Jennifer Lambert

A Sacred Balance

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Affording Higher Education

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

October 28, 2024 By Jennifer Lambert 5 Comments

Many of us were fortunate to attend a college, university, trade school or something after high school and not incur massive amounts of student loan debt. My husband and I had very small low-interest student loans to cover costs for our last year and we luckily paid them off quickly.

I’m the first grandchild to attend college in my family. As far as I know, I’m the first girl to attend. Only my mom’s brother attended UGA for theatre. It’s not celebrated enough. My grandma was one of twelve and my mom had five siblings. College was never expected nor assumed. My parents didn’t give me an option.

My husband and his parents and sisters and one brother-in-law all have master’s degrees.

Having a student loan is problematic when the job outlook is poor and there is no job security in one of the 28 right-to-work states. Many loans are deferred while we’re still in school, but what happens if we rely on income to pay it off and that income just goes away?

We vowed to help our children with tuition and expenses and not have them saddled with loads of education debt to start their young adult lives.

We are extremely fortunate that our kids receive veteran aid from my husband’s military disability and he offered them each a portion of his GI Bill, but it is not something we could plan for nor expected.

Some History of Education Loans in the USA

In 1970, Roger Freeman, who also worked for Nixon, revealed the right’s motivation for coming decades of attacks on higher education. Reagan cut higher education funding and student aid, and college costs boomed as a result. Source: The Intercept

In 1972-1980, the Pell Grant was created and funded for low income students.

A revision to the Higher Education Act in 1992, resulted in a significant expansion of the federal unsubsidized student loan program and the creation of the FAFSA.

A Senate investigation during the Bush administration revealed widespread fraud and abuse in the predatory for-profit college industry.

In 2001, President George W. Bush eliminated the time limit for how long borrowers could deduct student loan interest from taxes. The limit on interest deduction was also raised to $2,500, where it still stands today.

In December 2007, the Great Recession hit. Federal and state governments made deep cuts to higher education funding.

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLFP) was signed into law in 2007, by President G.W. Bush and almost never delivered.

From the start of the Great Recession in 2008, to the relative economic stability of 2018, college costs and debt increased significantly, but state and federal funding for higher education, the biggest source of revenue for most schools, has not returned to pre-2008 levels.

Many nations offer free higher education opportunities to their citizens. A few states in the USA are offering some community college options. Why can’t we do more and be better?

We are saddened by the education failings in the USA and how it has changed for the worse over the past couple decades while being much more expensive.

It seems that the recent student loan forgiveness plans are in tatters and many will suffer to pay back student loans at high interest rates while salaries stagnate and rents are exorbitant. How are our kids expected to purchase homes, have children, travel, save for retirement, or any of the other milestones we and our parents or grandparents enjoyed?

Americans owe more than $1.74 trillion in student loan debt — a number that keeps rising as tuition costs continue to increase. More than 30% of student loan borrowers are in default, late, or have stopped making payments six years after graduation.

I’ve witnessed programs canceled and majors being deleted and professors striking for higher wages and tenure. It’s the bonfire of the humanities.

Many financial aid options require students to attend full time, which limits other options like working or volunteering. For my kids, full-time credits are twelve hours each semester.

How to Afford Higher Education

Pre-College Courses

Many states offer early college courses or admission for students as young as seventh grade. I was a freshman scholar as a high school senior in Georgia. When we moved to Ohio, my kids started at age 15/16 taking direct courses at our local university. The College Credit Plus is a great program and many students graduate high school with the equivalent of associate’s degrees.

Two of my kids took summer programs that earned them college credit. Many specialty schools, private, and state universities offer “camps” or summer sessions as pre-college tastes to recruit students.

Federal Aid

First, we have to fill out the FAFSA. It’s so different after last year. There is a parent section and student section and make sure to send the info to the correct higher institutions!

My husband received a small grant when he attended university. I’m pretty sure we will never qualify for our three younger kids, but if my eldest decides to attend, she might receive some funding as being no longer our dependent.

Scholarships

There are huge lists of scholarships on various websites and offerings for so many different interests and merit. I recently saw one I am keeping bookmarked about asparagus for my son!

As a military family, my kids received some assistance from some organizations on our base.

The university my kids attend have a universal scholarship application to be filled out annually. Within that application are departmental forms and many extracurricular options.

Of course, good grades and test scores are often offered merit scholarships.

There are many opportunities for sports and extracurricular activities if kids choose that route.

Investments

We have invested in 529 plans for each of our four children since they were babies.

We have used the funds for tuition, books, and computer purchases.

If the entirety is unused, it can be rolled over without tax penalties to another younger sibling or for graduate school or other education expenses.

Work Study

Many colleges offer student aid in the form of tuition assistance or stipends in exchange for working on campus. I designed a website for my master’s program for a small stipend back in 1998!

Jobs

My kids are planning ahead and have savings accounts from part-time jobs they worked while high school age. They plan to use these for travel, study abroad opportunities, or graduate school expenses.

ROTC and various military enlistments offer lots of benefits during and after serving.

Some employers offer scholarships or tuition assistance with a contract or promise of working for the company for a time.

While it is stressful to work full-time and attend college full-time, it is possible.

Vocational Schools

Not everyone desires to go to an academic university. There are so many opportunities at vocational institutions and community colleges that offer certificates or associate’s degrees. These are much more affordable options for students who want to enter the workforce more quickly than a traditional university degree.

Commuting

We are in a great geographical position that my kids can commute to a local university and we are also somewhat near some others if they need to transfer. I commuted to Clayton State and Georgia State and while that wasn’t my choice at the time, it did save on housing and food expenses. I am irritated by the poor condition of dorms and food choices that I see my kids’ peers suffering. I have told my kids they can live at home as long as they want or need to.

Other Fees

All the extras sure do add up!

The parking fee is outrageous, so we carpool as much as possible to the commuter college.

My kids applied early to waive the application fees.

We buy books used or even rent for courses that my kids aren’t interested in keeping the books.

We pack lunches, drinks, and snacks. I do buy a $50 commuter meal plan each semester for my kids for coffee or emergencies.

My kids are disappointed that so many of their peers are struggling financially – working and going to school and having no time to be young or carefree or socialize. I even often pack food for their friends during study time or exam weeks. My daughter said her friends act like middle-aged boring people who have no time or money for anything other than survival. This economy is taking its toll.

I understand that many families can’t financially support adult kids to attend a university. I am pleased that we are able to keep our promises to our kids so far.

You might also like:

  • Succeeding in College
  • College Credit Plus in Ohio
  • Preparing Teens for the Workforce
  • Parenting Young Adults
  • How to Prepare for After High School
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Filed Under: Frugal Tagged With: college, frugal, money, teen

50 Shades of Green

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Please see my suggested resources.

July 25, 2022 By Jennifer Lambert 21 Comments

My husband officially retired from the US Air Force the end of April 2022, and he was on terminal leave from the end of December 2021.

Twenty years is such a long time, but also a short time.

We met when he was on his first tour – at Warner Robins, GA. It’s been about eighteen years for me. The lifetime of a military spouse.

The bittersweet of giving up a career in academia to homeschool children and keep house while traveling to various duty stations, trying to create a new life every three years.

There’s been good, bad, ugly.

There were seasons of joy and seasons of depression. There were sometimes too long moments when I didn’t want this life anymore and wondered if I could find something, anything better elsewhere.

Sometimes, I wake up in the middle of the night, disoriented, feeling out of time. Which house is this? Where am I? I almost expect my kids to wander in as toddlers, but they’re teens now. I am the keeper of all the memories since it all runs together for them. We have only pictures to remind them.

I am not a good military wife.

Oh, I tried over and over, but always failed miserably, to be a good military wife.

