We’ve talked about a lot of different things in this series and I hope it’s been helpful and inspiring to you. But I want to close with a reminder:
Remember that it’s just money.
Entrepreneurialism is something I’ve always been passionate about and I love to help people find creative ways to earn more money. However, it’s imperative to keep a balanced perspective.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. Money doesn’t equal fulfillment. If it did, Hollywood should have some of the happiest people in existence. In reality, many of them are struggling through divorce, depression, addictions, and more.
Consider why you want to earn more money: if it’s just so you can buy bigger and better stuff, I can tell you right now that it’s not worth it. The more you have, the more you’ll want. It will never be enough.
Properly stewarded, money can be an amazing tool. It can help feed and clothe the hungry. It can build houses, schools, hospitals in the poorest of countries. It can provide nourishment and medicine for malnourished children. It can help your disabled neighbor be able to pay her rent or your recently-widowed aunt be able to buy groceries.
Use your resources wisely. Invest your time carefully. And make the most of what you have been given so that you can bless others generously.
But remember that money is not the be-all and end-all of life. Don’t spend all your life chasing more and end up missing out on the richest moments of life.
There is more to life than a bigger paycheck.
I’m a full-time personal trainer and yoga instructor in my own business, and sometimes I freak about not having a “regular” job and paycheck. Thanks for this reminder. I do this because I love it–it’s my bliss and passion–and you can’t put a price tag on that.
As a current SAHM that is about to be a WAHM in the evenings I’ve been struggling with the going back to “work” part. I know I will not have to leave my kids but giving up the ability to be spontaneus with my husband and kids and instead being “tied” down to it scare me. I’ve been wrestling with a flood of emotions especially the ones that we have some debt left that I need to work and payoff and contributing to the household b/c it seems we accumulate debt just as we pay it off….
AMEN!!!!
Great series. I’ve learned a lot of lessons here.
I checked out The Other 8 Hours from the library. I’ve only just started it, but so far, I’m liking it. It has inspiring lessons not only for increasing wealth, but increasing productivity and happiness.
Fabulous ending! Thank you for this series.
So, so true! Thank you for this great reminder!
I just wrote about this a day or 2 ago & it is going to be posted tomorrow on my blog: there has to be a point where your money is enough for you.
Wonderful series Crystal! You presented some really interesting ideas.
Absolutely, and after you’ve seen those starving and living in dumps starve after God, its easy to see that money does not buy happiness. You know, I want money to help people, but I also believe God multiples the small about we do have when we are faithful to Him. The story of the feeding of the 5000 is live and well, both physically (I’ve seen a little feed a lot) and spiritually.
It’s funny you should write this, as I have been thinking a bit about this recently. There’s a wonderful song by the Avett Brothers that just sums it up for me:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KyGZG3ZyJg
Here’s my motto…Being frugal is not only a way of spending money and living on what you have. I believe it is also a mindset of being happy in spite of what you can’t spend and what you don’t have.
Wish my husband could see this viewpoint and not push me to work so much 🙁 I would be so satisfied with so much less. But I wait on the Lord.
Amen to that. In my own family, from both sides of my mom and dad, there is incredible financial diversity and I grew up seeing what extreme wealthy indulgence is like and what it was like to be just barely making it. I can tell you right now that the most wealthy person was – and still is – the most miserable. The huge mansion, marble floors, mahogany furniture and amazing decorating only managed to produce two divorces and broken relationships. It is so sad . . . money destroys so many. Thanks so much for sharing about the necessity of stewardship! It is so essential for people to hear and such a good reminder for me personally.
Great post – very true! I could easily work harder, longer hours at my job and make more money, but it’s not worth the time away from my family!
For all you moms with young children at home, here is some advice from a mom of a teen and a tween:
If you do not “need” to increase your income (and don’t feel called by God to make more money), please don’t think you have to find ways to earn more money. Enjoy this precious time with your babies.
For some people, being “just a mom” is enough during this season of time. You can always look for ways to save money around your house instead of ways to earn more money.
Of course hindsight is 20/20!
As another mom of a teen and tween, I agree completely!
Thank you! I’m the mom of a toddler, and you’re so right. Some things are worth more than all the money in the world! 🙂
Great conclusion, Crystal!
