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Close Topic OptionsLiving on Less Than You Earn
Living Earn - Politics, Business, Civil, History - Posted: 22nd May, 2004 - 3:40am
Posts: 19 - Views: 2558
Post Date: 18th Aug, 2003 - 2:24am / Post ID: #
Living on Less Than You Earn
From my friend Chris. A handout for a fireside her Branch is doing. Thought maybe we all could benefit.
QUOTE LIVING ON LESS THAN WE EARN By Sister Dutson
Advertising convinces us we need our wants. Our stewardships require we take care of our needs first. Then we become "Godlike" By helping others. We are "Wealthy" When we are "Content" With "Enough".
· NEEDS: EMPLOYMENT
Prepare for and carefully select a suitable occupation. Become skilled at work through training and experience.
Be diligent, hard working, and trustworthy. Give honest work for the pay and benefits received.
WANTS:
Starting a business without business counseling, business plan, or start up funds. Encouraging the wife to work outside the home in your place or to afford luxuries. Depending on public assistance with no intention of working.
Living where your talents are not employable so that you are underemployed, causing your family financial stress.
Being unwilling to make a career change, career relocation, or accept retraining when necessary to keep your employment.
· NEEDS: RESOURCE MANANGEMENT Pay tithes at 10%.
Pay fast offerings.
Save for the future-anything at a regular pace. Avoid unnecessary debt. Satisfy all of our promised obligations. Use our resources frugally and avoid wasting them.
WANTS:
Paying our creditors first. Shopping without a purpose. Purchasing items on time. Over spending.
Taking what we "Saved" At a sale and spending it on something else.
· NEEDS: SPIRITUAL STRENGTH Daily Scripture Reading, Family Prayer, Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Reading. Study the teachings of the prophets. Heed the counsel of Church leaders.
WANTS:
Over involvement.
Sports, lessons, committee meetings, or volunteer work that take us out of the home enough that we cannot teach or be with our families.
· NEEDS: SHELTER
Rent or house payment no more than ¼-1/3 the gross income.
Gardens and trees for beauty and food. Enough furniture for the use of the room; great if hand made or refinished by family.
WANTS:
Playrooms, guest rooms, family rooms, a bedroom/ bathroom for each person, more rooms than used; decks, outdoor rooms, large yards. Magazine quality decor and landscaping. Knick Knacks, collectibles.
· NEEDS: FOOD
Obey the Word of Wisdom-whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, dairy, and little meat.
Drink lots of water and have 2 weeks of stored water. Put up, use and regularly replace 1 year of food that includes grains, legumes, salt, honey or sugar, powdered milk, and cooking oil.
WANTS:
Processed, convenience, fast foods; eating out, gourmet foods; no food storage.
· NEEDS: CLOTHING
A clean outfit each day for a week to 10 days. (Allow extras for developmental needs.) Layering "All season" Clothing, and mixing and matching "Wash and wear" Clothing. We only wear 20% of the clothing in our closets. Hand down.
Buy used.
WANTS:
Brand names, fads; clothes that have to be dry cleaned, lain flat, ironed, hung to dry, or needing more equipment to care for them.
· NEEDS: HEALTH
Obey the Word of Wisdom. Exercise regularly.
Provide adequate medical and dental care, including appropriate insurance where possible. Teach safety precautions; have First Aid kits, home health skills and medicines.
· NEEDS: EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH Pray frequently and fervently. Strengthen our relationships with family members, neighbors, and friends. Use our time wisely.
Shun things that are morally and spiritually degrading.
Work toward worthy goals. Do the best we can to adjust to change and recover from misfortune.
· NEEDS:WHOLESOME RECREATION (Activities that involve the mind and body) gardening, home repair, physical activity, hobbies, reading, travel, cultural events, exercise, music, genealogy, family history and reunions, drama, dance, playing instruments, games.
WANTS:
Pleasure- (Activities that require little physical or mental effort) computers, TV, video games, Nintendo, internet, entertainment centers, cruises, shopping, movies, spas, pets.
· NEEDS: EDUCATION
Improve the ability of each family member to read, write and do basic mathematics. Study the scriptures and other good books. Learn communication skills. Gain more knowledge.
Two years beyond high school recommended, ie. Associate Degrees, vocational training, technical school. Other degrees.
Continuing education with local classes and correspondence courses.
SMART INVESTMENTS:
· Scriptures for every family member. The Ensign, New Era, and Friend magazines. Family Home Evening Resource Guide. Hymn book.
Gospel Art Kit.
· Equipment to carry out employment. · Books/classes on parenting, child care. Educational materials for learning at home instead of preschool. · Home ownership loan.
· Home repair tools and how-to books. · Smoke detectors.
