One of my friends, who shall remain nameless in this post, gave me this wonderful financial advice years ago:
We take all the bills each payday, toss them down the staircase, and whatever lands right-side-up, we pay. Everything else has to wait.
I think she was joking. Maybe. But it does feel like a good option some days, doesn’t it? If your family budget is like ours, it occasionally runs out of money before month. I know Dave Ramsey would be disappointed in my lack of financial planning when that happens. But seriously, life doesn’t always follow the flow-chart.
I know if we had adopted the plan and set aside six-months of living expenses years ago, then six-weeks of no-income-after-surgery this year would not have led to the Staircase Method of Budgeting. But, alas.
This week, we were shopping for a desk for my husband’s new office. He has been waiting thirteen years for an actual office in his medical practice. He deserves a desk. We not only found one we liked, but the sales person turned out to be the grown-up child of friends we haven’t seen in ages. Hugs ensued.
Since the office budget is in worse shape than the family budget, we didn’t actually buy that day. Instead we walked away saying to each other, “We should probably shop around to see if we can save a few dollars.”
At supper I suddenly said, “No way. I’m not shopping around. You love that desk, and we love that girl. I want to buy from her and give her the commission. Maybe we could save a few dollars down the road, but people are more important than money.”
My husband grinned at me and said, “That philosophy is probably one of our financial problems.”
He is right. I could suddenly see that pattern through our whole lives. Sometimes those decisions were foolish, like putting Christmas on a credit card. And sometimes they were compassionate, like writing off the bad debt of a struggling family with sick children. I waited for him to explain to me how we needed to change our attitude. Instead, he said. “Go buy the desk.”
It may not be the smartest decision according to the spreadsheet. But it is the best decision concerning relationships. And those we take to Heaven.
So that is my financial advice, Dear Reader: Whenever possible, people before money. (And stay away from the staircase.)
Well said Kathy! We too, hadn’t had great success in the finance department, but we’ve never
been hungry or without clothing. Our children had what they needed and we can still spoil our grand kids. We are able to do more for others and enjoy that too! Remember the old saying
“you can’t take it with you!” And of course, we are reminded in the scriptures, “consider the lilies, they don’t toil or spin… you know the rest.
Love your column!
Janis
One of my favorite scriptures, Janis! Thanks for the encouragement.
We didn’t have much money growing up, but we always had food, so I relate that same philosophy to food. I can remember Mom always inviting people to stay and eat with the line “We don’t have much, but you’re welcome to what we have”.
And the time when our cooler full of food was stolen from outside our camper while we were inside. Mom said if they were desperate enough to steal it, they probably needed the food more than us.
We tend to live the same way now with food and our finances. We don’t have much to spend, but we try to spend locally and buy from people we know will directly benefit.
Oh, I love that philosophy, Carol! We try to buy locally as much as possible, too.
Thank you for being so real! My husband has a small engine repair “shop” that he works during his time off from his regular job. We have “blessed many, especially single moms, the widows/widowers & and the elderly. Hubby never charges for the numerous hours he spends on the Internet troubleshooting problems, looking for the best deal for parts, etc., running into town… which is 40 miles round trip. We know this is the way God would want us to treat others and we have made many friends and returning customers! God blesses and provides!
I’m sure you will have no idea until Heaven what a blessing you and your hubby have been to many.