Lisa Barry: How good are you at cutting costs in your home? All this week on Gateway To Joy, Elisabeth Elliot has been offering suggestions on ways that we can live more simple lives. Today, we'll hear from a few people who have decided to take the challenge to get by with less. Did they make the right choice? You be the judge as we embark on this Friday edition of Gateway To Joy.

Elisabeth Elliot: "You are loved with an everlasting love." That's what the Bible says, "And underneath are the everlasting arms." This is your friend Elisabeth Elliot, completing today my talks on shoestring living, on how to economize, simplify and find more peace in your life.

Yesterday I read this mother's prayer:

"God, give me wisdom to see that today is my day with my children,
That there is no unimportant moment in their lives.
May I know no other career is as precious, no other work so rewarding, no other task so urgent.
May I not defer it or neglect it,
But by Thy Spirit accept it gladly, joyously,
And by Thy grace realize that the time is short and my time is now,
For children won't wait."

I have a letter here. "Lots of moms feel like they would miss out on something if they changed to part-time work. The only thing I've missed out on is headaches and tired feet at the end of the day. If anyone has a question as to whether or not this decision is for them, they'll know what decision is best for them, when being at work is a sad occasion and being home with the kids is so much and enjoyable. Even when you're doing the wash, the dishes, or wiping noses. I love it." Thank you, Michelle, from Baltimore.

It's my job to love God and to make Him loved and to help others to love and serve Him. This is what Gateway To Joy is about. This is my gateway to joy. Death to the self is a condition for going through that gateway, but it means life. It means eternal life, joyful life, peaceful life.

Would you describe your life as peaceful? Would you like it to be more so? It's not going to happen without sacrifice, without cutting back, and doing without, and making over. This week we've been talking about shoestring living, which involves various kinds of sacrifice. We've had testimonies from some who felt sure it was impossible to stay home, impossible to economize, impossible to give up a fulfilling job, but God showed them a way to do it.

Ladies and gentlemen, God will never ask you to do anything for which He will not provide all that's needed to do it. I'll repeat that. God will never ask you to do anything for which He will not provide all that's needed in order to accomplish it. God will always give you the grace to do what He wants you to do. If it's the will of God, then it is the will of God to help you. "The Lord God will help me."

I have been struggling with a new computer. I'm not computer-literate. I am not computer-smart. I am not a computer-whiz. I am very far from it. I am just a woman trying to get some things done on the computer. I was feeling very elated one day, and very deflated the next day, and elated the next day because I actually made something work, and then I was deflated the following day.

That's the way it was last week. I absolutely could not figure out what was wrong with my printer. I kept getting this message: "There is a problem with the printer." Well, you know what came to my mind? Isaiah 50:7, "The Lord God will help me." So I said, "Lord, You understand this computer perfectly. Please help me." Guess what? He did.

My friend Donna Otto, who lives in Scottsdale, Arizona, has written a book called "The Stay-at-Home Mom." She has wonderful suggestions for any of you whom are wishing, wanting, hoping, praying that you can stay home. These are her suggestions for stretching your dollars:

"The best way to save money at home is to make everything you own last as long as possible. Here are several practical tips for getting the most out of your possessions. First, maintain your appliances. Defrost your freezer. It will last longer. Vacuum the coils on the back of the refrigerator." When's the last time you did that? "Remove lint promptly from the lint filter in your dryer." That's all under maintaining your appliances.

Second, "Maintain your automobile. The average American family buys seven new cars in a lifetime and spends upwards of $120,000 in interest. Save money by buying clean used cars in good condition for cash instead of financing new cars. Make a monthly payment to yourself instead of through the finance company or the bank. This becomes a savings account for buying your next car with cash. Keep your cars longer than a year or two. Keep them until they have about 100,000 miles on them. We have found it best to secure an all-around mechanic who can care for all our cars' needs, instead of taking it to costly specialists.

"Third, don't over wash clothes and linen. For example, if a tablecloth only has one spot on it, it doesn't need to go into the washer. It just needs a spot cleaning. Do your husband's shirts at home instead of having them laundered. Don't dry-clean your clothes too often and don't dry-clean everything. Wools and most other fabrics can be gentle washed in the machine or hand-washed. Also, hanging your clothes on ten-cent plastic hangars will make them last longer than hanging them on wire hangars. Always hang up your clothes as you take them off."