I had to purge so many possessions every time we moved. I regret and resent some of my collectibles and memories are gone forever because my husband was concerned with weight allowances for our packing out. Books signed by the author, my teapot collection, knickknacks, toys from my childhood, castoff furniture from my parents. Somehow, it was always my things that had to go?

I often lost and found myself in a spiral of packing materials, moving boxes, lost or stolen items, and so many broken glasses.

There’s a metaphor there somewhere.

Every time we moved, we could recreate ourselves.

It was never quite spoken aloud, but I think we all realized we could be whoever we wanted to be, sloughing off the old skins we wore at our last location and trying on someone new, seeing how it tasted in our mouths and felt in our hands.

I searched for community in churches, homeschool groups, co-ops, mom clubs, military spouse orgs.

I never felt that I fit and then it was time to leave again anyway.

Out of sight, out of mind.

No one stayed my friend.

I realize they were just acquaintances for a season.

My kids lost everyone every few years. They don’t even know their cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents.

It’s been a lonely life. It’s still lonesome.

It infuriates me that we are so disposable.

Out of sight, out of mind.

So much loss over the years – broken items, broken hearts.

What to Expect with Military Retirement:

Hitting the Button

It was a bittersweet day when my husband officially requested retirement papers.

Military members can apply no earlier than 12 months prior to their retirement effective date. It is recommended that applications are submitted no later than 180 days prior to their effective pay date to ensure payment is received on time.

There were transition videos (TAP) and checklists to complete. It was worse than PCS checkout or high school graduation week!

Leave

I think there are options to cash in leave or take terminal leave before the actual retirement date. It might be different for various services or groups.

Taking terminal leave lets you use accrued leave in lieu of selling the leave. Terminal leave is granted at the discretion of your command.

It was a little bit awkward for us since there was six months of terminal leave, and this was all during COVID, so there were no parties or ceremonies.

Final PCS?

When retiring from the military, you are permitted a last move to whatever location you choose within the U.S.A., a place that is known as your “home of selection.” You have a year to file for this.

We chose to stay in Dayton, Ohio.

My husband finally has an unexpired driver’s license with a current picture after updating it to Ohio from Illinois!

Insurance

We lost SGLI, so we are choosing to purchase Term Life Insurance and opting to take all the precautions in case of death so the benefits continue for me and the kids. VGLI is another option.

USAA offers insurance and other services to look into and compare prices.

Tricare is still a great health insurance since we live right near Wright Patterson AFB. We like the continuity of care. We’re all in great health, but it’s familiar and easy and cheaper than alternatives for us. The retiree option has copays, so that’s different for us.

We chose to get dental and vision insurance through my husband’s new job.

My husband gets veteran medical care at WPAFB.

Working Again

While some may be able or even want to be retired and putter around, we are still young and have teens who need all the things. Not working just isn’t an option yet.

If choosing to work right away on base in a GS, contractor, or similar capacity, there is a waiting period, but some can request a waiver and work immediately if there is a job offer.

My husband updated his LinkedIn and created a résumé. We thought it would be easy, but it was not. It was stressful and he had several interviews that were a joke. No one wanted to pay him what he was worth.

My husband was able to find a civilian job in January.

I had to buy him clothes! It’s so much more work having to choose chinos and a polo and socks and shoes than wearing a military uniform!

Taxes

We chose to retire in Ohio because military pensions are not taxed. Some states have various tax breaks for military retirees.

Federal taxes may come as a surprise the first couple years with the military pension and his new job, so we’re opting to have more withheld and will probably hire a tax professional to help us navigate this year. I just hope to break even.

VA Rating and Benefits

There were so many medical appointments at private clinics and hospitals to ensure there was no fraud or cronyism. They checked every body system. It seemed each appointment was for one little thing. It took months.

He requested all his medical records and had to submit those as proof of any issues.

My husband received his VA benefits letter on May 2, 2022. He received his first VA check on June 1, 2022. There was no back pay.

VA benefits are not taxed.

Each state has different benefits based on ratings.

We had purchased our home with a VA Loan. The kids have a year of his GI Bill for college. VA education benefits are great in Ohio. There are free and discounted homeowner taxes and car license plates.

Other

We need to update our financial investments, wills, and POAs. We haven’t updated these since the last deployment.

Some of this slid by since the JAG office has been closed during COVID.

There was so much military equipment to go through, give back, donate, sell. What would we ever need it for again?

I’m sure everyone’s military retirement process is a little different, but this was our rather simplified experience.

I’m glad we don’t have to deal with the dread of deployments or PCS anymore. Our kids are 12, 15, 16, and 21. We are relieved to have a home where we can finally feel like we can put down some roots.

Onward to the next stage of our lives!

You might also like:

  • Stages of Grief: PCS Edition
  • Putting Dreams on Hold
  • Surviving Deployment as an Introvert Spouse
  • Making a House a Home
  • I Long for More

Resources:

  • Retiring?: Your Next Chapter Is about Much More Than Money by Ted Kaufman
  • The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the Most by Emily Guy Birken
  • Empty Nest, Full Pockets: How to Emotionally and Financially Prepare for Your Family’s Future by Matt Meline
  • What Color Is Your Parachute? for Retirement: Planning a Prosperous, Healthy, and Happy Future by John E. Nelson
  • The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life by Lynne Twist
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Filed Under: Military Tagged With: finance, military, milspouse, money, veterans

Poor or Broke

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

June 6, 2022 By Jennifer Lambert 9 Comments

We’re living in economic conditions worse than those during the Great Depression. The wealth gap is greater now than it was then. But it seems that many live in denial with rising gas and food prices. It surely soon will become untenable.

The middle class is shrinking. The wealth gap is widening.

People say “live within your means” like it’s not becoming almost impossible with rising costs for housing, food, and gas.

There’s a difference between being poor and being broke.

Many people are struggling and broken.

The availability of credit and the expectation of debt makes many people believe they’re just supposed to be broke all the time, and it’s accepted by almost everyone.

Financial hardship can come on suddenly – medical bills, student loans, divorce, children’s expenses, job loss, housing repairs, car trouble, vet bills.

My Story

My grandparents grew up during the Great Depression and those ideals and traditions trickled down to my parents and to me. I understand and respect those values even if I don’t always share them now that I am an adult and parent.

I never thought I grew up poor.

My needs were met. I didn’t grow up around a lot of wealth disparity. There was no Internet or comparison readily available so how could I even know other than watching Silver Spoons and Richie Rick. I lived and played and went to school and suffered the lot of a child in the 70s, 80s, 90s – mostly unseen, unheard, free range. As were all of my peers.

My father worked a steady full time job during the week and was in the Army Reserves. My mother left her job and stayed at home when I was born. Most mothers I knew stayed home. I’m an only child. They paid their mortgage and bills on time. I don’t know much about their debt levels, but I don’t think they took on too much and their credit was always good.

But there wasn’t ever anything extra.

My mother certainly didn’t seem to enjoy being a stay at home mom. She didn’t like cooking or cleaning or looking after me. She did enjoy socializing with friends, neighbors, family. Times were different then. Expectations were different. Most of my memories of my mom were of her smoking while on the kitchen wall phone. I was left to fend for myself, entertain myself, while staying quiet and out of her way.

There’s a big difference between being broke and being poor. I was poor for about 2 years. I was broke for the following decade.

Erynn Brook

My mother returned to work when I was in the third grade. She impressed me with her decision by saying we could eat often at Pizza Hut. I was 10, so…

We did take Florida vacations for a week in the summer after my mom started working. That was nicer than camping weekends.

There was still nothing extra for ballet or piano lessons or any extracurricular activities I asked for. I’m still devastated about the ballet and piano lessons I longed for. I have tried to offer lessons and classes to my kids and provide for all their passions, however fleeting.