I am torn. I agree with spending time with my children (of course; who wouldn’t want that)? At the same time, what about all the advice (from Dave Ramsey and followers) about working working working, no matter how hard it is, to pay off your debt? They don’t jive, at least not in my experience.
I have worked part time plus going to school since my oldest was born. My husband and I have always worked opposite (or nearly opposite) schedules, so that one will be with the children. We never seem to get ahead, but it seems we are just barely hanging in there, and this, for a dozen years.
I still believe that our income will increase, but to me, there is not really a choice between working hard and spending time with your family. Many people have to work hard. They are stressed when with their family. Sorry if I’m ranting now, but why can’t those at the bottom of the pay scale (someone always has to be there) make a decent wage so that they can make the choice?
I appreciate the positive messages that I read on this site, and I hope that this one is also taken as a constructive one.
I ask myself this question a lot:
If I died tomorrow what would I regret?
My mom died at the age of 50 after working tirelessly her entire life so I base a lot of my life choices on this.
When I quit my full time job to stay at home with my kiddos, I made twice as much as my husband. To say it was a leap of faith was an understatement, but I KNEW it was what I should do. Even though according to the government we were low income, I FELT rich!!!
While I agree with Dave Ramsey on a lot of things, I totally disagree with working yourself to death. It puts too much stress on a marriage and family.
What’s the answer? I’m not sure. In my case, my husband ended up going back to school so he makes significantly more money now. We got student loans to do this and would make the same choice again (again, that goes against Dave Ramsey advice). That’s why we do the Dave Ramsey Kinda/Sorta plan.
I appreciate hearing your thoughts, and what you all did. Your story is ‘real life,’ whereas I think a Dave Ramsey-all-the-way plan is not the best choice for a lot of people. We too are considered low income. And yes, two parents working full-time puts lots of stress on the family, I totally agree. On the other hand, working opposite schedules, my husband and I are both able to spend time with our kids. It is our relationship that is sometimes hardest to maintain.
I also appreciate hearing about your mother. I should keep this in mind–age 50 gets closer all the time 🙂 And I am sure that she was doing what she thought best for her family. 🙂
It sounds like my husband and I have a troubled relationship from my last post. This isn’t accurate; we have our good waves and lower waves, but we are in it for the long haul. 🙂
Also, I hope that you don’t take the happy face emoticons in my message in a negative way. I was simply trying to say that I appreciate hearing about your family, and God bless your mother.
I struggle with the same issue. We have student loan debt that I know, per Dave Ramsey, we need to aggressively tackle. But does that mean I need to continue working instead of staying at home where my heart is? I just don’t know how to make it all work.
That being said, I do appreciate your reminder, Crystal, to keep things in perspective. I know I can see money as the cure to all my problems (and the lack of it as the source of all my ills!) but it is just not so. If God leads me to make less money – or none at all – then He will provide. It may not be in the manner or with the timing I would like, but He will meet my needs!
I really appreciate your comments, Johnlyn. 🙂
There is pressure from so many sides when it comes to making money and raising a family. With the advent of work-from-home type jobs, it can seem like the “best” moms really are supposed to “do it all”, even in the conservative Christian circles where it’s encouraged to be a keeper at home.
That said, I really did enjoy this series, Crystal. 🙂 It totally makes sense that putting in long hours and lots of hard work can pay off down the road in a residual income where you eventually work fewer hours but still earn quite a bit of money. It goes against my natural inclinations to be “business-oriented”, and I can be very “lazy”, preferring to spend time doing things that won’t pay in dollars (home- and family-related things) but certainly there has to be a balance in all personalities. 😀
AMEN!
Love, love, love this conclusion to the series, Crystal! You’ve shared some wonderful ideas and principles for increasing income throughout but this is my favorite of the series. 🙂
Psalm 139:23 is one of my favorite verses “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:” When our heart is where it needs to be, I am confident that He will provide what we need and that we will be thankful for what we have.
