I'm not one to air my dirty laundry to the world, but I am all for honesty.
My husband and I work hard. Sometimes we work so hard we crash on the couch before 9 o'clock because we just can't keep our eyes open. Unfortunately, the work we do doesn't provide a great amount of cash. Regardless, we live our lives the best we can with what we have. A few months ago, I was working with a young man that needed help in class and in life. So I offered the best I could. At one point the conversation came up about finances and budgeting. For some reason everyone thinks I'm a great budgeter. (I am now that I was taught.) I had no idea what I was doing. I was just making ends meet- hopefully. Since this young man wanted a push into the right direction I picked up a book that has been on my shelf for years. Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. I started reading and couldn't put it down. I was starting to get it. (I still needed help with how to do a budget, but guess what - my neighbor is all for some Dave Ramsey and she graciously has guided me into how to write a budget and stick to it.) So as I read the book there was one thing that stood out to me. We all play "Keeping up with the Jones family" whether we want to or not. We walk into someone's house and think, "Whatever they're doing for a living, I need that too!!" It's constantly showing in front of you what others have. When you're just doing the best with what you've got, it feels like a slap in the face sometimes. I get angry. "Why do they get the life of luxury when I work my tail off and have nothing to show for it?!" What's funny is that I don't want what they have. I just want the ability to have what they have. But Dave says something I hang on to. "Don't try to keep up with the Jones' because their broke." Okay, so maybe not all the "Jones'" we see are broke, but I am starting to see that maybe some of them really are. If they're buying on credit cards, they're buying with debt. I say all this because I really do struggle with it sometimes. Not always. Sometimes I say to myself, "The Jones' are broke." Other times I focus on us. We are making huge strides towards financial freedom in a way I had never really cared about before. We are setting up our lives for our children to know financial freedom. No debts. No struggles. It's hard to say no to my kids when they want to eat out. I want to eat out too! But I know that if I save that little bit now, it will be worth it later. It doesn't make it easier though. Sitting with people who I know make more money in 6 months than we do in a year can be hard. I just have to make the choice to be happy where I am. Yes, I know if I added a part time job our income would drive up, but my sanity would drop. My time with my kids would drop. My writing time, effort on lessons, and work with clients would drop. I'd have to give up what I love for money. That doesn't sound like a good plan to me. Same for my husband. He has the eternal reward of working with teens as a teacher. He influences kids in a way others don't. He has built relationships with students that is beyond encouraging. He has built his reputation in the school as a good teacher, both among the adults and kids. If he stayed with a former company that was part time and switched to full time, he might be making more money. But he certainly wouldn't have the same life. I'll take my small house and my multi part time jobs that I love. I'll take my time with my family. I'll take my husband working a thankless job for too low pay that he was meant to do. We may not keep up with the Jones' right now, but in a few years we won't have to think about it. We'll be having too much fun together! I will no longer feel shamed for what I have or don't have. I have my family. And they are pretty dawgon great.
1 Comment
Love me some Dave Ramsey! Our budget is about to be overhauled while I'm on maternity leave. By fall 2019, I want to be able to stay home with the kids full-time (only working 4 days a week now), but we need to get our financial butt in gear. Hard work WILL pay off! Keep at it, Jewel!
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorI have a lot to say about a lot of things. Archives
May 2023
Categories |