I am Lacey, a fresh nursing graduate with about 10 cents in my pocket. Jason and I have three amazing kids: Abigaile (7), Jacob (2), and Chase (1). Throughout our years together we have suffered many setbacks–including both of us losing our jobs (our income being cut by 80%, thanks to this) and a setback with school, graduation from school, and an additional pregnancy.
Thanks to MoneySavingMom.com, I’m aiming to better our lives financially. This has meant using coupons at every turn, sticking to that wonderful grocery budget, shopping ahead (which my husband thought was crazy, until he saw it on your blog!) paying cash, and even doing without.
The concept of paying cash has always been foreign to me. It only took me a bankruptcy to realize that maybe my sanity was worth more than those material possessions. I’ve been trying to pass my new-found wisdom onto my daughter by setting her up with a savings jar so that she too can see what progress she has made towards her goal.
We recently took on a paper route to supplement our income. We set up a price per day for my daughter’s assistance and told her that paycheck is hers to do what she wants with. Plus, as an added incentive, we promised we would assist her in buying whatever she wanted. She chose to buy a 4-wheeler.
I’m proud to say that after three weeks of saving her paper route money, along with a successful yard sale, we were able to raise $500 that she could use towards the purchase of her 4-wheeler. We looked on CraigsList.com and found a 4-wheeler that looked suitable for a 7-year-old. After a trip to see it and some haggling by Jason, we were able to purchase a new to us 4-wheeler for just $200!
This experience has left not only myself but my entire family much more excited about our financial future: not only do we have a paid-for 4-wheeler, we’ve got $300 and nothing left to pay!
Have you saved up and paid cash for something — large or small? Submit your story for possible publication here.
Jen @ MyPotpourriWorld says
Way to go, Lacey!! I love it! 🙂
Anne @ Modern Mrs Darcy says
Love. Money is a tool; props to you and your family for saving it up for what’s meaningful to you!
Real Food Whole Life says
Excellent story. There are so many things we can do to take control of our finances. Congrats on your achievement!
Judy says
What an amazing story!! This is the push I needed to finally get my finances under control.
Lisa-PanaMOM says
Way to go!!!!
(and use a little bit of the extra to buy a helmet! Yes, I’m everyone’s mother-in-law. 😉 )
Maegen says
I was thinking the same thing! 4-wheelers make me as nervous as can be!
Congratulations on your purchase and your firmer financial footing, Lacey! Nursing is a great career for your future.
Danielle B says
Great job! What an encouraging post!
My husband and I are beginning the search for an SUV or van that will fit our growing family. Right now we’re a family of five, but….. 🙂
We are going to use our tax refund, plus a little bit of savings if need be, to pay cash for a vehicle, as well as possibly trading in our 1999 Ford Taurus. We’re just now trying to find out how to go about doing this, so I’d love to hear any tips from others who have successfully negotiated a great deal paying cash for a used (but in great condition) vehicle!
Teresa says
Don’t tell them you are trading or paying cash till you have settled on a price. They say what can you do if I trade this and pay cash for the rest.
Fun Momma says
Based on consumer reports, go for a Honda Oddysey or Toyota Sienna. We got an Oddysey for a great price through craigslist! Good luck.
birtrightrose says
Great choices, Fun Momma! We have the Sienna and love it. Our #1 choice was the Odyssey, but they were too expensive for us at the time. They are neck in neck for high resale value and low rate of repairs. The Kia minivan has a low sticker price but gets THE WORST gas mileage of all the vans. Knowing this made my decision for the pricier van easier.
Erika says
And we have the Honda Odyssey, purchased used for half the full price and love it! Good luck in your search!
amy says
I love these stories also. We have four kids and pay cash for everything- bills, groceries, or any purchase like a t.v. or furniture. it’s really hard sometimes watching people in our families who insist on replacing their furniture, appliances, and vehicles every 3-4 years (and knowing they’re living off their credit!) but I think in the long run we will be better off, and I like reading about people who have the same ideas!
Rachel M. says
Wonderful story. My husband and I are on a quest to pay cash for things. We got close with our latest vehicle. We bought it for 7K used with only 35K miles. I’ve been aggressively paying down the bill so as to pay it off in under 2 years.
My first two vehicles were brand new off the lot and took 5 and 6 years to pay off. That’s 11 years of payments! I’m so thrilled to be down to 2 years.
Next time, our goal is to pay cash for the vehicle!
Denise says
Yay!! That is awesome!! Hoping to buy a nicer camera for my Etsy shop tonight at Walmart, with money that has been carefully set aside for a few months from craft sales and using coupons to lower our weekly expenses. My hubby said as long as I was feeding us plenty, I could keep whatever money I saved couponing 😀 I LOVE paying cash!! And, owning what I have. Thanks for the encouragement!!
Ginger says
We were able to pay cash for our first vehicle a couple years ago – our 15 passenger van (we’re expecting blessing #9 in two months). It felt fantastic to write out that check and be done paying for it!
Thank you Dave Ramsey!
Lynn Oyama says
That is awesome! I love these stories.
Teresa says
you have got to love Craigslist. Got a new stove for our tenants for $60.00. Only a year old and worth over $400.00. There is no way we could have bought them a new one as my husbands job is not looking good for a future now. We need to save every penny we can. It feels so good to save for something and then have money leftover once you bought it instead of owing something more. Congrads on the 4 wheeler.