Money Saving Mom

I totally agree and commend you for living like without the bondage of debt. I once had someone ask me why I was concerned about paying off my credit cards. This was shortly after my husband and I were introduced to the Dave Ramsey way of life. She said that everyone had credit card debt so why should I be any different? I can't quite understand that way of thinking but I guess she couldn't understand mine. Keep up the good work and I hope your van is fixed tonight. Blessings to you :)

I'm sorry that you had such a rude commenter. I think we should all agree to disagree on certain financial and life decisions instead of criticizing. One answer is not the right or wrong answer across for everyone.

I'm sorry that you get rude comments! I just want to say that because of this blog me and now alot of my friends are being purposeful about how we spend (and try to save our money). We've been able to provide things for our families that we couldn't before and we are able to bless others even when we're struggling ourselves. Thanks for being such an encouragement!!!!

What a goober. Maybe they should give you the money since it is such a simple thing to do...hehehe...you go girl

Kudos to you Crystal... You are truly living the Financial Peace lifestyle. It is a shame that the commentor was less than positive, but that is how people think when they don't understand the sacrifice it takes to feel the freedom of never "owing the man."
No matter the amount of money one makes, there are tons of opportunities to be in hock for more. You are very lucky to have this all figured out so early in your lives ( good parenting goes far!) Keep it up and thanks for the daily inspiration in our personal journey to being debt free in 2010!

Yes, you are "living like no one else." You're living unlike the millions of Americans who have an average of $10,000.00 in credit card debt, a mortgage they can't afford, two (or more) cars they don't own outright and are still paying for (and are probably upside down in), and children who will never understand the value of a dollar because they can just "go out and buy" whatever they want when they want it whether they can afford it or not.

My friends make fun of me all the time because I'm so budget minded and fiscally responsible. But, you know what? At the age of 29, I'm a single female (single income) who owns her own vehicle and doesn't owe cent to anyone (no debt).

So I commend you for not living like everyone else...which equates to living within your means and relying on the Lord to take care of you when life's little uh-oh's catch you.

Keep up the awesome job!

This is my first time commenting... I just wanted to let you know how much you have helped me (and, I'm sure, many others). I only found this blog a few weeks ago, and already I've learned so much! Thanks for being willing to share all that you do, even at the risk of rude commenters (whose negativity reflects on *them*, not *you*). :)

Yay for you! You need to keep living like no one else, and keep inspiring us. I love your mentality...only buy what you have money to buy! It is wonderful and refreshing!
www.handmadedaily.blogspot.com

{{{picture Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman pumping her fist in the air and yelling WOOF WOOOF WOOOOF}}}}

beautifully put!! it's funny how the people who think I'm nuts for putting all this time and effort into first getting my debt under control and now more recently getting on the coupon/bargin train (I had no clue this existed until a few weeks ago) but it's even funnier that those are the same people who are reaping the benefits of my savings... if there is a product I get for free I pass it on to friends.. you wouldn't believe the comments I've gotten from them!!

Crystal I just want you to know that our family loves you! Without your blog I wouldn't be saving my family any money. Their are a lot of rude people out in this world. I commend you and your family for living the Financial Peace lifestyle! I hope someday we will be living that lifestyle:) Thank you so much for your hard work and encouragement everyday! Keep up the good work.

Wow Crystal . . you guys are WEIRD!! And as those of living in and striving for Financial Peace know . . that is a total compliment!
We always have to keep a couple of the ground rules in mind:
1. Weird is good.
2. We don't take advice from broke people.

...Hmmmmmmm.

It must be icky to get rude comments, especially ones that are personal...though you said you are used to them, I will pray for your heart and mind to be protected and for your eyes to always only see what is True. You are a blessing to so many.

Right on! Too many of us just go out and purchase new stuff because we can get the credit to do so. I have done this and still am guilty of it here and there. BUT, there is nothing better than the feeling of getting out of debt one day at a time and SAVING enough money to purchase what is really needed at the time you actually need it. Less debt = less stress and more money to save!

Right on, Crystal!

We live in such a disposable and materialistic society that the quick answer to everything is "just go buy a new one". I respect your commitment to your plans.

