HOW WE AFFORD A LARGE FAMILY
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- Опубліковано 22 бер 2019
- Hey friends! This is a question we get asked a LOT! In today's video I'm going to give a basic overview of our philosophies and a few basic things we do in order to afford a big family. Leave any questions below, and I'll make more in-depth videos on this topic in the future!
Lydia's channel: bit.ly/2hYdcHm
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We raised 11 children on a single income. 10 have college degrees. It's been a great life. Thank you for keeping the dream alive.
You should go on a speaking tour!
Um..how?!
Our goal is to have a large family, thx for the comment spreading confidence since many people freak out on you if you say that you want to have more then 2 kids, I believe budgeting reduces after 4 in terms that kids start to help you and share with each other like I had chores from age of 5 they werent big but an hour a day to help my relatives certanly improved life style of others in family, I asume you live in USA which is better in many ways then Canada. Although whats nice about Canada and kids is support that goverment has for it. I feel that its so hard to have 1 kid and asume its harder when you have two but, for some reason 4 kids logicaly should be easier, why? well because everyone helps each other. Also we dont believe into over population, and logicaly if things are done right believe that our planet can sustain 110 billion no problem, and perhaps if peace prevails, then we might be able to even larger population. More people should live in big families.
For babies on a budget, I always tell people they do not *need* all that gear!
I've seen friends drop thousands on furniture and gear for babies that they barely use.
I love your comments about decor and your home. I feel like YT is full of people in these beautiful, decorated to the nines homes that they then redecorate often! Meanwhile, our furniture is from the thrift shop 😉
I'll just look at the pretty homes and then sit on my $50 couch. 😄
Yes
Stephanie Momsen that is so true. I only hVe one child that is now 19 and in college but I bought almost anything you cld think of when she was a baby and took a lot of it back. Lol
Yes yes yes! My mama was a stay at home mama to seven, and I don’t remember I single thing the other kids got to have that I didn’t. I just remember growing up with parents who were always around and six best friends
Shannon O'Brien goals!!!!!💕
So I’m listening to this video while loading my dishwasher and I’m nodding along and then I hear my name! Thank you! (I’m still convinced just my mom watches my channel.) And I love you too! 💕
You have been such a huge inspiration for me to really get our budget under control this year! :)
I love both of you guys channel!
I love how non-judgmental you are, in all things- religion and life in general. It is something that I strive to do. You are so genuinely kind hearted!
You are so right when you said they wear the same five clothes anyway. #facts
I have one child and will use some of your tips 😀
I have a tip to save on cooking - replace meat with lentils or beans. A bag of lentils is a couple of quid and goes much further than say a chicken. Plus versatile and very healthy as nutritionist say they have only scratched the surface in how legumes are nutritious. Faves in our house are bean chilli , lentil bolognese and chickpea curry.
My husband and I are currently ttc number 5! We also were blessed with two boys and then two girls. Even I had my moments, and Lord knows my husband did, were we were like Okay, this is it. we had the perfect family as well. still, I knew my heart wasn't done. I hoped he would change his mind but he seemed content and eager to close that chapter of our lives. So, I prayed about it many times, asking God to help me find peace with that and be content with what I was already given. However, something changed. My husband told me he wanted another! I tried to give it to God, and I feel like he moved in ways only He can to open my husband's mind and heart back up to that topic. I just wanted to say that you truly inspire me as a mother! I hope to continue to grow as a wife and mom to be more like you. You carry it all very gracefully!
I really like your whole philosophy! Make your priorities the most important things in your life and be grateful for what you have. It makes such a difference.
I'm a fairly frugal person and don't want (or need!) new decor/clothes/meals out on a regular basis. The best "budget" I've had since graduating college was 1. pay for monthly necessities (groceries/gas/rent) 2. pay off my student loans (debt free for five years now) and 3. put everything else into savings.
