Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Begging From The Basement

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Edna: Margie, I've been looking over our budget, and I think we're going to need to make some changes. Groceries aren't cheap and neither is electricity. I'm sorry to say it, but we have to cut out some luxuries.

Margie: Lordy, Edna, what else can we give up? We've given up all the luxuries I can remember. I only put jam on half my piece of toast now so what's next?

Edna: I know, Margie, we're already living a Spartan existence as it is. But we just can't afford those trips to Bath and Body works any more, even if we only buy things a few times a year. And those Oreos you get at the grocery store every month? We'll have to cut those out, too.

I hate to say it, and Mama would be ashamed of us if she were still alive, but the hard truth is this: if we want luxuries in our lives, we're going to have to beg for them.

Margie: Forgive us, Mama. How did it come to this, Edna? We live in the United States yet there truly is so much poverty. We old folks can't even afford our medicine if we want to eat.

I have already given up Oreos and cold drinks. I can't even afford my orange juice anymore. I even gave up snuff, Edna. You know how cranky that makes me.

I suppose I could contact that Publix grocery store and beg for a gift card. I'd love to have one that would last us for a year.

Edna: That would be wonderful, Margie. If our groceries were paid for a year, we could put the money we save towards our electric and phone bills. It's a good thing we don't drive very often, at least the cost of gas isn't draining us dry.

While we're on the subject of asking for food, I sure wouldn't turn down a case of Dr. Pepper if they wanted to send us some. Oops, better make that two cases, you go through that stuff like water.

We already grow our own vegetables, maybe we should start keeping bees too. I hear honey is very good for you. And we wouldn't have to buy sugar at the store any more, either.

Margie: Dr Pepper? I need at least 2 cases a month, Edna. And, I might need some of that chewing baccky because it'd be cheaper to chew 2 meals a day and just eat one.

You can keep bees if you want to, dingbat, but I'll just buy my sugar and be sparing with it. By the way, Edna, I hate to ruin your day but the price of See's candy means we sure won't be seeing any more.

Edna: Margie, this is getting too depressing. I'm going back to bed.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

With both hubby and I still laid off and my medical and prescription bills, unfortunately we will be ready for foreclosure on my mothers home that was left to me. So I know exactly where you are coming from, all I do is pray and cry allot.

God bless.

Jodi

Michele said...

I was fired while 27 weeks pregnant and haven't yet gotten another job yet, then last September my husband was laid off so neither of us were employed. We're on food stamps to survive. Thankfully he got a job, it may only be part time but I'm thankful, he can now feel useful and things look promising. He won't make enough money to have our food stamps taken away so at least the money he makes can go towards bills.
Since we can't afford a babysitter I attempt to do things online to make money. homejobstop.com has a ton of online listings, and I just signed up for payperpost.com but because I want to keep the integrity of my blog I only choose certain articles to write about. I'm also an expiditor on chacha.com but I make like $4 an hour, which my husband said I could make shoes in another country for less and feel more productive....

Keep a chin up!

Michele
http://amothersdevotion.blogspot.com
http://mtracy18.blogspot.com

Margie and Edna said...

Jodi and Michele, thank you both for your comments. There's no doubt about it, these are hard times for most anyone. It can be hard to keep the mindset of counting one's blessings, but we hope that you are both able to do so. We wish you luck that things will look up soon.

Love, Margie and Edna

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