You're right, in a way it would be easy to go and get a new car, but in the end, not really. It would just delay your bigger dream. It's great that you have a good attitude about having one car only if need be. We have only one. It saves us SO much not having to pay taxes, repairs and insurance, etc. on a second vehicle.

Sometimes we have to deny ourselves certain things for the greater good of our goals. The problem is that many don't want to deny themselves anything.

I'm so sorry that anyone would ever consider it acceptable to be rude to you (or anyone.) It seems they have forgotten the adage, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything." Perhaps this is not the blog for them to read, or they should just start their own if they know what is best for you and your family.

What I treasure most about your blog is actually not the money-saving tips, or your amazing encouragement to be good stewards, but your amazing positive attitude. I have thanked God many times for your positive peer pressure!

i'm so sorry you get rude comments. your blog is one of my favorites, because of the info and because of your friendly tone. i have the feeling i could meet you in real life and instantly be friends.

i think it's great you aren't replacing your van. we just did replace my husband's car (the mechanic recommended it; it was 10 years old and the repairs would have been costly). instead of buying new, he found an even older car that was in great shape and checked out with our mechanic. so for us it was a "new" car with no car payment.

Bravo! Well said! The rude commenter obviously doesn't "get it". I do "get it", though. Thanks to you and your blog!

Christy

I have learned SO MUCH from you and I hope you don't change a THING! Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to this blog. You have helped my family begin our baby steps toward "living like no one else". Thanks again and God bless!

Good for you Crystal.

Though I'm sorry you had to defend yourself and your personal decisions, you did it well, in a Christ-like manner.

I so feel your pain on the car! I have been asked the exact same thing by friends and even my MIL the last few days! I am not going any further into debt just because the rest of the world is doing it. At this point I have replaced so much on the car that it is like a new car, lol, and it's all ours! We paid cash up front for it, and we'll do the same for next one.

Gosh, I hate when people make comments like that. (I'll bet that person just hasn't done their homework when it comes to biblical stewardship). It happens that whenever you do something counter-culture people do not know what to make of it. We have faced that many times with biblical discipline, home schooling, staying at home, biblical roles, living in a smaller house than anyone we know, driving an average car, tithing-you name it. Sometimes its a good chance to give a testimony about how God is at work in your life-which I think you consistently do. 1 Timothy 6 says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction." And it goes on. Pretty strong words! I think you (and your husband) are wise to heed these words and seek to live within your means, and if God wants you to have a different car- He'll give you one. In the meantime, I commend your contentment and forbearing spirit. Thanks again for the way you serve all these families!

yeah for you! maybe you aren't going out and buying a brand new car b/c you don't HAVE to. you have the money in the bank to make the necessary repairs, and when you are ready, you can find a great deal on a vehicle and pay cash for it. that's something to be proud of. there are so many people that end up over a barrel b/c their car breaks down and all they can "afford" to do is finance a new car at an outrageous interest rate. if that isn't backwards, i don't know what is. sorry, i just needed to rant a little bit. ;) i get the weird looks too, and i just have to remember that "living like no one else" is a good thing.

You really gotta look at getting a widget or something to allow for a larger font size in the comment section.

Because I need to make my AMEN to your post about 20 times bigger (and in bold:)

We too have some money saved for other things, and it makes absoluetly no sense for us to use that money for something else (like a newer vehicle). It's an easy desire to want to give in to, though!

Saving money and not purchasing something until you have enough specific money set aside for it is such a foreign concept in our country, many people honestly can't wrap their minds around the concept. Speaking of that, I bet you get a good share of un- understanding comments on your admirable goal of saving for a house;)

Great Job!

Trixie

I am so glad you addressed the comment that was made. I totally agree with you. We are currently renting an apt. and there is a lot of pressure to buy. While I am not sure if we will be able to pay cash for a house, I have a greater purpose to save and I think about what I purchase more as a result of your blog. I am not sure the position of the person that made the rude comment but I pray that God will change their heart and if they don't already they will come to know Him and experience the freedom that only He can give. I feel like once you experience that grace...I tend to be a little less judgemental.

You go Crystal!
I don't like rude comments either, but I do like the fact that they keep me in line to remind me that only God can bring me true happiness! I love your attitude to shake it off!
~The Bargain Shopper Lady