· Lawn /tree/ bush care tools. · Books and supplies for home health care. · 72 hour kit.
· An automobile if necessary where you live; auto repair tools; an auto safety kit. · Gardening tools, canner and jars, food dehydrator, food preservation tools. · Sewing machine, basic patterns, notions. · Education loans.
· Books, family games, art supplies, musical instruments.
· Hobby supplies and how-to books (Hobbies often bring in income or home produce items one would normally buy.
YOU DO THE MATH!
· Divide the square feet of your home into your monthly rent/mortgage payment to determine what you are spending per foot. How much are you paying for closets that store nothing you use? Garages you cannot park in. You are paying monthly for a mini storage! Rooms that are infrequently used? Or a home everyone only sleeps in? Time to downsize! · With your family, determine, in verbs, what is done in each room.
Outfit it with only what is needed to accomplish that task.
Get rid of the rest.
Put in or near the room tools needed to keep it clean.
Decide what is needed to clean it daily, weekly, and annually and who will do it. Now the room is easy for all to care for. You've saved time and money. · Take your hourly wage and subtract the taxes. This is your true hourly wage and how much life energy you spend.
When you buy something, you are exchanging your life energy.
Ask if it is worth it. ($5 hr. X 4 hours of work/life = new $20 blouse) · In your budget, children's sports are considered "Entertainment". Add up what it costs for the event's fees, clothing, equipment, gas for chauffeuring, $6 per hour in the car and spectating, convenience or fast food because the schedule doesn't allow you to eat at home as a family, and related motel expenses. Include medical costs for physicals and injuries.
· Save $- get the kids to do it! A BYU study shows that parents who pay their children for regular home/yard chores teach their children to indulge themselves and not serve others. Parents who do not pay their children have an easier time getting them to help. Today, children are being taught to spend money, not manage it ie. Tithe, save, invest. Technology is reducing the need for children to work.
Before you buy a home gadget or appliance, ask if it is robbing your family of an opportunity to work together.
Search for work in your neighborhood and community for children to do.
CUTTING THE COST OF FOOD
· Grocery shop with cash and you will be more careful.
· Put the grocery list on the refrigerator. When someone uses up a package, put it on the list. Buy what's on the list- you are buying what you really use.
· Design your list to the general layout of the store. You will avoid most of the store and the pressure to impulse buy. · Shop the perimeter of the store where the healthier, least processed and packaged foods are found. The aisles are filled with processed, and more expensive, food.
· The least expensive food is found on the bottom and tops of shelves.
· The bins holding foods about to expire are bargains IF they contain items you regularly buy. · Use a substitution list found in cookbooks instead of running to the store when you are out of something.
· Cupboards with a week's, month's or year's worth of supplies reduce food delivery or take out.
· Stores with services like cleaners, florists, pharmacies, bakeries, cafes, etc. Add their costs to the groceries.
· Coupons are for expensive brand name items. Store brands are cheaper. Use coupons only for items you buy regularly. Watch ads that say "Two for one" Or "Loss leader"-the price is added elsewhere.
· Write the manufacturer of your favorite food. They send newsletters, recipes, and coupons. · Go meatless or use bits of meat as meal enhancers, not the main attraction. · Make your own baby food by diluting juices and mashing food. Buy cloth diapers. · Grow and preserve all you can. Pick your own at farms and farmers' markets.
FOODS THAT EAT YOUR BUDGET: Deli meats, meats; cheese balls; cold cereals and instant breakfasts; fruits and vegetables not in season; juice boxes; chips and salty snacks; mixes; prepackaged desserts and cookies; pre-made or frozen dinners.
FOODS THAT EXTEND YOUR BUDGET: Dry milks; hot cereals; dried beans; wheat, grains and pastas; herbs and spices; nuts and seeds; whole grain breads, vegetables and fruits in season.
Advertising convinces us we need our wants. Our stewardships require we take care of our needs first. Then we become "Godlike" By helping others. We are "Wealthy" When we are "Content" With "Enough".
· NEEDS: EMPLOYMENT
Prepare for and carefully select a suitable occupation. Become skilled at work through training and experience.
Be diligent, hard working, and trustworthy. Give honest work for the pay and benefits received.
WANTS:
Starting a business without business counseling, business plan, or start up funds. Encouraging the wife to work outside the home in your place or to afford luxuries. Depending on public assistance with no intention of working.
Living where your talents are not employable so that you are underemployed, causing your family financial stress.
Being unwilling to make a career change, career relocation, or accept retraining when necessary to keep your employment.
· NEEDS: RESOURCE MANANGEMENT Pay tithes at 10%.
Pay fast offerings.
Save for the future-anything at a regular pace. Avoid unnecessary debt. Satisfy all of our promised obligations. Use our resources frugally and avoid wasting them.
