I’ve been getting super nice emails, comments, and facebook messages about the blog. Thank you so much! It’s really encouraging and I’m glad you find them useful. I truly love writing and sharing information, whether it’s financial or my random thoughts.
I’m so sorry I haven’t been on the ball with “Monday’s” tips. It’s Tuesday, but here’s the week’s money saving tip. Maybe I should change it to “Tuesday’s Tip!”
Many things can keep us from paying off debt. Dave Ramsey points out two common hurdles that many of us face, including myself, that keep us from experiencing financial freedom!
#1 – Ignorance
#2 – Keeping Up With the Joneses
Ignorance! We aren’t born with financial knowledge. We are either taught it or learn the knowledge. We have to learn to drive a car, learn to throw a ball, learn to walk, etc… Someone or something has to teach us that. I didn’t know how to teach until I went to college, took courses, observed other teachers, created lesson plans, worked with kids, and eventually learning through it. Same goes with finances. We are all, at some point in our life, ignorant of what is financially smart. We, ourselves, are still learning everyday what financial choices to make. We must learn how to manage finances. Buy books, READ them, study them, research on the Internet, ask people who have had financial success…and no, not someone who is rich, someone who has no debts, has worked their way to financial freedom, or is successfully working their way to no debts. I mean aren’t we sick of our government continually going so far into debt, there is really no hope of getting out? How can we get mad at them if we are doing the same thing on a smaller scale? I know it’s not apples to apples, but it’s still borrowing money we don’t have. So, jump over the “ignorance” hurdle and accept that you don’t know everything and LEARN.
Keeping Up With the Joneses! “The Joneses can’t do math!” Haha! Straight from Dave Ramsey’s mouth. I just love his brutal honesty. Let me start by saying, GUILTY! Ugh, I can definitely relate to this one. Always thinking I don’t have enough or everyone else is living better than me! Many of us want to impress other people and show we have it all together. If this means we destroy our finances, then so be it. For example, buying a car and going in debt for it, buying a house out of our budget (more than 25% of our household income), buying clothes we can’t afford, decorating our house with items that are too expensive (cough cough). We do it everyday. It’s part of our culture. But, and that’s a big fat BUT, the “Joneses” can’t do math. If they could, they would have all those nice things and no debt to their name (or at least just a small debt on their house they’re paying off quickly). Something that has really helped me over the last few years when I find myself trying to “keep up with the Joneses” is to tell myself the exact quote above that Ramsey said: “The Joneses can’t do math.” If the Joneses could do math, you would see people in houses WAY scaled down, used cars that serve the purpose of transportation, happier marriages (and more marriages), and less stress in people’s lives. I hate how our society is so fast paced and always trying to “keep up with the Joneses.” If you relax one day of the week (which God commands), you might feel lazy. It’s a day we’re to spend with God. This is something I struggle with as well, so I’m preaching to the choir here. I’m sure if we all spent more time with God and handed him our problems, rather than trying to figure them out on our own, his blessings would multiply in our lives (Matthew 6:31-33)! Life’s too short to stress about work and money. God first, family second, work third! Does anyone else feel like it is always the opposite? Work, family, God? When I was teaching, I always felt that way. I’m glad staying home and taking care of Beckham has brought me closer to God (a spiritual blessing of paying off debt). Other people may be so good at balancing it all, but I’m certainly not.
Side Note: There is nothing wrong with nice houses and nice cars if you can afford them and place your money in the right places (i.e. retirement, college funds, savings, and the church).
So, jump over the “Joneses” hurdle by not worrying what others think of your frugal lifestyle so you can later experience financial peace! Reading scripture helps A LOT – both with the heart issue of wanting to impress and with knowing you’re being wise! Oh and picturing yourself retired at age 55 with a cup of coffee on a porch with a loved one…at least for me!
I found this awesome list of 250 verses that relate to money! Very encouraging. Print it out and read it nightly!
Hope this was an encouraging post! Those two hurdles were HIGH, but the financial peace is worth it!
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