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Living on Less and Having More
During financially challenging times like these, with so many people losing jobs and investments, it can become necessary to change the way we operate our lives and our households.
For our family, this past year was the first full year our household income was significantly less than previous years and that has required numerous adjustments. However, we have come to realize that in many ways, we have more. Our children share more, don't take things for granted, have a better work ethic, pray and believe God for things, have hearts full of praise and spirits full of gratitude for everything.
Consider the following tips to help you and your family adjust to a changing world. You just might discover there are solutions you never realized before.
Tip #1
Don’t Resist Change: Embrace new ways of thinking and operating and don’t become frustrated with the changing dynamics of the world around you. Make changes as soon as needed without balking at them. The transitions in your life will become much more manageable and less of a nuisance.
Tip #2
Be Willing to Downsize and Simplify: Find the good in living a simpler, less complicated lifestyle. It’s common to pack our schedules with as many activities as possible, resulting in an out-of-breath lifestyle. Likewise our culture expects us to spend a lot of energy collecting material possessions, but the result can be more things to maintain. This creates less space, less order, less time and ultimately less peace.
Tip #3
Utilize What You Have: Instead of trying to get more, and buy more, consider being content with what you already have and utilize what you have to the fullest. If you can get by without getting more stuff, and by using what you have, then you and your budget will benefit.
Tip #4
Find Ways to Spend Less: Resist the easy way and the fastest way and embrace the frugal way. Yes, the old adage is true that “time is money,” but might I add that “money is money” too, and you can’t pay your bills with time… it takes real money… so don’t spend it, than you’ll have it when you need it.
Tip #5
Shop Only When Necessary: Don’t pride yourself only on what deals and bargains you find, but on what special provision God makes for you when you need it. If you trust God with your money, then you can trust Him to provide the best price and the best solution for your needs at the time you need it. Shopping is putting yourself in the middle of temptation. There are too many decisions to make and too many bargains to sort through. You will most always spend more than you would, if you weren’t shopping. Wait until there is a need before you go shopping or make a purchase.
Tip #6
Ask God’s Guidance: We can be sure that the Bible is true when it says, “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? For these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.” Matt. 6:31-32 (NLT). When we acknowledge His sovereignty, we realize we are not alone in our journey through life, and that He is carefully attentive to all that we need.
There are many ways to live on less that will bless your family. By living on less, you will find that you and your family will have more of the things that really matter, like gratitude, faith, creativity and peace of mind, to name a few. We will be presenting more ideas here in the upcoming issues. Meanwhile, take these suggestions to heart and with each decision to be made--learn to live on less.
Copyright © 2008-2015 Debbie Reynolds Harper
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