That wouldn't work for everyone, but it made me happy to do free/cheap activities like hiking or reading by my apartment's pool and using my savings to travel. I barely made more than minimum wage my first few years teaching and a lot of my co-workers don't seem to understand how I can afford international trips every year. I just keep things so basic in my day to day life because traveling is my priority right now. It's what makes me happy. Each person/family needs to figure out that for themselves, just like you have!
Do you have a video on unschooling? I’m not familiar and I’d like to see you talk more about it
Jordan Page, Andrea Mills, and Jamerrill Stewart are all great youtubers to watch that do videos on budgeting with large families. Also Our Tribe of Many.
Tina P yes agreed I watch all of them :)
Love Andrea Mills
I love how you said. "Our hearts aren't done" I've always wanted a big family we only have our sweet little two year old and iv already made the decision to homeschool I'm glad I found your channel!
I love that you guys set aside money for a trip every year! Vacations create such amazing memories that really can’t be bought. I specifically got into my line of work (I’m a Travel Agent) to help make those memories more attainable for more families! There are so many tips and tricks and ways to save money that so many people don’t know about!
We just found out 2 weeks ago baby #9 is TRIPLETS!! 💙💙💙😊 people ask me this question too 💗☺️
We also have ggbbggbb now bbb coming haha our pattern broke
Ahhhh, that's AMAZING! Congratulations!!!
JOYFUL CHAOS thank you both 💗💗
Congrats!!!
Whatttt! That’s crazy!
Ashleigh, thank you so much for this ❤ you're helping make having "less" more normal in a world where extravagant seems ordinary.
Just found your channel. Thank you for mentioning priorities. It’s a really touchy thing to say because people tend to misunderstand it for judgment, but you phrased it very eloquently. It’s something I wish people felt empowered to own. Own your priorities, don’t be ashamed. If a well-decorated house is important to you and you can afford it, or are willing to sacrifice in other areas to afford it, do it! And if homeschooling or a large family or whatever is important enough to you, you *will* find a way.
I hear it often about so many things. “I wish I could stay home with my kids/homeschool/grow a large garden/cloth diaper/knit/whatever, but I don’t have time/money/patience/energy/whatever.” If you prioritize what’s important to you, you will find time/money/patience/energy!
My tips for saving money, even though we *only* have 4 kids 😉 are AMEN on the handed down clothes. I’ve hardly bought clothing for any of my kids. I never turn them down. Stained, out of style clothing is perfect for gardening or painting or days at home. I save the cutest outfits for visiting others or going to town. 😃 also, AMEN on the basic wardrobe. Super basic, mix and match tops and bottoms, easy.
I also never turn down food. We were offered pears, a lot of pears. We always say, we will take as much as we can get, whatever it is (except squash; I have a taste limit on squash!). I will find a way to use it. We were given about 20-25 gallons of pears. I am making pear sauce today. ☺️ but in the summer, at least in our area, everyone has produce to give away. Yes, we will take your broccoli and potatoes and onions and zucchini and tomatoes. Yes, I will spend the time and energy to find uses, dehydrate, can, freeze... we will use it and we will be so grateful for it. Even if it means a 3 week unplanned homeschooling break while Mama puts up green beans!
Great video! I know someone who’s constantly complaining she can’t stay home with her kids... but her 2 kids go to private school($12,000 a yr), they take big expensive vacations every 3 months, and upgrade their vehicles every 2 yrs. Ok... you could stay home, that’s just not the most important thing for you. She was appalled when she learned I totaled my van 2 yrs ago, paid off my load and sons birth with the settlement money, zip tied the bumper back on and continue to drive it. It drives just fine still and no payment saves us nearly $500/mo 🤷♀️
Love the tips! When my husband and I bought our 1st and only home, we bought a modular home because we were able to get more square footage for our budget. We knew we wanted a big family and we wanted a home that could grow with us. 17 years and 6 kids later and we still love our modular home. Our “starter” home, as most people referred to it as, is our forever home. Nothing fancy, but it serves us well!
We lived in a modular home when I was in high school, it was such a great layout and so much space!! Fancy isn't necessary, I love that y'all set yourselves up for your future!
