Ever notice how life has a way of piling things on all at once? Good things, yes—but let’s be honest, I’m mostly talking about the hard stuff. And just when you think it can’t get any more overwhelming… it starts pouring.
For us, it started with the dog. Our lovable (and slightly destructive) puppy, who probably should’ve been named “Hoover,” decided to eat everything in sight. $10K later, he’s healthy again—and thankfully, back to eating and pooping like a champ. But that emergency vet bill was a doozy.
Then our son’s truck stopped working. Turns out the transmission was toast, and while we were at it, why not rebuild it into a manual? Oh, and did I mention we’re also in the middle of restoring two vehicles? One of them—a 1957 Chevy—is racing the clock for a summer event. And if you’ve ever shopped for 1957 Chevy parts, you know that nostalgia ain’t cheap.
Just as our son got his rig running again (after swapping the transmission himself, mind you), it broke down. Again. He’s back under the hood, troubleshooting, while also hunting for a job—which means we’re covering most of his expenses in the meantime.
And because life is a master of timing, we also decided to repaint the exterior of our house—before the truck broke down. Also, our daughter, now 15, is car shopping too… and well, the “car fund” took a hit thanks to the dog’s gourmet medical bills.
Add to all this the looming decision to purchase a fifth wheel trailer. It’s a practical choice for us in the long run, but in the short term? All I see are dollar signs and a shrinking bank balance.
So, what’s a family of four (and a half, counting the dog) supposed to do?
My husband reminds me this is why we work—to provide for our family, keep things running, and support each other through the chaos. And he’s right. We’re walking alongside our son as he job hunts and reminding him that responsibility and independence go hand in hand. We’re prioritizing the repairs that matter most. We’re pressing pause on what we can. And we’re doing what so many families are doing right now—finding creative ways to stretch the budget a little further.
Here are a few small-but-mighty changes we’re trying:
- Mama is dramatically scaling back her coffee runs.
- We’re making more meals at home—and will be baking our own bread more often.
- Mama’s on the lookout for a side gig.
- I’m working from home more often to save on gas.
- With only two drivable vehicles at the moment, that’s fewer fill-ups at the pump.
These changes might not seem like much, but they add up. And more than anything, they help us feel like we’re doing something—however small—to weather the storm.
It may be pouring right now, but we’ve got umbrellas, raincoats, and each other. And honestly, that’s more than enough.
What other options could a family like ours explore in an effort to save money? Here are a few more – what more would you add?
- Use what we have – Whether it’s finishing leftovers, repurposing furniture, or using up what’s in the pantry before another grocery run, we’re making it a habit to use what we already own.
- Cancel or pause subscriptions – We took inventory of our monthly subscriptions (streaming services, apps, etc.) and paused the ones we weren’t regularly using. Even $10 here and there adds up.
- Limit impulse buys – We’re sleeping on non-urgent purchases. If we still really want it after a week (and it’s in budget), we reconsider it then.
- Sell what we don’t need – We’ve started listing items we no longer use on local marketplaces. Bonus: it clears out clutter and brings in a little extra cash.
So what do you do when it rains…and then pours?
Lately, I’ve chosen to pray—a lot. Not asking for things to be fixed or magically resolved, but asking for strength, patience, and perspective to weather the waves. I don’t believe any of this is random. I truly believe everything happens for a reason—even the stressful, expensive, unexpected parts. This season is stretching us, yes, but I also believe it’s shaping us. It’s teaching us to be flexible, resourceful, and maybe even a little more grateful for the quiet, ordinary moments when life isn’t quite so chaotic.
We may not be able to control the storms, but we can choose how we move through them—one prayer, one repair, and one less fancy coffee drink at a time.