31 Days of Finding Freedom in Simplicity – Financial Freedom
Finances. We don’t
talk a lot about finances here at Townsend House, but since this series is 31
Days of Finding Freedom in Simplicity – you had to have known that it would be
addressed at some point. Financial
Freedom is almost an unknown concept in our western world today.
talk a lot about finances here at Townsend House, but since this series is 31
Days of Finding Freedom in Simplicity – you had to have known that it would be
addressed at some point. Financial
Freedom is almost an unknown concept in our western world today.
There has not been a moment in my adult life that I have
been completely debt free. That may be
very similar to you as well. When I went
off to college, one of the first things I did was visit the financial aid
office to sign for all of my student loans.
I thought I was being responsible.
Student loan debt is good debt after all. I am getting an education.
been completely debt free. That may be
very similar to you as well. When I went
off to college, one of the first things I did was visit the financial aid
office to sign for all of my student loans.
I thought I was being responsible.
Student loan debt is good debt after all. I am getting an education.
Now, I am not saying don’t get student loans, but isn’t it
interesting to think about an 18 year old, who has no source of income, going
to a great college and signing for thousands of dollars of student loans. Honestly, I didn’t think about it when I was
18, or even 25. I didn’t really consider
student loans and the weight they were until after I had my first child and
decided I was no longer going to be working outside the home. I also didn’t consider that my husband would
also have student loans.
interesting to think about an 18 year old, who has no source of income, going
to a great college and signing for thousands of dollars of student loans. Honestly, I didn’t think about it when I was
18, or even 25. I didn’t really consider
student loans and the weight they were until after I had my first child and
decided I was no longer going to be working outside the home. I also didn’t consider that my husband would
also have student loans.
So, here we are, in our mid-30’s, never having been debt
free in our lives.
free in our lives.
What would it feel like to you if you didn’t have debt? Have you ever considered it? I’m sure a lot of you have not. It seems like debt is the thing that keeps
our lives running. Heck, even the
government loves debt. I’m not sure when
it became acceptable to go into debt for every single purchase, but after being
in debt for a long time, and finally getting sick of being in debt, my family
wanted a change.
our lives running. Heck, even the
government loves debt. I’m not sure when
it became acceptable to go into debt for every single purchase, but after being
in debt for a long time, and finally getting sick of being in debt, my family
wanted a change.
We were somewhat drastic in our changes, and they were not
without struggles, but, seeing that we are now almost on the other side (ie no
consumer debt, but still a mortgage), it is a breath of fresh air.
without struggles, but, seeing that we are now almost on the other side (ie no
consumer debt, but still a mortgage), it is a breath of fresh air.
I would love to do a little exercise with you. If you would take a moment to add up all of
your debt payments each month (not bills like utilities and insurance), but
actual debt payments; student loans, car loans, credit cards – and now total
them up. When you write down that total,
does it make you cringe a little? We
aren’t even considering our mortgage in this scenario, but just the payments
you make on debt each month. What if you
had that as extra money in your budget each month? How would you feel?
your debt payments each month (not bills like utilities and insurance), but
actual debt payments; student loans, car loans, credit cards – and now total
them up. When you write down that total,
does it make you cringe a little? We
aren’t even considering our mortgage in this scenario, but just the payments
you make on debt each month. What if you
had that as extra money in your budget each month? How would you feel?
Now, if you are reading this and saying “I don’t have any
debt, I’m good!” or “I am comfortable with the amount of debt I have.” You
probably can disregard the rest of this post.
debt, I’m good!” or “I am comfortable with the amount of debt I have.” You
probably can disregard the rest of this post.
However, if you looked at the amount that you are paying on
debt, and realized that you could save that money, or use it to go on vacation,
or invest it for retirement, how would that make you feel?
debt, and realized that you could save that money, or use it to go on vacation,
or invest it for retirement, how would that make you feel?
I think we all eventually get to a point where we are
overwhelmed and stressed about money.
There never seems to be enough of it, we always *need* something else,
our kids need new shoes, or new clothes, or we need a new couch since the puppy
is eating ours. If you already have
debt, it becomes difficult to save the money you need in order to purchase
these items, and oftentimes you will instead buy the kids’ clothes on a credit
card, or take out the 90 day same as cash loan for your new couch.
overwhelmed and stressed about money.
There never seems to be enough of it, we always *need* something else,
our kids need new shoes, or new clothes, or we need a new couch since the puppy
is eating ours. If you already have
debt, it becomes difficult to save the money you need in order to purchase
these items, and oftentimes you will instead buy the kids’ clothes on a credit
card, or take out the 90 day same as cash loan for your new couch.
A huge part of simplicity for every family, no matter what
your values and goals are is financial freedom.
When you have debt, you will always have a weight on top of you.
your values and goals are is financial freedom.
When you have debt, you will always have a weight on top of you.
Now some of you might be in a position where you don’t feel
like you have any breathing room to get out of debt. Believe me, I know how that is, we have been
there, and it totally sucks. But, if you
are diligent, and meticulous, about paying off your debt, and budgeting, you
will feel that weight start to lessen. I
can’t tell you how amazing that feels.
like you have any breathing room to get out of debt. Believe me, I know how that is, we have been
there, and it totally sucks. But, if you
are diligent, and meticulous, about paying off your debt, and budgeting, you
will feel that weight start to lessen. I
can’t tell you how amazing that feels.
I know that money is a sensitive topic. Everyone has different ideas about what is
enough, what isn’t enough, what one should be able to afford, and on and on and
on. But, I also know that having
financial freedom is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to simplicity.
enough, what isn’t enough, what one should be able to afford, and on and on and
on. But, I also know that having
financial freedom is a huge step in the right direction when it comes to simplicity.
Why? Very simply, it
allows you to follow your dreams.
Perhaps the reason you feel like you can’t take steps in a certain life
direction is because you have too much debt.
You can’t quit your job because you are barely making ends meet. You can’t start that business because you don’t
have any extra room in your budget to use for your new venture. You want to travel, but you have too much
debt and know that you can’t take more than a few days off here and there and
even when you have those days off, travel costs money.
allows you to follow your dreams.
Perhaps the reason you feel like you can’t take steps in a certain life
direction is because you have too much debt.
You can’t quit your job because you are barely making ends meet. You can’t start that business because you don’t
have any extra room in your budget to use for your new venture. You want to travel, but you have too much
debt and know that you can’t take more than a few days off here and there and
even when you have those days off, travel costs money.
Financial freedom is a journey in and of itself, but I think
that once you are able to sit down and dream about what life would be like
without debt, it will light a fire, and you will want to move ahead with such
intensity.
that once you are able to sit down and dream about what life would be like
without debt, it will light a fire, and you will want to move ahead with such
intensity.
What is
debt holding you back from?
Find the entire 31 Days of Finding Freedom in Simplicity series here.
debt holding you back from?
Find the entire 31 Days of Finding Freedom in Simplicity series here.
