Family Economy

I have been reading quite a bit about a family economy lately. I have even considered downloading an 18 hours audio series for $25 off of bluebehemoth. We have always tried to somewhat run a family economy but have come to the conclusion lately after some books and audio I listened to that we really don't do it fully. Providing for our family by our own means would be best without a doubt.

Step one. Get completely debt free including the house. Think about this. At my home my taxes run $1200 per year that is $100 per month. Electric averages $150. Cell phone $48. Heat in the winter is about $150 I am guessing between wood and propane. Food we spend $500 per month and eat well. Insurance is about $150 for the cars and gas not quite sure. Less that $1500 per month. That comes to less that 20k per year. That is the equivalent of $10 per hour at McDonalds if one must find any job. The heat portion of that is only for 6 months as well. My point is it does not take lots and I am sure we could trim that more by working on more gardening.

A family economy is truly having the whole family work at your business or ventures. If you farm, lets say, everyone helps farm. If you own a store everyone can help at the store. This is for the benefit of the family not the individual. You can pay your kids but I would believe from what I have read that that is a minimal amount because they are helping the family and this is what the family does to keep it going.

So step two for my family would be to get our businesses going to a level where it is self sustaining and able to provide for our family. We have handling the email clubs for small businesses. The boys could go with to visit clients, pick up slips, drop off information. Doll clothes. While the boys could not sew they could attend craft shows, help set up, stock shelves and run the cash register. We could do more with our small fruit farming as well. Having the boys help weed, pick fruit, wash and package and help deliver to market or sell at roadside.

In the end I am not totally sure of how you handle all this but I do believe it is something to look into much more heavily. I am feeling pressed by the Lord that over the next 2 years that we need to make some serious changes because there are serious changes coming in our country. I am not an alarmist or worry about these things. God has just been preparing my heart for changes.

What do you do with your family? Does everyone have to participate and help with things that benefit the family? I am not talking strictly about house cleaning. My daughter used to have to go lift wood put it in the splitter and stack it. An only house cleaning daughter she is not and I believe it will make her better as she knows what really serious work is.

Maybe just rambling but I think this is a subject that deserves serious consideration from all families.

Be blessed.

Are we using our things wisely?

Sunday at church we had a guest speaker. He talked about Luke chapter 16 where two parables appear that are not seen in any other of the Gospels. The parable of the shrewd manager and the rich man and Lazarus. I was seriously enlightened and God pressed many things onto my heart.

In the end when we go to meet the Lord we will give an accounting before God for our use of our time, money and possessions. Wow that is pretty intense. Not of our sins those have been wiped clean. But how we used these gifts God gave to us. How we handle our money and worldly possessions is a test of our character, values, life, stewardship and his Lordship. I knew all this but it came to a whole new light.

John Wesley at first was making 30 pounds a year and his necessity spending was at 28. Then he was making 60 kept his spending at 28 and gave the rest away then was making 90 and still only used 28. 150 still only spent 28. Later in life in the thousands and still kept it at 28, how amazing is that. We tend to keep increasing our spending with our pay increases. This man had it right on.

We live in the wealthiest nation in the world. If you are at poverty level which I believe is around 20k you are in the top 2% of income earners in the world. If you are at half of that you are in the top 7%.

Regardless of our dropping retirement or investment funds we are such a blessed people who participate in the practice of chronic whining. I want to give God a good accounting of my time and money and have to make that change now! What will you do? Will you make an effort to be a good steward in every area. Time, money and possesions. Or will you continue to go on living the American way. Alas my heart has been convicted and I cannot go on same as always.

Be blessed.