make it work somehow someway(:
If you can find a used working double go for it. I wish you all the luck in the world. Now to look for all you mentioned for ourselves with only 5-6 weeks left to find them. First thing first a car seat(: hehehe Everything else I dont mind used but I think this time around we are looking for a good deal on a new carseat. Good luck with everything. I know it will all work out for you guys.

Vanessa said...

Hey Sarah, I was wondering if I could have a favor. I am putting together a slide show for our New Beginnings, and the picture of you with your children on the trampoline, and the one where they are crafting would go perfect with the slide show. Could I use those? Pretty Please....

mCat said...

A house wouldn't be a home without something broken or missing something, and yet we still get by just fine don't we?

Unknown said...

That's the kind of thing you learn in a house of nine kids. Most things we really don't need! Thanks for the fun and entertaining post, Serene! :)

I awarded you something. Check it out {here}!

Felicity, at {Simple Elegance}

Charlotte said...

Wow. I am impressed. I told my husband about this post as we were waiting for our three DVR's to be installed. {Hangs my head in shame}

Although there was a point in our marriage where we did the same. We need to head back in that direction a little bit now, I think.

Jess said...

I lOVE that quote-- it's the thing that ought to be cross-stitched and hung in every home, right? (It's been literally -- um-- 18 years since I've cross-stitched! HA!)

Dang. Hate it when craigslist is lame in your place. Boo. Coming near CA anytime soon? I'll make you a stockpile. Rich people here are my blessing.

LOVE the pics of Alayna in the magical sparkle shoes. Made my whole day.

We're down to the envelope budget again, and laughing at Lukas' purple carseat, borrowed flowered helmet from a little friend, and are generally glad we don't have a jillion dollars in debt.

Did I mention I cannot WAIT for that tax return?

Oh yes.

Now if we could ever be out of school. Hmmm.

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