Monday, June 6, 2011
For the love of "no money"
So, it's normal to be a broke college student, but once you graduate and get a real job, you're not supposed to have to worry about that anymore. I wouldn't call myself broke, but I'd consider myself one who is on a very tight budget but very thankful not to actually be in debt. You see, Tyler and I both have summer jobs, but mine is currently unpredictable (thank you lousy economy for keeping parents for signing their kids up for summer cooking camp) and Tyler's is too (due to lack of rain, grass isn't growing all that much). So we decided that we really need to take a close look at our finances and budget wisely for the summer. I visited the Dave Ramsey website this afternoon to print off a monthly cash flow/budget planning sheet to see the reality of the numbers we're dealing with for the summer or until I get a job (which I'm still awaiting a phone call from CDS). I'll just say that I had a slightly sick feeling in the pit of my stomach when I actually looked at our "worst -case-scenario-the-grass-stops-growing and kids-stop-cooking" numbers. WAY MORE leaving the bank account than coming in, and that's all I'll say. So I took a look at our current checking/savings balances which lifted my spirits a little bit, and then I started planning our summer budget. We're setting aside some money that I made from teaching last year to pay the bills for the summer, and we're going to try out the cash envelope system that Dave Ramsey suggests for groceries and stuff. So, warning to anyone who wants to invite us out for dinner or entertainment that costs us over $20 a month. We'll have to decline, haha. Money's not so tight that we can't have a little fun, but we're trying to be wise in such an uncertain economy. We have a few unexpected expenses to take care of right now, and Tyler's tuition will be due before we know it. I'd really like to keep a good cushion in savings so that maybe one day in FAR, DISTANT future (that emphasis was added mostly in case Tyler reads this), I can get a newer car or something. Maybe even be able to pay cash for it. I am comforted to know, however, that we can pay our bills, and God is providing us with enough to meet all our needs. I have to remind myself too that the money we claim as our own isn't really ours'...God's entrusted it to us to live and to bless others. What a huge responsibility, but what a great blessing that is. So, coupons and sales papers are going to be a part of "normal life" around our house, and leftovers will happen a little more frequently. But no matter how cautious we have to be, I'm so thankful to have a God who takes care of me and a husband who's willing to pinch pennies as needed. This will be one of those stories that we'll tell our kids one day: "Well, you see, back we first got married, we were pinching pennies to make ends meet...but we were young and in love, and none of that really mattered anyway..."
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