But I don’t remember eating often at Pizza Hut until 8th grade when I managed to catch a ride with another cheerleader’s family after football games. My parents both worked and I don’t remember them ever come to see me cheer at afterschool games.

There still wasn’t ever much extra.

The end of 6th grade, my mom cut and permed my hair at home after I begged to get bangs and a style like the magazines, like my peers. I couldn’t get a salon spiral perm or feathered bangs like my schoolmates. My mother controlled my appearance.

I was 14 the first time I was able to get a shirt from The Gap. It was on clearance and I loved it so much. Dark blue sweatshirt with a mock neck striped green and white. I cherished that shirt.

We moved the spring I turned 16 and I had to switch schools that next year. Looking back, I realize my parents scrimped and saved and always said they had no money maybe because they wanted a better house in a better neighborhood. I didn’t appreciate moving or changing schools or their timing.

My dad bought me my first car: a 1974 Volkswagen Beetle for $600. The summer after I turned 16, I got a job at McDonald’s to fix it up.

I was so proud of that car but it was frozen one night when I got off work late and my mom was furious that I had to call her to come pick me up. I’m still pissed that my parents sold it and got me another (newer safer more reliable) car that I didn’t even want.

I didn’t have a lot of choices growing up. My clothes and food were chosen for me. Everything was chosen for me. I didn’t get to make any decisions. That’s not a great way to become a young adult or learn how to be responsible.

They told me there wasn’t any money for me to live away at college in a dorm. I didn’t ask questions because they just got mad at me. I commuted to a local community college, then a state university. I earned academic scholarships. I am the first girl in my family to get a college degree. I got a loan for my master’s degree. Thankfully, it is paid off. I am horrified how the college loan situation has escalated in recent years for so many people.

My maternal uncle passed when I was about 19 and there was some money left to my mom, but they didn’t use any of it to help me with my education. My paternal grandma died when I was 18 and the sale of her house went into their savings, eventually becoming the down payment for the even bigger newer house they bought when I was 28.

I don’t have a home to return to anymore.

So I never thought I grew up poor, but money was always such a stressful topic. My parents constantly complained they didn’t have any. I learned not to ask for things I wanted. They still complain!

They still complain about money now that they are retired. Their retirement income exceeds my husband’s salary by more than half. They are paralyzed by a scarcity mentality.

I still don’t ask for anything. Not for me, not for my kids.

When I met my first husband, I thought he was so sophisticated. He lived in a retro apartment in downtown Atlanta. I was dazzled by the thought of independence. I ignored all the red flags. When I left home and moved in with him and got married (because evangelicism), I realized the fantasy he was living. He had grown up quite poor but his family lived in denial, maxing out credit cards. His father didn’t work at all, but claimed he was “retired.” I wasn’t allowed to ask questions. I grew up quickly from my disillusionment.

My parents disowned me over that marriage and I found myself without a car and without health insurance, so I learned to take buses to and from my college classes. I got a job as a secretary and my husband and I juggled sharing his old pickup truck. I had never had to pay bills before and it became overwhelming. We fought over expenses, of course. He seemed like he didn’t understand how bank cards worked, that the money in the joint account was deducted immediately and wasn’t there for other expenses we had. I needed his receipts (this was way before internet banking or apps) to reconcile the checking account and he needed to adjust his lifestyle to be more frugal. It was a constant battle. Then I learned my new husband was dealing drugs. I was so naïve.

When I began student teaching, I couldn’t work anymore and we moved into a new apartment closer to my school. Then after a big fight and short separation, we moved into a rental house nearer to his family. I still couldn’t all our pay bills on time, having to pick and choose which one to pay a little late or even the next month. He worked a shift job at $11/hour. There just was never enough money. There was a time I filled out paperwork for Medicaid, but I was too ashamed to fulfill the application process.

After I graduated, I began teaching full-time. I got a summer job to pay for my maternity leave. We had a baby. We both got new vehicles. Then we bought a house near his family, even though my commute was about an hour. I thought all these things were typical, normal, expected, progress. Then he hit me the second time and I left with the baby. My parents paid for the divorce and cosigned for me to get an apartment near them. More strings.

Living on my own as a single mom was hard, but I eventually became more stable emotionally. My credit was destroyed during the divorce. The house foreclosed. Even though the divorce decree stated we had to both pay the credit card, house, and the new truck he kept, he never paid for anything. And even though the divorce decree stated he owed us $92/week in child support, he quit his job, worked randomly for cash, filed bankruptcy, and moved out of state to avoid paying anything or having wages garnished. His parents also filed for bankruptcy. I had to negotiate with the bank over the truck loan and it finally just was absorbed by the lender. My credit was ruined. Credit scores are a joke. I traded my car in for another that my dad had to cosign for to get my husband’s name unattached to mine. I knew my money priorities were rent, utilities, and my new car payment. It was so hard.

I lost five jobs in two years. It was hard finding where I fit in. I worked as an adjunct English professor and part time at a day spa. I didn’t have health insurance and I had to pay cash for a doctor’s visit and for antibiotics when I came down with strep. I tried going to church and praying for direction. Most church members prayed for me to be reconciled to my husband, but they didn’t understand my circumstances. Or they didn’t care. It was a very confusing time for me.

I didn’t think I was ever poor because I had a roof over my head and food. I paid my bills on time, mostly. Even though I struggled, it just didn’t cross my mind since I could see a little progress. But I was always just a tiny step away from homelessness and financial ruin. The circumstances that surrounded me and could’ve happened are terrifying.

Paying for childcare was a nightmare. I wanted my daughter to have the stability and consistency and I believed then that daycare and preschool was best for her. It ate away most of my income. I dreamed of a time when she could go to public school and the financial burden might be eased. With her October birthday, it seemed such a long way off. There was a lottery in our county for public 4K, but that was still a couple years in the future. We had to eat dinner with my parents every night in order for me to be able to pay my other bills. At least I didn’t have to worry about food.

It’s been a long road and I’ve learned a lot along the way – about myself and how I want to teach my kids about finances and social responsibility.

It’s taken us over seventeen years, but we’ve finally purchased a home and feel pretty comfortable financially, just in time for my husband’s retirement from the Air Force. We have investments and savings and plans for the future. I can’t say the same about many of our peers. I know the statistics for retirement funds and the prediction that many won’t ever see any social security payments.

I still struggle and it’s sometimes in weird little ways. Some things still seem like an extravagance to me. I open a bag of sugar over the canister to catch every little grain. I can’t imagine not using every little scrap of paper on the roll. I don’t like wasting food.

Many of the jobs we had as teens aren’t available anymore because adults are hustling with side jobs for yard maintenance, delivery services, errand helpers, babysitters, pet sitters, anything to make a dollar. No one I know is willing to pay a teen if they can get an adult to do the same job, as if adults are more qualified or mature. Kids are losing skills, milestones, and transitions into adulthood.

We joke about people who are obviously wasteful or careless and say they’re certainly in a different tax bracket. Many of our neighbors have weekly cleaners and yard maintenance crews, but I could never bring myself to pay for those services. It’s astonishing to me that people will pay money for services to clean their garbage cans or pick up dog waste in their yards. With wealth, comes a lack of time, and an attitude of entitlement.

The Church

I have have been conflicted for years with what The Church and Christians say and think and pray about people living in poverty. They view charity as good deeds, like some point system they earn with God. During a Sunday school class one time, there was argument about giving money to panhandlers or beggars. “What if they just use the money for drugs or alcohol?” they kept asking and it just didn’t set well with me. I didn’t have the words then that I do now. I wasn’t strong enough to speak out then.

