After determining your net worth (see this article for how to do this: https://faithfamilyandfinance.com/2016/03/24/how-to-know-what-youre-really-worth/), the next step to taking control of your finances is to track expenses. Here’s my full confession. I always knew… More
How To Change Your Spending Habits
New Idea
I have been reading a book this week that has changed my perspective just a little bit on money and how I spend it. The author of the book states: “If I have a book and you have $20, and we mutually decide to exchange my book for your $20, what were the book and the $20 worth to you? What were the book and the $20 worth to me? Most people answer that the book was worth $20 to you and me. This is wrong. We only give up something in an exchange when we value what we’re receiving more than we value what we’re giving up. Hence, there is no way to quantify an exact amount that the book or the $20 was worth to you or me. All we can conclusively say is that to you, the book was worth more than $20 and the $20 was worth less than the book; to me the book was worth less than $20 and the $20 was worth more than the book. We both walk away wealthier than before the transaction because we both have something that is worth more to us than what we had before.” (Killing Sacred Cows, by Garrett B. Gunderson, page 14).
Money, in itself, doesn’t have value. We are the ones who give it value. “We only exchange when others have something that we value more than what we currently have.” Value is not in the money, or in the things, it is in the people. People have intrinsic value, not things. People make “individual, personal determinations of the value of material things.”
Shifted Thinking
This sparked some thoughts in my mind about my relationship with money. Do I really value what I am exchanging money for, more than the money itself? Does what I am spending mo
ney on reflect my value system, and my goals? Does what I am exchanging my money for provide more value to me than something else I could be receiving instead (opportunity cost)? In the book example above, I may feel that the book is worth far more than $20 for whatever reason. Maybe I feel the knowledge I will gain from the book is invaluable, maybe the personal enjoyment of reading is ‘worth’ more than $20. Maybe what I learn from the book will help me earn more than $20. However, to you, the book may not be worth even $5. Maybe it is a boring topic for you. Maybe you don’t enjoy reading. Maybe it is knowledge you already have. For you, giving $20 in exchange for the book would not be a valuable transaction, nor would it reflect your value system.
Self evaluation
I want to be sure that the money I exchange is exchanged for things that I value. Personally, I have found that I value experiences, memories, and skills over material items. That is why I exchange money for things like horseback riding lessons, dance lessons, memberships, and activities, instead of toys, clothes, and dining out. This isn’t good or bad, but simply a reflection of my value system. Does your spending reflect your values and your goals? Maybe what you think are your values, and what really are 
your values are different. You can learn a whole lot about a person by what they choose to spend their money on. As you track your expenses, and look at your spending patterns and habits, you will be able to clearly see what you value. And, if your money is not being exchanged for things that you value, it is time to evaluate why, and make changes. If you don’t like what you see, try ‘practicing’ exchanging your money for things that you really do value, and pass on the things that really aren’t important to you. See what happens. See how you feel.
Exchange vs. Spend
The material things we have, including money, has been given to us by our Heavenly Father. We have an abundance of comfort, and safety, and freedom. One way to show gratitude for what we have been given is to use these blessings to bring more value into our lives, and into the lives of others. I love the word ‘exchange’ instead of ‘spend.’ When I think of the action of spending, it feels like loss and scarcity. It feels like my money is being taken away and is gone forever. The word exchange feels like a mutual decision. It feels like an agreeable choice, that both parties are happy with. It feels like abundance. Once again, “We both walk away wealthier than before the transaction because we both have something that is worth more to us than what we had before.”
I am happy to exchange some of my means to the power company so that I can enjoy heat and light. I am glad to exchange money for fuel to put in my car so we can go fun places to learn new things. When I use the word exchange, it helps me think twice about what I am exchanging for. Is this exchange really something that is valuable to me? It helps me realize that what I do with my money and means really is my choice, that I am acting on it, and not being acted upon by outside forces.
Making changes with my new knowledge
This new paradigm about money, and new way of thinking about what I do with it, has helped me rethink my spending (my exchanging, if you will) and my values and goals, and if they are in alignment. I find myself stopping an exchange when I realize I am just participating because I am bored or sad, or because someone else already has it (competition, jealousy), or to impress someone (vanity), etc., but it really isn’t something that I value.
It applies to our relationships, too
I think a lot of money conflicts in relationships can be traced back to this idea of value. Spending money isn’t the issue, it’s that one partner values what the money was exchanged for, and the other doesn’t. This is yet another reason why communicating about your values and goals as individuals, as well as a family 
unit, can help alleviate some confusion and misunderstanding. If I know my husband values something, and he would like to exchange money to obtain it, I am better able to understand why he feels it is a worthwhile exchange, even I don’t feel the same way.
