For your tomorrows
We've moved a couple of times from one little apartment to another and, after lots of looking, saving, and a few disappointments along the way, the time has come!
We, now, get to be like those people on the HGTV show, House Hunters, who say…."and the house we choose is…"
Yes, that's right, an offer was made and accepted, the deal is almost done, and we should close and move within the next few weeks!
We received an e-mail from our realtor last night, who is amazed at how quickly and smoothly this purchase has gone, and he wanted to inform us that the original date for closing on the house could be moved up. All the paperwork and requirements are gathered.
Most people I've met here in Western New York stand with their mouths open wondering how what is normally a long and difficult process colored with red tape has been so easy for us.
I was thinking of that and analyzing that with the hubby and there are a few things that pop into our minds.
First of all, we acknowledge the grace of a good God, who has seen fit to bless us, and whose timing is perfect.
The next thing is that we heeded the advice that the decisions we make today, affect the outcomes of tomorrow.
Four years ago, we decided to begin making very specific decisions that were sacrifices at the time. As we look back now, we can see how those decisions, put into action, have helped us today.
When we sold our home in Ohio and moved for my husband's job to West Virginia, we made a bit of a profit from that sale. It was enough for a good down payment on a new home. We really could have jumped right in and bought quite a nice house. The only problem was that we also had a good bit of debt.
I remember now that we were listening to messages at church about delayed gratification, giving up what is good for what is great, and about personal responsibility. We also were studying money concepts by Dave Ramsey called, Financial Peace.
I didn't really want to live in a tiny apartment after living in a three bedroom house for 12 years, but wisdom prevailed over our wants and we made the conscience, and uncomfortable, decision to pay off as many of our bills as we could with the profit from the house. We vowed to never have credit cards again, and to begin a plan of chipping away at our debt with our ultimate goal of living debt free, except for a mortgage. This seemed wild and out of the realm of possibility at the time, but we did do it.
Because of not having credit cards in our lives, our credit scores were great. The bank approved our mortgage with a good rate right in front of us because there wasn't really anything outstanding on our file to check out.
Now, as I re-read what I've said in this post, I realize it can sound a little boastful. Many are struggling and times are tough, but please understand… I am grateful. I want to tell you that there is hope.
Yes, those decisions, made a few short years ago, have allowed a wonderful thing to happen in our lives, but the best thing of all is the peace that has come from not being a slave to credit card debt.
We've been there. We've been upside down, underwater, and over our heads. We've had that feeling of drowning in debt and having no way out. I suck in a deep breath as I remember those days. Honestly, remembering those chains makes us never want to be there again, if we can help it.
Today, what I want to tell you is, there is peace that comes from good money practices and if you don't know where to start, start where we did. It will be the beginning of your exhale.
Contact any place that provides Financial Peace University classes. I know that Newpointe Community Church in Dover, which is where I got my materials, gives regular classes.
Have a discussion in your home about debt, make a plan to tackle it, and most of all, make a plan to begin today to make positive decisions that will bring good results for your tomorrow.
We haven't arrived by any stretch, but our goal today is to make good choices and, based on the results we've seen, we are getting excited about our tomorrows.
Let's live, give, and get free.
Blessings,
Tina