A Financial Reflection of 2007

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Today is the last day of 2007 and I thought it would be a good time to reflect on the past year financially. Our income has increased through my blogging but with gas prices also increasing there hasn’t been a very noticeable difference (my husband commutes to work). It feels as though things have improved but the actual numbers aren’t showing much improvement from last year.

Our “gazelle intensity” has reduced significantly and I think it has to do with the fact that things don’t appear to be changing very. Things are improving slowing but not as fast as I would like it to. We have not acquired any new debt since November of 2005 and I am quite proud of that. Even when times were tough we decided to trust that God would provide and He always did.

There are some things we decided not to give up that would have probably helped our financial situation. Our two horses have added to our expenses but I don’t want to give them up because quite frankly, I am attached and good horses are hard to find.  Unlike a car or a boat, it takes time for a horse and human to bond. Time invested in training and bonding is not simple process either. My husband and I both realize that by not letting go of these horse we are sacrificing at hopes of gaining financial freedom sooner than later but we feel it is worth it anyway.

Though things did not go the way I had hoped this year I am still hopeful that next year will bring better results. There are a lot of plans in the making for increasing my income in 2008 and I am confident that my income will increase. Now that I have my own laptop I am able to work more in less time which means the new year will be far more productive than this year.

Investing time into blogging and other online ventures is very important key in success. Since I am a home schooling mother of two children and a toddler, time is usually not on my side. As a wife, work-at-home mother and teacher, I have had to find balance this past year. This is not an easy task because there are so many responsibilities that need balance. This past year I decided that what time I could contribute to my online ventures would have to be enough and have asked God to bless the time I could contribute. Just about on a daily basis I have asked God to bless my efforts. By giving up my perception of control and allowing God to do His work in me, He has truly blessed my efforts.  I will continue to do this in 2008 and believe that God will continue to bless my efforts.

My hope is that this blog as well as my other blog can be an encouragement to the people who read it. Whether it is that you can relate to our families financial struggles and find comfort in that or that you have found information I have posted useful my hope is that this blog can be helpful to it’s readers. Have a Happy New Year!

December 31, 2007 | Filed Under Dave Ramsey Financial Freedom, Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Financial Goals, Financial Planning, Life Goals | 1 Comment 

Are You Truly Thankful For What You Have?

Most people have many reasons to be thankful. Even the most down and out of individuals have reason to be thankful. This time of year in the United States many Americans are thinking about what they are thankful for. Yes, there are things that may not be ideal situations in our lives but when we think about what truly matters then we should be able to find many things to be thankful for.

I searched online for a story that would put things in perspective for us and I found a great one on Inspirational Journal.

One day a father and his rich family took his son to a trip to the country with the firm purpose to show him how poor people can be. They spent a day and a night in the farm of a very poor family. When they got back from their trip the father asked his son,

“How was the trip?”

“Very good Dad!”

“Did you see how poor people can be?” the father asked.

“Yeah!”

“And what did you learn?”

The son answered, “I saw that we have a dog at home, and they have four. We have a pool that reaches to the middle of the garden; they have a creek that has no end. We have imported lamps in the garden; they have the stars.

Our patio reaches to the front yard, they have a whole horizon.” When the little boy was finishing, his father was speechless.

His son added, “Thanks Dad for showing me how poor we are!”

Isn’t it true that it all depends on the way you look at things? If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude towards life - you’ve got everything!

November 16, 2007 | Filed Under Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Life Goals | Leave a Comment 

Quotes That Make You Think

My teenage daughter likes to search for interesting quotes on the internet and read them to me. She was doing this the other day and came across some really good ones on various topics. It is interesting how a quote can sum up an entire thought. I decided to do my own search for quotes on success.

Whether we are speaking of success with finances, building a business or overcoming something the basic truths are the same. In order to be successful we need to expect failure and be able to embrace that failure by learning from it. We need to persevere and “keep moving forward”. Here are some quotes that sum up what it takes to achieve success.

“If at first you do succeed — try to hide your astonishment.”
Harry F. Bank

“Success is not a matter of desire, but the product of hard work.”
Jack Barringer

“I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”
Booker T. Washington

“Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.”
William Feather

November 7, 2007 | Filed Under Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Life Goals | 2 Comments 

Family and Friends Are More Important Than Money

fam.jpg

I think that even though we may understand that family is more important than money our actions don’t always show that we believe it. If we live a life that is focussed on money and don’t recognize that our families are really much more important than money, we might live a life that is unfulfilled. Chasing the dollar is not a reason for living.

The importance of money varies from household to household but for the most part I think most can say that money is not what brings happiness. It is true that some families are truly suffering because of the lack of money but I don’t think that the money itself is what should be sought. Our families and friends can bring us much more fulfillment than money could ever. God did not design us to find long term satisfaction in anything other than Him but I think relationships with people are a close second.

Money and power give temparary comfort and satisfaction. This is why so many people with money and/or power strive to get more. There is never enough money or power for those that seek it. Relationships however are lasting. A good friend, a child, a mother or a sibling can give your life meaning and satisfaction.

I for one don’t want to let my money troubles take the focus off of what really matters in life which is my family and friendship. I hope you don’t either ;)

October 27, 2007 | Filed Under Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Life Goals, Money Management Tips | 1 Comment 

Getting Over Yourself So You Can Succeed

stress.jpgI think sometimes our biggest obstacle in life is ourselves. For some reason we often fail because we don’t believe in ourselves. If others don’t believe in us it makes believing in yourself much harder. With regard to successfully reaching the goal of financial freedom, we sometimes give up because of our hang ups. Our feelings and thoughts begin to work against our goals. This makes staying focused very difficult and it’s all because our goals have become clouded by doubt and lack of confidence in ourselves.

Doubt has crept into all of our lives at one time or another. Sometimes doubt is there when we wake up, driving to work or school, going to sleep at night or in the middle of a restless sleep. Should we allow doubt to control us? If we are doing the right things in life, should we be letting doubt have any control?

The lack of confidence in our ability to do things that others don’t feel important is another issue we often struggle with.  Even when others do share the same goals we often have to battle with our own disbelief. Should we allow the lack of self confidence to control us? When we know we are making the right discussions, should we allow our lack of confidence to have any control?

What does a person who is self assured (or Christ assured) look like? A person who does not let doubt and lack of confidence control them is focussed, intentional, plans ahead, and lets life happen with out becoming discouraged or distracted. I wish I could tell you that I was this person. As long as I am striving to be the person that I know I should be, great improvements can take place. We should not disregard the small steps that are taken. Taking small steps are still steps taken to reach the finish line.

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September 27, 2007 | Filed Under Financial Freedom Journey Pep Talk, Life Goals | Leave a Comment 

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