What do you think?
This small paradigm shift has opened up a new way of thinking about what I do with my money and where I let it go. It has also helped me to rethink my exchanges to be sure they are really bringing me value, and closer to my goals.
I’d love to hear what you think about this idea. Leave me a comment, and let me know!
Familiar Mom Problems, Which One Do You Want To Overcome First?
The Mom conference is in full swing! It’s three days of interviews and speakers on topics that are for moms!
Here are my takeaways from yesterday’s interviews:
-The power of empathy
-How to have a soft answer (alternative to yelling)
-“I don’t do guilt”
-How to combat social media and comparisons
-How to protect my kids from pornography
-Some really great mom hacks
-Feeling abundance and fulfillment right now
-How to combat anxiety and depression
-Changing my thoughts = changes the way I feel
Today some of the topics are:
-The power of play
-How to gain more cooperation from your kids
-Meal planning
-Makeup tips
-Strengthening your marriage
-How to travel kids
The conference started yesterday, and continues today and tomorrow. The interviews are available for 24 hours. Or, you can buy the package for $67 and have lifetime access to the interviews, to watch and learn from as often as you need! There’s an additional package, for $97, that includes a whole bunch of extras, books, worksheets, etc. that are invaluable.
I just wanted to let you know about this, because it’s such an AWESOME resource for moms and women! I’ve learned many things that have helped immensely, in my relationship with my kids, and, especially with myself!
Here’s the link if you want to watch:
https://www.theconferenceformoms.com/squeeze-page-16949738?affiliate_id=821642
Here’s what the Mom Conference has to say about what it’s for:
You work hard to put dinner on the table, make sure your kids don’t look homeless, and run them around to soccer, dance, and piano.
Sometimes it feels like a vacation to go to the bathroom alone, or on a solo shopping trip to Target.
You equip them with everything they need clothes, food, a bed to sleep on, but how do you equip them with kindness, respect, and self-motivation?
Your deepest desire is to raise successful adults but how do you teach them what they need to be successful now?
And what about you? You need a break, but feel guilty taking one.
And we haven’t even gotten to your marriage……
As a mom, you wonder how to do it “all” and still have time for yourself.
While I wish I could help you get the kids to bed, pick up groceries for you, or watch your kids so you can go out on a date with your husband. What I can do is even better. I can give you practical solutions from experts on the hard stuff that parenting throws at you.
With over 20 personal interviews on these hard topics with your favorite authors, speakers, and bloggers at The Mom Conference.
WHAT IS THE MOM CONFERENCE?
The Mom Conference is a totally FREE three day online event. It starts October 17,18, and 19th. You can listen while you fold laundry, do the dishes, or during nap time.
Attend the conference with over 75,000 moms around the world and come away armed with powerful new strategies for everything from sibling rivalry to meal planning to finding more joy in motherhood.
Register for FREE here:
https://www.theconferenceformoms.com/squeeze-page-16949738?affiliate_id=821642
WHY ATTEND?
There are so many hard situations as a mom that you wonder if you are handling things the right way. Sometimes all we need is a paradigm shift or better tools.
During the conference, you will have the opportunity to learn practical solutions to the hard stuff that motherhood throws at you. Things like:
- Getting out of the cycle of yelling, nagging, and reminding to get your kids to listen
- Managing sibling rivalry, when to step in or when to let your kids work it out
- Setting up routines so you can have time for what’s most important to you
- Keeping your kids safe online
- Effectively managing depression and anxiety
- Keeping up with a busy house-hold; you’ll learn the best of the best mom hacks
- Living a more intentional and joyful life (and teach your children to do the same)
And much more!
Do you want to know who is speaking?? Here is a list of some of the incredible presenters:
- Dr. Laura Markham, Clinical Psychologist, bestselling author and discipline expert at Aha Parenting
- Ruth Soukup, NYT Best-Selling Author and Founder of Living Well, Spending Less
- Amy McCready, parenting expert, TODAY Show Contributor, author and creator of Positive Parenting Solutions
- The Bucket List Family, Full Time Traveling Family, @bucketlistfamily with a community of over 600,000 followers
- David Burns, expert on anxiety and depression, NYT Best Selling Author, 5 Million Copies Sold of His Book
CLICK HERE TO SEE A LIST OF ALL THE SPEAKERS (Affiliate link here)
And to help you avoid procrastination (we know how it goes!), if you register RIGHT NOW, you’ll have access to the following FREE GIFT as soon as your registration has been completed!
