What Does Having a Hope Chest Mean $$-Wise?

This is Part 3 of the Hope Chest Series. If you missed the Hope Chest Series Introduction, or Part 1: “What’s in my Hope Chest?” or Part 2, “What am I adding to my Hope Chest?” you can find them here, here, and here.

Having a Hope Chest is like having a saving account for your marriage or future life.

 Hope Chest = Savings Account

Like the picture of the piggy bank above with the two wedding bands, a hope chest is a “cedar bank,” if you will, with the supplies you need to bring to a marriage or to a life on your own. Savings Accounts accumulate over time, as will your hope chest, and when the time comes, you can withdraw from it. With a savings account, you gradually put more money into it, and normally the deposits are painless. When you are able to withdraw from that savings account, however–there is no pain whatsoever in seeing the fruits of your additions. With a hope chest, you are saving for the future, though (often) not in monetary terms, and all the hope and joy is great, indeed!

How is Having a Hope Chest a Frugal Decision?

As discussed in the previous paragraph, a hope chest is gradually added to. Normally, people buy items while they are cheaper, on sale, or make the items themselves. Also, since most hope chest collections are added to by teenagers–parents are involved, Christmas is involved, and birthdays are involved! Although the items are only added a little at a time, the price of the items ultimately adds up to where if you had to buy all the items at once, it would definitely be a burden against your bank account. Little by little is the way to go, whether your items are homemade or whether your parents buy the items, or whether you do–overall, the decision to have a hope chest is a frugal one!

Think of the Joys Later…

After accumulating these items over time, and not hurting your budget or band account, the time FINALLY comes when you get married or live on your own. The joy that comes from looking at this grand accomplishment of SAVING items (and ultimately money) and using these items, without having to strain yourself to buy the necessary items, is, I can imagine, quite great–not to mention the items that you make yourself. (Talk about a boost of self-esteem!)

Knowing you will not have to spend a lot of money on the things, such as silverware, dishware, and cooking utensils, bed sheets, blankets, pillows, towels, wash rags, etc, which can be quite expensive when bought all together (and without all the great sales), is enough to celebrate! Yay!

Do I Recommend Having a Hope Chest?

You bet I do!! 🙂 Would you?

NEXT: The final article to the Hope Chest Series (for now), Part 4: “Scriptural Reasons for Having a Hope Chest.”

What Am I Adding to My Hope Chest?

This is Part 2 of the Hope Chest Series. If you missed the Hope Chest Series Introduction and/or Part 1: “What’s in My Hope Chest?”, you can read them here and here!

Unfortunately, these lovely china plates are not mine, they're just a picture off of Google Images!

The Need to “Build Up”:

After seeing the pitiful amount of items–and the even more pitiful variety of functions of these items, (since most are for decorating only)–in my hope chest, you see my desperate need to “build up,” or “stock up” on items that can be useful for everyday use. (More along the lines of pillows, quilts, and the like…)

What I Plan to Include in My Hope Chest:

Hopefully I can get most of these things this summer, but if not…that’s cool, too. I actually have not spent more than $10 on all the things in my hope chest because almost everything was given to me. (Yay!) 🙂 If I do end up buying most of these items I have listed below, I will not pay full price for them (unless I have to), haha! (But that’s another subject and another post, which you will find in Part 3: “What Does Having a Hope Chest Mean $$-Wise?”)

Once these items are added, I will try to link them to a post giving the hows, whens, wheres, and whats of that item. 🙂

So this is my list, but remember you can add ANYTHING you want—

Books

:: Family Bible:: I may have to buy this one full-price, since most family Bibles you find at garage sales and such are already marked in.

:: My Favorite Books:: Just to let others borrow and read, and for me to read for the millionth time, too.

:: My Senior Year Book (High School/College):: My high school senior year was so special! I met amazing people, gave up a full-ride scholarship to an Ivy League, moved all the way across the United States (from Texas to the Northwest) in January of that year, and enrolled in a community college (which so many people did NOT expect of me).

:: Baby Memory Books:: I thought I might get five, one for each of my four sisters and my one brother (for their first child). Who knows, though? If I do get married, I may have to use them for my children (or at least some of them)!

:: Recipe Books:: I have not totally made up my mind on this one, as I may just find certain recipes and place them in a book/binder. Books are bulky!

:: My Favorite Devotional Books:: I also may make my own devotional, comprised of all my favorite single devotions, instead of getting just books…

:: Scrapbooks:: This one has 2-parts. The first are my picture scrapbooks. The second is a number of scrapbooks with me making certain homemade products and sewing certain things, like a “picture-how-to” book. When I make my first one, I will show y’all how it turned out and exactly what I mean by this!

