Our debt payoff journey started in January of 2018 when we didn’t even have one hundred extra dollars at the end of the month, we had just bought our first home, and we had a huge amount of debt that was suffocating us. I’ve written about how we saved up an initial emergency fund, paid down eighty thousand dollars in debt, and some tips about things that helped us along the way. The first thing we did when we decided to pay off our debt was to follow Dave Ramsey’s advice and list all of our monthly expenses and our debts and then cut out anything that we possibly could. We cut eating out, monthly subscriptions, pedicures, shopping, and anything else that we could think of so that we could position ourselves to be able to chip away at debt. However, there are a few things that didn’t get cut from our budget even when we scrutinized it, and I’m going to share those with you today.
1. Tithe and offering. We have always given ten percent of our monthly income since we got married. This is something that, as Christians, is a big part of practicing our faith. It helps us remember that our job is to be good stewards of our money as God provides for us. Money doesn’t own us. We are simply stewards of money here on this earth, and we want to be good stewards and make a difference with our finances. In fact, we have been able to give more than ever before as we have paid off our debt. Since we got extra jobs to begin with, and later when I was able to quit my job because Chris got several promotions due to all of the hard work we put into earning extra cash to pay down debts, our income has only increased, and therefore, so has our giving!
2. Spanish lessons for the kids. One of Dave Ramsey’s quotes that I think is funny is, “Sell so much stuff that the kids think they’re next.” We definitely sold a lot of things and cut things from our budget, but one priority for us is that our kids learn Spanish. Jubilee was born in Peru, and Selah and Jubilee have both traveled to Peru with us on mission trips. This is a HUGE part of our family culture and is very important to us, so we invest in monthly curriculum and online courses for the kids. While it isn’t especially expensive, it is something that we decided not to cut from the beginning.
3. Internet connection and a streaming service. Having the internet at home and a subscription to a streaming service has been our form of entertainment during our debt payoff journey. When we cut back on eating out, going to movies, and other forms of entertainment, we started a few new family traditions. One of them is that we have a family movie night every Friday night. We cook pizza, pop a bowl of popcorn, pile up on the couch, and watch a movie! It’s a set thing in our household and something that the kids look forward to each week! They never even noticed that we stopped doing many of the activities that cost extra money.
And there you have it… three things that we didn’t cut from the budget! This list will look different depending on your family and what’s important to you, but the one thing that has been an anchor for us has been giving. Even now, as we focus on our final debt, student loans, I love to read these verses to remind myself to see my finances in the light of eternity and to turn my focus back to what is truly important: sharing the love of Jesus and helping others.
“Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!” -Malachi 3:10
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed. -Proverbs 19:17
Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. -Luke 6:38
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops. -Proverbs 3:9
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. -Matthew 6:19-21
Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. -Hebrews 13:16