– A FREE Listening Guide for Dr. Laura Markham’s interview on sibling rivalry. Get a sneak peak on the key take aways from her interview.
Participate ONLINE and be inspired October 17, 18 and 19th!
Register for FREE today:
https://www.theconferenceformoms.com/squeeze-page-16949738?affiliate_id=821642
XOXOX
If Ye Are Prepared Ye Shall Not Fear, and it might save your life!
I was reading in the Book of Mormon yesterday. It was one of those busy days where I hadn’t been able to do my scripture study before the kids woke up and it didn’t look like I was going to get a chance. I said a silent prayer to help me find a scripture to help me through my day, and flipped open the book. It opened to 3 Nephi chapter 4. In this chapter the Nephites are being bothered (like robbed, murdered, that kind of bothered) by the Gadianton robbers. In the previous chapter (3 Nephi 3) the 
Nephites had assembled themselves all together into one place. The robbers began to come down out of the mountains to pillage the lands that the Nephites had left, in order to gather to one location. But, the robbers were disappointed, because the Nephites had “left their lands desolate, and had gathered their flocks, and their herds and all their substance, and they were in one body” (Chapter 4:3).
Now listen to verses 4 through 6 in chapter 4:
“4 Therefore, there was no chance for the robbers to plunder and to obtain food, save it were to come up in open battle against the Nephites; and the Nephites being in one body, and having so great a number, and having reserved for themselves provisions, and horses and cattle, and flocks of every kind, that they might subsist for the space of seven years, in the which time they did hope to destroy the robbers from off the face of the land; and thus the eighteenth year did pass away.
5 And it came to pass that in the nineteenth year Giddianhi found that it was expedient that he should go up to battle against the Nephites, for there was no way that they could subsist save it were to plunder and rob and murder.
6 And they durst not spread themselves upon the face of the land insomuch that they could raise grain, lest the Nephites should come upon them and slay them; therefore Giddianhi gave commandment unto his armies that in this year they should go up to battle against the Nephites.” (emphasis added).
In verse 16 we learn that the Giddianhi and the robbers thought that if they cut the Nephites off from any outside support, the Nephites would surrender. But, let’s read verses 18 through 22, about the Nephites’ preparation, and the robbers’ lack of.
“18 But behold, this was an advantage to the Nephites; for it was impossible for the robbers to lay siege sufficiently long to have any effect upon the Nephites, because of their much provision which they had laid up in store,
19 And because of the scantiness of provisions among the robbers; for behold, they had nothing save it were meat for their subsistence, which meat they did obtain in the wilderness;
20 And it came to pass that the wild game became scarce in the wilderness insomuch that the robbers were about to perish with hunger.
21 And the Nephites were continually marching out by day and by night, and falling upon their armies, and cutting them off by thousands and by tens of thousands.
22 And thus it became the desire of the people of Zemnarihah to withdraw from their design, because of the great destruction which came upon them by night and by day.” (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/3-ne/4?lang=eng)
The robbers decided to march far away to the “furthermost parts of the land northward” to avoid the destruction that was falling upon them. But, the Nephites were able to cut them off in their desires and were able to defeat the robbers.
The Nephites had provisions and supplies to last them for up to seven years! In the chapter heading of chapter four, it estimates the time frame for all of this happening as four years or less. This preparation is what saved their lives and allowed them to conquer the Gadianton robbers and restore peace and safety.
We have heard so many times that “If we are prepared we shall not fear” (D&C 38:30). Are we prepared? Are we heeding the words of the prophets to be prepared? Go to LDS.org and search the terms ‘food storage’ or ‘prepare’ or ‘self reliance’ or ‘debt.’ These principles have been taught for a very long time. Much longer than I have been alive. And then, here we see this story in the Book of Mormon about being prepared. That was a really long time ago, about 19 A.D. in fact!
In 2005 President Hinckley spoke in Priesthood session and said:
“We can so live that we can call upon the Lord for His protection and guidance. This is a first priority. We cannot expect His help if we are unwilling to keep His commandments.
“We can heed warnings.
“We [the church] have built grain storage and storehouses and stocked them with the necessities of life in the event of a disaster. But the best storehouse is the family storeroom. In words of revelation the Lord has said, “Organize yourselves; prepare every needful thing” (D&C 109:8).
