Cindy,
What a great seminar on finances. I only listened to a few sessions, but am looking forward to in a month or so tapping into the resource page with the sessions. We have tried so many times budgeting, etc, etc. We have had to live on little the last few years, but I think we are finally recognizing it is the freedom that no debt could bring is why we want to get out of debt. Prioritizing what is important to our family is another one we have figured out. I grew up in a financially savvy home, but it was also cold and excuse the word but “cheap” with the kids in ways so I had no desire to implement the plan into my home I now see. My mom could still probably tell me how to spend $50 a month for groceries but food is important to my husband (= I think you can be loving and money wise , but a parent needs to be careful not to lose focus of God, generosity (your freebies give the picture of you overflowing with generosity) , loving and nourishing our children too in the goal of being debt free. My husband grew up in a lower income home (not a cheerful money mindset of this is a cozy nook but life is tough and you just have to put up with it)and I think the mindset was kind of a pay check to paycheck mentality, so we have learned many things over the years but are still working on finances.
It is the skills not so much money in the bank (not that that is a bad thing (= )one needs. I think in the message board you suggested something to that effect. We have been at the place 6 or so years ago where my husband had a great job, we had low debt, a 401 K, and such. However when you have a job loss it does not take more then a year or two to deplete all your resources when you did not have the $$ skills or the recognition of a long term change with the income. Add to that my husbands roofing accident about 2 or 3 years into the job change and we have seen OK we need to learn some $ skills. In that we have seen God’s provision in many ways and learned to be much more compassionate people. Thankfully we still have our home, and only have a little over a decade to go on payments, but ug to the debt. I am now seeing often when people have physical or medical injuries they can eventually lose their home because of bills or lack of income for months.
The topics you are teaching on and sharing resources on are excellent! I just starting listening to letting go of offense and what great teaching. I don’t know if this makes sense, but I think an area of biblical discernment is maybe something I am maturing in. If one is in the word when you hear teaching I now hear yes this exactly lines up with scripture this is a MUST in my life to some things. Then yes those are some neat ideas and some I will implement in my home and maybe those other ideas may not be for me now. In the past I think my tendency was to hear a speaker and think ALL the speaking must be implemented into my life. I loved how Leslie mentioned (maybe not the exact wording) family individuality in meal planning and grocery shopping. I have subscribed to her 8 week teaching series and prayerfully will introduce it to our family mid October as my one job winds down and we have more time.
It was encouraging to read the different frugal gift ideas from the message box. Sometimes it is easy for me to get reswept up in the guilt of giving to relatives of holidays. I don’t want to seem cheap(= …suppose that is pride. For our children we have finally set up a base of sort from us as parents. We were never extravagant but I think impulse buyers perhaps. Our older boys collected Legos and now with the younger we have decided to invest in a nice Playmobile set (or pieces) and then go very frugal on holiday gifts at like Christmas and refrain from impuls buying of cute things. It is amazing how so much “junk” goes by the wayside but the sets that may cost a bit more up front like legos or Lincoln logs last for years and they loved receiving new ones. I have finally resigned myself to if family(my spouses-mine is a clothing for the kids often…I remember getting socks for Christmas mindset grandparents (= ) insists on large, noisy, plastic stuff for the kids because it is fun to see them open it , I am not obligated to keep it in the closets for years. I used totfeel so bad getting rid of “stuff” not long past the holidays that seemed to just take up room after a few days.
Praying For You Today,
Heidi
Cindy, Another neat thing is God can use different things to teach us at times….along the finance line. Where I get to help be a caretaker is a neat and organized environment. This is an area where most people have multiple homes, etc but what I see is carefullness. Yes people may vacation to Europe and around the US but they may rent a chalet and cook fresh meals etc…Off brands are used, the home is well stocked so no quick and expensive runs for milk or TP, and other little things like that. His once a week outing is often to MCd and the happy meal toys accumulate for when a grandchild may stop by for a short visit….Just a thought. I recall you mentioned the Rich don’t live like the poor….(=
Heidi D
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FROM CINDY…
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Hey sweet friend!
I love your emails! 🙂 You just bless me so much. I love your feedback. THANKS!
I am editing those audios from that workshop right now. WOW! It is EVEN BETTER the second time around. There are some gems in that seminar. In fact, you may want to listen through several times. She taught some MAJOR information in that weekend! I hope to get everything online by mid-week next week. So, stay tuned for them.
I have a few thoughts on what you wrote.
You were talking about how your mom’s financial savviness did not win your heart. I see that a lot. I don’t know your mom, but I do know that there is something inside of us that normally does not feel attracted to a poverty mentality. You can be completely out of debt and still have a poverty mentality. There are those who DO delight in making a penny squeak. However, the ramifications are not a glory and honor to God. They are not trusting God as their Provider any more than the person who immediately turns to their credit cards. Actually, they are trusting in their own works instead of enjoying a relationship that relies on God for their provision.
Heidi, you are working hard right now. Obey God each step of the way. You will not regret it! These days will soon be over and you will never be here again.
We went through our financial pit. I am so thankful now that our children got to SEE what mighty things that God did to bring us out of that pit. My prayer has been that they would develop a hatred for debt, but never let money become their god or focus. Money is the focus of as many who are poor as who are wealthy. Probably more who are poor. That is not the way to live an abundant life. Christ died for us to be able to have ETERNAL LIFE–that begins at salvation. That means that He gave up His life so we could have an abundant life TODAY. Thinking about money all the time is certainly not abundant living to me! ha!
I love that your mind is clicking about the difference between the way that the wealthy think and live versus the way that the poor (or middle class) think and live. Watch them. Look at what they do. Really study the way that they do things. It will re-train your lifestyle. You will begin to see some major changes.
No, just one biggie that gets people in trouble. They don’t get in that new car every couple years rut. They don’t finance new cars. Certainly, don’t lease them. They pay cash. Cash talks. Once you begin using cash only, your money works harder and gets more for you. That adds up. Study all of the things that they do. It is amazing.
I was watching a show with a WONDERFUL interview of Warren Buffet not too long ago. He is one man you may want to study. Many schools actually study HIM now. 🙂 Now, in case you are not familiar with him, he is the world’s richest man at this time. He is a financial genius. He was showing his basic lifestyle. He drives his same old car. He lives in the house he bought around 40 years ago for $40,000. He does not have all of the gadgets–doesn’t even own a computer (I am NOT advocating that–I LOVE MY COMPUTER!) or invest in them because he doesn’t understand them. He does eat out–but it is because he OWNS the stores and gets to eat free at any of them. 🙂
Think of the difference in our lives when we get free of debt and can actually LIVE each day on what God provides. It is sweet. It is simple. We can do so much more than we could dream of while we are in chains.
One of my favorite books on money is the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible. Take some time to pull it out. Read it in a few different version. Go through it reading it for how-to’s from God on how to live a “blessed” and “prospered” life. It is sweet! That was where I found my breakthrough. Now, I am on an adventure of God showing Himself over and over and over as my faithful Provider. In turn, it is now more than my daily provision, it reaches out to others as well. Just more and more fun each and every day!
Get ready for those amazing audios! They are going to bless you over and over!
Well, gotta run! More later! STAY IN TOUCH!
Love ya tons!
Cindy
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