MINIMIZE – Part I

Over the past 10 years, with each move I’ve made, I have down-sized a lot. About five years ago I rented a storage unit when I moved into a smaller place. I was paying around $55.00/month to store a bunch of my “stuff” in. So, after about six months to a year, I decided it was time to sell what I no longer needed. I kept thinking, “Why am I throwing money away to store these material things that could eventually be replaced?” In reality, I was paying for them over and over again and not even getting any use out of them. I know a lot of people who are or who have been in this same boat.

So, I decided to take the plunge and put an ad on Craigslist. A friend let me store some things in their garage, and also sell my items there, which really didn't take long. I unloaded pretty much all of my large pieces of furniture, like couches, dressers, beds, a washer and dryer, and my dining room set, just to name a few. And the things I didn't sell, I gave to a local ministry. I know I didn’t get what I originally paid for them, but I did make some money and was no longer paying for storage. And today, I can tell you that I do not miss those “things” at all.

”Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20).

Now, I don’t believe it is wrong to have material things as long as they are kept in their right place.  But if you find yourself living stressed out just trying to make ends meat to pay for what you can't afford, working overtime to pay for them, working two or three jobs just to purchase them, then I would ask you to sit down and ask yourself these five questions:

1. Why do I want this?
2. What purpose it will serve?
3. Is it really something I can’t live without?
4. Is all of the added stress worth it?
5. Is my family time suffering because of it?

Right now, I am living with a goal of paying off my debt and living debt free.  If you believe that getting out of debt will decrease your stress, then I hope you’ll join me on this journey. I know it will take some time, some of us longer than others depending on how much debt you are in. But if you start today, just think of where you will be a year from now? I know it will take self-sacrifice and it won’t be easy at first, but I truly believe you will be much happier and a lot less stressed in the end.

And don’t focus on how much debt you have, but on the end result. If you focus on the total, it will seem hopeless and only hold you back from starting in the first place. I know, I've been there. And realistically, once you are out of debt, you will be able to live the life you want to live on less and have more time to live it! 

CHER-Life and live WELL \o/

Cheryll