“Our people for three-quarters of a century have been counseled and encouraged to make such preparation as will assure survival should a calamity come.
“We can set aside some water, basic food, medicine, and clothing to keep us warm. We ought to have a little money laid aside in case of a rainy day.
“Now what I have said should not occasion a run on the grocery store or anything of that kind. I am saying nothing that has not been said for a very long time.
“Let us never lose sight of the dream of Pharaoh concerning the fat cattle and the lean, the full ears of corn, and the blasted ears; the meaning of which was interpreted by Joseph to indicate years of plenty and years of scarcity (see Gen. 41:1–36).” (If Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear,” October 2005 General Conference)
There’s much more that can be said about preparing. Being prepared is an essential part of your financial plan, and we will talk more about it in detail in upcoming posts and in my new financial freedom course (excited for that to be ready!).
But, here’s one resource worth looking at, to help you jump start your food storage. I
have been using Deals to Meals for years to help me keep my grocery budget low (we spend less 
than $600/month on groceries (this includes all toiletries, except diapers) for a family of 6! Deals to Meals has also helped me know how to keep my food storage growing (and practical!). Deals to Meals has compared purchasing and stocking up on food when it is at it’s rock bottom price, vs. coupon clipping, and the savings has been comparable, if not a bit lower than using coupons. Plus, you don’t have to spend all that time cutting and organizing coupons. Imagine if you used coupons WITH Deals to Meals. I haven’t done this, as I use my time differently (I tried the coupon thing and didn’t love it. But if you do, GREAT! See what would happen if you use them WITH the Deals to Meals rock bottom price alerts!) The best part is that Deals to Meals is less than $5/month, or you can sign up for six months or a year, making it even less per month! Definitely worth it! The website has a section about food storage, recipes that coincide with the best 
deals that week, and how to actually use your food storage. Check it out here: http://www.dealstomeals.com/hits/incoming/59b9b1df-8b64-40f2-bac1-255cac1f29ac
Start thinking about small changes you can make to be more prepared for whatever may come your way. Maybe use Deals to Meals for a month and try to cut your grocery bill by 10%, or stock up on ingredients for three of your family’s favorite recipes. Or set up automatic deposits from your paycheck into a savings account. Or, increase the amount you’re saving by 1%. Just something small to get started. Do something today. Because, if you are prepared you will not fear. And it just might save your life. Ask the Nephites.
Secrets to commitment
I have a secret. I have tried to stay away from using too many personal details on this blog. Why? Mostly because I want my situation to ideal before I share it. But, guess what? It’s not. We’re still working on it. We still have debt. Not only that, but it is (gasp!) credit card debt. Ugh. I despise it! I want it to go away. And guess what? It is! Because…we have a plan! And we are working that plan. And we know what to do. And we are doing it.
We have $4,000 in credit card left to go. In January we had $8,500 plus an orthodontist debt we were making monthly payments on, totaling $1,300. We’ve come so far already! After we finish off the credit card debt we will tackle our auto loan and then our balances will be paid in full! I am sharing this because I want to say a word on commitment.
I have been reading about personal finance for years. I have been creating and balancing budgets (mine, and other people’s) for years. I have been preaching about the harm debt can do, especially credit card debt, for years. And yet, I was still using my credit card. And not being able to pay off the full balance each month. Mostly the reason was because we hadn’t developed a good system to save for periodic expenses. (More on how to do that in an upcoming post! Stay tuned.) So, when the car needed repairs who came to the rescue? Good old Discover card. When it was time to make the bi-annual insurance payment, who bailed us out? Yep, our frenemy the Discover card.
In August, I began training for my new position as a financial coach (now we are called finance personal trainers), and began coaching in October. The more I counseled with my clients, the more I felt the credit card balance weigh me down. How could I tell my clients to stop accruing debt, when I was? So, in January I (finally!) said enough is enough! I was scared to stop having access to the credit cards, because of the ‘
what ifs.’ What if there was an emergency and we needed funds? What if my husband runs out of gas on the way home from work and we didn’t have money in the bank account for gas? What if registration for the kids’ swimming lessons comes before our next paycheck? (Ha-as if these things were truly emergencies!) But, I had been asking my clients to commit to the plan, and to stop accruing debt. So…..I needed to, also!! On January 28, I knelt down and prayed. I told Heavenly Father I was sorry for living beyond my means, and for not having enough faith to use my resources more wisely, and to place my needs and desires in his hands. I told Him I was sorry for not being grateful enough (because that’s what using debt is, isn’t it? Not being grateful for what we have, wanting more than we’ve been given?). I told him that I would not be using debt anymore. I asked for His help to be able to be more wise with our plan, and to be able to meet our needs as a family.
