“All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every organism to live beyond its income.”~Samuel Butler
An interesting statement that may very well fit our North American culture more so than many other cultures of the world. We, Becky and I, have been totally debt free for several years now. Credit cards are always seen as a temporary convenience, to be paid off as quickly as possible rather than to live in bondage to debt. It is a principle we have often heard from the our leaders over the the almost five decades we have been members of the LDS Church, and really preached since the Lord gave revelation on it from the early days of this dispensation. D&C: 19:34-35
I don’t know if we have fought over money. There have been disagreements, but not in significant ways that we (or our children) would remember. There is a sense of freedom. Since the early days of our marriage we have both sought and found ways to keep our debts to a minimum. We drive older vehicles… thus debt free. When in high school I took an automotives course (and wood shop), thus dodging the extras often perpetrated upon the unsuspecting many; I still change the oil in our vehicles and do minor maintenance.
As a returning missionary from Mississippi, I worked for year for a mobile home manufacturer, learning electrical, plumbing, flooring, and carpentry under supervision of licensed trades journeyman. Thus, over decades I’ve been able to do lots of things instead of paying others and I have enjoyed it all (Well, there are two sides to that… sometimes it’s been frustrating such as when changing out transmissions over gravel in California, saying to my eldest son, you might consider finding an occupation where you don’t have to do this… which he did!). Becky in like manner has lots of skills, particularly useful for our family. We are not rich as the worldly would define it, but we’re rich in other ways and happy. The Lord has definitely blessed us as we strive to live another of His counsels. kdm
