Surviving on Shoestrings by Donna Miller

Weekly Book Bonanza Giveaway! Book One.

Millers Grain House — Wed, 04 Jun 2014 13:45:00 GMT

If you have not had the opportunity to get your hands on this valuable resource guide, I highly recommend that you do! It’s a Disaster…and what are YOU gonna do about it? has been used in First Responder Training across the country! How much better could...(read more)

Eight (8) Items NOT to keep under the kitchen sink!

Millers Grain House — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 21:48:00 GMT

What are the items NOT to put under your kitchen sink? We've been taught or simply developed habits of storing certain items under the kitchen sink. With plumbing, humidity and a variable heating and cooling environment - you might be surprised exactly...(read more)

Make do and Mend. Buy nothing new for a year.

Millers Grain House — Tue, 27 May 2014 13:13:00 GMT

Am I issuing a challenge? Maybe... B ut it is exactly this type of self-imposed challenge that has made an impact on the life of Jen Gale. I had the joy of interviewing here last week. The show airs here on: Surviving On Shoestrings and you may enjoy...(read more)

Want help with Decluttering Decissions? Toss this. Keep that.

Millers Grain House — Fri, 07 Feb 2014 17:54:00 GMT

In the last episode of "Surviving On Shoestrings" that aired Monday 2/3/104 I took on an article which I had recived via email. It was supposed to help me to declutter. Well, it didn't really track with me too well. Decluttering Decisions...(read more)

Preparedness Giveaway - a chance to win one of 3 prizes!

Millers Grain House — Mon, 02 Dec 2013 14:47:00 GMT

I am part of "The Preparedness Blogging Brigade" and we have teamed up with some great companies to bring you this mega giveaway just in time for Christmas. If I'm being totally honest, sometimes I struggle with being part of the Blogging...(read more)

How to save on gasoline

Millers Grain House — Thu, 08 Aug 2013 12:05:00 GMT

Do y'all remember the 'gas pill' that was sold all over the place a few years back? It hit the peak of popularity when gas prices had soared to some of their highest in years! The premis was that you put this pill in your gas tank and it made...(read more)

Curbing Clothing Costs

Millers Grain House — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 13:46:00 GMT

There is a little bit more to curbing the cost of clothing than just 'buy it used'. While that has an impact of on cost and is a foundational element the topic goes much farther than that.

You can listen to this recent episode of Surviving on Shoestrings to hear my heart and take on the matter and find out:

Where to buy it used for the best quality.
Difference between Consignment Shops, Thrift Stores and Garage/Yard Sales and Hand-me-downs.
Knowing what you need when you find the deal.
Methods on how to shop at each place.
Knowing sizes without other family members being with you.
Used shoe buying measurements.
How to check out the clothing.
How to care for the cloting once you own it.
What really is that LINT in the dryer?
Learn basic sewing skills.
Marking clothing to hand down.

I go into greater detail on the audio linked above. Hopefully you can hear how we've done it and glean some additional tips for curbing your clothing cost for you and your family.

Dumpster Diving

Millers Grain House — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 20:40:00 GMT

Really? Who would go dumpster diving? At one time, I might have turned up my nose at the thought of it... but after losing everything material that we'd worked for years, I have to say, I've a new found admiration for this humble and lost art. It can be done without disgrace.

In this episode of Surviving on Shoestrings I go over some of my favorite finds that would have been considered 'trash'. I've found things from a high-chair that served all of our kids (and later a stuffed teddy bear) to recycle bin diving to pack items for storage/moving/selling when we lost our home. I also go through some do's and don'ts if you're new to the adventure that is dumpster diving!

I hope you'll listen to the show because I tend to talk more from the heart when I speak and it's my desire to help others who may be struggling and barely getting by... it does get better...even if it's not financially much better...things do get better and you can have FUN in this process.

I'd love to hear from you - please comment below. I may read your comment as an update on an upcoming radio show! Who knows who else YOU may encourage and inspire!

Have you ever gone dumpster diving? Was there something that drove you to this choice or did you simply have a light bulb go on in your head that it was a viable idea? Please share your story!

Controlling the Food Budget

Millers Grain House — Thu, 25 Jul 2013 21:00:00 GMT

Maybe we're just weird or we eat differently than most people, but the food budget is one of the most controlable things our household. All it takes is a little focus and creativity. In this episode of Surviving on Shoestrings, I share my methods and strategies to tame the food cost beast.

Methods such as: A Cost Book, sale buying with discount coupons, doing away with unhealthy food and convenience food,more affordable alternatives, gardening, harvesting and preserving, purchasing generic items, damaged or sell-by-date sales, delicatessens ends, consuming even more plant based meals,consuming more soups, one dish wonders and stir-fry, make dishes from scratch, re-purposing left-overs, make use of every little thing, frugal snacking makes sense, serving sizes, product comparison and exactly the best ways to begin bulk purchasing.

We've had to stretch what we've had for so long - that I hope our lessons learned can help you too!

When financial struggles impact the kids

Millers Grain House — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 18:07:00 GMT

Try as we may or hope as we like - it is a fact: Financial struggles impact the kids. The biggest problem is we may not know exactly in what way? The outcome of the impact could be positive or negative - and only time will tell.

I know that when our kids were very small, we were very poor. We really didn't realize just how poor until we found out our income was about 10% below the poverty line at the time. We just lived as best we could and created a home on what we had. Those financial struggles had a very positive impact on our kids as they grew. We went through a period of monetary stability and growth for a while even without them realizing a difference.

On the contrary, when we again we faced even more difficult times during their pre-teen and teen years, we saw that some of our actions and some of how they reacted from our struggles as parents seemed to have a more negative affect on the kids.

It's not all about the bottom line when you're struggling.... there is always a ripple effect. Kids often get caught in the current that we create.

It's so hard to get this heartfelt topic across and be transparent in writing - so I hope you'll listen to this radio show that aired last week and get a better feel for what can't quite be shared in a blog post.

Humbly submitted in hopes it will help someone...

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About the author and show hostess:

Donna Miller is blessed to be the wife of 28 years with the love of her life Joseph, the mother of three home-school graduates and has one daughter-in-law.

She is the hostess of three radio shows: “Surviving on Shoestrings” The Survival Mom Network, “Your Preparation Station” on the Preparedness Radio Network and “Encouragement in the Kitchen”.

She and her husband are the Organizers of WNC Preparedness Group in Asheville, NC. She is an Adjunct Instructor for Frontier Christian University. She teaches local classes & ladies retreats for people to learn hands-on lost skills. She has been a both guest and host on internet and broadcast radio talk-shows and in television interviews. She is a teacher, author, sought-after speaker and trainer.

She and her husband are the owners of Millers Grain House and the Always Ready Store and are the founders of PREPARE Magazine. Through each endeavor they hope to offer readiness and simple living tips to spread the message of preparedness through Faith, Family and Fun not fear.

Get to know Donna a little more and pick up some more budget stretching tips by watching and subscribing to these video channels:

Millers Grain House Video Archives - Real food and ideas on a real tight budget!

Your Preparation Station - Bugging-in - our real life adventure while stretching funds!