WANTS:
Paying our creditors first. Shopping without a purpose. Purchasing items on time. Over spending.
Taking what we "Saved" At a sale and spending it on something else.
· NEEDS: SPIRITUAL STRENGTH Daily Scripture Reading, Family Prayer, Family Home Evening, Family Scripture Reading. Study the teachings of the prophets. Heed the counsel of Church leaders.
WANTS:
Over involvement.
Sports, lessons, committee meetings, or volunteer work that take us out of the home enough that we cannot teach or be with our families.
· NEEDS: SHELTER
Rent or house payment no more than ¼-1/3 the gross income.
Gardens and trees for beauty and food. Enough furniture for the use of the room; great if hand made or refinished by family.
WANTS:
Playrooms, guest rooms, family rooms, a bedroom/ bathroom for each person, more rooms than used; decks, outdoor rooms, large yards. Magazine quality decor and landscaping. Knick Knacks, collectibles.
· NEEDS: FOOD
Obey the Word of Wisdom-whole grains, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, seeds, dairy, and little meat.
Drink lots of water and have 2 weeks of stored water. Put up, use and regularly replace 1 year of food that includes grains, legumes, salt, honey or sugar, powdered milk, and cooking oil.
WANTS:
Processed, convenience, fast foods; eating out, gourmet foods; no food storage.
· NEEDS: CLOTHING
A clean outfit each day for a week to 10 days. (Allow extras for developmental needs.) Layering "All season" Clothing, and mixing and matching "Wash and wear" Clothing. We only wear 20% of the clothing in our closets. Hand down.
Buy used.
WANTS:
Brand names, fads; clothes that have to be dry cleaned, lain flat, ironed, hung to dry, or needing more equipment to care for them.
· NEEDS: HEALTH
Obey the Word of Wisdom. Exercise regularly.
Provide adequate medical and dental care, including appropriate insurance where possible. Teach safety precautions; have First Aid kits, home health skills and medicines.
· NEEDS: EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL HEALTH Pray frequently and fervently. Strengthen our relationships with family members, neighbors, and friends. Use our time wisely.
Shun things that are morally and spiritually degrading.
Work toward worthy goals. Do the best we can to adjust to change and recover from misfortune.
· NEEDS:WHOLESOME RECREATION (Activities that involve the mind and body) gardening, home repair, physical activity, hobbies, reading, travel, cultural events, exercise, music, genealogy, family history and reunions, drama, dance, playing instruments, games.
WANTS:
Pleasure- (Activities that require little physical or mental effort) computers, TV, video games, Nintendo, internet, entertainment centers, cruises, shopping, movies, spas, pets.
· NEEDS: EDUCATION
Improve the ability of each family member to read, write and do basic mathematics. Study the scriptures and other good books. Learn communication skills. Gain more knowledge.
Two years beyond high school recommended, ie. Associate Degrees, vocational training, technical school. Other degrees.
Continuing education with local classes and correspondence courses.
SMART INVESTMENTS:
· Scriptures for every family member. The Ensign, New Era, and Friend magazines. Family Home Evening Resource Guide. Hymn book.
Gospel Art Kit.
· Equipment to carry out employment. · Books/classes on parenting, child care. Educational materials for learning at home instead of preschool. · Home ownership loan.
· Home repair tools and how-to books. · Smoke detectors.
· Lawn /tree/ bush care tools. · Books and supplies for home health care. · 72 hour kit.
· An automobile if necessary where you live; auto repair tools; an auto safety kit. · Gardening tools, canner and jars, food dehydrator, food preservation tools. · Sewing machine, basic patterns, notions. · Education loans.
· Books, family games, art supplies, musical instruments.
· Hobby supplies and how-to books (Hobbies often bring in income or home produce items one would normally buy.
YOU DO THE MATH!
· Divide the square feet of your home into your monthly rent/mortgage payment to determine what you are spending per foot. How much are you paying for closets that store nothing you use? Garages you cannot park in. You are paying monthly for a mini storage! Rooms that are infrequently used? Or a home everyone only sleeps in? Time to downsize! · With your family, determine, in verbs, what is done in each room.
Outfit it with only what is needed to accomplish that task.
Get rid of the rest.
Put in or near the room tools needed to keep it clean.
Decide what is needed to clean it daily, weekly, and annually and who will do it. Now the room is easy for all to care for. You've saved time and money. · Take your hourly wage and subtract the taxes. This is your true hourly wage and how much life energy you spend.
When you buy something, you are exchanging your life energy.
