Happy Tax Time from Anita!đł
âHow many chickens did you count when you put them up last night?â I mentioned casually over morning coffee. âI only saw seven when I let them out this morning.â
âEight, Iâm positiveâ he assured me âand YOU keep the books?â he joked.
Itâs a test of the maturity and strength of a marriage to share chickens and bank accounts! Â Â
Americans across the country spread out at the kitchen table to pay bills and in April, even worse, we have to figure out the whole year! Facing the music and making the numbers work every month takes time, a little imagination and sticking to a plan. I wish our countryâs leaders would do the same!
Itâs tough for most people these days. Moneyâs not a subject discussed in polite company even among friends, except to try to look like you have it all together. It helps to know weâre not alone!
There have been countless times weâve prayed to make ends meet when the kids were little and we were always given our daily bread! We prayed for film jobs to come through in a super competitive market, the work to go smoothly and the checks to clear.
At this point, I mostly pray for wisdom to make right decisions and remember to focus on the incredible bounty in my life. With prayer, doors open, sometimes an unexpected window, a few times a fire escape and a rescue boat, but always, good things happen with prayer!
Any farmer, freelancer or small business owner, knows about fluctuating income. Dave Ramseyâs neat little formulas donât fit that lifestyle very well, although I am in agreement about staying out of debt, as best you can.
Invariably emergencies crop up, that rogue dentist bill, a pesky annual insurance payment that was forgotten in the monthly plan. And to be fair, Ramsey has solutions for those incidental expenses, too.
For our entire marriage, as independent filmmakers, real estate flippers, antique dealers and jugglers, we have been on the feast or famine rollercoaster. One of us has the âhalf fullâ outlook, the other struggles with anything other than whatâs in the glass right now.
Itâs a pretty perfect combination, not something we really planned for back when we walked down the aisle all starry eyed. But a nice balance. Plus, we enjoy each others company, by the grace of God, after as many years as Abraham wandering around the desert!
Beyond the nitty gritty of the kitchen table budget, maybe more important, is the âMagic of Thinking Bigâ - opening your mind to the endless possibilities available to accomplish the goal you have in mind. If you believe you can, you will! Â A positive attitude attracts success in your endeavors like a magnet.
Author Watty Piper nailed it in the1930âs classic, âThe Little Engine That Couldâ with the inspirational message repeated over and over, as she pulled an impossibly heavy load of toys over a mountain, âI think I can, I think I can, I think I can!â
We would all do well to remember that tale of cheerful persistence when working toward achieving a goal. We can harness our minds to create solutions with the right perspective
It always comforts me to remember the unseen powers swirling around us, working for good.
Happily, this earth is so much more than the black and white we see!
Just in case youâre still wondering⌠weâll find out at dusk, when the chickens file into bed, who was right.
All I know is, donât count your chickens before they hatch!
Anita, once again you have pointed out a simple secret that those of us who know would love to see spread to those who don't. It sure seems difficult for some people to manage. I think it comes down to a matter of implicit trust. My bride and I are not quite to your milestone--we're coming up on 37 years--but ever since we comingled our funds so many years ago, neither of us has had a worry about the other frivolously overspending. I may check on the bank account and see $1.97 my lovely bride has spent on an e-book, but I have never had to worry that either of us would blow the money on a new motorcycle or an Alsatian puppy. Any large expenditures are carefully noodled out long before the funds are spent. We both grew up with frugal parents who really didn't much believe in credit cards or bank loans. When it was decided it was time for a new car, Mom labeled an envelope and stuck it in a little locked box. Each week she would put whatever monies were available into that envelope, and when there was enough, she and Dad would start shopping for a car--never a "new" one, but always new to us. Her folks were quite similar in their approach. It's a simple rule: if it's going to go down in value (like a car) always pay cash; and if it's going to appreciate (like a house) a loan is okay. If only the government could understand that concept...
yup! money is a subject not even discussed among loved ones, friends & family... yet, the STATE demands it knows everything about your private business. further, it demands much time doing its accounting without pay. at least we can take solace knowing our "money" is *sooo well spent*. đł of course, anyone who dives into the subject of the "income" tax discovers that it's illegal, immoral, and directly violates the individual Natural Rights our Creator has given us. perhaps this is an excellent reminder for all of us of what Jesus said about all worldly kingdoms â they are all under the rulership of the adversary. thankfully, we have help to cope with the wickedness in this present world from our Lord through prayer, as you said. đđźđâ¤ď¸âžď¸