Bedroom Items

:: Pillows/Pillow Cases:: I am thinking maybe three pillows and at least ten pillow cases. I am thinking of neutral-colored pillow cases, so they will match anything.

:: Blankets/Sheets/Quilts:: Not sure if I am going to make a homemade quilt–seems kind of difficult! (But I will try.) Once again, neutral-colored blankets/sheets, and I will make these (mostly). Maybe 3-5 sets.

:: Hangers:: These are everywhere, so I should have no problem finding them for cheap (or free)!

Bathroom Items

:: Towels/Wash Cloths:: A couple of fun colors like lime green and blue, but then also neutral-colored ones.

:: Towel Rack:: To hang towels on, just a mini one, nothing major.

:: Baskets:: These are GREAT for organizing things in the bathroom!

:: Soap Dispensers:: Maybe just one or two.

Kitchen Items

:: Silverware:: Regular things, forks, spoons, knives, you know.

:: Dishware:: Again, just the regular, bowls and plates.

:: Measuring Spoons/Cups:: Just a couple sets of these, and stainless steel!

:: Cooking Utensils:: This includes wooden spoons, spatulas, dipping spoon, etc

:: Rags/Oven Mitts/Pot Holders:: I am planning on making these myself, and I really want a red and apple-themed kitchen!

:: Aprons/Table Cloths/Cloth Napkins/Place Setters/Table Runner:: I already have plans to make some of these next week! Again, I’m not really looking to buy these items or make them expensive.

How Does this Tie into “Natural Living?”

Natural living is about living self-sufficiently and friendly for the environment and our bodies. Since most of these items I will be making and/or will aid the process of living naturally (for example, cooking homemade meals or making my own deodorant), I will be either living naturally and/or preparing to live naturally. It’s a win-win situation! How exciting!!

Am I Missing Anything?

If I am missing items that you would deem “essential”, I would LOVE if you would tell me! Or, if you have other items that you have included (like baby items), let me know what they are in the comments section!

NEXT: Part 3: “What Does Having a Hope Chest Mean $$-Wise?“

What’s In My Hope Chest?

This is my hope chest–say hello:

You cannot really tell, but my hope chest is about medium sized. It's is a cedar tree. (And I had the lid open earlier, so it's slightly open here.) I will have to post the story of how I received my hope chest and why this "box" is extra special.

2300 miles before…

I recently moved from central Texas to the Northwest. Space was limited on our 26 ft. U-Haul, as my dad had a LOT of equipment and tools to bring. I ended up bringing two boxes plus my hope chest. Thankfully, (I count this as a blessing), I had not been faithful to adding to my hope chest, so I had quite a bit of storage space for the move.

But 2300 miles later…

I opened my hope chest, took out the items that did not belong in it, and noticed how EMPTY it was! How sad, I thought. And pathetic. Of course, I have not thought much about marriage at all because first of all, I had always been strong-willed, tough, and “Miss Independent” (you know the type). And secondly, I decided that I would not date/court anyone until I could actually legally marry because I have the idea in my mind that I’ll only date my husband (and now I’m 18–uh oh!). To me, adding pillows, linens, dishware, and the like were preparing for  a marriage that I hadn’t even thought about, so I didn’t add them.

This is what I have in my Hope Chest:

–6 Identical Picture Frames

–Two Decor Plates (one from Louisiana, my home state of 12.5 years, and another from a foreign missionary in Taiwan)

–A Louisiana Spoon “Setter-On-Thing” (pictured between the two plates below)

–A Louisiana Souvenir Magnet

–A Red Decor Vase

–Two Texas Handmade Candles (and a cute candle holder)

–2 Picture Containers: 1Box (pictured on right) and 1Metal Album (not seen)

–A “Recipe Holder” (really cute!) & Recipes Inside

–Various Baking Items: Christmas cookie cutters, 3 mixing spoons, 1 curly straw(!)

–Knitting needles & Crochet needle(?)

NOT pictured below:

–Various Baby Clothes & Shoes (I had not set them aside for ME, since I was not thinking about marriage, but for others–I have four sisters!)

–A CUTE Rubber Ducky Pillow/Blanket (I made them in a “Home-Economics-type” class)

–A Silky Rose and Black/White Leopard Print Material (for sewing)

–Two Bathroom Baskets (you know, from the bath and body wash sets you get for Christmas…)

Not all of the items are pictured here, just a few...