I taught a Sunday School class to other single moms with Crown Ministries on financial lessons. Oh, the irony. My partner teacher had some very different financial outlooks. She received social security payments for three disabled children. Her new husband received social security payments for his two kids because their mom had died. If she worked, her kids wouldn’t receive their disability payments. They supported seven kids on his income as a cable installer. She was very into the prosperity gospel and that concerned and confused me. When their cell phones got turned off for nonpayment, they just went to a different company and got new ones. This was a different financial perspective for me. I don’t think that’s what Jesus is about.


But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? 1 John 3:17

Don’t just give or buy a homeless person food. Just give them the money if you have it. You think you mean well but what you’re doing is taking away their autonomy and the ability to make choices for themselves. Don’t be performatist in your giving and brag about your charity. And don’t even get me started on the predatory practices of Dave Ramsey and his ilk.

The poor you will always have with you.

“What if they buy drugs and alcohol?” You buy drugs and alcohol with your money; what’s the difference? source

What they do isn’t your concern. Giving (freely and honoring their dignity) is your concern.

What can we do?

Society criminalizes the poor.

When I met my current husband, I was impressed by the stability being a military wife could offer. I also wanted my daughter rescued from her deadbeat dad. Moving out of state solved many of my personal and financial problems. My husband adopted my daughter and the child support and visitation rights were out of the picture. My credit improved with each cosigned purchase. We’ve dug ourselves in and out of debt several times with circumstances that seemed unavoidable – car repairs, vet services for our cats, trips home for dying parents. We’ve never made a late payment. The government has faced furlough several times, but we have always pulled through.

We are now as financially stable as I ever hoped to be.

I think our understanding of poverty is odd in Western society. I grew up having my needs met. I got things for Christmas and my birthday. I received good medical and dental care. There was constant upward mobility for my parents. I can see how far I have come with my own family in the last twenty years. I take for granted things now that I used to dream of having. That’s not poverty.

It took years for me to realize I have financial trauma and other trauma that affects how I make decisions.

I don’t think most people really grasp how low the federal minimum wage ($7.25) is. If you get charged $20 for a late fee, that’s almost three times the minimum wage. If you get an overdraft fee of $30, that’s over four hours (half a standard workday) of minimum wage labor.

Aidan Smith

Another interesting financial perspective was introduced to me at a Sunday school class when a young enlisted military family mentioned their WIC and Medicaid provisions were part of their income. I had never considered this idea before.

I think it’s quite upsetting that military service members don’t earn a living wage. Many families struggle and everyone deserves better pay for their jobs.

Poverty isn’t just being homeless. Poverty isn’t just being on welfare. Poverty can be a mindset.

If you pay your employees so little that they require food stamps and Medicaid, you’re not a job creator, you’re mooching off the public dime. (and yes, the majority of people on public assistance are employed).

Dan Price

I hate how poverty is seen as personal failure rather than a societal one.

A parking space in downtown cities makes $27/hour. I, a real person with thoughts and feelings, capable of suffering, make less than a damn parking space.

posted multiple times on Twitter

My daughter left our home a year ago. She quit college. She got a full-time job as a caregiver to disabled adults. She seems happy with her independence. I’m proud of her. I’m also frightened that she is one little emergency or circumstance away from poverty, homelessness, financial disaster. She doesn’t make enough to save anything. If she gets sick and can’t work, she doesn’t get paid. I’ve helped her several times with car repairs and buying her groceries, gas, and medicine. I paid cash for her therapy the last couple months. I put her up in an extended stay when her roommates got COVID. She lost her dependent status and insurance when she turned 21. We are trying to help her figure out open enrollment insurance options. I worry all the time.

I realize this is a controversial take but maybe being one blown tire, one broken bone, or one paycheck away from homelessness & financial ruin at all times isn’t actually “freedom” the way we were raised to believe it is.

Libby Bakalar

Those in power aren’t really concerned about children or their schooling. It’s become obvious that school is just childcare so parents can be available to work.

When COVID-19 hit, so many couldn’t work or lost jobs and it was a desperate time for many who relied on steady income and never imagined struggling. Many faced eviction. Our country and world is in crisis.

Too many just want to “go back to normal” because they have never been affected negatively by social circumstances. They just want their restaurant food or fancy coffee concoction for their morning commute and their kids back in school so they don’t have to worry about childcare. I try to understand this. But I also feel that our society should shift priorities. There are answers if we just try a little harder. We can look to other successful countries for how they manage social needs.

We’re educating generations of children to lack empathy.

What kind of world are we creating, maintaining, leaving for future generations? Where is there hope if we’re just retaining the status quo and not striving for improvements?

when we say poverty is violent we don’t mean because we can’t afford luxury things, we mean watching our loved ones suffer from treatable diseases, not being able to properly care for ourselves without risking bankruptcy, having to work in the midst of life altering trauma.

L on Twitter

I see the boats, RVs, and SUVs in my neighbors’ driveways. I certainly don’t know their financial situations, but I wonder if they are just a couple paychecks away from disaster.

You are closer to being homeless than being a billionaire.

It’s surely the sign of a sick society when basic needs are seen as extravagance. We treat our youngest and oldest and the disabled as disposable.

People are getting complacent instead of angry. Gas prices are soaring. Rent is ridiculous and rising. Food costs are high and I’m seeing many independent restaurants closing.

I’m angry. Are you?

Resources:

  • Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt
  • 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings by Kalyn Brooke
  • Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After by Cherie Lowe
  • 31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero: Freeze Your Spending. Change Your Life. by Ruth Soukup
  • Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
  • Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp
  • The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
  • The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller
  • The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
  • Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying by Melissa Michaels

What seems like an extravagance to you?

You might also like:

  • How to Save Money while Shopping
  • Teaching Kids About Money
  • How We Save Money
  • How to Budget
  • Minimizing
  • Online Yard Sale Tips
  • Decorating on a Budget
  • 5 Money Tips
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Filed Under: Family Tagged With: finance, frugal, money

Tips for Teachers With Low Budgets

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

April 15, 2019 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

With school budgets growing tighter, the modern teacher needs to be resourceful in securing supplies for the classroom. Teaching is a demanding job and creating a lasting impact on students is difficult without the proper resources. Luckily, there are a few tricks for getting around high-cost items, and still give your kids the best experience possible. 

Printables

If your school won’t give you the budget to buy non-standard paper items, there are ways to produce them yourself. There are templates for printing graph paper, various lined paper or coloring sheets online. You will only be printing the amount you actually need, so this is also a good way to reduce waste. There are also plenty of worksheets and workbooks available online for free, or a fraction of the cost, of physically published ones. You can even find fun craft time ideas to engage your students. Just make sure you’ve got the ink and the budget for high-volume printing!

DIY Smartboard

Smartboards are one of the technological staples of the 21st-century classroom. They make introducing concepts to your students more visually appealing, interactive and internet-friendly. Unfortunately, they cost a fortune. If you want to provide your young minds with this dynamic teaching device but your school can’t afford it, there’s a surprisingly easy way to make it yourself! This is probably a good idea even if your school can afford a real one. All you need is Bluetooth, a Wii controller, an infrared pen and the correct software. Depending on what grade level you teach, you could include your students in the process as a lesson in itself.

Donations

The future is crowdfunding! Many people are sympathetic to the plight of the teacher and the lack of funding, parents especially. Everyone wants what is best for the children, right? There are many platforms like GoFundMe and Kickstarter that allow you to reach out to the public and accept donations online. You can create a wishlist on sites like Amazon that allow people from anywhere in the world to send you what you need. You may be amazed at the support you receive. This generosity and community spirit can be motivational for you and your students, as well. Coming together is one of the strengths of humanity.

