There are many things you can do to live within your means. The following are a few of the things that I find can make a significant difference:
BUY USED. Buying cars, furniture, appliances, clothing, and tools costs a small fraction when you buy them after someone else decided they didn’t need them any more. You really can furnish an apartment or a home for 10% to 30% of what many people spend by buying things used.
LIVE CLOSE TO WORK AND SCHOOL. By living close to work and school you can save a small fortune on gas as well as wear and tear on a vehicle. People who drive an hour or more each way to work either spend a lot on vehicle payments or on repairs, as well as a lot on fuel. Those who live close to work, save lots of time and money, and if they walk or bike to work, they often enjoy much better health and fewer medical bills. They also might be able to forget about going to the gym by getting exercise traveling to work or school. Anyway, there is plenty of good to do that can get you the exercise you need. Take your spouse, kids, friends, or dog for a walk; mow your lawn or assist neighbors with theirs. Nevertheless, it is better to drive 20 minutes than an hour each way, as so many people have learned. If you must drive over 30 minutes each way to work, you might evaluate whether it is worth moving or getting a different job.
DON’T EAT OUT A LOT. It costs a lot to eat out on a regular basis. If I am going to be far from my refrigerator or stove, I just grab a sack or a small cooler, and stick in a few pieces of fruit (bananas, apples, or oranges), a snack (like granola bars or nuts), and a bottle of water (or ice, depending on the time of year). I do feel that I can afford to take my wife out to eat a few times a month, but I almost never eat at expensive restaurants. Perhaps instead of doing this, we can eat at less expensively and give to and serve those in need. If we feel a desire to live lavishly, perhaps we might ask ourselves honestly “Why do I feel a need to spend this way when there are so many in need?” I know of no religion nor spiritual teaching that admonishes us to live lavishly, but I know of many that teach us to care for those in need and love our neighbor as ourselves.
DON’T BUY WHAT YOU DON’T NEED. Unless you’re giving things to others or reselling things, in a place where more of those looking can find them, then don’t be the one buying lots of stuff you don’t need, which clutters large homes. Why pay for a big house or fancy apartment, or for lots of storage for room to keep things you will never use or need? However, there are those who do store things and food for times of need. And history shows us, that those times do come, usually after a period of time when people are living lavishly and not thinking about the fact that people in a society are consuming far more than they are producing! If this sounds familiar, then beware and warn your neighbor and those you love. Prepare yourselves. Yes be prepared. The time will surely come. Did not your parents or your grandparents tell you of and attempt to teach you? If not then visit some older folks who need visiting and ask them to share with you the wisdom they have learned in their lives.
GET ONLY AN AFFORDABLE FIXED RATE MORTGAGE PAYMENT IF YOU BUY OR OWN A HOME. Our nation’s debt is heading us for weaker dollars, or in other words, inflation. Local governments are also being lobbied to go into more debt for larger or fancier buildings, more employees with good incomes and retirement benefits. Many plead for this the same that they do for most laws that are argued for by lobbyists. That is for the purpose of “protecting the public”, but it is usually asked for by those who are paid by those who will benefit financially in some way by the passage of the bill or rule (and if you don’t believe this, then look at those who are asking for it). This can usually only be paid for by raising your taxes. Paying for this debt will eventually result in inflation and rising interest rates, which will make home buying more expensive, which also means rents will go up! Those who get a fixed rate mortgage on a home that meets their needs, “may” be able to pay for it. However, if you can not save up a down payment, I am not confident that you are ready to buy a home. If you live by these principles, you will probably be able to save up a down payment to buy a home, or at least pay for your obligations.
I do also want to give a warning to those who want to buy homes on speculation. A financial crash could happen at any time, which could have an inverse affect on values. I can recommend buying homes you intend to hold onto long term. If you aren’t sure you will be able to pay for a home, then maybe getting a mortgage for something you are unsure about is not a good idea. Those who speculate with other people’s money are the same folks who don’t pay you and I, and want to be bailed out by unwise government intervention! Please choose to be responsible and bless your fellow men.
This site is provided by Rod deJel, a citizen who wants to see elected officials, and all of us, live within “our” means, so that we are free to make wise decisions, which will bless our future and the future of our children.