Amen! I left my job of 20 years to care for my mom who develped Alzheimer’s disease because in my heart, I knew it was a calling, what I was supposed to do. The Lord provided for us for 5 years and 3 months before I could no longer give her the care she needed alone. Sadly, my mom now resides in a nursing home. Blessedly, I landed a part-time job, which is almost enough to cover my monthly expenses if I really watch it, and the health insurance I needed. I am grateful for what the Lord has provided for me for I can continue to devote my life to caring for my mom and helping her to cross a bridge she can not cross alone.
Sandy, my heart hurts for you as I know the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s. Your positive attitude is such a testimony. Stories like this increase my faith as I am reminded (again and again) that even in terrible situations, God is still good.
Thank you for your kind words. They are especially encouraging for I received news tonight the new job I was to begin tomorrow has been put on the back burner. I injured myself transferring my mom from the bed to the wheelchair and had to undergo knee surgery. The employer knew this when they offered the job but, I still have a few restrictions 5 weeks post op and that is prohibiting me from working. But, I will stay strong, I need to. I know the Lord will bless me somehow, someway.
You’re to be commended for sacrificing so much in taking care of your mother. My own mother deals with this so much as she’s an RN that works to keep the elderly in their homes with family members and personal care aids taking care of them. I saw the wear on my own aunt and mother as they took care of their mother, my grandmother, in her last years. It’s one of the most selfless tasks to be done.
Thank you for your kindness. It was such a blessing and an honor to care for my mother. There were times it became so difficult that I failed to see this truth and I struggled because of it. I so wish I could continue to care for her. Even though I see her everyday, I miss her so.
FANTASTIC CONCLUSION to a really helpful series! Thanks, Crystal!
(^-^) what she said :).
So true!
Reminds me of the time I decided to deliver phone books to earn extra money. It was awful work…back-breaking and so time consuming! After a day and half, I decided no amount of money was worth the aggravation and time away from my family. Lesson learned!
I can totally relate. I am a sahm and money gets tight at times. We were saving for a vacation and I knew I would need new clothes, etc., so I got a part time job at a grocery store in addition to gigging (I’m a musician). While I highly value everyone that works in a grocery store, I was leaving every evening when my husband got home. I was stressed during the day when I was with my daughter. I realized the extra money wasn’t worth being away from my family. We still made the vacation…and several since. They aren’t extravagant and usually only a day or two. Plus, I have plenty of clothes in my closet. I still gig because it’s a passion of mine. I realized that we didn’t need the money that bad!!!!
Well said Crystal. I am glad that you added this last part to the series. 🙂
An excellent reminder from the “Money Saving Mom.” I was listening to a podcast yesterday from the pastor of our old church (Bob Merritt, Eaglebrook Church). He’s doing a series called, “God, you want me to do what?” and the message was on how we are called to be generous. I was reminded again how money is not an end, but a means. We have been given so So SO much in this country. What have we done with what we’ve been given?
Perfect ending to the series! Money never satisfies…our ultimate hope and contentment is found in Christ alone.
Amen sister!
Very well put Crystal! There is so much more to life then money. We won’t be able to take it with us anyway. In our marriage we have had seasons of really tight budgets but yet were still able to find joy and rejoice in the blessing we had even in the middle of a hard time.
I am thankful for the treasured moments and memories I have with my friends and family. While money is necessary to get through life you don’t need all the newest toys, biggest house, or fancy things to make life enjoyable. When we spend time investing in the lives of others not only is the impact positive it is everlasting.
Thanks for sharing Crystal! 🙂
Amen! I have nothing really to add, other than we, in this country, even with our own financial issues, are more blessed than 95% of those in the world. Having the perspective that true joy cannot be purchased allows us to take advantage of the little things in life, which often aren’t “things” at all!
SO TRUE!
Great finish Crystal. Every single week I counsel couples and business owners with finances it becomes much more of a get your head in the right place than it does get your dollars in the right slot place. I love it.
We are currently facing some financial issues with one of our businesses but I really have given it back to God and asked that His direction in showing us what HE expects from us at this time. I know God may be delaying our goals in this situation but He is still completely in control. (and as I wrote about a few months ago) while I am not super excited about the trials we are currently facing, I will choose to praise Him even in this storm.
http://www.financeswithfunk.com/2011/07/25/thankfulness/
So true! A wonderful post!