Are you feeling discouraged about your finances? Do you feel like you’ll never get in a better financial place as a family? Does the future seem hopeless because of how difficult things are financially right now?
If that’s how you’re feeling today, I just want to encourage you today with 3 simple things you can do…
1. Remember you’re not alone.
There are millions of other people out there who are struggling financially and find themselves in a difficult place. Even if it feels like you’re the only one in your friend group who is struggling, you are not alone.
I encourage you to find other people you can connect with and identify with. Seek out community locally or find some spaces online — maybe Facebook groups or blogs — where you can connect with other people who are struggling financially.
Doing this will help remind you that you’re not alone, plus you’ll get encouragement and practical tips along the way!
2. Do the best you can do.
It’s so easy to look at someone else and let comparison take root.
I recently shared how we paid cash for our house. It was 15 years in the making of struggling and saving and working hard, but maybe you’ve been struggling for all of those 15 years and still feel just as stuck as ever.
It’s so important to do the best that you can do. Not the best someone else can do. Or the best you could have done 10 years ago. It’s the best you can do right now, in the season of life you’re in.
And then figure out what that looks like for you — this week, today, this hour.
3. Change your perspective.
Instead of thinking about how much you’re struggling, try thinking about what you can do with what you have. Get creative!
I remember when Jesse was in law school, our money was SO tight, and we had no wiggle room in our budget. We had maybe a few extra dollars every few months.
We spent lots of time at the library or park, because it was free. We checked out books and movies. We didn’t even have the money to go to the thrift store, but the library made me feel like I got a chance to shop a little — even though I really wasn’t!
We also worked so hard to stretch our grocery budget as far as we possibly could. Some weeks, we only had $17 to cover groceries for our family. I tried to find anything for free that could help us make a meal.
I turned it into a game and got really, really creative. We found free ways to do things that made us feel like we had breathing room, even when we didn’t.
(I still remember eating PB&J Sandwiches from ingredients we bought at the Dollar Store while we were on our honeymoon! We couldn’t afford to go out to eat, but we still remember our time together and how creative we had to be to make it work — even on our honeymoon!)
I say this to encourage you to find ways to enjoy what you do have during this season!
I can tell you 15 years later that all of the struggle was worth it. And that perspective has given me so much perspective today. I always think, “What can I do where I’m at right now?” I use this perspective to run my business, teach my kids, and live my life.
Changing your perspective can change your entire outlook on life.
Don’t give up. The best is yet to come!
What is your best advice for someone who is discouraged about their finances?
I am really discouraged to the point of no return. I have spent the last two years trying to pay down debt but every month, EVERY MONTH, we have a catastrophe with either a medical bill or some type of breakdown. We don’t eat out, go on vacations, buy clothing, do anything normal people do. It’s so isolating. I can only eat meat and vegetables because of allergies (part of the medical bills) so food costs a lot. My husband and I, between the two of us have 5 jobs. We have nothing. It’s only getting worse. I have taken all the steps and gone without for so long. My husband refuses to talk about it at this point.
I’m so sorry that it feels so discouraging right now. I just want to encourage you that it sounds like you are doing a great job! It is SO hard when you have zero extra wiggle room, but the thing that helped me during those seasons was to focus on what I could do and on what I blessings I did have. There are millions of people who are waking up every day not knowing if they will have food to eat… remembering this can be such a good perspective when times are really tough. The fact that you can read and write, walk, have internet access… those are all blessings that many people would love to have.
Also, things like Fetch rewards, Swagbucks, taking surveys… these can add an extra $30 or $40+ to your budget each month which can be a GREAT blessing and something to start with to encourage you and put a smile on your face. It’s not much, but it can give you just a tiny bit of breathing room.
You can do this! I’m cheering for you!
I am struggling with credit card debt myself. I lost my husban d 4 years ago and also lost his retirement check so it’s just social security but I am going to leave it to God I know he will show me a way. Thank everyone for there encouraging words.