No throwing stones!

At least I was honest about my “lack” of items. haha! All of these items either hold sentimental value for me or they actually have a functional use–or both! Like the spoon setter-on-thing. haha 🙂

How Does this Tie into “Whole Living?”

Every time I take out these items from my hope chest, my heart just swells with a sense of accomplishment and hope and joy! Even with my few items, I FEEL like I am doing something GOOD. I FEEL like I am making a better life for my future. Because of the items? No. Because of what can be done with the items: The cookie cutters, (the only thing I bought out of all I have), I bought imagining being able to spend quality time with my future nieces and nephews. (Now, as I am thinking more along the lines of ME getting married and having children, they could work well there, too.) With the plates and the vase and the custom made candles, with the recipes, I can be hospitable to others, having a comfortable home and delicious meals to offer. Does that make sense?

These items represent a WHOLE life, which I am EXCITED to be able to have in Christ.

What are some of the items in YOUR Hope Chest, and how do they give you hope for the future?

NEXT: Part 2 of The Hope Chest Series: “What Am I Adding to My Hope Chest?“

And if you missed the Hope Chest Series Introduction, you can still read it!

7 Reasons to Line Dry, And 1 Reason Not To

Yes, indeed! As I surveyed God’s creation about me, I also saw a useful creation of man–a clothes lines. Here are my

7 Reasons to Line Dry:

1. The smell of sunshine is FANTASTIC!

Okay, perhaps this is a personal opinion, but seriously! I love the smell of sunshine, and I find that a lot of other people do, too. What does sunshine smell like? Fresh, clean, happy, energized… A wonderful, refreshing smell. I have also found that if you use a scented laundry detergent, that scent will be emphasized from line drying. See if you like the smell of sun! Do a tester cloth, and let me know how it goes…

2. Line drying makes your clothes naturally static/wrinkle free.

Electric dryers create static electricity on clothes because it rubs the materials together repeatedly.  Line drying skips this whole process, thereby skipping the static! (Yay!) And depending on if you take your clothes out of the washing machine promptly (or soon after the cycle is complete, which you would have to do to prevent a sour smell, anyway), your clothes will be mostly wrinkle free!

3. It gives you time for peace–at long last…

As you are pinning your clothing up, or as you are taking them down, the whole process really allows you to just “be still.” You have time to be quiet, or you can hum and sing, while the birds chirp their melodies, and the wind sways to the rhythm. You may hear children’s laughter. You may hear the constant, calming effect of  vehicles on the distant freeway. Whatever you hear, whatever you see, you can have peace and appreciate what God has blessed you with.

4. No worries; be happy now, and use a clothes line!

While doing your line drying, you have quality time with the sun, which boosts optimism levels! The Vitamin D in sunshine as been found to not only make us happier, it makes us energetic–AND healthier! Read this article by Yale Daily News on the proven benefits of sunshine.

5. Not using a dryer saves energy AND money.

If you’re not using a dryer, you’re not using up electricity/energy, meaning in $$$–you’re not spending money. In fact, the clothes dryer is THE largest consumer of power. Think about that in terms of money–or better yet, the effect on the environment. Let’s save our money and save our environment by line drying when we can!

6. Line drying is more delicate on the material.

It’s true! With a dryer, you have twice as much tumbling of your clothes as you would if you only used a washer. Tumbling sound like fun? Well, not to the poor seams and zippers and fringes of your material items! The continual tumbling causes your material to wear quicker. Also, fading can be prevented on a clothesline by turning your material inside out, whereas, in a dryer, there’s not much you can do!

7. There’s something to be said about God here…

Using the hands God gave you and using them while His creation surrounds you is a “God-moment” well worth taking. Colossians 3:23 says, “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” What better place to work for the Lord than among His creation? (Not to mention, it’s a lot easier to “do it heartily,” when the sunshine boosts your optimism levels! haha)

And of course! Here is my

1 Reason to NOT Line Dry:

1. Sometimes it’s rainy/wet! *Boo hoo*

Depending on where you live, you may get rain or snow frequently. The wetness will definitely not help your clothes to dry, (you can test this if you like, haha). So–don’t sale your dryer just yet! The Solution: Dry your clothes inside, or wait for a sunny day to wash and dry clothe(Although, admittedly, it’s just not as much fun without the smiling sun shining down upon you…)

TIDE even has reasons why you should line dry.

Do you line dry? What are your reasons? Or do you not line dry

NEXT: How to Line Dry Clothing/Tips for When You Do! 🙂