Spending Less With Cash Instead of Credit

We operate on CASH, not credit. If we can't afford it, we don't buy it.

For instance, we moved across country two years ago. Paying for a moving truck large enough to haul ALL of our furniture would have cost us too much, so we only brought with us what we could fit in two vehicles, an RV, and a trailer.

This meant that we only brought my husband's tools, our clothes, photos, dining room table, TV, books, trophies and some other special items. Once we arrived here we began the process of acquiring the necessary furniture to operate a home like refrigerator, washer/dryer, beds, dressers etc...

Because we pay as we go, we have gone without and made-do. In example, for a while we stored our clothes by using plastic containers instead of dressers and until last week, we have only had one small couch instead of buying new couches or a sectional like we would have liked.

This hasn't been easy, as we have 7 children. But we know that saving our money and buying with cash is superior to going in debt for instant gratification.

We have found over the years that God always provides for our needs. It always takes an amount of patience and lots of hard work on our part, but when we have made our way, working toward a goal, God always drops what we need in our laps.

So it was not surprising to us that last week, (just two days after my husband lamented that he couldn't take it anymore without having living room furniture to accommodate our needs,) that my husband was contracted to finish a basement for a couple who were selling living room furniture.

He was able to pay cash and to trade work in exchange for an almost new sofa, loveseat and recliner, as well as antique end tables. Now we have all the furniture that we need and we did not have to go into debt for it, nor did we even have to spend more than $60.

We know that by avoiding instant gratification and practicing patience and frugality we are better-off financially. As was recently reported on Yahoo, a young family who was challenged to only use cash instead of credit for one month, just learned this concept. In just one month they saved $1800!!!!

Watch this video: Paper or Plastic: One family swaps credit cards for cash and saves thousands

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