By I have always been curious. As an only child by birth: I have always been around adults who willingly answered my questions. They never gave me pat answers you give an annoying child. Real answers that I could understand were given. My parents have always been good with money. Mama is a farmer’s daughter. She is always describing dad as a mountain goat. I guess that makes me half mountain goat/farm girl. This is a flowery way of saying I learned the value of money early and quickly. I do not remember if I was taught to save up for what I really wanted, or if I learned by example. Either way, lesson learned.
When I got older: mama took me to the bank, and I was given a tour by an employee. I saved my birthday and Christmas money, always, for what I really wanted. I also would clean out my room periodically. All the stuff I no longer wanted, or I had outgrown: I would gather for a garage sale at Kirk and Grandma’s Kate’s. They got more traffic than at my house. All I had to do was ask and the garage was mine to use on a Saturday. They’d add their own stuff, and all the profits would be mine as long as I was good seller; even when I tried to insist that was hardly fair. Kirk would wink and assure me all they wanted was the junk gone. Have I mentioned Kirk and I were two peas in a pod enough yet?
Watching my family’s relationship with money has influenced my own…greatly. I grew up knowing the Bible’s thoughts on money as well. My parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles did their best to live these principles. They became my principles, too. I still live them as best as I can. All that needed explaining, so when I give you all my budget tips, they do not feel out of left field. My tips below come from a real, honest, organic place.
- Never spend more than you have unless it is an emergency. This keeps debt under control.
- Shop around for the best price
- I have a QVC account. I always buy from QVC.com. QVC has something called Easy Pay: this allows customers to pay for purchases over time in monthly payments. There is no interest on each payment; assuming you pay the card off you paid with every month. Easy Pay allows me to purchase things I never would otherwise. I am just careful not to put too much on it at one time. You do not need a membership to buy from QVC, which is a plus.
- Pay cash whenever possible: actual cash, debit card, or check to cut down on debt as well.
- If I do not have the money for something I want, I do not buy it.
- My cell company is straight talk. It is a flat rate with no contract, there is an option to pay for your phone monthly. I opt to pay once never buying the latest and greatest model to save money. I keep my phone until it literally is dying. Such is my philosophy with all my technology. If I must replace anything: at least I got my money’s worth.
- Less is always more. I do not spend frivolously.
Nowadays, I give away what I no longer want/need to charity. That is me showcasing my faith. I give to those less fortunate whenever possible. If I can make a difference, in my community, in some small way I want to do so, Sometimes, making a difference does not require money. Giving of time is more valuable than money because we cannot earn more time on Earth. Human connection is more valuable than all the money in the world. You give of yourself when you give your time and use your talents to help somebody else. It feels satisfying in a way nothing else can. Money cannot buy such a feeling. Focusing on others helps me thrive with my CP by getting me out of my head as well.
