My generation has a very… selfish I want it now and I deserve it attitude. It’s totally true. Myself included. I deserve a nice big house because I’m a good person. I want that shirt because it’s on sale. I want to sleep in and it’s Brian’s turn to take Boston so I am going to. I weasel my way out of doing so many things because I can. I totally take advantage of my sweet and giving husband. Not because I’m trying to be mean… he’s just so nice! And in the mornings I am just SO tired!
So what is provident living and why is it important to me? Provident living is “Joyfully living within our means, being content with what we have, avoiding excessive debt, and diligently saving and preparing for rainy-day emergencies. When we live providently, we can provide for ourselves and our families and also follow the Savior’s example to serve and bless others.” – Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Talk found here.
Entitlement. I deserve it. That attitude leads to debt, diminished self-worth and will eventually affect family relationships.
Brian and I have the awesome opportunity to live with my parents. Yes, it’s an opportunity. Best darn people in the whole wide world and they get to help me raise my little boy! Each morning Boston crawls up the stairs pointing and saying “Pop Pop”!
We are able to save a lot of Brian’s income. Thank you parents! But because we have no debt and a lot of savings we think we’re super rich and deserve whatever we want. Even though we’re totally not at all. But it’s surprising how quickly little things tend to add up.
What I’m saying is we’re getting into some bad habits! And it’s time to nix them. Because we are not rich. And even if we were, I don’t need new shoes. And Boston doesn’t need new toys. Brian could use some new jeans come to think of it… ha ha! But one day, when we DO need those things I will really wish I hadn’t wasted our money on things I didn’t REALLY need or want… ya know?!
So this is our plan.
Ever heard of the envelope savings plan? We’ve done it before. It totally sucks. But it’s so AWESOME! And you will DIE at how much money you actually save. Stupid credit cards. They make things so easy. But with cash, ew that’s MY money! I don’t want to spend it on THAT!
But I usually need a project or something to get me excited about certain things! Just Imagine Heaven has come up with just that project! Are these not the cutest fabric envelopes?
Sit down with your lover. Come up with a budget. Get the money out of your checking account. It might take awhile to be able to pull such a large sum of money out of your checking account. It’s not like credit where you pay it off a month later. You need the money before you even spend it! But divide your budget money up and put it in these awesome little envelopes. Just try it. You will be so surprised at how much you can save and you will feel so awesome about yourself.
Just remember. When we live the way we can afford, life is better. You might not have everything that you want. But you have what you need. You have more time and energy to spend with those you love. And most importantly, you’ll have time to serve those around you!
Thanks for sharing this! I have been resisting the envelopes for quite some time but we really want to live “providently” (great word) and have to admit I LOVE those fabric envelopes! Don’t know how you found those but THANK YOU for sharing!! I just started reading your blog and just started my own, I am definitely following yours now 🙂
We do the Envelope System! I love it except we use the plain old white envelopes 🙂 I am going to check out those cool cute fabric envelopes! Thanks for sharing 🙂
abby i love you for this. what an awesome post! totally fits our vet school budget… love love love.
Dear Abby,
I can not even begin to tell you how greatful I am for you to have posted this. I can be a very selfish person when it comes to getting things for myself,clothes, shoes ect. and the thing that bothers me the most is when I see a sale I feel like I have go get whatever is on sale before it is gone, like that is my only chance, which is not good financially! Yikes. So reading your post has seriously made me remember that I dont need it all at once and to be happy with what I have been blessed with. I am very excited to try the money pouch idea! You are an insperation to me!
My husband and I went through Financial Peace University by Dave Ramsey with our church a few years ago. Its been a blessing for our marriage. We started a budget from the very beginning and saving along with having an emergency fund. If it wasn’t for that I don’t know what we would have done last month when my tires on my car blew out! What a blessing to be able to say no to things and keep that money for later. Good luck with it. Its not always easy but its always worth it. “You have to live like no one else to live like no one else.”
This is the greatest idea ever! I’ve always had so much trouble spending/staying on budget and I think this might just do the trick! Thanks for the idea, and the conference talk! It’s one of my favs. 😀
Agreed! Spending what you actually have vs what you think you have is a big deal! Good job lady, you are an amazing woman!
I LOVE this and TOTALLY agree!! We went down the exact same road of thinking we could have anything, because we both had good jobs. But when we stopped all that and started living more simply, we found out that life was much easier and that we could even afford for me to stay home with our kids!! The BEST decision we’ve made!!
Oh man…. I hate that I read this today, because I feel like this is the solution to my budget problem, and I don’t want to do it! haha!! 🙂 The envelope idea is very simple and effective. It’s exactly what I need. 😉
Abby- I totally agree with you. On so many levels.
We started small by just doing cash for our food/groceries. It was great! I have since been a bit lazy about it and I was hesitant to jumping all in with the cash envelopes for the rest of our budget.
Your post has inspired me to stop being lazy and JUST DO IT!!
Thanks for sharing.
Love that post, so true! My mom does the envelope spending plan and she is almost debt free! Thanks for the post 🙂
Asher and I created a September budget the other day! We are going to do the envelope thing for food and entertainment. It really helps you realize how much money you really spend on some things. I’m excited to see how this goes! It’s so easy to spend whatever you make, if you don’t create a budget then you wont save any money! Love you sister!
Awsome idea!! I recently did it with “normal” envelopes but those are so cute! Guess I have something to do over the weekend 🙂
I have been having a lot of the same thoughts lately. I spend SO much money without even thinking about it, because a debit card makes it too easy!! Thank you for posting the envelope tutorial, that is going to be my next project!!
PS-I’m also LOVING the ebook!!
I flippin LOVE this idea! I am going to start doing that this week! {Ask me to report back in a week so I will actually get it done!} 🙂
So true! My hubby and I are blessed to live with his grandparents for right now in their basement apartment (we’re both still in college and just got married). So it has saved us A TON of money. But we still need to work on not spoiling ourselves. (we seriously have the largest DVD collection I’ve seen for newlyweds.) Anyways, thanks for the great post. 🙂
I love this idea! It is so true that we live in a generation that feels entitled to have everything now and I have watched so many people I know lose so much because of it. Thanks for reminding me that I don’t need that shirt or pair of shoes just because they are on sale….that is usually my justification for buying things.
Awesome! Thanks, I will be thinking about this!!!