The budget mom has changed everything for us. Straight talk here too, no cable or internet, paid off cars, consignment sale shopper, hand me downs, cooking from scratch and buying in bulk, flipping used free furniture. We survive just fine on one income and 4 kids. It isn't easy but being home is worth it. Still striving to be debt free.
D May same
I loved this video! Such great advice, we just had our 6th baby and are living off a student income, we don't buy many things but we have a roof over our heads, good food to eat and plenty of nice clothing and I'm thankful 😊
I relate so much to the hand me downs! My sisters and i always got clothes from our older wealthier cousins lol it was like going shopping!
I feel like the main thing that people never really acknowledge (and I have said the same thing on your sisters videos) is that some people live in an area with a really low cost of living. As someone who lives in a major urban center with an insane cost of living, sometimes there is just no way around it no matter how frugal you are or how much you save. A big enough house for lots of kids; or even a house at all, just might not be possible. And moving away from family and jobs is easier said than done. I dunno, just food for thought.
Oh, for sure!!! Everyone has different ideas of what's enough, what their priorities are, etc. And if staying close to family (even if it's more expensive) is a priority, then do it!
Do you live in Denver?! Cus this sounds like Denver lol. We are planning to live to Dallas so we can foster and adopt the children God would have for us. But here we can't afford it. We have a 2 bedroom not nice apartment, no cable, dont shop a ton, a kid with food allergies so already expensive foods costs way more. We just couldn't afford to have more kids here. We literally have pinched every where. I don't think mist people can afford large families in cities where it costs a lot to just live.
But if you compare the salaries yall make there to our living here, it's much more understandable. It almost always comes down to being willing to remove internet, cell phones, cable TV, eating out, etc. Yes, some must sacrafice more than others, but it is doable. I have never met a person who truly can't do it. It just wasn't worth the trade off to them, and that is their decision. But it's not because we are too poor in America. The poorest in America is much richer than most of the world and they do it.
I think sometimes we need to stop with excuses and say why we do or don't choose something.
And can I just say I appreciate you on UA-cam, it is such a blessing!
I'm not married, I don't even have kids, but I found the bit on priorities very enlightening! I have noticed you also rely a lot on discounts, which is something I also do and it helps a lot. Thank you for sharing!
I grew up in a family of 9. A lot of what you said resonates with me. It's a rare perspective. I was the 2nd oldest and a little mom to my siblings. I absolutely love my siblings and wouldn't change how many of us there are. You guys are adorable! ❤️
The saying is that children are expensive, but I think the cultures way of raising them is .
I definitely sit through advertisements for UA-camrs I like. Idk if it makes a difference but I’ve heard you get paid for advertisements when viewers watch it all the way through 👍🏻
Me too!
I do the same :)
And it is so appreciated! Thank you!
I didn't know that! Now I won't be hitting the "skip" button any more.
Yay! So excited every time you upload! 🤩
I love this! We have three boys, and live by this philosophy as well. Our third son is wearing the clothes his older brothers wore! We talk to our kids about money and saving for things...and we don't keep up with trends whether it's with clothing/decor or technology.
First time watcher. Looked it and will be watching more. Being all over the place is so much of mom life. God bless.
loved this! thank you for sharing the beauty in a simple life, with the ones you love most. love you girl!
Thank you for the ideas! Asking grandparents to go in on a nice gift is a great idea.
I am so so so happy I came across your channel. I’ve mentioned I am a mom of 5, my husband and I, and omg the struggle to budget is beyond stressful at times. I will love to see a budgeting video tips. Your humbleness gives me a piece of mind specially in this past couple of days I been struggling with so much but hearing makes me feel like we will be okay. Thank you so much🙏
I'd love to hear more about how you homeschool on a budget 😊
Yes! I couldn’t agree more...a lot of it is just the mindset of you don’t need it ALL! I figure that as a stay at home mom, it is my job to make our money stretch as far as I can. ❤️
I'm the twelfth of fifteen children on my dad's side, oldest is almost 40 and youngest three are 18 going on 19, and I'm the oldest of four on my mom's side, I'm 23 and my younger siblings are 9, 7 and 6.
