My Oola Journey: Finance

In the book, “Oola:  Find Balance in an Unbalanced World, one of the key areas that needs balance is finance.  Drs. David Braun and Troy Amdahl advocate a debt-free life.  Easier said than done for most people.  However, this truly is key if one wants true freedom.  According to the Bible, God does not like us to get into debt.  “Do not be one who shakes hands in pledge or puts up security for debts..." Proverbs 22: 25-27  Debt can be a distraction; from our jobs, from our families and most importantly, from God.  It doesn’t matter how you got there.  That is part of the journey from which we need to learn.  The bigger question is “How are we going to become debt-free?”  It not only takes a plan but it takes self-control, persistence, and patience.  Most of all, you need gratitude for everything you have rather than bemoaning what you don’t have.

Finance -- okay, well this truly is the “F” word in my book.  I have never been great with money, and after my divorce was left financially devastated.  How would I define financially devastated?  Let me put it this way.  My house was foreclosed upon in summer 2012.  It had been on the market for over a year and half, with the price half of what its initial value was before the economy took a downturn.  I had no retirement or savings accounts.  That money had been used to pay off credit cards.  Great idea in theory but not when your spouse runs them back up within months of using the money.  Within three months of my divorce, I had 4 months of household bills to pay from when I was married, I had to move into a new place (unplanned), pay my lawyer $5,000, buy a new bed and mattress (unplanned ), take on $110,000+ of debt and figure out how to pay for all of this on a salary of just over $38,000.

I won’t go into the how and why’s of all of this – my only real contribution to this mess was my $50,000 or so of student loans.  That, I accept responsibility for; however, at the time I took out those loans, every financial guru on television was touting that as “good debt”; that and mortgages.  Let me tell you – THERE IS NO GOOD DEBT!  And that is exactly what Oola tells us.  As for the rest of my financial burdens that I was now the caretaker of?  Well, there is a story to that and not a pretty one.  At least my car was free and clear – oh wait!  Did I mention it completely stopped running in June and my mechanic (of all people) told me it was time to buy a new one?  According to him, the 12 year-old car I had would just continue to cause me unlimited expense and the current problem was going to cost me $1,200 to fix.  That, after a $500 repair job the month before.  Sigh!  How does one face all this financial burden and not become discouraged?  "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deut. 31:8

First of all, I had to place ALL my faith and trust in God.  I knew finances would be tight post-divorce; beyond what I had experienced in my life.  However, before divorcing I asked myself one big question. “If I left my husband, and had to take on two or three jobs to survive – was I willing to do it?”  I knew the day when I could answer “yes” to that question, I was ready to leave.  It took awhile but eventually, the answer was a resounding, “yes”.

Fortunately, I had taken a Dave Ramsey course, a year or so before my divorce.  I knew his financial principles, which are Biblically-based, are sound.  How I wish I’d taken this course in my 20’s! It doesn't matter; the principles are the same whether you’re 20 years old or 100 years old.  I had to have a financial plan; and I don’t mean, one from a financial planner.  I mean, set some long-term goals and make a budget.  I came from an upper middle class family and as long as I can remember, there was never a budget or plan per se.  There was just always money.  Well, you can’t do what you don’t know, so how could I ever possibly dig myself out of my hole?  Hence, this course was incredibly useful and it is, in fact, very Oola. 

Let me just say, my Oola hub is faith.  And frankly, God has provided me with absolute miracles.  I also had a stash of jewelry from the Middle-East!  Not your everyday pieces but 18 karat, 21 karat and 22 karat gold.  Exquisite pieces that were truly one –of-a-kind.  Yet, I had to humble myself and sell off every piece of gold.  And when that ran out, I sold off my 14 karat pieces.  I even went so far as to sell off my wedding bands; although I must confess, THAT felt good and was quite empowering.  All that jewelry was sold for pennies on the dollar.   I am not endorsing you sell off your possessions; it is merely something I chose to do.   I felt I had to do it to get myself as far out of debt as possible.  "She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.” 2 Kings 4:6-8.  I paid off the lawyer, moved when forced to (again, another story) but still, praising God for the provision of

·          a place I could afford to live

·         one that became available at the exact time I needed it

·         the co-worker who owned the condo and allowed me to pay my deposit over a period of 4 months

·         enough gold to get me on my feet (which by the way, I had purchased 20 years prior!)
  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

