About
Sometimes you start something and then get clear affirmation that this is what you’re suppose to do…
A few weeks after beginning this blog, our church had White Bucket Sunday. The teaching that morning was about the early church and how the people shared everything in common. At the end of the teaching that morning, white buckets were placed around the stage. We were then asked to evaluate our lives right now. Did we have more money than we needed and could share with others? Or did we need money to help cover the bills that were piling up? Either way, we were instructed to come to the buckets; to put money in if we could or to take money out if that is what we needed. I have never experienced anything quite like that before.
…this has become my white bucket project.
A little about me…
I’m a stay-at-home mom to two little boys and have been married to my best friend Matt for 8 years. We live on 6 acres in the house where my grandparents lived most of my childhood.
With the downturn of the economy, we’ve also had to reevaluate where our money is going. How do we make less money stretch further so we are able to pay our bills and continue to give to others?
This site stems out of that question.
Give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”
Proverbs 30:7-8 (TNIV)
What we didn’t know when I started Give Me Neither is that we’d be adopting from South Africa. So saving has taken on a whole new dimension in our lives.
My desire is that my life be an outpouring of the love and generosity that Christ shows me. May it not be about me.
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{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I just stumbled over from Macomb Money Savers because of your Family Fare post. I thought I’d read your About section to see if you were local (since you were writing about Family Fare, and their locations are pretty limited), but I had no idea your mission was inspired by the White Bucket Project. Ohmygosh! I was at Mars Hill that Sunday. It was AMAZING. What a great church, and what a great day to find another ‘like minded’ blogger in the area. Kudos!
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Hi, I just found you through Mojo Savings, and I just wanted to say thank you for your witness to the Lord. I am inspired. God bless you.
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Welcome Tamara!
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Em., that Sunday was amazing. It will forever be in my mind. The church is beautiful when we follow the heart of Jesus…
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I just wanted to tell you what a beautiful blog you have…it has depth and must spread God’s blessings to many people (moms) each day. God’s peace, Jeanette
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Thank you. That’s my hope.
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What a neat site! I love the idea (verse) behind the website’s title. That verse will help me to remember to empty my stockpile out more regularly and donate to charity. May God bless your family as you head down the road towards adoption-I will pray for you!
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Welcome Yvonne! Thanks for the prayers too.
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Wow! What an inspiring blog! I’m inspired at watching you and how you take the time not only to be frugal and content with what you have, but also how you meticulously keep track of your resources (money and time). I’m thankful for the reminder. Reminds me of the parable about the master that entrusted the 3 servants with different amounts of money. I’d say you’re doing a good job and I’d like to get a lot better in that area too. Thank you so much for sharing with all of us. May God richly bless you and your family :)
-Wendy- Mid-Willamette Valley area, Oregon
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Do you have a regular newsletter that I can sign up for. I have just stumbled upon your website and love it. Thanks for all of your information and I pray God continues to use you to enrich other’s lives.
God Bless
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Thanks!
Trish, I’m glad that you found Give Me Neither. You can sign up for the newsletter here feedburner.google.com/fb/a/mailverify?uri=GiveMeNeither
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Aww, I just love your blog title! You hit it right on!
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Thank you, Erica!
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Someone from our church just referred me to your site. How exciting that you are adopting! We adopted our son 2 1/2 years ago from Guatemala, he is wonderful (he is 8 1/2). I will pray for you and your husband as you embark on this sometimes overwhelming, but wonderful journey. Three verses that we clung to (among many) during our adoption was Jeremiah 29:11-13. Love your site!
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Welcome Kari. I’m glad you’re here. My sister brought home a child from Ethiopia almost 2 years ago. Her little guy is such a blessing.
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kari-is that you from zcc?…wait it is isn’t it and i am the one who referred you? yay! (i hope i am right…and not making a fool out of myself!)
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I just stumbled across your blog as this is one of my life verses. I’m also a stay at home mom that does what she can to steward what we have – this looks like a great resource! Blessings upon you!
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Welcome Janice. Thanks for stopping by.
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I love Love LOVE your site… I am a giver by nature and always looking for ways to encourage the youth in our church to do the same.. let me just say the wheels are spinning in my head right now!! I am so grateful for the time you take to share this site with the world. You are fantastic!!
God Bless you and your family.
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Thanks Tonya! That would be awesome to get the youth involved at your church. I’d love to hear what you come up with.
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I just came upon your site this week. I am telling everyone about it. I just now read the verse that your site name came from I immediately wrote it down and am going to put it on my fridge. It is my hope and prayer that not only can I be a good steward of what I (my family) has been given but also bless others by it.
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Welcome Lisa and thanks for spreading the word.
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Found you through Bloggy Moms. Loving your blog’s theme of contentment and simplicity! Adding you to my blogroll.
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hi, i just wanted to say, i am finally starting a blog….and i hope that it can be as meaningful as yours!!! and i want you to know, i will be giving you credit for being most of my inspiration ! i read alot of coupon blogs now, but i love love love the Spirit behind your blog and the meaning! wonderful!
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What are you going to blog about Steph? I’d love to check it out.
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Sarah, my blog is Generous Savings. We site you in our first post for inspiring us. It is mostly a savings and giving kind of blog. we just started it. It will also have regular gardening posts, from my husband. Eventually I would like to feature various local food banks.
Also, i was looking for a place to email you privately, I thought you might like to see my recent cvs revlon deal post.
Anyway, I gave a free coupon class at my church last night and mentioned your blog to a bunch of people. and I liked your friend’s blog savings and stewardship, that you suggested, on fb.
Keep up the good work Sarah! Love your blog and your mission!! Would love to work with you in the future!
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I just wanted to add that I have had such a deeply satisfying experience lately and am so thankful to God for the opportunity. I have been for a couple of years concerned about a single mom with NO relatives in the state and an abusive ex husband that she dares not to pursue for child support.
I have prayed for a way to reach out to her beyond the usual hello or how are you.
The Lord showed me my very nice stock pile that He has provided and told me to give what ever she could use to her. I figured that she gets food from food pantries and other help at times but what are the things you might short cut and I thought of shampoo, lotions, deoderant, etc all the things I have been getting for very little since I started couponing. At first it was actually hard to put some of the stuff in the bags, I think I was getting too much into the hoarding mindset. I have been giving to her for about 9 months and it has been a wonderful way to bring us together. I have written her notes and told her in person that I am thinking about her, and I want to help her and that I think she is unbelievably strong.
I just gave her several bags of stuff and it was prompted by my feeling depressed over certain things. I think its pretty neat that its now something I do to perk myself up :-)
Of course you can give to charities anonymously, I was just impressed that this is the way that I could open lines of communication. I think if roles were reversed this is something that would make me feel cared about as a human being.
Now it is common for me to think at the time of purchase about her and her kids as I am planning purchases. This time she said to me “thank you so much for all the wonderful things” and these are things many of us take for granted.
I have just been so blessed by it that I had to share with someone.
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I stumbled across your blog today and am so glad I did! I love finding other bloggers who share the same passions as I do. I’m looking forward to following your blog.
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I love your blog. Your pictures also.
What I want to say is I love people that fight to change others life.
I’ll be back.
Jess,
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