Ask if it is worth it. ($5 hr. X 4 hours of work/life = new $20 blouse) · In your budget, children's sports are considered "Entertainment". Add up what it costs for the event's fees, clothing, equipment, gas for chauffeuring, $6 per hour in the car and spectating, convenience or fast food because the schedule doesn't allow you to eat at home as a family, and related motel expenses. Include medical costs for physicals and injuries.
· Save $- get the kids to do it! A BYU study shows that parents who pay their children for regular home/yard chores teach their children to indulge themselves and not serve others. Parents who do not pay their children have an easier time getting them to help. Today, children are being taught to spend money, not manage it ie. Tithe, save, invest. Technology is reducing the need for children to work.
Before you buy a home gadget or appliance, ask if it is robbing your family of an opportunity to work together.
Search for work in your neighborhood and community for children to do.
CUTTING THE COST OF FOOD
· Grocery shop with cash and you will be more careful.
· Put the grocery list on the refrigerator. When someone uses up a package, put it on the list. Buy what's on the list- you are buying what you really use.
· Design your list to the general layout of the store. You will avoid most of the store and the pressure to impulse buy. · Shop the perimeter of the store where the healthier, least processed and packaged foods are found. The aisles are filled with processed, and more expensive, food.
· The least expensive food is found on the bottom and tops of shelves.
· The bins holding foods about to expire are bargains IF they contain items you regularly buy. · Use a substitution list found in cookbooks instead of running to the store when you are out of something.
· Cupboards with a week's, month's or year's worth of supplies reduce food delivery or take out.
· Stores with services like cleaners, florists, pharmacies, bakeries, cafes, etc. Add their costs to the groceries.
· Coupons are for expensive brand name items. Store brands are cheaper. Use coupons only for items you buy regularly. Watch ads that say "Two for one" Or "Loss leader"-the price is added elsewhere.
· Write the manufacturer of your favorite food. They send newsletters, recipes, and coupons. · Go meatless or use bits of meat as meal enhancers, not the main attraction. · Make your own baby food by diluting juices and mashing food. Buy cloth diapers. · Grow and preserve all you can. Pick your own at farms and farmers' markets.
FOODS THAT EAT YOUR BUDGET: Deli meats, meats; cheese balls; cold cereals and instant breakfasts; fruits and vegetables not in season; juice boxes; chips and salty snacks; mixes; prepackaged desserts and cookies; pre-made or frozen dinners.
FOODS THAT EXTEND YOUR BUDGET: Dry milks; hot cereals; dried beans; wheat, grains and pastas; herbs and spices; nuts and seeds; whole grain breads, vegetables and fruits in season.
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Living on Less Than You Earn History & Civil Business Politics
Thank you for that great post! There is wonderful information there. I thought these were very interesting...
| QUOTE |
| Living where your talents are not employable so that you are underemployed, causing your family financial stress. |
I really need to ponder this one. My sister in Sacramento (which is a much higher-paying area than where I live) has been suggesting that we move closer to her, that we could help each other out.
| QUOTE |
| Being unwilling to make a career change, career relocation, or accept retraining when necessary to keep your employment. |
...oh, boy, the things I have to think about....why do I live in this area, really, when I could be closer to my family? And in a better employment region? I have a good job now, but would the move be worth it to be closer to family where we could help each other out? hmmmmmm.....
Roz
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 
59.5%
Earn Than on Living
Keep in mind when pondering a move for better paying job, that some areas cost more to live than others. When we seek to live on less than we earn, we need to be sure to look at all areas.
If you go to google and search, you will find there is an entire "movement" dedicated to living beneath one's means. I have found it very interesting and I am attempting to change my nature so that I can do this as well.
Remember, there is a significant difference to living within your means and living beneath your means.
International Level: Diplomat / Political Participation: 320 32%
Earn Than on Living
| QUOTE |
| there is an entire "movement" dedicated to living beneath one's means. I have found it very interesting and I am attempting to change my nature so that I can do this as well. |
Yes, this has been going on since the early 60s and 70s. Before that it was called "homemaking." 
One of my favorite's is "Tightwad Gazette." She's great! I forget the founder's name, but wow! What a collection of ideas she's got....
Roz
One of my favorite's is "Tightwad Gazette." She's great! I forget the founder's name, but wow! What a collection of ideas she's got....
Roz
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
Living on Less Than You Earn
But if someone have a very very low salary, how in the world they can spend less than what they earn if what they earn is not enough for their expenses in the first place?.
International Level: International Guru / Political Participation: 1089 100%
Living on Than Earn
Unfortunately, that's how a lot of homeless people end up homeless. No matter what they do, they can't earn enough to live on. So why bother? Others end up on welfare or food stamps from the government -- but you are only eligible for that if you have children, and only for a limited time, now.
International Level: Ambassador / Political Participation: 595 59.5%
TOPIC: Living on Less Than You Earn