I remember when I was at a position where I felt I was being underpaid and a co-worker of mine told me “you can’t control how much they pay you but you can control how you use it”. So I was very frugal with my income. I gave to my church, paid my bills on time, saved and invested in my 401k. I put every dollar to work. I didn’t get expensive clothes (shopped at thrift stores), manicures, did my own hair. So I would add put every dollar to work whether it’s using it cook your own meals, saving it, investing it or giving it.
Years ago, my husband had the opportunity to go to San Antonio for a conference, the hotel was paid for, and if we drove ourselves we would paid mileage to cover the gas, so we decided to load our family into the car and just go for it. Financially this was a stretch and we wondered the children and I should accompany my husband.
I AM SO. GLAD. THAT. WE. DID.
A breakfast buffet was provided by the hotel, and there were some healthy options available. The woman who was in charge of the breakfast area allowed me to take two pieces of bread, a packet of peanut butter and a packet of jelly, and one piece of fruit for each of my two children once we were done with breakfast. That became our lunch.
We brought snacks from home that we had in our pantry.
For dinner, we spent $2.00 per person by choosing the most filling $1 meal items from a fast food place and drinking water. For the whole week, we spent $40. plus tax out of pocket. This was a stretch for us, as I could have bought a LOT of groceries with that money. At the time it seemed frivolous to spend $40 eating out. In the end, I am so glad that we put our fears aside and just went for it.
IT. WAS. SO. WORTH. IT.
I have so many memories of that week. It was perfect and peaceful and oh. so. much. fun. It was exactly what our cash strapped and weary family needed.
While my husband was in training each day (he rode with other co-workers from the hotel to the training), the children and I were able to spend the day visiting several free missions and visit the aquaducts that are still in use today. We saved the Alamo for the end of my husband’s training and we visited that together as a family.
Thanks for sharing. Five years ago after I got laid off from teaching I had a hard time getting full-time work for over two years. In that period I thought I was never going to get debt paid down. Where I am at now I been working full-time for three years and saving money and paying debt down. My advise would be to get around people who you can relate to. I got around people in my area who encouraged me and pray for me. One other thing I did was volunteer my time in helping others. Thanks for all you do. Keep up the great work.
Thank you so much for this, I needed this today! I feel overwhelmed sometimes with bills and debt. I like what you said about, use what you have and be creative. Stretch the meals. I will try to do this better. Thank you so much for your advise.
Crystal Morrow
Thank you for your encouragement. It’s been five years since my husband had a full-time job. Sometimes I get so discouraged. I was reminded this weekend that my focus needs to be on God and what He has done for us instead of our circumstances. He’ll take care of the rest.
I’m so grateful that this encouraged you!
Very encouraging words…greatly appreciated!❤️
You’re so welcome!
We just made the final payments on our credit cards this month after 27 long months of living our #yearofno. Sometimes we felt like we’d never get that last card paid off. Even now it’s hard to believe that we’re finished with that debt! But the complete relief of having that burden off our backs made it all worth the work and drudgery.
So honestly, if you’re fighting right now, keep going!! It’s well worth all of the hard work and tiresome PB&Js. 🙂 I think getting to a place where you have some breathing room in your budget feels even sweeter after a long struggle. I’m cheering for anyone who is fighting to get out of debt!
Amen & congratulations!! ???
YES! So true! Thank you for sharing — and WAY. TO. GO!!!!
Hi Jamie
Im having a hard time with the credit card debt. I feel its not going quick enough. You have given me encouragment.we have a new expensive now its co pays for doctors visits ,R,X,s its has taken a chunk out of already streched budget.i know it may take a little longer now to get the credit cards paid off.
Patricia, DO be encouraged!! It stinks when you have setbacks that make your goal line further and further away. We had a van breakdown just 2 months into our payments, so I know what you mean. It takes a little longer than our patience wants it to. But our family is proof that being a little stubborn can really pay off. You can do it!!
Thank you for your words of encouragement Crystal!
You’re so welcome!
I’ve definitely been in this place!
My best advice-
1. Pray. You just never know how the Lord will provide.
2. Don’t be too proud to receive the blessings He supplies- even if they come through other people.
3. Continue to be thankful for EVERYTHING He does give for His gifts are good.
Great advice! Thanks so much for sharing!