I have to think that staying at home with my kids is really going to help them out in the emotional well being catergory, regardless of the sacrifices we make as a family in order for us to do this. Penny pinching is hard and requires a lot of discipline, and I admit that we fail in many ways to be wise with our money, but I trust that God provides for everything, and that our financial condition won’t always remain this way. My dh hopes that when the kids start kindergarten, I will start a part time job to supplement our income. In some ways I really look forward to it, but in others I’m not that thrilled. Even though I have a BS in Family and Human Development with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Relations, my employablity is limited to the social work field, which really doesn’t pay that great in Northern Utah. What I’d really like to do is go to school for Massage Therapy! I’ve wanted to for about six years now, but it’s a commuting, time, and money situation that keeps me from enrolling. It’s just something that has always spoken to me.
So, anyway, yadda yadda… I borrowed a book from my Pastor’s wife and I feel God really calming me through reading it, and figuring out that I can apply this to our finances, and He will walk us through it. The book is called The Complete Cheapskate, by Mary Hunt. I’m trusting God in this process, to learn to give more generously, budget more carefully, save more diligently, and get out of debt more quickly, and do these all at the same time and on dh modest income. After all, it is God’s promise that when I seek His Kingdom first, that I needn’t be anxious for anything in my life, because He knows my every need and will provide. Where my heart is, my treasure is also!!! Luke 12:22-34.
And, to claim this promise from God again, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thes. 5:16-18, I am so thankful to have the opportunity to continue to learn and be guided by Him in all that I do, including how I learn to be a shephard to that which He has provided.
What are your best giving strategies, money management, money saving, debt reducing tips?
3 comments
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May 24, 2004 at 1:48 pm
Rebecca
The three Tightwad Gazette books were a real eye-opener for me. Some of what’s in them is just taking things a lot farther than I want to, but the philosophy in them is really, really helpful, especially the way she analyzes things by calculating how much is saved per hour of work, and looked at that way, some of those things we think are not worth the time and effort look a whole lot different when analyzed that way.
And thanks for linking to my blog!
May 24, 2004 at 11:16 pm
Michelle
As a single mom on one limited income, I HAVE TO penny-pinch. I’ve taken great delight in cutting down to the minimum we “actually” need to live on and sticking to that, instead of indulging in the stuff we really don’t need and can’t afford. NOw and then we splurge (payday every month we eat out at our favourite restuarant), but day-to-day we try and stick to our needs, not wants.
Will try come up with some concrete ideas and email them to you…
May 25, 2004 at 10:03 pm
Monica
Thanks Rebecca for the Tightwad Gazette! I just bet our library has them, I’ll check! We just need to get our plan planned (lol!) because right now we are just up in the air, and don’t really watch where our spending is going. (So bad, I know!)
And Michelle, cutting down to the minimum really has to be a way of life I’m seeing. It’s funny, because it’s not like we’re extravagent by any means, it’s more like we don’t have a plan (savings, getting out of debt, etc.) and so then when we have an extra $20, it just gets wasted, on pizza, or the like. I am pretty close to figuring out a system from the book, and once it’s in place, I think it will help us to anticipate certain expenses that we ususally don’t budget, as well as a system to conquer the credit card bill.
Thanks for visitng my blog! I’m happy to see you both!