Then, I got on the computer and put a freeze on my Discover card. Meaning, I could not use it anymore! Then, I opened my budget and worked and re-worked the numbers to be sure that we were setting aside money for periodic expenses (insurance payments, Christmas, car repairs, medical bills).
And since January 28, we have not accrued more credit card debt! And it has been amazing to see the abundance that we have been blessed with because of it. By abundance I don’t necessarily mean money. Somehow, we have been able to meet all of our needs, and even our wants (like swimming lessons and going out to eat occasionally). We have been blessed with extra sources of income, and the ability to work hard to take advantage of these opportunities. We have been blessed with good health. We have not been to the doctor for illness all year! With four kids that is a BIG deal! I truly believe it is because of our new commitment to be wise, grateful, and stop using debt. Our cars have been working as they should. And, I can even feel the Spirit better in our home. The kids have become more involved as we have explained to them our commitment. We have our coloring charts (thanks to http://www.debtfreecharts.blogspot.com) that we get to color in during family council. 
They have been more acceptable when I have to tell them ‘no’ (which I do a lot more these days). They are learning about opportunity cost – if we buy that toy today, we won’t get to go the waterpark next week, or be able to buy our friend a gift for their birthday party tomorrow.
It sounds silly, but making the commitment to put away the card was harder than it should have been. But, the blessings have come because of the commitment. Our goal is to finish off the credit card by the end of this year (depending on a work bonus on top of our monthly payments, and fluctuating side income (donating plasma, doing transcription, and participating in a research study on multi vitamins, and how many hours he can get at his side job at Smith’s.))!
So, what is the secret to commitment? There is no secret. It’s more than a wish, a hope; it’s more than trying, or even wanting. It’s diving in with both feet.
We have been blessed because of our commitment. Everyday, in my prayers, I ask for help to be wise, and to be able to continue the uphill climb. But, our commitment is full. And the blessings are coming, because of that.
What commitment will you make today that you have been putting off, or afraid to make? What makes you afraid of the commitment? Take it to your Heavenly Father, ask Him f
or help to make the commitment. And then do it. We made the commitment before we had the plan. I wasn’t sure how it was going to work, but the plan developed after the commitment was made. Don’t wait until you think you are certain of how it will work or what the outcome may be. Ask for the faith to make the commitment. It reminds me of the scripture in Ether chapter 12, verse 6: “…wherefore dispute not because ye see not, for ye receive no witness until after the trial of your faith.” (https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/ether/12.6?lang=eng)
First the trial of faith, and then the witness. Not the other way around.
You can do it! And it will surprise you all the blessings that come because you did.
Faith and Finances video
This is why I do what I do.
Deborah’s story is inspirational:
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2016-12-043-deborah-faith-and-finances?lang=eng
I am excited for the self-reliance program the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has instituted! There are all kinds of help and information here, including building a business, budgeting, becoming spiritually self-reliant, time management, unemployment, and so much more! What an amazing resource for learning about self-reliance and temporal foundations with a gospel perspective.
https://www.lds.org/topics/pef-self-reliance/live?lang=eng&old=true
Thinking about refinancing your student loans?
Friends,
Are you thinking about refinancing your student loans? What is your current interest rate on said student loans? Do you have more than one?
As we have started our become debt-free journey (we call it “Paid in Full” instead of focusing on the word debt, by the way), one of the first things we did was take a look at our interest rates, and see how low we could get them. Our credit card debt is at 0%, our auto loan is at 2.49% and our mortgage is at 3.75%. While 0% on a $0 balance is the ideal, until you get there lowering your interest rates will save you a ton of money in the long run, and make your payoff journey a bit shorter.
I recently found an online personal finance company that offers great rates and services. You can consolidate student loans, take out a personal loan to consolidate debt, and they even have mortgages. 
Better yet, you can also choose to invest with SoFi.
If I had student loans, I would be refinancing them with SoFi! (P.S. If you do refinance with SoFi by July 7, they will give you a $200 bonus!)
Give them a look, let me know what you think:
http://www.sofi.com/share/240857
Note: If you do consolidate debt into a personal loan, cut up those credit cards so that you don’t continue to use them and acquire more debt!
