Living Within Your Means
Listening to the comment I wonder what is really meant by "living within your means." I would imagine that this phrase could be interpreted in different ways by different people. Musing on this thought as I make the bed and tidy up the bathroom, I consider what I think it means for me.
Husband and my decision to live debt-free helps to keep us bound within our income. If we do not have the ready cash for an activity, gift or improvement, it doesn't happen. We have not always approached life in this manner, but we highly recommend the experience.
This decision often means we say no to something we would enjoy or that might even seem to be of a benefit to the value of our home or family memories. We have learned though that living within our means brings great satisfaction and helps to set perimeters that define our lives well.
I am not saying that this goal comes without challenge. My mother's heart loves to find ways to bless my children. I am grateful for our grandparent fund that provides little ways to give to our grandchildren and I love bringing some small enjoyed food item when I visit my married children. Yet, I am also grateful that I need to carefully consider how I spend our money and that I have learned love and concern can be expressed in many other ways.
Living within our means has meant being willing to sacrifice a newer car for a season, parting with a bit of savings and looking for creative ways to expand our income in order to give a wedding to a precious, honoring child. It also means not always giving the style of gifts I would like to give and finding contentment with thrift shopped clothes and hand-me-down furniture. My yard does not really show forth my landscaping design and I often wish I could minister in a more concrete financial way to friends in need.
Yet, it is good to be content with what is yours. Working hard to save ahead for an item really does increase the appreciation and helps to curb impulse buying.
I also would suggest that seeking to live on what you make fosters for many people a resourceful attitude and develops creativity. I believe children that learn they can not always have what they want, grow up to be better adjusted young people and better prepared for a world that is not always kind.
I do not think living within your mean keeps one captive. Certainly there are circumstances where careful consideration needs to be taken on how to increase one's income. I also understand challenges come in life such as unforeseen medical issues or accidents which may cause one to find debt which must be dealt with over time.
I am just personally grateful at this season of my life to be able to make ends meet with careful deliberate choices. And I think that this awareness brings me more satisfaction than improving my home or purchasing a newer car with credit. Yes, I think for Husband and me, living within our means has built character and brought blessing.
How does "living within your means" look at your house?
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3 Responses to “Living Within Your Means”
February 21st, 2012 at 7:32 am
At my house living within my means is staying within the budget. This budget is sometimes written down and sometimes not. I know where the money goes and if I want something extra like a new car Ha! I know that isn’t a wise purchase for me. But going out to a really nice place for dinner a 3 or 4 times a year is within my means. I have also always been a generous person. I like to make others smile or see that I am making a difference in their day. I have realized though that I was going over board. As my friends children married I bought nice gifts for showers, weddings, new babies and loved doing it. Although it kept me from eating out as much or buying fabric to make something. So I now send a simple card. My friends were not even sending me a birthday card or in anyway celebrating my life. It made my life seem stale and as if I didn’t matter except on the day the gift was received. I can now buy fabric so make some simple gifts and also eat out from time to time at a nice place. Life is fun! These folks were actually offended but you know they were not my friends anyway. I have a few close friends and family I always remember on their special days. It helps to rethink things along the way. And that is what “living within my means” is for me. I hope others comment this is an interesting article.
February 21st, 2012 at 3:05 pm
i found my own definition to “living within my means” many years ago when my son needed and was prescribed with eyeglasses..he could not get them until we paid for them in full….we came home from that appointment not knowing how we were going to come up with the $75.00 because we were already stretched with our budget and were barely making ends meet..anyway, we had an old jar full of change and the three of us sat at the dining table after supper counting out and wrapping the change…we had to the penny exactly what we needed for those eyeglasses-nothing more and not less…it was a real eye opening experience for all three of us as we looked around and saw where our money was going and where it was being wasted. these days, we are out of debt and living on our military retirement pension and my husbands social security…and because we learned to live within our means and put some aside each month as well, we are living comfortably but not lavishly and on our own dime and not that of others. we learned just how simple our wants and our needs really are and how to truly enjoy and be content with our lot in life.
February 23rd, 2012 at 5:41 pm
This is a good article, we are in the process of rethinking and revamping what this means in our family, I hope others keep posting!
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