Can Money Bring Happiness?

You know the old saying, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.”  Although I believe this to be true, having money does make things easier.  It’s a fact that we have to make money in order to live.  Problem is we will never have enough.  There is only one instance where I believe “money” brings happiness…

I have a happiness that I cannot explain being free of debt.  When you borrow money, you are enslaving yourself and finances to someone else or something else.  Sometimes it’s necessary (possibly a mortgage), but there a million ways to avoid borrowing.  Research, research, research.  And you know the #1 place I will direct you for advice…GO HERE!

FUNNY STORY:  I’ll try to keep this short!  We serve as greeters at our church on Sunday mornings.  A woman and I got to talking about the kid’s area (which is crazy cool looking at our church) and our conversation led us into finances (her husband was a financial advisor whom she was introducing me to). 

I asked him if he likes Dave Ramsey and he SURPRISINGLY answered me “No. He’s stupid.”  You should have seen my face…I looked like a deer in headlights.  I responded with, “Well, I love him because he helped us pay off our house in 33 months.”  I usually never tell people that, especially strangers, as it sounds a little braggy and somewhat confrontational (which I avoid at all cost).  I’m not gonna lie, I was being a little “na na na boo boo.”  To be honest, I think he felt a little stupid himself, but don’t worry, he then said, “You are missing out on a lot of money by paying off your house.”  I’m assuming he was referring to the tax benefit of having a house….

SIDE NOTE TO READERS – Yes, you get a tax benefit for having a mortgage, BUT it does not outweigh the interest you save by paying off your house!!!!  I repeat, it’ does NOT outweigh the money you will make by paying off your house.  We have done the math!  Hence, the reason Ramsey says to get rid of your mortgage.  Not to mention the $1000 we save each month withOUT a mortgage (and that’s on an average size house in Texas…2000 sq. ft.).

He went on to say blah, blah, blah about how you need to never pay off loans.  Umm are you serious?!  This guy is a financial advisor…whoa nelly, I hope no one is taking financial advice from this dude!  Bottom line was, they have some sneaky way of using the government to “get money” if you’re indebted.  *this is what’s wrong with financial America*  I kind of stopped listening at this point and actually felt bad for the guy!  What bothered me was he was saying all this with a smirk on his face like I was dumb for following Dave Ramsey’s advice.  I should have asked him what he thought about the above verse, but it didn’t dawn on me till afterwards.

Other than that, they were very nice to talk to and I actually would love to get coffee with the wife…she was so sweet and one of those people that you feel you know after 5 minutes of talking with. 

Anyway, I thought that was funny and it taught me that I’m CONFIDENT in my financial decisions.  I have no regrets, happy where we are, and extremely excited for our future!  When I left the conversation, in no way was I doubting if we did the right thing or were missing out on money.  For me spiritually, I know God delights in our financial journey, although it is a struggle at time.  Money is one of the most difficult areas of people’s lives!  I tell people, whatever most of your friends are doing, don’t do that! 

“Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later.” ~Dave Ramsey

I must thank God for blessing us to be able to live this way.  We are blessed to be a blessing!