I love the Beatles! Here's a little background
music for your read today.
A couple of Sunday evenings ago, Tim and I had the chance to speak at our annual church conference about the college ministry. We got to explain what has been going on in our group to the faithful few who will still attend a Sunday evening service, and all the staff (pretty sure it's required for them.) They had a few people give testimonies about some of the life change that has been going on in our church. I shared about the ways the Lord has been working through me quitting my job. When the service was over, our pastor kind of made a big deal about me quitting my job... told me he was proud of me. Then he said, "I leaned over to the guy next to me and said, 'I wonder how they are making it?!'" My quick response was, "We don't have kids yet." And we both agreed that made a difference. But then I started thinking about his question and my answer. It's not just the kid factor... we work hard at this! The truth is, we really have changed very little financially since I quit my job. So Pastor Gary, here's how we do it:
1. We have a budget.
Before we married, Tim and I decided that when we have kids I will stay home with them. Therefore, we chose to live off one income from the beginning, even though we had two for a while. It took us a while to get it all balanced out, but we've been living off Tim's income since a few months after we got married. We also discuss the budget often to make sure we are both on the same page.
2. We save.
Part of our budget is savings. We have multiple categories- retirement, new car, house repairs, car repairs, travel (my personal fave!), adoption (a close second). We even have a sami fund... you know, for times when we can be
good samaritans.
3. We use Craig's List.
That's where we got our refrigerator, washer and dryer, and dining table. Sure these things have been used before, but they work and the price is right. These things are super expensive new, and we don't have that kind of money to spend all at once. And we hate debt, so no payment plans for us, thanks.
4. I buy most groceries at Wal-Mart.
I said it. I know some people despise the above mentioned place, but let's face it, they are cheapest. I do price matching from the circulars which also helps me get the best price. I get certain items elsewhere, but the bulk of it comes from Wally World. I do try not to look like the infamous emails floating around, though.
5. We tithe.
Maybe I should have put that earlier in the list. But the truth is, I just now thought of it. I have tithed all my life, so I have the luxury of saying that it's really natural for me and I've always based spending money off 10% less than what was in my paycheck. I say it's a luxury because I know this is not the case for everyone. Tim learned this much later in life than I did, but we are both committed to it now. It is something worth striving for, so if you don't do it yet, take heart! You can! Giving to God right away makes it easier to remember where the money came from in the first place, no matter the amount.
6. We drive old cars.
Not long after we got married we were in a wreck. No one was hurt, but my poor little B.B. didn't make it. So we became a one car family. Not the most favorable, I realize, but we made it work. (The Hubs absolutely loved the extra time he got to spend with me!) Thanks to the money we got from the total and our new car savings, we were able to pay cash for a $6000 Corolla complete with man-power locks and windows, three cup holders, and a tape deck. She is the perfect companion to Tim's 2000 Danger Ranger.
7. We have dumb phones.
This is part budget choice, part life style choice. While I know smart phones are really cool and super convenient, they can also be tricky. For example, have you ever seen a family out to dinner, all with phones out and no conversation happening? Or what about those college boys at church who must have that phone to read the Bible but can also look at porn on the same device? Or there's me, who simply gets really distracted by technology and can waste a lot of time with something that cool. Plus, they are expensive.
8. We don't buy clothes often.
We budget a little for clothes each month, but don't buy that often. That way, the money collects and we are able to purchase nicer or more things when we do go shopping. We definitely take advantage of sales and discount stores. Shopping can be a slippery slope of wants vs. needs. One thing that helps me is to not buy right away. If I'm still thinking about an item a couple of days after seeing it, chances are it will be a solid purchase, not just something I buy then never wear.
9. We find joy in giving.
We both really like to be generous. In our budget we have monthly money designated for spending on other people and missions. It can be challenging to look for ways to spend that money, but we feel confident that we are following after the heart of God when we think this way. Sometimes people need to be blessed before they can really see the Lord. We also have four
World Vision kids. It's kind of a your's, mine, and ours situation, but it works.
10. We eat at home.
It's healthier. It's cheaper. It allows us to spend more time together. All three things I would vote are good for marriage and life! We usually save eating out for when we are with other people.
11. We are creative.
We go on dates to parks, free concerts, matinee movies, and fancy restaurants using gift cards Tim gets at work. We use discount websites to book hotels. We make up our own
Crossfit workouts, although our neighbors probably think we are crazy.
12. We try to do-it-ourselves.
Our house has needed a lot of work, but with the exception of an electrician, plumber, and a couple of professional cleaners, we have done the work. We have been taught by the amazing
Captain Ken and helped a ton by family and friends, but we have put in the labor.
13. We make changes.
If changes need to be made to the budget or spending, we talk about them and make them. We have made lots of changes. That has helped us figure out that this finance thing is always going to be a work in progress.
14. We are blessed.
Neither of us had college debt or car payments when we got married. I understand this is the exception to the rule and do not take it for granted. We also have an amazing
story of how we were able to buy our house, which we know isn't normal either. (Let me clarify... we do have a mortgage.) But this does not mean that we have a free pass to go crazy with our money and build up some debt.
I hope this has not come across as us thinking that we have this all figured out. We don't. I do hope maybe it could be an encouragement for someone else, though. It's probably pretty obvious that our finances reflect our lifestyle and I hope that will always be the case. Living simply allows us to keep track of what is truly important in life rather than trying to "keep up with the Joneses." We like the Caves a lot!
Whew! Well congratulations if you made it this far! I am certain that your circumstances are different than ours, but perhaps we have offered some encouragement. Do you have thoughts? Questions? Suggestions? We would love to hear them!
Glad you were curious enough to read.
