Monday Nights with Dave

Money. Yes, I’m about to go there because lately money has become a heavily discussed topic in our home. Jon and I are currently in the middle of Dave Ramey’s Financial Peace University that our church is offering, and it really had has rocked our world, let alone, our budget. Since we both work, money is something we’ve never really obsessed about, but things tend to change when you have a baby…or three babies…and you suddenly realize that it’s not about you anymore.

As a parent, you are responsible for providing for your children’s current needs and planning for future ones as well. So, would I rather treat myself to a daily drive-through lunch or save that cash to take a family vacation to Yellowstone? Should we buy that new armoire to house the t.v., or should we put that money into a car fund to ensure that we don’t have to finance one in two years? Would I rather go ahead and buy those cute little shoes that Marin doesn’t even need or stash that money away in a college fund for her? I’m not saying that I’m never going to splurge on cute little this-or-that’s, but after taking this class, I think I’ll be much more cognizant of where each dollar goes every month. The choices Jon and I make regarding how and where we spend our money directly affect the three little pairs of eyes gazing up at us. Here are some other topics we’ve discussed, that I feel strongly about:

Sacrificial giving… giving is easy, but generosity to the point of sacrifice is not. Our prayer is that we become a family who takes joy in the surrender, and that we teach each of our children to give with a generous heart.

Stuff…enough is enough! How much STUFF does one family need? Really. It’s time to get rid of some stuff at the Bushwar house. Craig’s List, here we come. And, perhaps a garage sale in the spring.

Thrifting…I love shopping. I love finding a great deal. And over the past few years, I’ve discovered the best way to combine the two—buying consignment. So, when the kids need clothes or we need a new patio set, exploring gently used options first before running to Gap or Lowes would be a smart thing for us to do.

Credit…Proverbs 22:7 states, “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” That’s a pretty heavy, but true, message. That being said, we are committing to never financing another car again, cutting up all credit cards that we really don’t even use, and sticking to the philosophy of, “If you don’t have the cash to buy it, you don’t get it.”

And that is my two-cents worth on money.