Solving Debt Problems
I shake my head as I listen to the young business woman share that she is in favor of taxing the rich to help the country with our economic problems. However, since she makes over $250.000.00 which would be where the projected increase that is presently being discussed would commence for those being asked to pay higher taxes, her recommendation is that the increased taxing should start around $600,000.00. You see, this young woman does not think she is "rich" at $250.000.00 and should not be asked to increase her tax share. I shake my head and wonder if making $600,000.00 would she think that number still be fair? Of course now I believe the amount that will have increased taxes has been decided to be around $400,000.00. I am sure this young woman I heard interviewed is pleased.
My point is not to discuss the wisdom of increasing the tax rate of those deemed to be "rich." Such an action would not be my solution to our fiscal problems. Quite honestly I do not define "rich" with financial terms. Even though of a smaller economic means, I would consider myself rich in the blessings of life that do not have monetary value. Once the government finds a way to tax solid marriages, honoring children and adorable grandbabies, I will be done for.
My point of writing is just that over and over again I see people looking to others to be the solution for the problems that surround them. This young woman I heard interviewed believes she sees a need for more tax revenue, but she would not see her income to be one that should be touched. Her perspective just got me thinking about the fact that it is so easy to want other people to bail us out of what is often our own predicament. So if you believe the answer to our fiscal challenges is to take more taxes from someone in the population but you do not think it should be you, what are you actually saying?
I am not writing with answers for our bigger problems. I do, however, believe that by living faithfully within the context of our own lives, we can make a difference. So I cannot change our country's debt problems, but I can live within my means and teach my children to do the same. I can also strive to take responsibility to find solutions to the challenges that come my way by changing behavior, learning to do without or acquiring new skills.
Those who write about their quest to live the frugal life, get out of debt and live in such a way that they are more givers than takers, encourage me to do the same. I find those of you who are willing to live within your means and seek to be solvent without looking to the rest of society to be your solution give me hope. Husband and I solved our debt problem by selling our home and then moving to another state where our daily expenses could be minimized and then we worked hard to live within our means. It has not been easy and still has some challenging moments, but our decisions have been worth every difficult moment.
Our move about seven years ago was not a decision solely made for economic reasons, but our deep desire to become debt free did play a part in the decision process. Over the years I have worked diligently to reduce my food bill and still eat a healthy diet. This means more scratch cooking than I would like to have on my things to do list and more time spent researching and looking for ways to provide healthy meals within the context of what I have to spend. I have learned how to make rugs, amassed many a means to keep us healthy without unnecessary doctor visits, practice contentment with "what's in your hand" decorating and have driven ugly, old vehicles.
I for one am so grateful for the inspiration and encouragement I receive from so many others who live frugally before me or provide websites with ideas and tales of their own frugal journey. I often listen to those who call a popular radio show and shout their "debt free" scream. What so often touches my heart are the blessings that have come to these families in the process of solving their debt problems. Many have grown closer together, found life to be far more enjoyable without debt and the trappings of too much stuff and have a new can do attitude that flavors their whole life.
I can't really encourage Congress to give debt free living a try, but I can share my heart with any who read this blog. Go for it. Take responsibility for your own actions and choices and see the blessings that will come. Be prepared for some hard times, but when you see your personal debt problems solved, you will rejoice!
4 Responses to “Solving Debt Problems”
January 29th, 2013 at 6:17 am
Husband and I were blessed to go through Financial Peace University last Fall, after reading the Total Money Makeover a year before that. We are still working our debt snowball, and sometimes it feels really hard to stay the course. I love to read this blog because I get encouragement to keep doing that zero balance budget every month and watch the debt numbers drop.
Keep up the good work!
January 29th, 2013 at 7:26 am
I love hearing that ‘debt free scream’ too. But have lost sight of that goal myself– so much on the plate at once, I can look back and say– IT would have been way better to have been keeping a closer eye on the budget rather while going through the husbands bad health scare a few years back.(I couldn’t do it all). We are certainly paying for it now. Slowly and surely we are getting back to a level of comfort…but even the small amount of debt that we took on during that time–makes for a tighter squeeze now. People don’t stop to think about debt when they are standing in line to make the purchase.
I’m not saying all this to make an excuse– I’m saying all this to accept responsibility. To let others know, think before you purchase- and don’t use plastic!
love reading here, and the encouragement is always appreciated. Pat
January 30th, 2013 at 12:05 am
I don’t know what the answers are to the financial problems of the country, but I know they must start with tightening the belt of the spending by the government. There are so many extras added to every bill just to get it to pass so each person gets their cut to take to their state to say “look what I did for you” Years ago I heard Ross Perot put the government debt in simple household terms. His solution was to not spend more than you take in. Today just to balance the budget certain things like military spending are kept out of the budget, no household could stay afloat this way, so why does the government think it can?
January 30th, 2013 at 8:46 am
Ruth:
Your decision to seek to be debt free and live out the consequences in this season of your life is such an encouragement to me.
Pat:
I so understand how difficult life crises make living the frugal life even more challenging. It has taken me months to get to where I can make my food budget work with our emphasis on healthy foods. I think the answer is to just keep persevering.
Lois:
I too find our governmental perspective on debt frustrating. I hope that as the people in our country learn how to live debt free personal lives they will seek to encourage the government to do the same.
Leave a Comment