New year, new spending habits. That's kind of why we started with Spending month on this 7 month long project. We wanted to start paying close attention to where our money was going, and we wanted to see a difference that was actually tangible, something we could see for ourselves and stick to with relative ease. That's the goal after all, to make a difference in our lives that means something. And since money management is one of the biggest challenges we face as a family, we thought it was important to tackle the beast head on. We're on day 8eight, and so far so good.
If you read my blog post from yesterday, you probably noted that I'm running with a theme here. One of Christ-like simplicity and generosity that will keep popping up in every month. This is a 7 month long social experiment but it is also a fast. A fast from excess and overindulgence in order to mold us into something better, simpler. Something Christ could recognize. I want to live a life according to Jesus' version of rich, blessed, and generous.
So this month we are fasting from excessive spending. And you're thinking, right, I gathered that. But I don't want to simply focus on how much money is coming and going...I also want to focus on WHERE my money is coming from and going to.
Three days ago was Hobby Lobby appreciation day. Along the lines of Chick-fil-A appreciation day, it was set up to encourage shoppers to show their support of Hobby Lobby and the stand they're taking for the right to run their business as they please. I really love Hobby Lobby, and so does Richie. I could run through there like a wild woman and grab everything in sight, no problem. Don't even get me started on the wall hangings. I'm all about pretty pictures and meaningful quotes and verses hanging on my walls. 50% off all wall hangings seems to be a popular sale and it is right up my alley. Two thumbs way up for Hobby Lobby!
I'm not going to get in to all the politics of Hobby Lobby and why they are making the stand they are making. If you don't support Hobby Lobby you don't have to. If you do, that's cool too. We as a family have our reasons, and you have to make your choices based on your own reasoning. The point of all this is that I was REALLY considering breaking the rules and going online to purchase a few things from Hobby Lobby's online store in order to show our support. The only reason I was able to resist is because we were SUPER busy that day with our son's birthday get together and so I never had enough time to sit and ponder whether or not the rules were worth breaking. I have since had more time to think and ponder, and here's what I have come up with.
Every dollar I spend goes somewhere. I know that's obvious, but it's worth thinking about. Every single dollar you spend funds businesses and policies that you may or may not be in tune with. For example, you probably don't want to support a business that pays its women workers half of what the men make. You probably don't want to support a business that makes billions through the use of slave labor, forcing people to work for basically nothing so that it can make the most profit. You probably DO want to support a business that stands for equal pay, a healthy work environment, and reasonable and realistic employee benefits for all workers.
Now that's a super simplistic way of looking at it, but it's something I'm striving to think about more often and pay attention to. I want to spend my money wisely not only when it comes to the amount, but also when it comes to the business I am supporting. Think of your dollar as a voting ballot. Truthfully, you vote every time you spend that dollar. And you vote every time you choose NOT to spend that dollar. You vote for the practices that that business carries out, the things they fund, even the charities and events that THEY support. It's a lot to think about.
And maybe you don't want to think about all that. I get it, truly, it's just too much. If we researched and pondered every business we come into contact with, we'd never get anywhere. And there will rarely be a business who's policies we agree with 100%. I get all that. And you may be thinking that your contributions are a spit in the wind anyway, so why bother. Yeah, I get that too. But if enough of us start spitting then SOMEWHERE down the line, who knows? Things could change. I have to adopt an attitude and philosophy that centers around the choices that my family makes and wash my hands of the rest. After all, you will never answer for anyone but yourself.
So all that to say, I hope to be more mindful in the future of where my dollar is being spent. I live in an area where there are plenty of farmer's markets open in the spring and summer, and I would like to support my local economy as well. It's not just about the businesses, but the actual people. These people are getting some of MY money. I'd much rather give my money to someone who shares similar standards and values as me, as well as to people who truly need the money, like local farmers. God created that earth to table system anyway, because that's what works. That's what I want to support.
Spending month. I waste my money, I hoard my money, I need to watch where I actually spend my money. Lovin' it.
No comments:
Post a Comment