Living Remarkably Well On A Single Low Income

 

In spite of being a single income family we live remarkably well and have for quite some time. It wasn’t until we started filling out the FASFA financial aid form and all the other scholarship forms for college that my girls had any knowledge whatsoever about my income.  But the cat is out of the bag when you fill all of that stuff out and have to include a copy of your income tax return.  Much as I'd like to keep all of my financial information private it doesn't quite work out that way.  However, one of the best compliments my girls could every give me was telling me they never knew we were on the low income spectrum and that they were completely clueless.  Looking back it made sense to them since there was only one parent and thus only one income, but because of how I managed our home and my finances they were completely unaware.  Thankfully, my children have never had to go without.

 

We have always had plenty of clothing, appropriate footwear, coats, hats and mittens for the cold weather months, shorts, sundresses and swimsuits in the summer.  The girls have always had dresses for special occasions like an orchestra concert, a school dance or the prom.  They have always had access to and regular visits at the doctor or dentist as well as both girls received orthodontic care to straighten their teeth.  There has always a roof over their heads and warm and comfortable beds to sleep in.

 

We eat extremely well too.  Healthy and nutritious foods that sustain us and maintain our health rather than cause a detriment to it.  Thankfully, none of us are overweight or suffer from any diet related illnesses.  I’ve heard it said many times that a healthy diet is too expensive, but it simply is not true.  In my opinion it is far more expensive not to eat a healthy diet.  Not only do we eat very well on a daily basis, but our home is well stocked with groceries and we don’t have any worries about our food supply.  I know a lot of families right now are struggling with this particular area so I am very grateful to be in the position that I am currently in.

 

I tend to keep things fairly simple and I try to purchase quality over quantity.  I don't necessarily feel that everything has to be new either.  Often I can find older used or vintage items that are much better than what I can buy new in the stores these days.  I think that is especially true of cookware and bakeware items.  Much of what I have in my kitchen is very old, handed down to me by my grandmothers or purchased second hand.

 

We have a modest home and furnishings, nice vehicles that weren’t overly expensive to purchase, good wholesome foods to eat, classic clothing and shoes that don’t go out of style with the seasons and we take care of and maintain what we have and are mindful not to be wasteful.  And little bit by little bit we make improvements to what we have to not only increase its value, but also to make it better and improve the quality of our life.  Keeping our life simple and being mindful of what we purchase and how we spend our money makes it easier to live within our means.  I would much rather have fewer things and have them be nicer.  Patience and hard work are a big factor here too.  I don’t need everything “right now”.  I’m willing to wait to purchase what I need when the prices are low enough that it won’t be a financial burden.  These are life lessons I’ve work hard to teach my children too.

 

I'm not trying to brag about myself or portray that I am so much better off than most.  Instead I am hoping to inspire others so they too can live an abundant life without being limited by the money they make.  I've always felt it is less about the money you make and much more about what you do with it.  I hope I can set an example so that those who might be struggling right now can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  Nothing would please me more than if I could help someone simply by setting a good example and lead them on a better path.