Be Ye Separate

A frame of mind

Blessings!

   I have been pondering, for many weeks, about some things that the media has been reporting on. As if there isn't enough bad news out there right?

   What I've been pondering on is the housing market, the economy, the rationality of people in general. Here's my point...

   I know someone who lives in a beautiful house, lots of lovely furnishings, many many toys (quads, sandrails, skidoos, ski mobiles, and the list goes on) and several new to nearly new cars. Her husband has a wonderful job, she works outside the home while someone else raises her children all to help her husband to pay for all these things. Today I spoke with her and you know what? They are losing it all! Every last bit of it! They don't "own" a single thing!

   Now this friend is a very long time friend. She knows how I have felt about her outlook on certain things so it's no surprise when I have to bite my tongue to bleeding to prevent myself from saying "I told you so!" She and I have spoken about her "situation" for many many years. She would nearly pay off a car and just before she did it she would trade it in on something knew and have a new payment all over again obligating her family to another 7 years!

   They owe more on their home than the home is worth! They can't possible get out from under this house nor can they catch up with the bills that are sadly sucking them dry. They pay the minimum payment on all credit cards and charge accounts so they are simply paying interest on the interest and compounding their debt.

   Today she was angry, frustrated and kicking herself. But not for the reasons you might think. She is doing all this because she thinks she should have gotten a few more things before deciding to declare bankruptcy so she could "own" them. Ugh! She just doesn't get it! Her husband doesn't get it! It's not like they haven't talked to us about all this in the past asking us how we manage to not be in debt and still have things. We tell them. They ask advice how to stop what they are doing. We give it. They ignore it because they found "such a great deal" and couldn't resist!

   Why is it that people everywhere and especially Christians, have such a frame of mind of acquisition over common sense contement? Why are people so weak as to fall for that "gimmegetmebuyme" philosophy? What are we as a society doing to the children when we show them such examples? And why are families so surprised when their young children have no remorse over broken things, they have no respect for personal property let alone anyone elses? They are a disposable generation!

   We are debt almost debt free with the exception of our one car. How? It was a long and hard road as we came from that worldly place of "things". We fell flat on our keesters from debt, repossession and humilation. Aside from having a few doctor bills that need paying we are now debt free. At this time we don't even have a mortgage because we are renting. We don't WANT a mortgage! We are saving to purchase land outright and go from there. We want to "owe no man".

   Our children have come a long ways in understanding the responsibility of providing and budgeting so your family has all they NEED. This doesn't necessarily mean we get all we WANT. Unless our wants line up with our needs we simply don't have it:)

   It's nice to have things, don't get me wrong. There's nothing wrong with having pretty things to look at. There's no sin in having a home with decorations and such. But when those things become so important that you schedule in shopping sprees and sales at special stores but forget to pray diligently every day and get into the Word then you are sinning! You are putting things before God. You are creating an idol to worship. A god! Again...I know...we were there. Our God is a jealous God. When we put things before Him and created our god leaving Him behind, he took it all away. It was humbling, I was hurt, angry, sad and humiliated. After all the dust cleared...I still had my Father in heaven. He still loved me. He was there to pick me up and dust me off and show me where my priorities were and where they should be. I am thankful.

   Being out of debt isn't that hard. It's time consuming, and one must discipline oneself or it won't work. One must desire to be free of the worldly weight of acquisition. Keeping up with the Joneses as it were. If we could do it anyone can:) As I said the only thing we owe on is our car. However, with the doubled payments we will be out from under that in just 18 months instead of the 7 years loan they gave us. We chose the longer loan because the interest rate was lower with no payoff penalty. But that's another post:)

   Our last payment for a doctor bill will be in June. No interest mind you, just a straight amount as my husband had to have a procedure done for his eye over the last two years and it hasn't been inexpensive. Even with our insurance, this has been costly. These types of things happen but we don't consider that to be debt but rather paying for services rendered. It's the credit cards, the revolving accounts, the interest rates of 18 -30%!

   I am content to be at home taking care of my family and home. I am content to have what I need to feed us, clothe us and keep us warm. I couldn't bring myself to give my children over to someone else to teach them THEIR beliefs and values. Even Christian caretakers can be counter to what we believe for our family. Again, this is for another post:)

   I just wonder what it is that we as a people have been thinking that we cannot or will not be content with our basic needs. Why must we desire more than we are able to really afford? I am so blessed that our family has figured it out for ourselves. We are content in having only our basic needs met. Does that mean I don't go shopping or barn saleing and pick up little things here and ther? Of course not! But I don't NEED to and I can turn my back on buying something. Especially when I have to look at the money in my hand and ask myself..."Am I justified in purchasing this? We have a little extra and we are not jeopardizing our budget...but am I still justified? Or should I put that little bit of money away for a rainy day?" Let me just say that I have a special can with rainy day money...and no, I couldn't justify the purchase:P

   I used to have a system for deciding on purchasing things. I would ask myself if I could make it myself. Usually the answer was yes. Then I would ask myself if I WOULD make it. Usually the answer was NO! So I would buy it. Now I use the same formula only my conlusion is different. Now I ask could I make it and the answer is yes and would I and the answer is no. So, if I'm not willing to make something I COULD make then I must not want it badly enough to have it:) So I walk away:) It has saved me countless amounts of dollars:)

   Our outgo on purchases throughout the year is so much less than it was 10 years ago. Our budget has allowed us to put away money for purchasing our land one day. Cash! What a blessing it will be to hand over that money for something that I truly can't make myself...land! God has been so good to us and He has really shown me how to do it better.

   Take a look at your own finances. Take a look at your income vs. your outgo. I bet you could do like we did and cut your outgo to half of your income allowing you to put away so much more than you imagined:)

   Well, that was my ponder. I wonder if society will ever become really conscious of their needs vs. their wants. It's more than a frame of mind, it's a mindful deed.

God be with thee!

Sister Lori

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{ 23:44, Saturday, April 5, 2008 } { Posted by rildapeel1 }

It is time for us to wake up to the real things in life and leave all this behind us. Our future is as bright as the promises of God. Now we must seek and find for He is the only true way out. Nothing can save but Jesus. Thanks for sharing! Debt free is so freeing. Blessings, rilda *U* Jeremiah 29:11

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{ 07:30, Sunday, April 6, 2008 } { Posted by LivingSimple }

Great post! We are totally debt free, we owe for nothing not even our vehicles! Right now all we have to pay is utitlites and groceries and what a blessing it is...We too were in debt and lost it all, not because we couldn't afford it, but because a dishonest banker lied to us, thats another story, but my point is...Less truly is more and the sooner people realize that the sooner they to can be living the good life debt free!...Thanks again for the post!

~Kris

Edited by LivingSimple on Sunday, April 6, 2008 at 09:31

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{ 08:55, Sunday, April 6, 2008 } { Posted by Isabella }

Just wanted to tell you that this ia a wonderful post. I hope that people will read this and understand. We are debt free except the house. I am on Baby Step 3. After this, I will plan out a new time to pay off the house. I am praying for guidance. Hope you have a blessed day. I

living beyond means

{ 09:05, Sunday, April 6, 2008 } { Posted by Vickie }

We are presently debt free. Unfortunately we don't live in a great area. We are looking to move but know what we can & can't afford. It is scary to get into some debt again, but sometimes it is necessary. However, I know LOTS of people like your friend. They want what they want & they want it now! As we all can see this causes so many problems. Divorce, spoiled children, etc.
I wish people could get back to just knowing what is a NEED & a WANT. If people could just wait & enjoy what they have & fill their hearts with Jesus instead of "things" we would all be better off.