I know the majority of us grew up understanding that we should never go into debt. But was it modeled for us, by our parents? Were we taught how to be money savvy in grade school, or more importantly, in high school before leaving home? Was it modeled as a country by the government ! Certainly not. I can only hope and pray my friends have been able to escape and prosper debt free within their marriages, and even as single individuals, because we did not escape the attractive snare of "consumer debt" from the beginning! Parents told us, credit cards are bad, so be careful...but wait, you need them for everything, to buy a new or used car, house, or home appliance! But it is the American right to own everything before it is paid for, isn't it?! Or at least this is the basis for our generation after high school and college, and we jumped in with both feet! Almost 10 years later, we are still trying desperately to pay off those cards we have had debt on for the last 6 years...don't get me wrong, we have paid off entire cards, and we have stopped falling for getting a new card to transfer a balance, to take advantage of a zero percent interest rate for a set amount of time. But dang IT. It is a game. Why are we surprised that our government can't keep their spending on a budget when how every American shops and lives in this country is encouraged to be "by and on a card"?! We have learned our lesson the hard way...spending the first 8 years of our marriage strapped to credit card debt...but as we slowly gain victory over our battle with the American Bulge of consumerism, we continue to learn, and grow wiser...and most importantly, teach our children how to smartly avoid what we weren't physically taught! However, I do wonder if the world will be the same when they come of age? I have a sinking feeling that debt is not going to be their choice to pay...or the fact that the freedoms we have today will even be around for the choosing, for them? We can only pray, and learn what we can do to keep our freedoms for them, in the coming future. I fear our current national lethargy, physically and the way everyone spends their money currently, whether with credit or cash, is killing and crippling our nation. We not ONLY need to be wise about our debt, but purposeful with WHERE we shop!! Do we realize WHERE our money is going every time we spend money at a chain store or restaurant? It goes to THAT company, but not our community! And do you know WHY it is MORE expensive to BUY local than with those chain giants? Because OF THOSE chain giants. Local can NO LONGER compete with dollar stores or Wally Worlds. Why do you think so many Americans are out of jobs? Because no one can either afford to start their own business...AND the community refuses to SUPPORT their own small businesses! FRIENDS, it is time to get back to supporting our local businesses, and consider boycotting the chains. Just think...if we decided to buy ONLY local MEAT...not JUST because it is grass fed, but because it doesn't come from the east coast, we could be supporting the resurgence of local BUTCHERS, and bread from local bakers...SUPPORT THEM! Not Safeway. AND if we choose to find local toys, or support a friend who can make them, vs. Target or Wally World, we are keeping the money in OUR community!!
However, we, I too, am guilty of this as well...it is a LIFEstyle change, and a hard one...we still have a membership to Sam's Club that we can't seem to shake, because the vinegar, and contact solution and toilet paper are crazy deals...and I haven't found a budget friendly replacement yet...but I am trying desperately to move in that direction so I can BIN Sam's Club for GOOD!
Do we realize that if we all PURPOSEFULLY started to put our money where it matters, even on local organic food, if we all did this, the prices we BECOME more reasonable? The prices are high because these farmers can NOT compete with the all mighty dollar of CHINA's Wal Mart...does no one realize that China is very close to owning America?? Why can't we all take a small stand with OUR money, while a bit of it IS still our money, and make local choices with it? Then, even if we are, or are not completely debt free, we could start to feel free again in this country, because we will be making the actual choices of where our money goes. BECAUSE, every time we shop at a chain store, they are making the decision for US. We too are slowly moving away from chains...Sam's Club is the last one for us to break-up with, and it IS hard! But we can do ALL things through faith and hard work. IS not our children's future worth it? Do you want your children's future to be working AT wal-mart distributors so that WE can send things to CHINA? Because that is the direction this nation is heading in, every time we shop at those stores, we are putting money into another country, because everything that comes from China, is a drop in their money bucket, not ours. SO, please pray, consider carefully where your money is going, and join with me to continue to strive to change our shopping and consumer habits!
We have committed to "make Christmas" this year, which is SO very exciting, not only for our budget, but for the fact that we are going to make EVERYthing, and this Christmas is going to be more enjoyable for it!
I would LOVE for friends and family to join this commitment, it is a FUN yet challenging one...and what is life without challenge:?]
Check this out!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/160924714044053/
ALSO, Friends of Flagstaff's Future is always pushing, shop local, from now until December, and we are going to support them as much as possible, especially since our family HAS a local business.
Could be one of the many reasons shopping local is so close to my heart!
www.skyislandroasters.com
Here is their link to check out, and support, and to keep on your minds during the upcoming holiday season, SHOP LOCAL, to keep YOUR money LOCAL...while WE each still have the freedom to do so...this freedom is changing, as our dollars continue to make Wally World, Safeway and Target more powerful with each and every thing we buy from them!
http://www.friendsofflagstaff.org/
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