Electronic Alternatives

It may seem counter-intuitive, but investing in electronic alternatives to traditional teaching supplies could save you money long-term. Rather than buying more paper, writing utensils and books every single year, a one-time investment in tablets or laptops for your little learners could replace all of these outdated expenses at once. They could also save your students from future back problems- no more huge backpacks filled with heavy books and supplies! Books become PDF files, essays are typed and submitted online and even those bulky, expensive calculators are replaced. There are many applications for in-classroom educational games that students participate in together, as well. This flexible technology makes the possibilities for learning endless.

As the times get tough, the tough get creative. Children are the future, so their education is imperative. Please consider these options when planning for your next school year!

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Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: budget, finance, frugal, money

6 Steps Toward Financial Security

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

February 27, 2018 By Jennifer Lambert Leave a Comment

Between the staggering statistics on average household debt and the difficult economic climate, there is a lot of discussion about family finances. If you struggle with budgeting, thinking about managing your money better can seem overwhelming. However, even small steps can make a big difference, especially in the long term.

Here some simple ways to start taking control of your financial independence.

1. Analyze Your Debt

If you are spending money every month paying off debt, you know how big of an impact it can have on your overall finances. You may have a goal of paying off all your loans, but that process can take several years. Before you start making bigger payments toward your debt, you may want to figure out the most efficient way to pay it off. You could start with the credit card with the highest interest. Maybe you want to refinance to consolidate your debt. Try to find the plan that works best with your income and goals.

2. Make Savings Automatic

You may find it much easier to allocate money to your savings account if you don’t have to think about it. There are several ways to make saving automatic. You can request to have part of your paycheck deposited in a savings account or set up an automatic transfer at your bank. You can also use a savings app to move money into savings automatically.

3. Recycle and Reuse

If a lot of your budget goes toward disposable items, you may want to think about changing to reusable alternatives. Switching to cloth napkins and ditching the paper plates can save you money and reduce your environmental impact as well.

4. Lower Energy Consumption

Utility bills can be expensive, but you can make a few simple changes to lower your usage and your monthly costs. Consider switching to energy-efficient light bulbs and low-flow showerheads. You can also use a programmable thermostat to reduce the load on your home’s HVAC system when you are out of the house.

5. Use the Library

For most families, entertainment takes a large percentage of the discretionary spending. Whether your family loves books, movies, or music, you can drastically reduce your spending by taking advantage of your local library. Most libraries have large selections of CDs and DVDs along with magazines and books. You can also check to see if your library offers eBooks through an online service.

6. Take It Slow

When you decide to take control of your family finances, it can be discouraging if you don’t see big changes in your bank account right away. However, changing your financial habits can take time. Be patient with yourself and your family, and find encouragement in small changes.

Financial management can take a long time to master, especially if you are overseeing all the income and expenditures for your entire household. If you are trying to save more money or pay off debt, there are several small things you can do to start moving in the right direction without dramatically changing your entire lifestyle. Reducing your home’s energy consumption, making savings automatic, and using the library are just a few ways to reduce your expenses and grow your savings.

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How to Budget

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

June 30, 2016 By Jennifer Lambert 21 Comments

Being examples and teaching our children how to budget is super important.

Making your money work for you is important.

We’ve spent most of our marriage struggling to climb out of debt while keeping up with too much stuff, wanting this and that – and more, more, more.

As a large military family living on one income, it’s often difficult to keep our heads above water.

We strive to teach our children the value of things and experiences. I want them prepared for real life with all its financial ups and downs.

We teach our children that a trip to Florence is more important than that new Lego set. We want them to realize that rent and food and utilities and insurance have to be paid, but sometimes we have to buy the hamburger instead of the steak to offset the expense of fixing the van. Internet and smart phones and TV are luxuries, even though we’ve come to see them as necessities, like utilities.

We have to be prepared for surprise financial setbacks with a savings account and budget in place.

Growing up as an only child, I was privy to how my parents ran our household and planned for the future. I am fortunate that I accompanied them on home and car purchases to learn how that works. They’re very organized with their investment portfolio. Since they are both retired government employees, they lived on fixed incomes, but with careful planning for many years, they live very comfortably.

Financial education is important.

Isn’t that the goal? We want to prepare for the future. We want to help jumpstart our kids into a financially successful adulthood. We want to live comfortably in retirement. We want to leave our children a legacy. We want to be able to bless others.

How do you set a budget?

Creating a budget or spending plan for the first time can be overwhelming.

A budget dictates to you what you can spend, where, and when; a spending plan allows you the control of your money every single month. It realizes that your purchases change and expenses vary from month to month and that a one-size-fits-all monthly budget doesn’t truly fit anything.

~Becoming Minimalist

What’s Your Income?

Know your income.

This should be a no-brainer, right?

Also, I know some couples who really don’t share this info with each other. That’s a warning sign and y’all should work that out.

So, know how frequently you get paid and how much.

Take into account any other income you receive and what you will use it for. Alimony, child support, investment dividends, tax returns, affiliate income, inheritance, etc. Don’t just blow that money. Have a plan for it.

I know not everyone has a set amount every pay period, with commissions or bonuses or hourly rates or whatnot…so you need to average that out to know what to expect. Then consider the lowest possibility and set your budget for that.

What are Your Bills?

Know what bills you have.

You should be organized with this, right?

We took the “no-paper option” so we get email notifications and most of our bills are automatically deducted from our accounts.

Bills are typically the ones that don’t change (or change very little) from month to month – like rent, insurance, car payments. Our utilities are in this category because they’re a set amount each month and we reconcile annually.

I also put any debt in this category. While ideally, credit cards shouldn’t be used at all or paid off monthly…we’re getting there. And I have set that payment high in order to pay it off sooner rather than later.

What are Your Expenses?

These are the extra and perhaps flexible bills each month.

Utilities often fall into this category.

Luxury items are in this category. Cable or satellite TV, Netflix, Internet, cell phones are things most people have and they sometimes fluctuate based on services used. Remember, these are not necessities. They should be the first to go during financial emergency.

Groceries and gas for vehicles. This is the most flexible area for us. I can cut costs on groceries with careful meal planning.

Our car and renter’s insurance fluctuates just a tiny bit each month, but I usually keep those items in my bills category.

We pay for music lessons for our kids.

My husband and son get their hair cut every 8 weeks or so. I cut my own hair so that’s not an expense for us.

Be honest with yourself about expenses.

Do you get your nails done weekly? Do you regularly go to the hair salon? Do you go shopping for clothes frequently? Do you need a latte fix every day?

Evaluate those expenses and put them in your budget. Consider what you might need to limit or cut out of your life to make it work.

What are Your Priorities?

Everyone has different priorities.

Some people are perfectly content to live on rice and beans and buy the latest and greatest newest technology every time a new model is released.

Others don’t have Internet or cell phones at all but have an extensive garden of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Collectors and hobbyists spend time and money on their interests.

Many want to be able to give generously.

Our priorities:

We like to travel and eat well. We’re investing for our children’s educations and our retirement. And books. Always, more books.

Because of our financial priorities, we live a little differently than a lot of people we know.

We don’t have a car payment right now. Our furniture is thrift store-yard sale chic.

We don’t go shopping for entertainment and we seldom eat out.

We opt out of ads online to limit temptation! Since we don’t have a TV, we don’t see many commercials or advertisements except on Internet sidebars and some online games or apps.

How we save money:

I try to use the library first – before purchasing books for personal use or our homeschool. Often the Kindle versions of books are cheaper than the paper copies.

The kids wear hand-me-downs from cousins, each other, thrift stores, and yard sales. I seldom buy anything new that isn’t on sale.

We don’t have huge birthdays, Christmas, Easter, or other celebrations. We prefer experiences.

Do the Math.

This is easy to create on paper or on the computer.

