Let’s burst your bubble right at the beginning. It is not easy to live on one income. Sometimes it seems impossible to accomplish this dream. Many people don’t even think it is an option.. But the truth is, being a one income family is an option for so, so many people. Not everyone, I will be the first to admit this, but if this is your biggest, most desperate dream, then I dare you to explore the possibilities and see where it could lead you.
The Secret
So, what’s the secret to becoming a one income family? I’ll be upfront. It’s contentment. Don’t quit on me. Contentment doesn’t sound exciting? Stick with me. I’ll challenge your thinking, I’ll dare you to dream radical new dreams, and together we will rewrite what success and a thriving home look like.
Consumerism – yes or no?
Currently, first world countries are driven by consumerism. It’s what people live, work, and give their lives for. I challenge you to ask a simple question. Is that what I want for my life? For my kid’s lives? If the answer is yes, then this article is not for you. I’m sure that you will find plenty of resources somewhere else that will aid you in your consumer dream. But, if your answer is no, then you have to start with rethinking everything you have been trained to do as part of “normal life.”
Get started
To help you rethink what what life is really meant to be like, I’ll give you a few places to get started. But let me tell you upfront, this is only the beginning. You will have start asking hard questions and analyzing your life.
Steps to take
1. If you are trying to live a high-end life, living on one income will rarely work.
I say rarely because there will always be exceptions, but if you are reading this, you are probably not one of those exceptions.
Living a high-end life is usually not an option on one income. If that totally bums you out and depresses you, then ask yourself. What is my real dream? Is it to be a stay-at-home mom? Or, is it to have a really nice house, in a fantastic location, with amazing new decor? You have to be honest with yourself.
I used to want a bigger house and newer cars, and the truth is I still sometimes want those things, but I came to realize that though they would be nice, hey are not my dream. My big dream is to stay home with my kids while they are young and growing. The other things are just stuff that would be nice.
2. You must be ok with living a frugal life.
You have to willing to look at how you spend your money. Honestly, look at it. Then you have to be willing to find ways to save. Don’t worry if that doesn’t come easily to you. It is a learned skill for many, many people (including me). But, it can become a fun (yep, I said fun) challenge to conquer. Yes, you really can conquer your spending…
3. You need to learn to enjoy being creative in many areas.
And I do mean enjoy. When you start thinking about how you are living and where you are spending your money, you begin to have more clarity about what is going on in your home and in your life. You will begin to see hope where you never did before, and the sweet thing is that you have the potential to enjoy, really enjoy, the process.
4. You must find joy in simple things.
To find joy in simple things, you have to slow your life down. But honestly, when you become a stay-at-home mom, you have the honest potential to slow down your life, because well, you have more time. Funny how this works.
And, if you slow down, you get a chance to see the smaller things that hold beauty and the simple things that hold wonder. As you do this, you want less, need less. It is beautiful cycle that defies consumerism and leads you appreciate what you already have. It can even open your eyes to have more appreciation for other people and all of God’s blessings.
5. Bitterness and discontent will sink you.
Wanting what others have will leave you feeling wretched, miserable, and even depressed. It took me years to not look at what other people have and feel like it wasn’t fair. One day, I realized something. When I looked at people, I would think it wasn’t fair that my house was so small etc. and they had so much space etc., but I had to realize that that wasn’t my dream.
If I wanted a different home above all else, then I was free to pursue that. But my dream was to be married to my amazing husband and stay-home with my kids and raise. If living my priorities meant I lived in a smaller house, then I had to realized that it was my choice. I can’t be discontent if I consciously choose the life I’m living, nor can I be bitter. If I can’t realize that, then these emotions will sink me and my home.
It’s possible
So, though it’s not easy to live on one income, it is more than possible. You may have to challenge every idea you’ve ever had about how you live, what you consume, and what your dreams truly are. But you if it’s what you want, then you can do it! Living on one income takes learning new skills, planning, and determination, but it can be possible.