*This post contains affiliate links.
Why can’t I stick with my budget?
Lower the perceived cost of the plan, increase the perceived value
What is perceived cost and perceived value? Investopedia says this, “Perceived value is the worth that a product or service has in the mind of the consumer. For the most part, consumers are unaware of the true cost of production for the products they buy; instead, they simply have an internal feeling for how much certain products are worth to them.” (http://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/perceived-value.asp)
The key word is ‘perceived.’ The dictionary says that perceive means:“to recognize, discern, envision, or understand.”
An example of perception is a clean car. Ever notice that after you go through a car wash, your car just seems to drive better? I know after I get my car washed and I vacuum the interior, suddenly my car seems like it drives much better, and it’s value seems to have jumped a few thousand dollars. Did anything about the car change (except for the fact that it has less dust on it)? No. But my perception of the car changed.
Budgets often fail because of our mind set when creating them and attempting to follow them. The perceived cost (emotional, self-discipline, going without, etc.) of following a budget is much higher than the perceived benefit or value. For years, until recently actually, my budget would make me anxious and feel restricting. I felt like my budget prevented me from doing what I wanted. That’s when debt entered. If a desired spending option wasn’t in the budget, I would use the credit card. That way I could get what I wanted, but my bank account still had money in it to pay t
he bills, utilities, etc. I kept convincing myself that I was following a budget, because I wasn’t spending the money in the bank account. Deep down, I felt defeat every time I used the credit card, but I could justify it because each purchase was ‘necessary’ and I was gaining cash back bonus points on my credit card, which I could apply towards the credit card balance. With this mind set, the ‘cost of the plan’ or the ‘pain’ that a budget caused was too high.
However, once I had finally realized that this was not the way I wanted the rest of my life to go I began to change my thinking. A few things caused my thinking to shift. One of these was the crazy amounts of second and third jobs both my husband and I were working. After his regular job my husband would go to the local grocery store and stock shelves until 2:00 in the morning. I would get up very early some mornings and donate plasma. I also picked up a couple transcription jobs and a small babysitting gig. I realized that if I didn’t stop using my credit cards and other debt, we would be on this cycle forever – working a six different jobs just to pay all the bills and the debt.
Another reason for my shift in perception was my children. Two of my children were diagnosed with ADHD last year. In addition, one received a diagnoses of general anxiety and the other of mild ODD (oppositional defiance disorder). Because of this, I had been looking into interventions to help them learn coping skills and improve their focus as well as provide peace for their emotions. One thing that helped them very much was therapeutic horseback riding. It had amazing benefits and results! But, it is not a low-cost activity. I realized that I could not afford to keep taking my girls to this activity, based on our debt load and payments. This really hit me hard.
So, I decided enough was enough! I vowed to live according to my budget, to live within my means. I put a freeze on all of my credit cards, so that I could no longer use them. In addition, I took my commitment to my Heavenly Father. I told him I would no longer live above the means that he had provided for us. I asked for his help to be able to continue in my commitment.
All these things changed my thought on the perceived ‘cost’ or ‘pain’ a budget caused. I now saw it for what it was – rules to live within so that I could become free and have peace. 
Rules that would help me to be able to, eventually, achieve the things I want, and provide opportunities for my children. Now the perceived cost of a budget was no longer high and unbearable. It was, instead, a symbol of my commitment to myself, my family and to my Heavenly Father that I was grateful for all of my abundance and that I would be a better steward of the things I had been given, including my time and my finances.
How can you change your perception about your budget? Some people find it helpful to call their budget a ‘spending plan.’ It sounds less restricting and more fun. I, however, saw through this and knew it was still the same thing. Nothing was as powerful to me as finding my ‘Why.’ Once I found my why, then suddenly my budget was my tool to help me to get to my goal based on my ‘Why,’ instead of a barrier or restriction. Watch for my next post when we learn about finding our ‘Why.’
Why do you think it’s hard to follow a budget?
Have you been able to successfully follow a budget in the past, or do you do so now?
Do you know how to create a budget that will work for you?
A great article while you’re waiting….
I have taken a break from the blog, in order to train and begin my job as a Financial Coach for Mvelopes. I love it!! It’s amazing to talk to people who have a desire to improve their financial situation and be able to teach, encourage and help them!
Now that I have developed my new coaching schedule, I am back to working on some new blog posts, so stay tuned.
