"Putting everyone in a single catagory, is like only offering only 2 options on a menu."
In today's tough economic times, it's essential that people know how to do basic budgeting and learn how to live frugally. There are many online sites, blogs and advice columns from which to learn. Another option is your local library. There are a multitude of educational references available. Some written by "field gurus," others by folks like our family that are actually living it. You can learn everything from budgeting, finances, cooking on a shoe-string budget, places to get free help, and so much more. The internet is an amazing tool for research, but it's also a quick way to lose your personal information to a company/hacker and blow your budgeting clear out of the water. You won't ever find a hacker in a book!
Many of today's wealthiest Americans didn't get there by having a silver spoon in their mouth. They got there with hard work and frugal living. I personally know 3 people who are independently wealthy. They worked hard and earned that money. They don't own multimillion dollar homes, they don't own money wasting/high dollar vehicles, and they don't feel comfortable telling most about the size of their wealth. Honestly, all 3 of these people, are more comfortable sharing how they live frugally. Are all who have wealth this way, no! There are those out there that associate wealth with fancy cars, high dollar homes, and brag - every chance they get about how much they are making. Then you have those that live honestly, work hard, and would rather help others even if it's done anonomously.
As a family, we work hard. We live on one income, try to budget every penny, shop wisely, and still try to maintain our goals for our selves, our family, and our farm. To accomplish our goals, we have to live frugally. We don't have a choice. Our budget is never perfect, sometimes we have to choose paying a bill over buying groceries, we work hard to minimize our debts and pay a little extra every month to pay them down, we shop in bulk when it's feesable, we shop by sale ads, we utilize Aldi's and local shops, and we talk about everything...as a family. Many times, as part of our home school math, our 12 year will work with us on our budget. Since he has learned about loans, finance charges, and credit cards, he will occassionally throw out a thought...that we didn't think of. Although our youngest is only 3, she sees the work that goes into having the life we have and will grow up knowing how to live well within her means.
Over the coming weeks, I will be going through some of our frugal living lifestyle. I will show how and what we do to live a decent life, live frugally on 1 income. It amazes me that I have had requests about budgeting and frugal living from people older than I am, but more and more folks are finding that their current lifestyles aren't sustainable. I hope that the upcoming series will help many and encourage getting back to a minimalistic lifestyle.
~Salli~
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