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 "I dedicate this site for not only for own personal use but to all the wanna be people out there that want their own little place out in the country or just need to save some money. It may be a dream but it can become a reality if you want it bad enough."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Living out in the country has helped us budget, but we havent always lived out here. It took us years of dreaming, saving, budgeting, researching, reading, learning, bartering, to get our little place out in the country.

 

Each year we saved a little bit more, and we invested wisely to save for a downpayment for a place. We bought a bargain ranch at $150,000 after years of researching the area and looking around at other ranches we jumped at it fast. However we didnt consider how much the mortgage was going to eat at us each month. Sure the realator said we could afford it with our income but what did he know of our debt already?

After only four years we ended up selling it for almost double the amount. (Thanks to Dave its all material)

 

We then research (I had every local realtors website booked marked) and found our current place at $165,000 we put $100,000 down and fixed up the place it needed some work since it hadnt been lived in for years. The location, water and grass were such a big plus it was worth it! It also came with two houses and two barns! The place after only two years has gone up to $275,000 especially with us fixing up the smaller cottage. We kid around and say we will be one of those farms you see on HGTV "Homestead holdouts" someday hahaha.

 

Now we are learning to grow our own food and have other things like honey, eggs, milk, pecans to our farm this helped us even more with our grocery bill, and is making us a little bit more prosperious and healthier each year. We learn to flea market, auction hunt and when we do have to buy stuff we buy good quality NOT label so it can last. Think of it as something to pass on to grandkids.

 

Above to the right and left you will see different sections that can give you help on saving on grocerys, clothes, gardening ect... don't be embarrased to be frugal its in the bible!

 

Proverbs 14:29 He who impulsive exalts folly

 

Proverbs 21:20 Precious treasure remains in a wise mans dwelling but a follish man devours it.

 

etc....

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The January Check List for Bills:

 

I have a system I call the "January checklist" where I will check all are bills once a year to make sure I am getting the best deal on telephone, internet, cell phone etc...You will be surprised especially when your up for an upgrade on something how much more of a deal you will get if you tell them, "So if I stay with you what will you give me?

 

If you really need some budget help to try to control where your money is going, or your at your wits end at the creditors calling you, tired of never getting ahead, or even thinking of bankrupsy I advice you to listen to Dave Ramsey radio show its free and nation wide. He has baby steps to take, we have listened to him and love him, he has words of wisdom on getting out of debt. We have gotten both of his books at half.com (get the newer versions) He is NOT a get rich scheme guy, he did create these books after he got out of debt and has been on the radio for years and counslers for years at his church for free. He gives basic advice on budgeting.

 

I am truly thankful we found Dave before we almost made the horrible mistake of buying a new car (stupid tax) and more land. We are truly blessed to have listened to him that one day.

 

Thank you Dave!

 

 

You can find out what station (nation side) he is on http://www.daveramsey.com 

 

 

 

If you dont have time at least read some of his wisdom on debts

 

 

If you want to try something else I also advice Crown Financial Ministries they offer free stuff and I have heard wonderful stuff about them. They have basic baby steps like Dave

 

 

*Note to self to remember:

 

*We once cut back on cabel for a year so that we could catch up on our bills. I thought it was going to be mutiny at my house for even suggesting it, but it worked out great. W rented a lot of video from the library and borrowed from friends and we got to catch up with a lot of movies we had been wanting to see. We also started a game night which the kids loved. At the end of the year we saved $60 every month that was $720 for the year!

 

*Another time I didnt notice we were paying extra for caller ID on our home phone we didnt even use! That was $6.00 a month a savings of $72.00 a year.

 

Where is your money going? For a basic budget worksheet to go along with it "Click Here"

 

Last updated Aug /23/2005

 

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