Matt and I have been followers of Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University" for quite some time, but have buckled down more seriously in the past six months. We have started using a spreadsheet to keep track of our monthly budget, so that every.single.dollar is accounted for in that one document.
It has helped us see where exactly our money is going, in what areas we can cut back, and precisely how much money we are able to apply to debt at the end of each month. Talk about motivation!
If you follow Dave Ramsey, you know that his catch phrase is this:
"Live like no one else, so that you can live like no one else."
In short, if you live meagerly, frugally now... pinching your pennies, watching where your dollar goes...
In the future, you can live like no one else.
For Matt and I, living like no one else in the future will mean
... providing a comfortable (but not extravagant) lifestyle for our family
... putting away money for college
...saving for an inheritance for our family ("A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children..." Prov 13:22)
... giving more generously to causes we believe in ("There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy..." Deut 15:11)
... and saving up for an adoption one day ("Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..." James 1:27)
As a reminder, I made a piece of art that we will see every.single.day. before we leave the house.
I hope it serves as a daily reminder to be good stewards of our money and time...
...and helps us to remember all of the great things that we are working and sacrificing for.
Lauren
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