I'm glad that you have your life in line.
Hand-me-downs are my favorite for me, my family, and home!!!
this was such a great video! thank you for your content it always lifts me up
I have 3 in public schools (so far) and let me tell ya, depending on the state, you can end up paying a lot when you add up field trips, field trip shirts, P.E. uniforms, donating items for class projects, etc etc. And that's not even factoring in school supplies.
Many of these are things my mom and dad did raising us, and I loved hearing you talk bout them. :) I can't wait to hopefully, Lord wiling, have a family some day and implement many of these things one day.
Such a refreshing channel! Thank you
Totally loved your video! Way to go!
Wonderful blog. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Admirable people.
I tell everyone about Straight Talk! We have used Straight Talk for over 5 years now and it’s perfect and no obligation/contracts! Can’t beat the 25g of internet now either!
Yes, you hit all the points on this one.. sometimes you just need to sit down and figure out the priorities are and stick to them!
Yes to all you said! We have 11 children and do much of the same things. Simple wardrobe, simple food (no allergies here), cheap cell phones, very frugal homeschooling. Priorities are what make the difference in raising a large family. Budget-wise, we've used YNAB (You Need A Budget) for about five or six years. We love it. Keeps us on track, helps us save for vacations, and has made a huge difference in our overall saving habits. Thanks, Ashley!
Look at Total Wireless. We pay $65 a month for both our phone lines.
And I'm totally with you on the decor! I decorate for function over form. We have homeschool decor in our dining room and family photos in our living room.😊
I absolutely LOVE the rug? Hanging on your wall
I can't agree more on not buying kids too many clothes or toys. I learned quickly after ours outgrew sooo many gifted clothes before she can cycle through everything more than twice. Most homes have a washer and dryer (or clotheslines...cheap and amazing-smelling clothes!) and if the kids truly run out of clean clothes, it takes no more than an hour to wash a batch. Another thing I do is buying kids clothes and shoes when they REALLY go on sale (at least 50% off) and getting a size or two up to get the most use out of them. That way we always have a couple new outfits ready for the next size needed.
Good common sense decisions. I agree each family has to decide for themselves. I wish people did not feel they have to do or have something because of what they see others doing.
I totally agree with the the cloths I have not had to buy my 10 year old daughter much cloths for years her bestfriend is a little older and passed all her cloths on.
Loved this video! I’m a stay at home mama to two little boys and we do pretty much the same thing. Although we do feel ‘done’ as far as our family size goes, for now at least. If we added on it would most likely be thru adoption.
Love all the tips! Thank you!
nice video, thank you-- and i love the pretty tapestry behind you! :)
Thank you for sharing! Wow, 7 kids?! I would love to hear how you manage your time. I just had my second, my first is 22 months & I am struggling to figure out how to manage everything. So I can’t imagine having 7. Keep rocking it mama!
For starters, I don't manage everything! :) We prioritize, my husband is an equal partner in kid and home stuff, and some stuff doesn't always get done! Also, the biggest thing is that I have older children who are massive helps! Life with two under two is a totally different ballgame. You're doing great!
Hi. Watching you for the first time. Great video! Thank you.
Thanks for this video! When you said the word BUDGET I just remembered I need to update our one😂😂😂our circumstances changed this month so I better get on it!!!!
You speak to my heart in this video. I admire your wisdom very much. We love FIT and consider it our fellowship even though we are so far away. Our daughter looks for each of you she knows by name each week y'all are on. ❤
Oh, I love that!!!
great tips for anyone regardless of size. consumerism will consume us!!
Great video very helpful. Thank you for sharing.
I also Never turn down hand me downs! ❤️
Thanks for the video! Great ways to not spend a lot. We’re fairly similar but we do eat a certain way(not fancy meals) which can be expensive but is important to us 😃
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I want more than anything to have a baby in the upcoming year or so but we are quite nervous about the expenses. Although this will be our first, I do hope to have a “big-ish” family soon after. Thank you for all of this! It’s just about necessities. With love, we are plenty wealthy.
