Act Your Wage!

Living on one income,  as many homeschooling families do, is difficult.   But, like many, my husband and I strive to make it all work.  Homeschooling is vitally important to us.  We understand we will have to sacrifices in order to make it work.

Over the last few years, financially,  things have been challenging.   We dealt with unemployment,  vehicle breakdowns,  illnesses, and what seemed like crisis after crisis.   Recently my husband and I have had to make some decisions that eventually will hopefully set us free.

Dave Ramsey often states, "Act Your Wage."   While a harsh statement at times to those struggling financially,  it makes sense.   Most people don’t act their wage.   Sadly,  the results are slavery.  The Bible states that the borrower is slave to the lender. I can attest that debt is slavery.

Now... My husband and I have made many good choices in our marriage,  but we've also made some mistakes.  We've dealt with unexpected atomic bombs.  However,  we have coped to the best of our ability.

We have been wise in not getting credit cards.  My husband detests them.  He knows they are trouble.  While we have occasionally financed things,  we have mostly paid cash for things.  Financing always comes back to haunt us.  

The exception to our "no financing" rules has been our home and vehicles.   But even that has hurt us.

We didn't purchase these things to compete with anyone or try to achieve some high standard of living.  We financed these things because we need shelter and transportation.   But... Even that has come back to haunt us at times.

We began to change things over the last few years by paying down debt.  We began living on a cash system a few months ago,  and it has made incredible changes to our finances.   Dave Ramsey is correct when he states that handing over cash is more painful than swiping a card... Even a debit card!

Now we are trimming more.   Soon,  when we can pay to break the contact,  the satellite subscription will be gone.   We are looking to move to an area where utilities are more affordable and where we can save on gas expense. 

 

Getting out of debt is difficult and requires sacrifices.   But I believe this is what God wants.   I can't find anywhere in the Bible where God says debt is good.   Instead He calls it A CURSE!  

There is no better word to describe how living with debt feels :  CURSED.   I've come to believe that anything you finance means taking on a curse.  

What is your curse? Do you keep your curse nice and clean?  Do you trade in your curse for a new curse every two years?  Do you decorate your curse?  Do you think you got a deal because your curse has a low interest rate?  Are you proud of your curse because it gives you reward points? 

Yes... This is extreme thinking.   I know that people have to have a place to live,  transportation to work,  etc.   I realize that there are many that pay off their credit cards every month and are responsible.   But there are also many that are suffering under a curse,  believing they could afford the payments,  then feeling the weight of that curse when a job loss or illness happens.   No savings,  no rainy day fund (and it will rain eventually).

I'm going to give an example of a couple know.  The husband works in sales.  He's good at his job and makes a good income. The wife runs a small home business and does okay.  Her income is a nice supplement to the finances.  They have one child that has some special needs,  and do their best to give him what he needs.   While they have life insurance in case of a catastrophe,  they also have a lot of debt.  They lease vehicles.  The salesman knows the power of a good credit score, and believes his wealth is what he can finance,  not what he has paid for... Unless it's equity he can borrow against.   Never content,  constantly planning this trip or remodeling that room or getting a loan for something or another... They are living a great life.   But  I wonder what happens if his job one day disappears.  He can and will find another,  but his income may not pay for the lifestyle the couple lives.

How many of us are a job loss or an illness away from catastrophe?   How many of us are so burdened by debt that even without a catastrophe we feel weighed down by the curse of debt?  

My husband and I know that at least one of our curses has risked our health.   It's a ton thing to have things you've bought on credit,  are still paying for,  but don't even have the items any longer.   It's another to have a curse you are paying on,  but it is so damaged it is a safety risk for your family.   No longer just a bill,  the curse just got a whole lot heavier when it's unsafe.

As I continue reading and learning,  I am praying that God guides us every step of the way. He has helped us through many ups and downs,  and I believe He will help us here also.