The Savvy Life

Being “Budget Savvy” does not have to mean doing everything yourself. I grew up on a family farm along with a large extended family. When something needed to be done, everyone pitched in and that often included making sure the food supply was abundant.

Someone always had a large garden to give from and once a year we all came together for the making of sausage, pork ribs, pork chops, bacon and many other dishes whose core ingredients came from the dozen or so large hogs. It was a site to behold. In one shed would be ten or twelve women cutting meat, in another would be the same number grinding meat for the sausage. Two men did nothing but sharpen knives all weekend and the rest kept busy with other chores. All those involved in the work attended the huge feasts that were provided each night in honor of the abundance of food and those who came together to prepare it.

They were wonderful memories, but once married I was anxious to move to the “city” and seek my independence. It was a good life and the years flew by.

Then early one morning, the phone rang. On the other end was a close friend who was frantic about the prospect of getting twenty acres of raisins rolled and off the ground before the forecasted rain began.

Having never been in a vineyard before we took his word for the necessity of speed and arrived there within thirty minutes. We were not alone. At least a dozen of his friends and family members were ready to roll raisins. We worked for two days early morning to dusk. The pain from our tired, aching muscles seemed to disappear with the feelings of accomplishment and camaraderie. We had come together in a time of need and bonded in a way that few ever do. The friendships along with the wonderful memories have endured. A big “thanksgiving for the crop” was held at our friends’ ranch two months later. To the sounds of the mariachi band we regaled each other with stories of “saving the crop”.

That was many years ago, but we have often come together to help each other as the Amish do in their “barn raising”.

In the years that followed we have helped to “raise many barns” and have had others help us in return. There was my brother's roof where I actually wore out the seat of my jeans because I was too terrified to stand on the roof. I scooted around on my behind for two days.

The combined efforts of family and friends put in sprinkler systems, landscaped, painted, roofed, plumbed, remodeled, irrigated crops, put in fences, branded cattle, and sheared sheep. Every one of those projects came to be thought of as a “barn raising” by everyone involved. One of the finest memories I have is watching the faces of the children glow in the knowledge that they had helped and been a part of the process.

Each and every one of these projects saved thousands of dollars for the recipient. More importantly, it brought us together, family and friends, to share our time, our individual knowledge, our love and our trust… after all, you wouldn’t let just anyone shear your sheep!

So the next time you decide to take on a project yourself to save some money, be sure to call your friends and make a party out of it.