Thirty Days of Gratitude, pt 12
I am SO grateful for OUR debt-free life. That's right. DEBT FREE.
I am 32 years old. My husband is 42. We live in a small house with a big back yard. It needs a few updates and a new fence eventually. But it is paid for. The updates - they can wait. I have them priced and am eager to work, but I refuse to finance it. Home is cozy no matter what shape it takes.
Our cars. Totally paid off. Since five years when we caved and had to replace one that was 20 years old. They get regular service and have over 130k miles and 110k miles and are 9 and 11 years old. And I have no plans to mess with a new one. Four butts, four seats. Ten bucks a month to insure and pay for registration and each get over 30mpg because we keep them well tuned.
Our college degrees. All four of them. Never owed a dime. For that we thank our parents and the US Military and taxpayers. They were a job requirement and don't make us better than you - but with no debt, we are freer than most.
Our lifestyle. Cheap, slow, easy and it is a blessing to be able to give generously. I came into the world naked and will die with only a soul in hand (maybe). So my children deserve a legacy and a similarly debt free life.
We save, help out family and invest. I try to invest wisely so that my husband can retire and help me educate the kids at home.
We don't shop much, eat out too much (2-3 times a month). We don't own a television. Have one laptop and share a phone. I Run - it's also my entertainment. He bikes and rafts. Have have small hobbies and pay most for organic food and vitamins and our family health.
I am a very content woman. I remember what debt felt like. It was slavery!
I am SO GRATEFUL!
What an amazingingly freeing testimony to have!! God bless you and your great achievement, glory to God for helping you to make it happen!! 🙌🏻❤️
It's a great example for everyone!! 😊
Thank you, kindly. I think the best way it glorifies God is in our marriage. It is stronger because we did it together and now we can enjoy the other side together. I'm grateful for a supportive husband - oops, spoiler alert!
Great. Thanks for sharing. I'm starting to follow you.
That's great. Good for you all!
It is God's grace. We worked so hard for the first five years we were married. Life was more like heavy grit sandpaper then. Money is only a tool. It can do so much good in the world if we steward it the right way. I pray about that often. The standards of overextended living here in the states are so asphyxiating - I wish more people our age could know the free feeling and be able to live more fully.
Amen!
I'm working on this myself right now. My wife and I were debt free for a few years, but life has a way of happening in such a way that even with your best efforts you still end up in the hole. Too bad we didn't put forward our best efforts lol, we just kept sliding in the wrong direction. But I do have a plan and hopefully in a year or two we will be back in good shape. Thanks for the blog, it was one of my blessings for today!
You know Truth. High five and a hug to you both. With God ALL things are possible!
High five! Yes, just because we are there now, I watched my grandparents slide back into debt as a young girl. Then watched them beat it back again. They have everything away and today, my grandpa (87) is so blessed by others whom he blessed in the past. Life. :-)