How do people afford this?

[chickendreams24]

My secret: Give to God first. He will take care of the rest. We lived on one income and banked the rest when we got married. Had one car, one or the other of us walked to work. Bought land, built our own modest house. I stayed home till kids were weaned, then only worked part time. There were years at a time when I'd sit down and write all of our expenses on one side of a sheet of paper, and our income on the other side. We lived frugally, no extra money for hobbies or extras. Every single month, the expense side was greater than the income side. Every single month, we gave to God first. Every single month, all bills were paid when due. Now, if we were without medical insurance, just my hubby's medications alone would equal more than his income. He drives 100 miles/day to work. We live close to the bottom of the median income level for our state. I work per diem, and often do not have any work hours for 3 weeks at a time, then only 3 - 4 hours at a time. Hubby only works 4 days/week in the winter. Bills still get paid, we are mortgage free, no car payments. Have enough money in savings to cover short term loss of income. Hubby is 3 years from retirement, and I am cautiously optimistic that our retirement investments will see us through, as long as the economy does not tank. Still, God comes first. I write a check to give to HIS kingdom at the first of every month. He has seen us through incredible hardships.

I suggest that you look into Financial Peace University. This program has helped thousands of people achieve debt free living.

I outline our situation above, cautiously. Always risky to post such personal details on a public forum. But, I do so, to give praise where it is due. It is possible to live within your means. It's not necessary to have a fancy house, new cars. We have become a society who want it all and want it now. Many people do not know how to "defer gratification".

Absolutely! Amen!

I love this! Yes, whatever you do, make sure you keep God first! Let's remember:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you- Matthew 6:33 (Don't know if I completely worded this right )

Absolutely God should come first!

+1. 20 year-old truck, no AC, just turned over 377,000 miles. No debt except for kids college loans. Married 36 years to same woman. I think that's the key. Divorces are extremely expensive; that's why they work so well.

At 60, we still both work like dogs but we make the time available for what's important to us. I don't think we would know what to do if we didn't work. Probably get on each other's nerves a get divorce and be poor.

Congratulations on staying together so long.

My mom always used this illustration. If you have a jar, golf balls, and sand, you need to put the golf balls (aka priorities) in the jar first. Then you will have room for the sand. If you do it the other way, the golf balls will not fit.. Oh ya, the sand is the little things like your hobbies.

Absolutely I love this image and it is absolutely so very very true!

Above is a good verse, but... I would caution the reader against confusing that with the "gospel of wealth" as is preached by some churches. God does take care of His people, in ways that we can barely begin to fathom, understand, or appreciate. But, he does not promise me that if I put money in the offering plate, that I will become financially rich.

Beware, THINGS can own you.

Luke 16:13 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money."

I agree with what you're saying but I believe the other person was using the verse to illustrate that God provides. I could be wrong just a thought.



As for us it's not without difficulty. We too are using the total money makeover method for life, which is a book written by the same man who developed financial peace university.

They're wonderful plans based on faith but are doable for those who don't believe.

That being said we are still working at ours and some weeks aren't without a little stretching to make ends meet. Chickens are expensive very expensive. Life is too.

We have chosen to go without now to be able to have more in the future. Most of my family does not understand this or feels it's impossible. In the end we will be living completely debt free.
We also work our butts off to save scrimp and go without. We don't buy anything on credit, everything is saved for. Our house and clothes are not the nicest we don't have the finest things but we have enough to get us through this time.

It's not always easy but it's totally worth it.

 

[Bonniebooboo]

I love all these posts! My kind of people! That is what/how being taught the meaning of God's principal, hard work and frugal spending gets things done. Waste not, want not and pay for what you need first, then for what you want only if you have the extra money and not rob your bill money. When borrowing, borrow for what you need, pay it off and then get something else, pay it off. Don't borrow above your means just because you WANT something else. It fails in the end. Owe no man, least you become a slave to that man. (Bank) in most cases.

 

[lazy gardener]

Absolutely! Amen!

I agree with what you're saying but I believe the other person was using the verse to illustrate that God provides. I could be wrong just a thought.

As for us it's not without difficulty. We too are using the total money makeover method for life, which is a book written by the same man who developed financial peace university.

They're wonderful plans based on faith but are doable for those who don't believe.

We have chosen to go without now to be able to have more in the future. Most of my family does not understand this or feels it's impossible. In the end we will be living completely debt free.
We also work our butts off to save scrimp and go without. We don't buy anything on credit, everything is saved for. Our house and clothes are not the nicest we don't have the finest things but we have enough to get us through this time.

It's not always easy but it's totally worth it.

