Bee~ Journal of then...

[Beekissed]

Amen to that, sister!

 

[lorihadams]

I wish everyone felt like that...I want to be like that with my kids...I worked my butt off BEFORE we had kids to pay off my debt and be able to buy a house instead of rent. We bought an 1100 sq ft house. Nothing fancy or frilly but we loved it.

We want to get a bigger house now because my family comes to visit all the time and I am tired of them sleeping on the kitchen floor. I keep saying to my husband that I just want our house on a basement.

I don't need a massive house payment because I made the choice to stay home with my babies and raise them and not work. We have 1 car pmt and less than $5000 in credit card debt, largely due to the rise in gas prices this year. We spent so much on gas that we had to put groceries and sometimes gas on the credit card. I have tried to be more self sufficient and figure out ways to save and this forum has helped tremendously for that.

We have a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle that we are hoping to sell to pay off most of the credit card and then I'll be able to breathe a little easier. We don't get to use it now that we have the kids anyway, so why have it?

Use what you NEED...that is what I have learned. I know so many people that are house poor it is just pitiful. Big beautiful houses with nothing in them cause they can't afford to furnish all the rooms because of their massive house payments.

I would rather have a house filled with love than stuff anyday!

 

[prairiegirl]

Bee, I do understand the "getting it" and I agree. Everyday, I'm thankful that we have that understanding. It's a blessing for sure. Wanting and needing are something that we've tried to teach our children. Sometimes, it's a gray area, but the answer usually becomes clear.

I do believe there is something about living a simple life without all the fancy and frills that brings us to being happier. The less we have the more joy we can find in the little things. And when we do get something new or that special gift it's truly exciting. Yep, I'm a bit crazy - I love a new pair of soft cushiony socks. I'm afraid I've passed that onto my girls - they look forward to new socks every holiday and birthday.LOL

As for being "poor".......that's something we've been pondering. Do we really now what being poor is? We think we might be considered poor by most folks standards, but we think of ourselves as being rich. We have so much. When they speak of the poor on tv or other media, I wish they would define what they think is poor because when they speak of it we see ourselves. But, they'll never convince us that we are.

 

[Beekissed]

That is so true, prairiegirl! And I love a new pair of socks too!

Financially poor is a hardship, I don't care how you slice it. Its certainly not a desirable fate. It does, however, have the ability to fine-hone some people into a stronger, more versatile, more easily content individual.

Knowing what I know now, would I trade my life that I have lived~on the thin edge of poverty~for a life that had been much easier? Probably not.

If it meant the loss of the experience of appreciating things like the feel and smell of new socks~no!

I've seen what an easy life does to people...the first stressor, no matter how small, is blown out of proportion and dramatized to the nth degree. Its the worst thing, or the worst day, or the worst time in their lives...each time it happens!

I think one other advantage of having lived poor, that most folks don't realize...we can look back and realize that we survived, against all odds and our anxiety over lean times. To a person who is able to learn from the past, this means that we can experience less anxiety for our future~even though still poor~because we know that God will take care of us....because he always has!

That's a hard earned peace of mind, but peace of mind, nonetheless!

 

[justusnak]

That's a hard earned peace of mind, but peace of mind, nonetheless!

I couldn't agree more...we are "poor" by the media standards. We make just over $2000.00 a month, and we are "farmers" But, I like being "poor" I dont have to worry when I go to town if someone is going to steal my fancy car...I dont have one! LOL I have a 2002 S10...and THAT makes ME feel rich! We dont have credit cards...or a bazillion loans...we pay cash for most of everything....so there fore..we dont have alot..but love what we DO have. Bee, I admire you to the hilt! Being a single mom has had to be rough...but, like you say....GOD helped you make it..you have faith..and THAT makes you richer than a lot of other people.

 

[Farmfresh]

I know so many people that are house poor it is just pitiful. Big beautiful houses with nothing in them cause they can't afford to furnish all the rooms because of their massive house payments.

My mom used to say a big house like that was a curse of a sort.

If you buy that big fancy house you certainally can not put your old couch inside of it... you need a new fancy couch. You can't add your old table and chairs ... you need a new grander table and chairs. You can't sleep inside of it with your old comfy bed and worn quilt ... you'll have to get a new bedroom suit and outfit it correctly. You certainally cannot eat on you old plates or even a paper plate... gotta get that new table service. You cannot be seen in the yard in your old worn out clothes ... better get new ones. Definitely need fancy new clothes for work. Even your old car must go ... can't be seen driving up to the nice new house in that!

If you are poor (like me) we are so excited when we find a "new' living room set for our house (garage sale $75.00 for couch AND chair) that we invite the neighbors for tea!

 

[Beekissed]

Yes! Me too!

AND, with your new big house is big, new property values with big, new taxes! My brother lives in a big new home.....that looks like noone lives there.....no furniture, no art on the walls....just a lonely cheap couch in the big expansive living room, white walls. One of the most uncomfortable homes I've ever seen!

 

[MorelCabin]

not to mention your heat and hydro bills in a big house...I am so thankful that my house is so small!

 

[Beekissed]

Hey, Morel! I'm curious if you have tried that little pain control tip I told you the other day for your hubby?

 

[PamsPride]

I know so many people that are house poor it is just pitiful. Big beautiful houses with nothing in them cause they can't afford to furnish all the rooms because of their massive house payments.

My mom used to say a big house like that was a curse of a sort.

If you buy that big fancy house you certainally can not put your old couch inside of it... you need a new fancy couch. You can't add your old table and chairs ... you need a new grander table and chairs. You can't sleep inside of it with your old comfy bed and worn quilt ... you'll have to get a new bedroom suit and outfit it correctly. You certainally cannot eat on you old plates or even a paper plate... gotta get that new table service. You cannot be seen in the yard in your old worn out clothes ... better get new ones. Definitely need fancy new clothes for work. Even your old car must go ... can't be seen driving up to the nice new house in that!

If you are poor (like me) we are so excited when we find a "new' living room set for our house (garage sale $75.00 for couch AND chair) that we invite the neighbors for tea!

So true!!