Living With Less So Your Family Has More

Living With Less So Your Family Has More
Given by Jill and Mark Savage

What is less?

• Less stress
• Less activities
• Less money

What is more?

• More availability
  
• More peace
• More health
• More organization
• More energy for marriage and parenting
• More attentiveness
• More time
• More margin

Living with less so your family has more means making choices in your family to downsize your family's stress.

* Vision effects attitude, so you MUST keep the more's in front of you. Many families start with this journey with all of the more's as their driving force, but once they get into it, they forget why they started this. So you MUST keep the more's in front of you!!!

There are 4 attitudes that you must have in order to successfully live this less is more journey.

Attitude #1: Counter Cultural Perspective

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing, and perfect will."
- Romans 12:2

• Peer pressure exists in the adult world just as much as the teen world.
  
• We need to decide, who has the most influence over our minds and hearts. Is it the media, society, and our friends and family, or is it God? Who are we going to let guide our lifestyles?

Attidude #2: Contentment

Wanting nothing more than what you already have.

• Anytime culture points you in a direction it will let you down. God promises contentment.

What is the opposite of poverty?

Wikipedia defines poverty as "the condition of not having the means to afford basic human needs such as clean water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing, and shelter."

Enough is the opposite of poverty. Having enough food to not starve to death. Wealth is not the opposite of poverty, wealth is overkill.

Three reasons we struggle with being content:

• Advertising. (The American media is ridiculous, lets be honest!!)
  
• We get introduced to something better. (Our TV wasn't so bad until we saw an HD TV...)
• We get caught up in the comparison trap. (We compare ourselves, or others compare us to other people and what they own or what activities their kids can afford to do)

Seven ways to be content:

• Live beyond the temporary. Matthew 6:19-20 says "Do not store up for yourself treasures here on earth where moths and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal."
• Move your frame of mind from own to loan. We must keep reminding ourselves that everything we have here is really on loan from God, we don't own any of it anyway.
• Learn to give. People who give to others, even when they don't have much, are scientifically proven to be more content people.
• Praise God. All day every day. When you're walking, talking, singing, doing dishes, driving your car. When your praising God it is hard to feel discontent.
• Grow a thankful heart. Make sure you're always looking for what you DO have, not what you DON'T have.
• Live within your means. You'll be more content if you're not stressing about paying that credit card bill!
• Accept your circumstances. "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass, it's about dancing in the rain."

Attitude #3: Sacrifice

We must ask ourselves "what is most important in my life?". Sometimes the things that we need to sacrifice aren't always bad things. Sometimes we need to give up that volunteer position at the humane society because it just takes up too much time after school when we could be having family time.

There are two different kinds of sacrifices.

Constructive sacrifices are okay to make. These include:

• Sacrificing comfort. We may need the smaller house, or to be a one car family.
• Sacrificing hobbies. Sometimes our most favorite hobbies take away too much time from our family, or they cost too much to continue.
• Sacrificing entertainment / recreational activities. Cable television, the membership to the gym may just have to go.
• Sacrificing our career. Some of you may need to step off the corporate ladder and be content in the job position that you currently have. Some of you may need to go part time, or become a one income family.
  

Deconstructive Sacrifices are NOT okay to make. These include:

• Our relationship with God. It's not okay to be so busy that you skip church every Sunday because it's the only day of the week you can sleep in. It's not okay to be so busy that the only night you can get a family night is Wednesday and you have to skip your Bible Study. It is not okay to have so many activities that you can't find time for daily devotional and prayer time.
  
• Our marriage. Too many people tend to put their kids on alters. Marriage is the only relationship that is designed to outlast that of a parental relationship.
  
• Our identity. Kids, jobs, homes, etc. don't define us. Our identity is who we are in Christ.

Attitude #4: Simplicity

• Go back to what gives more to your family.
• Live an intentional life.
• Inward simplicity is choosing to listen to only one voice...God's.
• Outward simplicity is enjoying the simple things God has given us rather than always needing man made "fun".
• Take time to marvel at God's creations. Spend an afternoon with a 2 year old who looks at every bug and blade of grass.
  

Attitude #5: Frugality

• Learn to appreciate the adventure of using what you have.
  
• Learn to appreciate God's daily provisions.
• Research purchases. Be more intentional about spending your money.
  
• Organize. You should spend as much time organizing for an event as you do at the event. If you're going grocery shopping, you should spend as much time making a grocery list and clipping coupons as it takes you to do the shopping.
• Swap. Yes, it's still done in America today. Swap item or item, service for service, or service for item. Just ask, you'll be amazed at how many people are willing to swap!
• Question. Ask yourself if there is a way to spend less...buy used, trade, go without.
• Manage. Frugal people know what they have and where it is. Do your kids what toys they have and where they are?!
  
• Redefine. What do we really need?
• Generate. Frugal people generate ideas, activities, etc. It take creativity to go against the main stream and come up with new ideas.
• Have faith. Frugal people allow God to be their provider. (no, this doesn't mean you don't have to have any kind of income.)
  

I can't wait to read my copy of this book. I'm sure I'll write more about it when I'm reading it!

Good luck on your journey to live with less so your family can have more!