Once we decided to stay in the valley, we knew it was time to really start saving for our own little farm. We shared a clear vision, set concrete goals, and worked together to make them happen.
A Couple On a Mission
Looking back, I have to laugh at how intense we were. We were like two steam engines pulling the same train, determined to clear anything in our way. I still admire our single-minded determination.
We were intentional about our spending. We set a strict budget and committed to it as if our dreams depended on it.
Our goal was to be settled before starting a family — and not merely settled, but settled in a way that supported health. For me, avoiding Lyme relapses meant more than a mold-free home; it meant access to naturally raised, nutritious food before I would consider the strain of pregnancy.
So we focused our short-term plans on saving, our mid-term plans on buying land, and our long-term plans on starting a family. Plain and simple.
Becoming a Homemaker Who Makes Cents
While my partner worked outside the home, I shifted my efforts indoors. I cooked meals from scratch, bought staple ingredients in bulk, made hygiene items by hand, and hung laundry to dry. Every small step cut costs and supported a more wholesome household.
I started building a collection of canning jars and jumped on every bargain I found. I filled those jars with fruit, pickled vegetables, and everything safe for water-bath canning. It became a passion.
When I received an All-American pressure canner that summer, I learned to preserve meat, broth, vegetables, and more. Since we were planting roots, we also purchased a large chest freezer. By fall it held home-raised turkeys, venison from my partner’s hunts, and a variety of homegrown or gleaned fruits and vegetables.
While these practices certainly saved us money, the primary motivation was health — the nourishing food we could rely on mattered most.
Saving Wasn’t Easy
It was rewarding, but it wasn’t easy. It required long hours and hard work, and sometimes the restrictions felt stifling. There were moments when I patched jeans and underwear and wanted to rebel. There were seasons when my partner longed to splurge on a snowboarding trip.
We were only human, and denying ourselves was challenging. What helped was that we allowed a small personal allowance each month — just $10 per person — but that tiny bit of freedom made it easier to stay the course.
We were driven to reach our goal quickly, so we generally set aside anything that didn’t move us forward.
But We Did Continue to Give
One deliberate choice we maintained was giving: both our time and some of our money to people in need. Giving kept us from becoming self-centered and reminded us that life isn’t only about saving. It reinforced our desire to surrender our plans and possessions to a higher purpose.
We Developed An Important Skill For the Future
That season of tight saving wasn’t fun, but it was necessary to build our savings. We didn’t realize at the time that we were also developing skills that would serve us for years to come.
Budgeting became second nature, and saving became the vehicle that let us move forward. Moving forward meant setting up our homestead; setting up meant preparing for a family. So we clung to our goals with determination and patience.
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