I list all our bills and income in a column on the left and amounts in the right column. I have a column for X when they’ve cleared our bank. I use an Excel spreadsheet that does the calculations for me. I have a sheet labeled for each month and a sheet for our debt so I can see our progress.

Below is an example of my current Excel budget book. It’s more like a spending plan.

I’ve rounded the numbers and used generic names for our accounts.

I realize not everyone is in a position to invest.

I want to show you the reality.

I am not trying to brag about our income.

It’s public information anyone can look up about military service members. It’s a fixed income.

Yes, we receive some amazing benefits for being a military family: housing and utilities allowances, commissary and AAFES shopping privileges, dental and medical services at the base clinic, tax-reduced (but rationed) gasoline purchases on base. My husband’s state of residence is Illinois, so we don’t pay state taxes as a military family.

The offset is being far from home and family, missing those important holidays and events. Also, deployments, TDYs, training events, and late night or weekend exercises can be difficult on families. PCS (moving) often eats up our savings and is always stressful in many ways.

We currently have about $2500 in our savings account.

I’m fortunate to be able to stay home to educate our four children. We’re grateful for the opportunities military life offers us.

You can see we’re aggressively paying down our debt while not starving or eliminating our priority to travel. We’re still working this out with baby steps. We also have a pin and chip travel credit card that we over-used. It’s not shown in my Excel spreadsheet. We plan to attack that after these debts are paid within the year. We’re using every bit of extra income on paying that travel card (tax return, monetary gifts, and an IRA dividend we receive every autumn). We don’t plan to continue using that credit card since our new bank cards have the pin and chip now!

My Excel budget spreadsheet is color-coded.

The blue is income.

The green are investments, with amounts that seldom change.

The red is debt.

The fields left white are the flexible expenses. These amounts fluctuate from month to month.

My Color Coded Excel Budget

I’m sure you noticed some gaping holes in my budget plan?

We have a separate bank account for our local expenses. Our rent, cell phones, and Internet are auto-deducted from our local account. We have a certain amount auto-deposited each pay period into the local account to cover those expenses. We use anything left over in that account each month to pay that travel credit card. We are at the mercy of the exchange rate from USD to Euro. (I love the idea of a separate account for housing expenses and I will carry that idea over when we move back to the States!)

We also have an auto deduction going directly to our church.

I have a separate account for my blogging “business.” Honestly, I don’t even sorta break even. I pour way more into this enterprise than I make every month. Some days, that’s very frustrating.

What’s Your WHY?

This goes a bit beyond just priorities.

When you get discouraged, when the van breaks down and you use your travel fund to fix it, when your child asks if you can have a “real Christmas” and you feel guilty, what will you do?

Leave room for emergencies and pray about big purchases. Obviously, a working vehicle is necessary for getting to and from work to make the money. While we cringed to fork over that $300+ for the new alternator and valves, we did so knowing that it had to be done and our trip could either be postponed or we could be more frugal somewhere else.

We remind ourselves what the big picture is: planning for our futures, teaching our children values, and leaving a legacy for our kids.

Sure, we splurge sometimes on gelato, a cute new shirt or shoes in sale when needed, flowers for the garden or dining table for a special occasion, or that Kylo Ren lightsaber.

We try to make sure there’s room in the budget for fun or it becomes drudgery.

UPDATE 8/25/16: We have PAID OFF TWO accounts! Only 3 to go. We plan to have those paid by May!

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A post shared by Jennifer Lambert, M.Ed. (@jenalambert)


Update August 2017: Only 1 account left to go!

Resources:

  • Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt
  • 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings by Kalyn Brooke
  • Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After by Cherie Lowe
  • 31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero: Freeze Your Spending. Change Your Life. by Ruth Soukup
  • Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
  • Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp
  • The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
  • The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller
  • The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
  • Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying by Melissa Michaels

Do you have any budget tips to share?

You might also like:

  • How to Save Money while Shopping
  • Teaching Kids About Money
  • How We Save Money
  • Minimizing
  • Online Yard Sale Tips
  • Decorating on a Budget
  • 5 Money Tips
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Losing Control

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

March 12, 2014 By Jennifer Lambert 14 Comments

So, we saved almost $1500 in a little over a month.

Wanna know how?

By losing control.

We went down to just one vehicle.

How we're surviving with one vehicle

My husband started driving our van to work. We put his truck up for sale on the lot on base since we’re moving out of the country and can only ship one vehicle. And the van is paid for, title in hand.

I have kept a budget in an Excel spreadsheet ever since before we were married. I don’t itemize it as closely as a I should. I have a cell for each bill, many on auto-pay (like our investments and insurance), and others (like utilities, Internet, and cell phones) are generally the same amount each month. Then there’s our food/gas/living expenses cell that fluctuates wildly each pay period. I should have monitored that more carefully. The pay-all-cash, envelope system just doesn’t appeal to my husband or me. We just don’t use ATMs and my husband’s paychecks are direct-deposited. Our bank is really just an online entity.

I’ve been rather proud of being frugal this past year. We’d cut down on our spending pretty drastically. We don’t eat out. That helps a lot.

When I noticed we had all this extra money leftover after a couple paydays, I was rather devastated that I must blow that much cash on errands a few times a week – that it would add up to that much in a month of being stuck at home. I asked my husband to verify the budget and he did some math-y formula stuff and looked at the accounts and numbers.

Then I asked if this could have anything to do with my being stuck at home for almost a month while he took the van to work. He’s been picking up the groceries we need. And we’ve been paying cash for gas.

Light bulb (in the voice of Gru from Despicable Me).

So, how did we save so much money? I didn’t monitor well all the little seeps of using that debit card.

Like, when I poorly plan and we need a single item from the grocery store and then I come home with three bags.

Or grocery shopping too close to meal time and not planning to have a slow cooker dinner ready or lunch leftovers and then picking up a couple of those ready-made pizzas from the deli area.

Or not thawing out meat well enough in advance and having to rush out to pick up some rotisserie chicken or even some fresh meat – and five other items to make the recipe I decided last minute.

Not to mention all the extra gas wasted with the unnecessary running around that could be eliminated with better planning.

With better planning, I could shop for meals monthly or even twice a month, and let that be the end of it.

And all that extra money we’re saving with having one vehicle? So many options! Into our savings account to earn interest. To pay off unsecured debt. To take a vacation en route to our next duty station. To take the kids on fun staycation places before we move.

I wish we had done this sooner. I wish we hadn’t bought into the “need” for two vehicles. This was my selfish demand when we arrived here with our van from our last duty station. I wanted freedom to drive where I wanted, when I wanted. I didn’t even wait to see if we could “survive” with one vehicle.

I didn’t wait on the Lord to provide the perfect vehicle or say NO to me. I pressured my husband to drive the 1.5 hours down to Carmax to purchase a used Jeep Liberty that we owned for a year, then encouraged him to trade that in for a pickup truck that we are now having to sell. And we owe more than it’s worth. (Please pray it sells soon!) And I can imagine even more blessings when we don’t have that extra monthly payment to make!

My husband just mentioned yesterday how simple it is, having only one vehicle, even with having to juggle a couple appointments this week. It makes us appreciate our provision more than ever.

I read blog posts and articles all the time with lists about how to save money, cut costs, be frugal…and they really just all say the same things. They’re good lists, but I haven’t gleaned anything life changing from them.

Eat at home. Combine errands. Don’t use credit cards. Don’t shop online. Reduce. Reuse. Simplify.

I’ve done almost all of that I can do…except sacrifice by having only one vehicle…so there it is.

But I needed to lose control. Of my selfishness. Of my finances. Of my demand. Of that blasted Excel spreadsheet with its numbers and formulas and figures in black and white that don’t necessarily add up to God.