While you’re waiting, here is an excellent talk from General Conference about personal finance. It’s called “Greed, Selfishness and Overindulgence” by Joe J. Christensen. Some favorite quotes from this talk:
“If we are to be self-reliant and in a position to share, obviously we must acquire some resources. If we live within our means and avoid debt, resources can be accumulated. There are those with average incomes who, over a lifetime, do amass some means, and there are those who receive large salaries who do not. What is the difference? It is simply spending less than they receive, saving along the way, and taking advantage of the power of compound interest.
Financial consultants indicate that “most people have it all wrong about wealth. … Wealth is not the same as income. If you make a good income each year and spend it all, you are not getting wealthier. You are just living high. Wealth is what you accumulate, not what you spend.”
“Our resources are a stewardship, not our possessions. I am confident that we will literally be called upon to make an accounting before God concerning how we have used them to bless lives and build the kingdom.”
Check out the full talk:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/greed-selfishness-and-overindulgence?lang=eng
And, for extra credit, here is one by Elder Perry about Self-Reliance:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1991/10/becoming-self-reliant?lang=eng
Is money temporal or spiritual?
Is money temporal or spiritual?
D&C 29: 34-35 “Wherefore, verily I say unto you that all things unto me are spiritual, and not at any time have I given unto you a law which was temporal; neither any man, nor the children of men; neither Adam, your father, whom I created.
- Behold, I gave unto him that he should be an agent unto himself; and I gave unto him commandment, but no temporal commandment gave I unto him, for my commandments are spiritual; they are not natural or temporal, neither carnal nor sensual.”
President Uchtdorf has told us “Like two sides of a coin, the temporal and spiritual are 
inseparable….The temporal is intertwined with the spiritual. God has given us this mortal experience and the temporal challenges that attend it as a laboratory where we can grow into the beings Heavenly Father wants us to become.” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/providing-in-the-lords-way?lang=eng)
This is one reason why I feel it is so important to be educated in the matters of personal finance. The money that is provided to us, for us to use to care for our families and serve others is not a temporal-only law. It is a spiritual law of stewardship. Money simply represents the ability to develop self-control, wisdom, obedience, sacrifice, hard work and love and charity. We know that money is not evil in and of itself. It is, rather, the love of money that is the root of the evil. (see 1 Timothy 6:10)
1 Nephi 14:7 “ For the time cometh, saith the Lamb of God, that I will work a great and a marvelous work among the children of men; a work which shall be everlasting, either on the one hand or on the other—either to the convincing of them unto peace and life eternal, or unto the deliverance of them to the hardness of their hearts and the blindness of their minds unto their being brought down into captivity, and also into destruction, both temporally and spiritually, according to the captivity of the devil, of which I have spoken.”
Temporal Destruction
When I think of the devil bringing us down to destruction I think of it in a spiritual sense – that we will be bound by sin, and not be able to live with our Father in Heaven. However, this verse describes the destruction as both temporal and spiritual. What would temporal destruction look like?
Here is the definition of temporal, according to Dictionary.com:
-Of, or relating to time
-Pertaining to or concerned with the present life or this world; worldly:
-Secular, lay, or civil, as opposed to ecclesiastical.
Temporal matters are things of this world. What would it mean to be destroyed temporally? I am sure it means lots of things, but I can’t help to also relate it to our possessions and wealth. What, besides our mortal bodies, could be more ‘worldly’ than these things? 
When I think of temporal destruction I think of idol worship – worshipping our possessions, coveting bigger and better and more, becoming enslaved in the chains of debt that we can’t seem to break free of.
I often get into conversations with other LDS women about how tough it is to make ends meet sometimes (or all the time!). The conversation usually turns to the conflict of employment – whether we should be working, and providing income, which usually requires finding child care for our children. Sometimes it seems almost impossible, these days, to get by on only one income. I personally see it as one of the ‘signs of the times’ that we are required now to have a dual-income home where both the mother and father and work, just to be able to provide necessities and some niceties for our families. Our culture and even economy has become such that having only one income-earner in the home is increasingly insufficient. (Please understand that I am not saying that women should not be working, and that mothers should not have jobs. This is such a personal, and individual choice and I don’t begin to claim that one choice is right for everyone. My point is that the option is becoming rare, should a man or woman WANT to stay home, while the other spouse works and that the decision is often a forced decision that both HAVE to work, regardless of their preference). Could this be a form of temporal bondage and destruction, taking away the ability to choose to have a one-income family and have one parent home with the children?