CD, Yes, I know very well that that first verse was not about the prosperity gospel. And I know the poster of that verse well enough to know that he has feet firmly planted and does not take the scripture out of context. But, I added to that post to clarify, in case any readers do mis-interpret the meaning of that verse.

Agreed, FPU and other Dave Ramsey teaching is not just for Christians. Any one can benefit greatly from the teaching.

 

[chickendreams24]

CD, Yes, I know very well that that first verse was not about the prosperity gospel. And I know the poster of that verse well enough to know that he has feet firmly planted and does not take the scripture out of context. But, I added to that post to clarify, in case any readers do mis-interpret the meaning of that verse.

Agreed, FPU and other Dave Ramsey teaching is not just for Christians. Any one can benefit greatly from the teaching.

I understand better now thank you for explaining.

Yes absolutely I feel like everyone should read the book the total money makeover.

 

[nminusyplusm]

I love all these posts! My kind of people! That is what/how being taught the meaning of God's principal, hard work and frugal spending gets things done. Waste not, want not and pay for what you need first, then for what you want only if you have the extra money and not rob your bill money. When borrowing, borrow for what you need, pay it off and then get something else, pay it off. Don't borrow above your means just because you WANT something else. It fails in the end. Owe no man, least you become a slave to that man. (Bank) in most cases.

Some of us atheists agree and live the same way!

 

[moomoodiddy]

Thank y'all for all the responses. I am a current college student struggling with what I truly want to do with my life. All the money I get from my part time job goes to bills and savings. It just seems like I do not have enough time to study and work, but I would love to open my own business.

 

[MollySunshine]

These posts feel like a cozy sweater. Very humble. For myself, life has taught me to remain humble. Whenever I got too cocky, the universe put me back in my place. As others around us "went big" bigger homes etc. we remained in our first home. It's not large but more than enough room plus some extra. How much space do 2 people need! I'm not credit heavy etc. We paid off our home this year, an incredable accomplishment. We tend to comment to each other as we are on our 4 wheeler riding along our property, also not a ranch but enough, "not bad for a couple of sh"t bums!" We did ok. Sure I still have to work due to not of age quite yet but I see it is possible in my eventual near future. Hubby is in a trade where he is laid off sporadically throughout the year. It's a good feeling knowing that no institution is going to come and take our home away because things got too big and now we can't afford the payments. I sleep at night. Keeping chickies is expensive. Moreso than what I initially thought. They are very needy. The girls work (laying eggs) to help pay for their feed.
I'm still frilly and like sparkly things but I'm the stripped down version of me. I keep the stylish crap for work so I look the part but the second I get home I am my true self....right down to my muck boots. I can most likely be found in the coops cleaning up poop. I am at peace....this my friends is when you know you found the secret of life....attaining inner peace....

 

[Mama Runner]

Is there some sort of financial secret I am not seeing that lets people stay at home and play with their animals all day and still afford huge houses and cars? Do I need to win the lottery? I am all the time seeing people with the best of everything but plenty of time to spend with their animals. (Of course there is a bit of sarcasm in this, but any hints would be appreciated)

I wish
1) we grow,forage and eat very little meat.
2) We bake. Our own bread ect.
3) I pay $5.00 a month on cleaning supplies. Vinegar, Baking Soda and blue dish soap.
4) We homeschool
5) We only buy toilet paper. I use cloth napkins,towels ect to clean, or use newspaper.
Animals
We free range. I go through little feed. Though they have access to feed 24/7 everyone would rather eat my landscaping.
I use hay from my field. I deep clean coops everyday, and put fresh hay in.
Our secret. Shhhh my husband's retired. I work from home most of the time. Even though I work. We try to keep a budget of less than $500.00 a month. If we can keep it around that. I can retire. Also we are putting most of my salary right now on major improvements. This way I hope by next spring I can retire. We try to live as self sufficient as we can. You can start small and really soon you can start to see your savings grow. We wanted out of Chicago when my husband hit 20 years and could retire. So we started killing bills one by one. No Cable. No eating out, movie night at home. With in that five years, we were able to save enough to make our dream come true. You have to make sacrifices and put hard work in. But if you want your dreams to come true, you have to work hard at it. I know you can do it!!!!!!

 

[moomoodiddy]

It seems as though most of y'all commenting started out later in life being self-sufficient had a spouse to help them out. Is it realistic for a young single person to do this?

 

[itsasmallfarm]

i too would love to learn the tips and tricks on how people can afford such things.

am only 18 at the moment but yet to get a real job (unless you count fur trapping lol) due to my anxiety, so money is tight, this year i took up trapping predators (badger, coyotes, coon and weasels) on are farm my family owns. but what i did when i got some money (from a love one passing away) was learning the power of investment.