I purchased a bed and mattress because the one I brought from St. Louis had been in a storage unit that was not climate controlled for a year; it was my mother and father’s bedroom set – beautiful but over 50 years old.  The wood literally broke apart upon being re-assembled and could not be repaired.   I did not buy a complete set; rather I looked around for some time and slept on a twin mattress until I found an upholstered bed for less than $400, which would match the intact dressers.  I waited still until I could afford a mattress before making the purchase.  Eventually one went on sale.  I had to have one that I could live with rather than just straight up cheap, since I have a bad back.  My mattress and I are in it for the long haul; a marriage of sorts!  And so, it took a couple of months but I was finally able to purchase a bed and mattress.  I bought it just in time to be delivered to my new residence; God’s perfect timing.

 

Lastly, my car completely died.  What does one do with that?  I frankly, was surprised I could get a loan!  And no, I didn’t particularly want to undertake another loan but again, I had to pray to God and ask Him – what was His will in this matter?  I needed reliable transportation for work.  I didn’t exactly know the amount I could afford.  I could barely afford my life as it was.  However, I knew if I could get a second and/or third job, I could afford a car loan.  Also, keep in mind, at my school district, salaries had been frozen for the last three years.  Although it was rumored they would be unfrozen I couldn’t act on that.  I had a figure in mind and a car make – it had to be one that would last until…well, let’s just say, unless I win the lottery, this will probably be my last car!!  I found a car in the high end of my price range but because of the good gas mileage, was willing to pay a little more.  Again, praising God as I was able to purchase this car without a co-signer.  I am paying 14% interest on the loan, due to my credit score.  However, I make certain that it is paid ON TIME each and every month.  Oh, and God’s provision?  Well, our salaries were unfrozen, I had taken 32 hours of coursework since working for the district, so I got a decent salary increase AND I work a second job.  God DOES provide; however, we have to be willing to meet Him – sometimes more than halfway! 

 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

^{Proverbs 3:5-6}

As for my Oola life?  I have a budget which I tweak here and there.  I check my bank account daily to make sure that my balance matches what I think it is – I cannot afford overdrafts, which are easy to do in this day and age of automatic payments, which I utilize for many things such as insurance as it reduces my rate.   I am chipping away at my debt; albeit slowly, but it is being done.  I have managed to avoid bankruptcy.  I am sure my credit stinks but it doesn’t really matter unless I am financing something else, which I have absolutely NO plans on doing.  I do not want any credit cards.  If I can’t afford it, I don’t need it.   This year, I did end up buying SMALL (to be read—inexpensive--) gifts for my grandchildren and children for Christmas.  I spent a little over $100 for 4 grandchildren and 4 children and 2 son-in-laws.   I am trying to build an emergency cash reserve.  It is going very slowly.  Then again, this is a lifelong change.  It is a change of attitude.  I have enough.  God’s provision is plenty.  There is a roof over my head, my bills are paid and food on the table.   I have a job. That truly IS more than enough.  I am grateful that I have made it this far!

Oola has truly inspired me to be the best that I can be in the 7 areas of life that are important; finance, faith, fitness, friends, field, fun and family.  I know that I can achieve the balance I need for the Oola life but I also need to be patient.  I did not rack up this debt overnight and it is not going away overnight.  It is a long-term proposition.  In my Oola journey, finance is my weakest area due to my debt to income ratio.  However, I know all things are possible through Christ.   I also need a good plan in place for rebuilding this key area in my life.   The Oola journey is not for the faint of heart.  It doesn’t just “happen”.  It takes a lot of planning and a lot of work.  It also needs to be reviewed and revised periodically.

My plans for this year include continuing to work on and build strength in this area of weakness.  I have had to grow a lot this past year.  I could not have made it this far without my faith in God and trying to live an Oola life.  Is my life perfect?  Far from it. But ask me, “Are you happy, grateful and at peace?”  My answer to that is, “Absolutely”.  I have said it in other blogs and I am going to say it again; get your copy of “Oola:  Find Balance in an Unbalanced World”.  I will also say it again: “No, I do not get paid for this blog or my personal endorsement of this lifestyle choice”.  I choose to embrace what I have learned from this incredible book!  I am on a life journey unlike any other.  “Thank you, Dr. David Braun and Dr. Troy Amdahl for having the foresight and courage to write about your incredible journeys to the Oola life!”

I am grateful for it all -- the good and the bad.  I praise God for everything and I am a much happier for doing so.  Can you say the same? 

"I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live."  Psalm 146:2