How we did it!

As I mentioned it previously in this post, we have often been asked how we were managing having to pay a mortgage and rent and all the bills related to our house on top of groceries, gas, car maintenance, etc....

When we first moved to Taber, we were fortunate enough not to have to pay rent in the farm house, just the utility bills attached to it with the water that was delivered in every couple months. For eight months we did this, and in July of last year, we decided to move to an apartment right in town where we only had to pay rent.

After Marc was offered the job in Taber, we reviewed our finances, crunched a few numbers before ever deciding whether or not we would accept it. We wanted to be sure that we had at least two years worth of saving that would help cover paying all the bills mentioned above in the event we didn't sell our house right away. And how happy we are to have done that. Marc and I budget everything! Every penny we spend is recorded manually in what we call our budget book (B.B) and we have done this for many years now. Don't get me wrong, I don't think we are the best at budgeting but the peace of mind it bring us is worth all the troubles.

A few years ago, we heard one of President Gordon B. Hinckley's talk about debts. He counselled members to live within their means, to be self reliant, to discipline themselves in their spending and purchases, to avoid debts and/or pay them off as quickly as they can if they have them.  We heard him loud and clear and have strived ever since to live that way. There would always be something that would require you to spend your hard earn money, right? Being wise with your finances is a great stress relief.

We live our lives quite modestly and love it that way. We tell ourselves, sometimes, it would be nice to have this or that but when we seriously ponder about it, we just smile knowing that this or that is not necessary to live a good life. We spoil ourselves with the things we need and not necessarily with the things we want. But we are happy and hope to continue to live happily that way. We do splurge here and there but never excessively. So here you go. That's how we did it! It wasn't without worries. Seeing our saving account deplete was not a fun thing to see but Heavenly Father carried us through it all, and continued to bless us.