I am amazed and blessed…and shocked.

Check out some other frugal posts by the Review Crew.

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How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

December 16, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 11 Comments

We changed our focus and priorities to have a simple, debt-free holiday.

Christmas should be about family, experiences, Jesus. Not stuff. {Tweet this}

How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas

How can we have a debt-free Christmas?

Pay cash.

We don’t do adult gifts.

If we don’t have enough money, we don’t buy it.

Stick to a budget. Plan for the holidays year-round by putting a portion of income each month into a savings account.

We’ve prepared the kids that we well have smaller Christmas than in the past. We don’t do Santa. We don’t do that ridiculous Elf or any of its cousins.

We don’t have piles of gifts like our parents provided us. I shop sales and have been very careful. I find great items year-round and store them away for the holidays.

Planning is key. I keep an Amazon wishlist updated throughout the year and watch prices with Honey.

Set a standard.

I only buy a few gifts for the kids.

I send my parents a gift card because they have more stuff than they could ever use and they like to eat out at restaurants.

My husband and I don’t give presents to each other or extended family.

If you have to do gifts with others…Organize some kind of swap with extended family, like a name drawing. Send money to a charity in family’s name instead of a tangible gift. Be creative.

We don’t watch TV.

By not being exposed to commercials, we don’t have cases of the gimmes.

It almost makes gift buying difficult and I have to be more creative and search for the perfect things. We’ve downscaled a lot. We’ve simplified. We’re picky.

I prefer quality over quantity.

I love this gifting plan:

  • something they want

  • something they need

  • something to wear

  • something to read

But, for us, there’s very little we need (such a blessing!) and I don’t often buy clothing for Christmas gifts.

We don’t know what the “popular” toys are. When someone asked if my girls wanted a particular toy for Christmas since it was “all the rage” at her daughter’s school, I had to Google it. My girls probably would enjoy it, but not because it’s popular. But then they would discard it too soon or it would break.

We don’t strive to keep up with society and it’s so much more relaxing not to have to compare.

We focus on the meaning of Christmas: Jesus.

We read through Advent studies each day. We love the books by Ytreeide. This year we’re reading Bartholomew’s Passage. We light candles and pray and sing carols and we’re together.

We read about and celebrate St. Nicholas day on December 6. The children know this is the base for the legend of Santa Claus.

We learned about and celebrated Hanukkah during our Ancient Studies history and it has become tradition now.

We decorate simply.

Our house doesn’t look like it’s out of a magazine or store catalog. No Anthropologie or Pottery Barn here. We live here; it’s not a museum.

We have an artificial tree. We have a lovely Advent wreath and a new Jesse Tree this year! We’re making do with what we have. Alex wanted the outside of the house decorated and we managed to do it well with lights we bought on clearance years ago. Win!

Our church has an ornament exchange so each of my children gets a new ornament each year. They love it. And their hearts are better than mine that they’re never disappointed in the ornament they receive.

We just don’t go shopping.

It’s really that easy.

My mom used to love to go shopping as entertainment. I don’t. I don’t need retail therapy.

I don’t subscribe to store emails. We don’t get newspapers.

We stay home on Black Friday. We don’t go online all weekend long. We find other stuff to do.

We have a budget and are doing better sticking to it. I go to the grocery store when we need to stock up (and honestly, this is where most of our money goes! We like to eat well).

We go to stores when we need a particular item.

I do most of my buying online long before November. If we don’t go to stores, we’re not tempted. But I’m also learning to get offline when all the sales start. That’s becoming a temptation too. Just because it’s a deal, doesn’t mean we need it.

We read lots of fun and meaningful Christmas books.

I keep books with the holiday decorations and we get more from the library.

A favorite this year is The Dinosaurs’ Night Before Christmas. The accompanying CD is a parody of Christmas carols with hilarious dinosaur fun. The kids love it.

I hope to do some useful crafts and homemade baking projects to share with friends this week. The kids love that and it fits in with our servant leadership goals. We don’t eat many sweets, so these are fun and frugal gifts.

Check out this Essential Guide to a Crap-Free Christmas.

Resources:

  • Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt
  • 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings by Kalyn Brooke
  • Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After by Cherie Lowe
  • 31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero: Freeze Your Spending. Change Your Life. by Ruth Soukup
  • Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
  • Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp
  • The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
  • The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller
  • The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
  • Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying by Melissa Michaels

How do you stay of debt during the holidays?

What are your priorities?

You might also like:

  • How We Save Money
  • How to Set a Budget
  • 5 Money Tips
  • 5 Frugal Tips for Buying Kids Clothes
  • Losing Control
  • A Frugal Birthday
  • Shopping in Germany
  • Obstacles to Being Frugal During the Holidays
  • How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas
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Filed Under: Frugal Tagged With: Christmas, debt, finance, frugal, money

5 Money Tips

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

June 5, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 4 Comments

We all want to be considered wise and knowledgeable.

Sometimes, we can’t think straight when it comes to managing our money.

Are you good stewards of what the Lord provides you? Are you training your children to be good stewards? Are you leaving them a legacy?

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation],

And by knowledge shall its chambers [of every area] be filled with all precious and pleasant riches.

Proverbs 24:3-4 AMP

Debt is a harsh master.

Are you a victim of our culture’s lies about money?

More, more, more.

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff?

Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve freedom from debt.

  

5 Money Tips

1. Pay Cash.

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s really hard.

We have credit cards. We have a debit card. We have ATM fees. We have a spending plan. I use an Excel spreadsheet. We have debt. Back to square one.

We just need to quit buying stuff.  Just quit charging! Cut up those cards or put them in a big bag of water in the freezer. By the time it takes to unfreeze, you’ll have thought better of that purchase.

Don’t store your card numbers on websites – like Amazon. It’s too convenient.

Studies show that paying cash makes you really think about those purchases rather than swiping that plastic.

Live within your means. It might be shocking at first and there’s a steep learning curve, but you’ll get used to it.

Are you a debt slave?

Are you trying to fill a hole in your soul with more stuff? Only God can fill you up and teach you to be content. And help you achieve debt freedom.

The Bible says you’re a slave if you have debt.

Now, I know most of us don’t consider car loans and mortgages debt. Not many can pay cash for cars or houses.

Set your own goals. Our goals are to use no credit cards nor have any unsecured debt.

I know some people who forbid debt in their lives in totality. What freedom that must be!

The poor are ruled by the rich,
and those who borrow
are slaves of moneylenders.

Proverbs 22:7 CEV

Owe no man anything, save to love one another: for he that loveth his neighbor hath fulfilled the law.

Roman 13:8 ASV

2. Evaluate where you can save money.

Do you need to add energy savers to your home? Paying a little upfront to seal door cracks or upgrade windows or add insulation could save you lots in the future.

Can you bike to work? Can you live with one vehicle? Can you combine errands to only go out once a week to save on fuel?

Keep your cars maintained so they don’t end up costing more when things break.

Buy second hand items when you need something.

Can you grow a garden to save on groceries? Can you get paid to recycle in your state? Get a water filter and reusable bottles instead of purchasing plastic bottles of water.

Can you make your own cleaners? Can you replace paper and single use plastic products with reusable ones?

Set up a healthy menu and plan meals at home (we love eMeals!) instead of eating out.

Cancel those catalog and magazine subscriptions. Unsubscribe to store emails and alerts and texts. If the temptation isn’t there…

Subscribe to emails that list free apps and Kindle eBooks. Use your local library instead of purchasing the latest novel. The list is endless and it all depends on your comfort level. 

If you’re a homeschooler, there are oodles of options for free and frugal curriculum. 