I’d love to see an unschooling video. You and your family are wonderful. I love that you are so real and honest.
Amen! Great advice!
I love your channel and that you aren’t afraid to talk about Jesus and to talk about big families in a positive light!!! I never hear this
Love your channel! What are your views on credit card debt/ are you a Dave Ramsey fan?
I have so many of the same thoughts on having a big family! Living simply is so important for us. Would love to hear a video about how you started your vlog and some tips/ideas about vlogging.
Sure, I'll add that to my list! :)
Wow you're amazing... mom goals
thank you, that's very kind
I mean it!! Loved this video and your heart! Would love more content like this, for young moms like me trying to prep and dream for one day having a big fam!
I love jordan page when it comes to savings
I was wondering if you could share dinner recipes with cheap ingredients
I love your Channel!! ❤️❤️❤️ Greetings from Germany
I love that you guys go to HWY 55. I started my career there. 💜
Growing up, I lived a very similar life but not as big of a family. Honestly I am so happy my parents raised me this way because I know I have a hard work ethic. We never shopped anywhere fancy, got hand me downs, had to work for things we wanted outside of food and clothes, etc. While I was a kid I hated it but now I'm older I understand the bigger picture.
I am curious to know how much rent is, what income yearly is.
I also think as the babies become teens they will want to play sports, drive, have nice clothes and shoes.
Family means and is everything xxxx 😘😘😘
You are so right about the kids clothing! I remember as a kid I had this favorite shirt that I wanted to wear it everyday. One day my mom got rid of it (probably bc it was worn to death) and I was so sad 😂
Right? For real, my kids still have more clothes than they will actually wear, and they don't even have that much! They wear their favorites over and over lol
My son has an outfit he’ll wear 3x a week if it’s clean! 😂
I just found your channel and had to subscribe. My husband and I have 5 children ages 9, 5, 3, 2, and 9 months.
I completely agree with you about hating it when people say oh you have a boy and girl, you can be done. I also hate it when people ask of you know where kids come from. It's so disrespectful.
Yesssss straight talk!!! Me too sister!!!
Great video!!
Great tips! Do you own or rent your home? You didn't mention saving or is that a given? Is your savings how you take care of homeowner upkeep/big ticket items replacements? Do you give money to your place of worship? I'm not asking for dollar specifics but I feel these are important budgeting factors.
We currently rent, though we are saving to buy this year! We tithe 10% to our church, and we save when we can, though we've never had a sizable savings...God has been faithful, and while we may have had seasons of driving one car, or having less, we've never gone without a roof over our heads and food in our bellies :)
Big question: what about things like braces? I’m getting so nervous because my oldest (8.5 years) begins “phase one” or ortho work this summer ... and we will be ok paying for that ... but then about the time my 6.5 year old needs to begin, my oldest will be ready for “phase two.” That’s a little overwhelming! And there are more kiddos coming behind them ...
Good ideas!
I hope you save the amt you were paying on your van each month as a down payment for your next vehicle. We actually have never had a car payment (6 vehicles so far) because of this. We love hand-me-downs too! (7 kids here too!)
I love these! Your family sounds just like ours - and we have 3 kids! Its so refreshing to see a video like this from someone who isn’t telling us to cut back on crazy Disney vacations or buy $200 shoes instead of $1000 ones or things we could never do ❤️ My husband works and I homeschool our kids and pick up as much freelance work as I can. We buy all our clothes at thrift stores (at the 50% off sales to boot!) gladly accept hand-me-downs, I get super creative cooking with beans and homemade soups and breads, we have family and friends over for homemade pizza and cake on birthdays, and this year we’re taking our first vacation renting a tiny house in years! And you know what? We’re happy! Sure we wish for more sometimes, but our kids are safe, warm, happy and well-fed, and we have a loving marriage that grows stronger every year. I mean, what else could you want in life? Thanks For making this real-life video, you have gained a lifetime subscriber here 😊
Great video with some good reminders! I'm curious though, if and how you are saving for your kids college? No judgement either way just curious. We have a pretty solid budget but saving for college is tough to fit in for our soon to be family of 6
Betsy Radford look into a 529 plan.
