Living with less: Cutting down costs without cutting out the fun
Chris Steiner of Millersburg, like many people in the local community and across the country, has been affected by the economic climate. Changes in career and income have nudged her in a different financial direction than she was enjoying, say, 10 years ago. Where, before, she might not have hesitated to frequent a sit-down restaurant, now she finds she’s making more meals at home. Where she previously didn’t mind loading up on store-bought Christmas gifts for family and friends, now she comes up with creative ways of giving gifts of time. Chris Steiner is living on a shoestring, and she likes it. In fact, she likes it so much that she has pooled together a group of friends who have also found that they can live life more fully while spending less money and, together, they have organized a new monthly women’s group, Living on a Shoestring, designed to teach others that they don’t have to sacrifice joy and creativity simply because their wallets are a bit thinner than they used to be. In fact, she feels that living up to today’s financial challenges can be very personally rewarding.
The group came about because Steiner saw that people in the community needed hope in dealing with their financial struggles.
“It seemed like there was a need for folks to be inspired and educated on how to live within their means and be happy about it, not to feel overwhelmed and depressed.”
After talking to a few women who shared Steiner’s enthusiasm, a plan was made, and monthly meetings were organized. Steiner said she wants the group to be fun and lighthearted, a time for women to be energized about their abilities to live better without overspending.
“We’re going to have quick, informative presentations by different people, activities, door prizes and refreshments. We want it to be a kind of a girls’ night out where women can bring their sisters, daughters and friends.”
With that goal in mind, the group will also provide child care in which they help kids, from preschool to elementary age, learn how to have fun creatively and inexpensively by leading child-friendly activities like making play dough or other simple recipes.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a lot of fun,” said Steiner, adding that the environment will be relaxed so that, while infant care is not provided, mothers can bring their babies to meetings with them.
The group’s first three sessions will focus on the upcoming holidays with their first gathering focusing on Giving More with Less, focusing on creative gift-giving and presentation. November’s meeting will feature ideas for low-cost, high-quality holiday cooking with samples and recipes. In December, participants will get tips on how to prioritize and manage their time to achieve a stress-free holiday season.
Future meetings will focus on themes like Super Soups, basic decorating principles that don’t cost extra money and creative gardening. Each session will also offer an opportunity for participants to share ideas and suggestions as well as questions to consider for future meeting topics. The goal, said Steiner, is to encourage each other to be realistic about their resources.
“We’re not all superwomen, and we don’t have unlimited money or time. We just have to get real and decide what’s important.”
The meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m., in the Christian Family Life Center, formerly downtown Millersburg’s Grocery Bag, with the first meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4. There is no cost to participate. The group is also eager to hear from others who would like to present money-saving ideas during upcoming meetings.
Steiner said she wants participants to come away being empowered to use the resources available to them to live a satisfying life. For her, that has meant starting with the basics and making something wonderful, whether it’s dish detergent or from-scratch meals. The message, she said, is not to be downtrodden by financial challenges, that living on less can be very enjoyable.
“There’s something fulfilling about creating something from very little,” said Steiner. “This can actually be a good thing.”
For more information about upcoming meetings, contact Chris Steiner at 330-763-3463.
The group came about because Steiner saw that people in the community needed hope in dealing with their financial struggles.
“It seemed like there was a need for folks to be inspired and educated on how to live within their means and be happy about it, not to feel overwhelmed and depressed.”
After talking to a few women who shared Steiner’s enthusiasm, a plan was made, and monthly meetings were organized. Steiner said she wants the group to be fun and lighthearted, a time for women to be energized about their abilities to live better without overspending.
“We’re going to have quick, informative presentations by different people, activities, door prizes and refreshments. We want it to be a kind of a girls’ night out where women can bring their sisters, daughters and friends.”
With that goal in mind, the group will also provide child care in which they help kids, from preschool to elementary age, learn how to have fun creatively and inexpensively by leading child-friendly activities like making play dough or other simple recipes.
“You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a lot of fun,” said Steiner, adding that the environment will be relaxed so that, while infant care is not provided, mothers can bring their babies to meetings with them.
The group’s first three sessions will focus on the upcoming holidays with their first gathering focusing on Giving More with Less, focusing on creative gift-giving and presentation. November’s meeting will feature ideas for low-cost, high-quality holiday cooking with samples and recipes. In December, participants will get tips on how to prioritize and manage their time to achieve a stress-free holiday season.
Future meetings will focus on themes like Super Soups, basic decorating principles that don’t cost extra money and creative gardening. Each session will also offer an opportunity for participants to share ideas and suggestions as well as questions to consider for future meeting topics. The goal, said Steiner, is to encourage each other to be realistic about their resources.
“We’re not all superwomen, and we don’t have unlimited money or time. We just have to get real and decide what’s important.”
The meetings will take place on the first Tuesday of every month, at 7 p.m., in the Christian Family Life Center, formerly downtown Millersburg’s Grocery Bag, with the first meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 4. There is no cost to participate. The group is also eager to hear from others who would like to present money-saving ideas during upcoming meetings.
Steiner said she wants participants to come away being empowered to use the resources available to them to live a satisfying life. For her, that has meant starting with the basics and making something wonderful, whether it’s dish detergent or from-scratch meals. The message, she said, is not to be downtrodden by financial challenges, that living on less can be very enjoyable.
“There’s something fulfilling about creating something from very little,” said Steiner. “This can actually be a good thing.”
For more information about upcoming meetings, contact Chris Steiner at 330-763-3463.
Published: September 21, 2011