Very good advice. Do you teach your children to hang up their clothes when they take them off or do they drop them? I have a suggestion: If they drop them, confiscate them and put them away for a certain length of time so that they will learn that clothes are meant to be hung up.

Now here are several ways Donna suggests for cutting costs. "Number one, use coupons at the grocery store. The manufacturer's coupon control center reports that shoppers who use an average number of coupons (5-8 per trip) cut $6.31 from their bill each week. The annual savings add up to $328. If you use nine or more coupons per week, your total annual savings could exceed $500. Also, buy foods in bulk when possible.

"Number two, participate in food sharing. Food sharing programs are springing up all over the United States. David and I are a part of one in the Southwest region. We pay $13 and donate two hours of volunteer service monthly, such as church work or baby-sitting for others. In turn, we receive $40 worth of top-grade foods, including meats, vegetables, rice or pasta, and fresh fruit. Look for a food-sharing program in your area.

"Number three, use generic brands. Products with local store brands and generic brands are usually cheaper than the major national brands with the same quality. Use dishwashing liquid instead of the expensive brand-name products for handwashing delicate fabrics." That's interesting, isn't it, dishwashing liquid for delicate fabrics? "Buy chicken by the pound, not by the brand name. Look for plumpness in the chicken. Ask your doctor and pharmacist for generic drugs where they are available. Order your checks from a mail order house, such as Current, Inc., in Colorado Springs, instead of from your bank. The charges are much less.

"Number four, recycle and reuse. For years I've said I'm careful, prudent and thrifty. Actually, I'm cheap. Recently, I say I'm ecologically minded, but I've been thrifty and ecologically minded for a long time, especially when it comes to paper products. I don't buy paper plates or napkins, and I'm very judicious about how I use paper towels." Amen, Donna, bless you. So am I.

"I use old clothes and rags to do my home cleaning, instead of expensive disposable cleaning towels. I use finger towels for napkins. Not only is it cheaper, but it saves a lot of frustration at the table when the little ones spill something. I can pick up the mess very easily with a little towel I'm already using as a napkin. The towels are laundered and reused repeatedly. Ours tends to be a throwaway society, but it's expensive and unwise.

"If you want to save money, be cautious about throwing away something that can be reused. For example, wash and reuse your Ziploc bags. Recycle cans and bottles. Consider using cloth diapers instead of throwaways. Research has proved that even paying for a cloth diaper laundering service is less expensive than using throwaway diapers. Convenience is usually synonymous with greater cost. Avoid as many disposable products as possible. For example, you can save about $20 a year by using a standard razor with longer lasting replacement blades instead of disposable razors.

"Number five, pay high deductibles and lower premiums. It's estimated that you can save 15 to 40 percent on your annual premiums for auto and home insurance by raising your deductible. Call your insurance agent to find out exactly how much you can save. Don't forget that equipping your house with smoke detectors will save you at least 2 percent on your insurance premium."

I hope there are some people listening to me who are very affluent and you also are good savers. Often it's the rich folks who are the most careful about money. It's to God that we have to answer. Are you a faithful steward of the things that the Lord has given you? House, home, clothes, food, lights, water, money?

Lisa Barry: Let me leave you today with one suggestion, our series is ending and even if you were challenged each day by what you heard, the only way real change will take place is if you keep practicing what you've learned. Discipline is hard work so to keep going strong you might want to consider getting your own copy of the book Discipline, the Glad Surrender. It will remind you of why you want discipline in the first place. It will keep your focus on God and his will. The cost is $11.50, and to purchase it you can send that amount along with a note to:

Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. That's Gateway To Joy, Box 82500, Lincoln, NE 68501. Or, call toll-free 1-800-759-4JOY. That's 1-800-759-4569. Our Internet address it gatewaytojoy.org.

Gateway to Joy has been a production of Back to the Bible, but it's your gifts that make it possible. Monday, Elisabeth begins a new series on a wife's temptations, so be sure to join us then for the next Gateway To Joy.