I’m one of 12 kids. While it would have been nice to have help paying for collage(I didn’t graduate), I never expected it and am not upset that my mom didn’t help. I did get some scholarships and financial aid my first semester because I was “low income” before getting married.
We have two and things are tight. One income family! It was great when it was just me and hubby but now with two kids it’s hard!!! We are doing it. We want more kids!
Darn you look good !
Hwy 55 founder was just on Dave Ramsey.
New subscriber here!
Love your channel 🤗
I love all your videos Ashley!!! Especially all things related to birth and postpartum. I am 30 and would like to start having kids in the near future. I live in Fairfield County Connecticut and it seems as though all of my friends buy organic food for their families. I have friends who buy organic papers towels 🤔 anyway, I’m a RN and my husband is a personal trainer. We make decent money but we have to be careful we are living within our means in the area we live in. My question for you might to too personal or nosey so no worries if you don’t answer but is feeding your kids high quality/organic food a priority for you? I want to give my kids the best most healthy food i can but it’s SO expensive. I know I’ll buy organic milk and dairy. Do you have any thoughts/opinions on this?
We don't buy all organic. We can't afford to eat that way, and while I know that organic foods are better, the idea that anyone who doesn't buy organic is somehow less than or failing...well, that comes from a place of privilege. I believe you do the best you can with what you're given, you live in a place of gratitude, and keep on keeping' on.
If you follow the dirty dozen and the clean fifteen, that can help you prioritize which veg you buy organic.
I don’t know how to phrase this, but my challenge is that my heart is that I want a big family but I feel impatient between pregnancies. I am not a “I love pregnancy!” woman, pregnancy is actually awful for me. But when I’m not pregnant, I feel nervous that I won’t have time to have enough kids before Pregnancy risks get higher, we will start struggling to get pregnant (which was true for kid #1 & 2), my hubby will say no to more (he does get nervous with finances although we seriously are fine.)
I just turned 32 and I am super grateful for our 3 girlies (the youngest is just 5 months.) At the same time I feel that calling in my heart and see that vision of us being a large homeschool family.
We are never preventing but right now I’m breastfeeding and haven’t even gotten my period back yet. It’s so silly for me to want to be pregnant! I still get awful sleep from my baby. I need a chill pill.
Any tips to find peace while growing your family?
Perfect!! ☺
Oh me how have I not found your channel sooner I follow your sister ❤️
Just a phone tip- if u have a Comcast, u can get internet for ur home and unlimited talk and text for 30$. U can add as many lines as u want. So 30$ for home Internet and all the cell phones u want. Limited time
When we came to the US we were shocked when we saw the prices for cell phone plans and we went on to find the cheapest which was Ting. It's through Sprint and we pay about $30 for TWO lines. If your area is covered enough (which you can check online) and you don't watch youtube through mobile data, it may be worth looking into to safe more each month.
Wow, that's so cheap! I'll definitely look in to it!
We have 7 kids and do very similarly in order to afford them.
We do pretty much what you do, except we raise a lot of our food which limits vacations even further, and we dont have internet just phones for the adults.
C Conroy we don’t have home internet either. We can’t even get reliable satellite internet out here. But we have Verizon unlimited data phone plans and it works out well
Oooo homeschool video please!
Love Lydia Senn! 😃
Thank you for sharing this with us! I am very interested to go over to Lydia's channel. Bc I really am bad with budgeting. And I wish I could start a UA-cam channel. I don't have equipment and its scary kind of. Its like everyone has a channel on here about pretty much any topic. And who would want to listen to me. Idk.
Thank you again for sharing your tips. And yes public school is expensive and when they get to high school oh my gosh!!!😕💖😃
Mandy, only you can share things from YOUR perspective, so even if it's been done before, you have your own spin, your own story! It can be kind of scary, but it can also be so fun, and such a great way to connect with people! I'll get a video up soon about starting a youtube channel :)