A No Spend Year From A Poverty Income Point of View

[amandagaines]

I’ve watched a few of your videos and just want to tell you it’s is wonderful to find another large family who is honest about struggling and doing it on a low income. Thanks for sharing! Sincerely another family of 7 mom. ❤

[Texasmommaof]

I totally get this! We are not below poverty line, but we are less than $10, 000 above it and our kids go to a Christian school. We’re still considered low income and some months I’m amazed there is anything left in the bank, but God always provides. ♥️

[MakeupwithMichelle]

This was an interesting point of view and one that I hadn't thought about. I'm a single mom of 3 that was once living well below the national poverty line. It's crazy how when your financial situation changes and you start making more money, how we choose to spend it on more frivolous things. I truly appreciate how candid you were in this video and I also appreciate the perspective.
It made me take a step back and really compare my life from then to now and how my spending habits have 100% changed and not in a good way. Great job!
Also, I watched a few other videos with you showing what you feed your family for a week and I'm in awe at how creative you are! I will have a full pantry of food but my kids act like there's nothing to eat- I've made the comment several times that we are going to have to be creative and find ways to use up what we already have before we buy more. This inspires me to actually live those words. Idk how I stumbled across your channel today, but I'm glad I did. Take care!

[PlannersByKat]

I know how you feel. I never buy coffee, makeup, new clothes etc so it’s hard to watch some people talk about no spends. I could only pay bills for a year and not have much. No down payment on a house. But good for doing it. Still learned something. Love your perspective on discipline. That will be my why. Thanks so much.

[sherilynalexnder]

I know this video posted ten months ago, but I'm just seeing your channel/this video for the first time. Thank you so much for your honesty, and for giving other YT-ers and viewers this perspective. I've had great income years, and have had very low income years throughout my life (self-employed for past 16 years). You are so right about how it can be discouraging to try our best to stick to a very tight, careful budget and yet not have any savings to show because there's just not enough 'extra' to do that. But we can give ourselves a solid high-five for getting all the bills paid, and super kudos to you for doing that plus paying of debt!!!! That is totally amazing!! Blessings to you and your family for an abundant and joyful life ahead of you - God does pay us back double for our 'troubles', I believe that.

[raquelbrookelinder]

I enjoyed this video. I'm reminded of years past when we didn't make enough. I couldn't even make a budget. What was the point in a budget when you honestly had no idea how your bills were getting paid. Our worst year was when our youngest of 6 kids was a newborn and our oldest was in 8th or 9th grade. We brought home 14k in 2016. I still have that tax return. We got several demand letters for our mortgage, had a vehicle repossessed and everything, but God always brought us out of it in surprise ways. It was hard being forced into a no spend life. We had nothing and the only "frivolous" things we had were cell phones for my husband and I and our oldest son. No TV/streaming. No home internet. We even had to water down the shampoo into a seperate container so the kids couldn't waste it and rationed the toothpaste and toilet paper. We had a record breaking Christmas of $80 spent on 6 kids. Thank goodness for 5 below and the dollar tree. Spent $1 on a toy that comes with 4 things inside, open it, and find creative ways to make the kids work to get it. And if I remember correctly, the grandparents paid for about $60ish of the $80 total so we couldn't even buy all of that Christmas. (Side note: we make more now)

[debbiedickens]

Thank you for posting this video. I also laughed out loud at a financial class(; just not the same part. Other than our mortgage, all of our debt is medical. My husband has multiple chronic conditions. So ...when the instructor advised not getting into more debt - I laughed. My husbands been hospitalized 8 times in two years and two of his insulin meds quadrupled this year.
God is good And he has always shown up! Thank you again. I do appreciate that you share from your heart.

[bethyoung]

Thank you for this. Wish you were my neighbor🤣. Yes, I’m in the way below poverty guideline category. I have to laugh when I see folks saying here’s how to save $10000 a year when I don’t even make that! I have found success with the Envelope System but it is still a struggle because when your income is so small you frequently have to “rob Peter to pay Paul”. I really appreciate your videos as you are telling it like it really is for many folks. Thank you💕

[mommyingBetchay]

I could at some point in my life relate to your situation and I agree that it is very tough. Thank you for sharing your situation and persepective from your situations. I really appreciate you sharing about the discipline. That is something that I still need to learn.

[abundantlivinghomestead]

Although we are not in the same income bracket as you I still learn so much from you. You encourage me in so many ways just talking about how you and your husband work to support your family. I know that you will succeed because of your determination and love of your family. And if you can learn self discipline in not buying needless things then so can I 🙈❤️❤️❤️

[Laurensbookcorner]

Thankyou so much for sharing this!! Once again you put my heart into words. It means so much to be able to relate to someone and know your not alone!!

[carolynm]

I am impressed with your candor and ability to use No Spend to your advantage and those around you. God bless.
(New subscriber)

[sandypittman]

When we bought our property that we have now lived on for about 40 years. I became a "collector". My bed room was bears, my living room was Noah's Ark collectables and my kitchen was chickens. When we rented I did not collect because if we moved then I would have to pack it all up. I have spent several years getting rid of all those dust collecting items. I am turning into more of a minimalist. Maybe because I am older, but mostly it makes me feel freer and gives me a sense of space. My daughter in law is a hoarder and the more we try to get her to get rid of stuff the more she brings into the home. My son wants to pull his hair out at times, but he hauls cattle and is gone alot. she thinks I am crazy for donating so much stuff. We all come to realize sooner or later what is important.

[zeromusgrove]

I appreciate this point of view because I feel like a lot of the channels and videos are of young adults who have a cushion of family support (we don’t) and are also single and/or childless. I feel that ‘no spend’ has so many more nuances when you have kids. When you’re in a situation where ‘the things you have’ still isn’t enough in the first place.

[strykerdawn]

I admire you. I'm glad you are bringing attention to this. So many people are where you are.

[dannyhilton]

This really resonates with me. All the videos I've seen (bar yourself) is young childless people. I'm a single parent and the struggle month to month just to survive is real. On a positive note, as the children grow older I'll have the budgeting experience to really make it count in future when I can work properly.

[JerryAndJulieMusic]

You speak wise words for most Americans. Keep plugging on. Remember God will provide. If you're living for him and walking with him as your leader, you don't have to worry, it may be tough but he will always get you through. Just subbed 🙂

[tracieschrock]

low spend for us..on fixed income (social security). starting envelopes for next Christmas ect...small and i mean small each month..that was the plan for 2022

[EducationalRoots]

How do you keep motivated and encouraged when the information around us is not going to be our outcome?

Friend, great question! You can be encouraged by knowing you are taking care of your family. You can be encouraged that you and your husband have a plan to not stay in poverty forever, and this is one year closer to that. This no spend year is a step you’re taking to get closer to that, even if all it does is support your family this year.

Also, we don’t know God’s plans. Have I ever told you how God worked when we moved to AZ ten years ago? It’s a “is this for real” type of story. If I haven’t told you, maybe I’ll make a video on it.

[smallfamilysmallbudget]

Right!! We end up having that "nest egg" we save go to fix the car that broke down at the end. So it just doesn't feel like we get anywhere. One step forward, two steps back. My hubby and I both work, but it's still hard.