My husband and I are always trying to find ways to pay off debt. Debt can be such an obstacle to the other things we want to do in life and the Bible reminds us in Proverbs 22:7 “not be a slave to the lender”.
We were constantly working extra hours to pay for more stuff. Debt can creep up on you. Saying yes to debt one time can make it easier to say yes the next time. In the beginning, we think we deserve more. I used to have the mindset that since I worked hard, I “deserved” that new car. Ironically, I would spend hours each week in my new car driving to and from work. Not so fun!
People can begin to have such an entitled attitude. I am speaking of myself here. We look at what others have and think we also deserve those material belongings. The issue seems to be when we look at people at different times in their life.
For instance, I might see someone in their late 60s and retired who has a nice car and a beautiful home. If I am comparing myself to those successful people, I am comparing myself to someone who has made good financial decisions for a long time. People who are at a different point in their lives. But the discontent can creep in.
It seemed like we were working so many hours to pay for things that no longer seemed as important in our lives.
The Decision is Made
We discussed downsizing our home to decrease our debt load. After some discussion we decided we wanted more time for the people in our lives instead of spending so much time working. My Mother-In-Law was experiencing some health issues. My Mother has a chronic illness that was worsening. Our only Grandchildren were growing up too fast and I wasn’t spending enough time with them. We never had time to stop and enjoy all the beauty that surrounds us. It was all of these issues and more that led to the decision to downsize our home, pay off debt, and focus more on the people we love.
The Process
Selling our house was a big deal for us (huge), but an important step in lessening our debt load. It wasn’t easy and we are still adjusting to a different life with a focus on more important things (people). We had lived in our present home for sixteen years. Our family had created some awesome memories while living in this home. The family home sold quickly, even quicker than we envisioned. The new buyers needed a quick closing and possession which we were willing to accommodate. This required focused effort on the moving task. Purging, packing, cleaning and moving our belongings quickly was a group effort.
The End Result
Not only were we able to pay off our mortgage, but we have made some significant strides in decreasing the consumer debt we had accumulated. The story isn’t over yet. We still have more debt to pay off, but we hope to set a good example for our children and grandchildren by creating a life that focuses more on others instead of ourselves.
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