Knowledge
Becoming more knowledgeable about personal finance 
(how to budget, living frugally, simplifying, paying tithing, having correct insurance, paying off and avoiding debt, etc.) will help us avoid the destruction that can happen so quickly when we are not good stewards of our resources. This also adds a new level understanding to our Heavenly Father’s law of tithing. (Future post on tithing, up and coming!)
By separating the seemingly temporal from the spiritual we can easily justify our actions and make choices that may not align with our beliefs. By understanding the spiritual connection to our temporal abundance, we will be better able to act with integrity with the things we have been given, and be better stewards over our blessings and resources.
How to Feel Beautiful
My three year old saw a picture of a woman in one of my hair style magazines that I was looking through (to find a cute style for my upcoming hair cut appointment). One of the young women in the magazine looked a lot like her preschool teacher. She excitedly exclaimed that she found her preschool teacher in my magazine! The lady in the magazine, I am guessing was in her early 20’s, and my daughter’s preschool teacher is, I’m guessing, in her early 40’s. I took a picture of the picture in my magazine and sent it to the preschool teacher and let her know that my daughter said it was her. The preschool teacher was so thrilled. She said “These littles think you’re beautiful no matter what! Made my day.”
Mom
That made me think about how much I love my mom. I don’t love her more if she’s thin, or less if she’s put on weight. I don’t admire her less if she doesn’t have make up on. I don’t think she is even more incredible if she has cute shoes. I love my mom because she is my mom. I don’t care or notice what she’s wearing, or how cute her hair is that day. I already know that she is amazing and incredible and I love her.
This train of thought brought me to today. This morning, I walked into the room where my 8-month-old was playing. She looked up and saw me and the biggest smile spread across her face. The kind of smile that makes her eyes twinkle and her nose scrunch up. She loves me. She loves me if I’m in my work out clothes, crazy hair, and red-faced and sweaty-stinky from a work out. She loves me in the middle of the night when I check on her, with groggy eyes and hair sticking out everywhere. She loves me when I’m all dressed up for church. She loves me when we are hanging out in our pajamas. She doesn’t care. She loves me because I am me.
My fourth baby was born when I was 34. I noticed a huge difference in my recovery this time around than when my first was born when I was 26. Things happened a bit slower, including the weight loss, and getting back to ‘normal.’
In fact, I’m not quite there yet, despite my best efforts over the last 8 months. When I start to get down on myself, and compare myself to others and wish I was thinner, prettier, more athletic, had more stylish hair or clothes, etc., etc., I remember that cute baby face smiling at me when I walk into the room. I remember how excited she gets when I pick her up – her legs kick and she wiggles, and snuggles into my neck. I remember all the cute letters my kids write for me about how much they love me because I ‘make good dinners’ or I ‘help them clean their rooms’ or I ‘play games’ with them. They don’t say they love me because I’m pretty. They don’t say I’m the best mom because I know how to do awesome eye makeup. They tell me they love me because I’m ‘the best mom ever.’ They love me because I love them.
Friends
I also think of my friends. The dear, good friends who have loved me through so much, who love me because they know who I am deep down. The friends that I can have over 
even when my house looks like a tornado has come through, I haven’t washed my hair, I have circles under my eyes, and the kids are grumpy. These friends know who I am and they love me. We always laugh together, reminisce and leave feeling uplifted and loved.
I think of my husband who has seen me at my very worst, and my very best. He loves me when I’m grumpy, he loves me when I’m nice. He notices when I make the effort to look nice, but will still be seen with my in public when I’m not looking so nice. He loves me because he serves me and he knows who I am on the inside, not the outside.
Love
When the world starts to get to me, and I begin to think I am not enough, and that I don’t measure up, I remember the people who love ME. My parents, my children, my husband, my dear friends. And I remember the people that I love. Those are the people I want to impress. Not impress them with beauty or style or perfection, but with kindness, and love and fun and smiles. It’s easy to get down sometimes, especially when we compare (must stop doing that!), but when I think about who and what matters most, suddenly all of the vain ideas coming from the outside seem silly and unimportant. Because they are. We are children of God, and He loves us above all.
True Beauty
Another story came to mind that a friend told me recently. My friend was at the playground at the same time as another mother. This mother was quite plain, her clothing was not stylish, and her hair was pulled back into a quick ponytail. But the feeling she left after their conversation was beautiful. My friend walked away feeling uplifted and happy. She said that the woman became truly beautiful, because of the way she made my friend feel. That is true beauty.
I want to be beautiful like that.
Faith, Family and Finance 