Are you one of those pampered people who buys a latte at the coffee shop every day? Do you get mani pedis regularly? I’m not saying to stop caring for yourself, but you must set priorities. Treat yourself less frequently perhaps. I wish I had all that money back from when I wasted so much!

pamper-yourself-at-home.png

Do you go out for happy hour with friends periodically?

You can do all that at home for so much cheaper. Make life more meaningful and save money. Rotate homes every week or month. It’s easier for parents too.

backyard-cocktail-hour.png

The Bible says that God will provide all our needs.

Make sure you evaluate your needs vs. your wants.

I know. Sometimes I need chocolate too. Don’t starve yourself of treats or you’ll binge. Just be careful and frugal and set priorities. Communicate with your family.

3. Rethink gift giving.

Simplify.

We don’t throw huge birthday parties for our kids. We celebrate at home with a special meal and decorate frugally.

For Christmas and birthdays and other gift-giving holidays, we prefer experiential gifts to more stuff.

If you have family members who don’t understand or agree, look into group giving exchanges like a charity or memberships to museums.

Cards are pretty and thoughtful, but they’re just expensive clutter. Send eCards instead.

Shop thrift stores. Make your own decorations and invite the kids to help to make it more festive!

Teach a spirit of giving to others. You can give services or time instead of things.

If you give stuff, check out this shopping schedule and plan accordingly.

What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?

Mark 8:36 NIV

4. Educate yourself.

My husband and I come from very different money backgrounds.

His parents didn’t discuss money with their kids. At all. When they passed on during our first year of marriage, it was confusing and stressful to work out their affairs.

My parents were always very open with me about money. They are very organized. They have file folders for each account in a strong box with all the info so it’s easy to access in an emergency. My name is on the accounts to make my life easier when they pass so I won’t have to pay unnecessary taxes. They explained the process of banking and loans to me all my life. I attended their professional financial meetings so I could listen and ask questions. I so appreciate that practical education. They helped me buy cars – and my first house when I was in my 20s. I know what they’re worth and how they got there. They are very conservative, but they live very comfortably in retirement.

It’s an uncomfortable conversation for many.

Do you know how much you’re worth? Do you have investments? Are you utilizing the best options for saving towards retirement? Do you have enough insurance? What would happen in an emergency? Do you have enough in savings? Do you understand interest rates, CDs, money markets, savings bonds? Do you have parents or loved ones with whom you need to discuss finances? Will you or your siblings be responsible for caring for elderly parents? Are there funds in place for that?

Are you planning for your and your kids’ futures?

Read the Parable of the Talents. Which son do you relate to and why?

financial-goals.png

5. Be proactive.

Have a family notebook or protected computer file with all your information in case of an emergency.

We have IRAs. We have mutual funds.

We have 529s and CDs for our four kids. All the kids have life insurance and savings accounts.

We educate the kids about money and where it comes from and how banks work. I explain the dangers of credit cards. I want them to know the differences between debit and credit.

My teen has a checking account and a check card through USAA.

We know we receive an inheritance from Aaron’s aunt at certain intervals, dividends from Aaron’s mom’s IRA every September, when my parents pass on.

Consider your financial goals.

Are you prepared for your kids’ higher education? What is your vision for that?

Are you planning for retirement? What do you want retirement to look like?

Do you have extended medical needs? Look into flexible spending or separate savings accounts for that. Check into alternative medicine. Prevention is better than treatment sometimes.

Be sure you know the condition of your flocks,
give careful attention to your herds;
for riches do not endure forever…

Proverbs 27: 23-24a NIV

Money Resources:

Courtship Topics. These discussion topics (especially about money!) are great to discuss, even years after you’ve married. We weren’t on the same page at all in many areas nor did we even know! If you and your spouse don’t have the same financial goals, it will be almost impossible to get anywhere together. Finances are always an area of conflict in marriage.

Crown Ministries. I used to teach a Sunday school class for single moms on finances using these materials. They have some great tools for families.

The Money Couple. Take a money personality quiz to find out what you really think about money use. Discuss with your spouse.

Dave Ramsey. You either love him or hate him. I actually refuse to purchase his materials or pay for his course on principle. I know many who have achieved financial freedom through his teachings. I just think he capitalizes and profits off people’s ignorance and weakness. Judge for yourself.

USAA. Or your local bank or credit union. They have great teen resources to get your kids started out right in the financial world. We like our one stop shopping since we move around so frequently with the military.

You might also like:

  • How to Set a Budget
  • How We Save Money
  • How to Save Money While Shopping
  • How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas
  • 5 Tips for Buying Kids Clothes
  • How to Get the Most Out of Amazon Prime
  • How We Afford Large Family Travel

Homeschool Frugally:

  • Buy used curricula and books!
  • Free Homeschool Deals
  • Easy Peasy
  • Homeschool Buyers Co-op
  • Ambleside Online
  • An Old-Fashioned Education
  • How to Homeschool for Free Series
  • Preschool Curriculum
  • My Homeschool for Free post

Plans are established by seeking advice;
so if you wage war, obtain guidance.

Proverbs 20:18 NIV

Wage war on that debt!

Resources:

  • Debt-Proof Living: How to Get Out of Debt & Stay That Way by Mary Hunt
  • 31 Days to Radically Reduce Your Expenses: Less Stress. More Savings by Kalyn Brooke
  • Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After by Cherie Lowe
  • 31 Days of Living Well and Spending Zero: Freeze Your Spending. Change Your Life. by Ruth Soukup
  • Unstuffed: Decluttering Your Home, Mind, and Soul by Ruth Soukup
  • Clutter Free: Quick and Easy Steps to Simplifying Your Space by Kathi Lipp
  • The Spender’s Guide to Debt-Free Living: How a Spending Fast Helped Me Get from Broke to Badass in Record Time by Anna Newell Jones
  • The Year without a Purchase: One Family’s Quest to Stop Shopping and Start Connecting by Scott Dannemiller
  • The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store by Cait Flanders
  • Make Room for What You Love: Your Essential Guide to Organizing and Simplifying by Melissa Michaels

You might also like:

  • How We Save Money
  • How to Set a Budget
  • 5 Money Tips
  • 5 Frugal Tips for Buying Kids Clothes
  • Losing Control
  • A Frugal Birthday
  • Shopping in Germany
  • Obstacles to Being Frugal During the Holidays
  • How to Have a Debt-Free Christmas
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Filed Under: Frugal Tagged With: debt, finance, frugal, goals, money

Math Monday: Ordinal Numbers

This blog may contain affiliate links: disclosure.
Please see my suggested resources.

March 25, 2013 By Jennifer Lambert 1 Comment

We’re also finishing up Singapore math. I plan to buy the next level workbooks since the girls love it so much!

I printed out these fun shamrock grid coloring pages on abcteach.com and the girls did really well after I explained how to work the grid system. They only made a couple mistakes which are quite visible and easily corrected!

I found it fascinating how differently the girls completed their pages. Kate drew lines at the right diagonal and then went back to fill them in before moving to the next line. Tori did each block before moving on.

math patterns
coloring math patterns

Fun with Ordinal Easter Eggs

I wrote numbers 1-10 on eggs and printed out some number cards and ordinal number cards with ordinal words.

Tori matched up the 3 part cards and eggs!

egg ordinal numbers

Rubeus wanted to help! Silly lovey kitty.

ordinal numbers

Kate matched up all the cards and eggs super quickly!

Easter egg ordinal numbers

I plan to have Alex match up the numbers on the eggs with the numbers on the cards. And I may just have him count Starburst jelly beans and match up the numbers on the eggs. yummy fun!

And I have some fun math games for the girls planned with the eggs this week!

Thank you for joining me on this Another Math Monday.

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Filed Under: Homeschool Tagged With: math, money

Suggested ResourcesSam's Club

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