Fast Food Fiasco...The Devil Lives in the Drive Thru!

Blessings Beloveds!!!

I sit here with much joy and excitement in my voice as well as my heart, as I share with you that GOD has made all of our dreams come true! We have been praying for financial freedom for many MANY years, as most people do. We have seen the lowest of lows numerous times, endured the strongest of storms (literally), and have fallen victim to the ways of the world in so many ways,  that we literally had nothing...at one point. However, we never doubted for a second that God will provide....ALL of our needs with His perfect amount, each time as He sees fit. It was the doubt for ourselves and the temptations of daily living, that hindered our blessings and sent our focus in all the wrong directions!
  The amount of debt that we accumulate in one lifetime, is outrageous! Many times we endulge ourselves in 'wordly' things like clothing, furniture, toy for the kids, the prettiest dishes in the store, that new Hoover vacuum, StarBucks or Mc. Donald's 2-3 times a week, that we mismanage out money drastically leaving no room for future security!

Here is just a brief run down of  HOW MUCH we were eating out at one point in our lives. Just in fast food places over a 4 month time span, you can see our MAJOR errors!
 I HIGHLY ENCOURAGE you to print out those bank statements and adjust your budget! See just how many times you are wasting your money on fast food. Add up your total amount spent and figure out JUST how much money could have gone to groceries, gas, your savings account!

(WARNING.....JAW DROPPER INCOMING!!!)

These are our actual bank statement records minus our personal information. ALL dates, amounts, and payees remain the same, for our safety!

 JANUARY

01-17 24.36 Wendys

01-17 20.64 Mcdonald's

01-17 18.62 Mcdonald's

01-23 34.31 Little Caesars

01-23 13.70 Starbucks

01-23 5.82 Starbucks

01-23 0.17 Starbucks

01-25 89.01 Romanos

01-25 24.70 Mcdonald's

01-25 17.48 Mcdonald's

01-26 30.94 Subway

01-27 8.48 Mcdonald's

01-30 45.92 Denny's

01-30 25.84 Wendys

01-30 2.21 Mcdonald's
_____________________
15 times -TOTAL: $362.20

 FEBRUARY

02-01 16.86 Mcdonald's

02-02 29.79 Hardees

02-03 41.05 Golden Corral

02-06 20.19 Mcdonald's

02-09 15.34 Mcdonald's

02-09 11.48 Mcdonald's

02-10 52.16 Ihop

02-13 24.35 Pizza Hut

02-13 22.09 Bojangles

02-13 18.75 Taco Bell

02-13 1.09 Taco Bell

02-14 41.92 Boston Market

02-14 36.12 Starbucks

02-14 20.07 Mcdonald's

02-16 10.90 Taco Bell

02-21 24.83 Mcdonald's

02-24 13.13 Mcdonald's

02-27 20.94 Dairy Queen

02-27 8.19 Krispy Kreme Dough

02-29 17.15 Mcdonald's

___________________
20 times- TOTAL: $446.40

 MARCH

03-01 22.04 Mcdonald's F8004

03-02 34.07 The Wild Side Cafe

03-02 6.39 Mcdonald's

03-05 9.01 Mcdonald's

03-07 4.38 Wendys

03-08 16.32 Mcdonald's

03-12 29.35 Pizza Hut

03-12 14.12 Mcdonald's

03-13 17.85 Mandarin Express

03-14 28.56 Mcdonald's

03-16 7.06 Mcdonald's

03-19 30.17 Mcdonald's

03-19 18.23 Chick-Fil-A

03-19 11.48 Mcdonald's

03-20 11.05 Little Caesars

03-21 11.67 Mcdonald's

03-22 23.62 Starbucks

03-26 13.58 Mcdonald's

03-26 13.58 Mcdonald's

03-26 11.48 Mcdonald's

03-27 19.97 Mcdonald's

03-28 3.97 Mcdonald's
______________________
22 times- TOTAL: $357.95


 APRIL

04-02 22.52 Mcdonald's

04-02 7.49 Mcdonald's

04-04 37.71 Golden Corral

04-04 4.42 Mcdonald's

04-05 4.42 Mcdonald's

04-09 11.05 Mcdonald's

04-11 7.06 Mcdonald's

04-16 16.10 Panera Bread

04-16 13.43 Mcdonald's

04-16 9.26 Panera Bread

04-16 6.39 Mcdonald's

04-16 4.42 Mcdonald's

04-17 17.44 Mcdonald's

04-19 11.05 Taco Bell

04-24 22.10- Mcdonald's

04-30 12.87 Mcdonald's
_______________________

16 times- TOTAL: $203.31


MAY

05-01 16.39 Mcdonald's

05-07 11.38 Ihop

_____________________

2 times- TOTAL: $27.77

THE GRAND TOTAL OVER A 4 MOTH TIME SPAN:

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....................................

75 times we bought fast food for a total of: $1,397.63!!!!

Now, if you will notice......the last month's total was ONLY $27.77!

This was the last month we have purchased ANYTHING from a fast food resturant after adding up ALL of our eating habits! We have set a limit to 2x per month and not to spend more than $20 each time. Some may say that $40.00 is alot of money to spend going out to eat 2x per month, but looking back at our history....it is great! We are taking baby steps to make sure we are spending our money more wisely for sure!

God's Word tells us: 

Romans 13:8 says, "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law."

We were only putting ourselves into farther debt.....and really had no idea JUST how bad out eating out habits were! We owed creditors for past due/unpaid bills, a furniture account, car/truck payment, rent, utilities, food etc.....which ALL come before this self indulgence just to satisfy our carnal desire to live the 'QUICK AND EASY' lifestyle. It is SO easy to just pull into the drive thru when you have 3 screaming kids piled into the backseat all whiney and fussy about how hungry they are. You don't want to spend much time in the kitchen cooking because you are exausted from all the homeschooling, working a 9 to 5, housework, soccer games and what have you......that it is just the EASY way out!

Well, let me tell you sisters, There is nothing EASY about being broke and hitting rock bottom just to be able to sit on your bottom and relax! God has not created the woman to look for the 'easy' way out, he has created us to be the caretakers of the homes he blesses us with by means of hard working husbands! For those of you who are unmarried....God bless you because it is HARD ( I know....been there) , your are wasting your hard earned paychecks all in the name is "Easy Street"!

Exodus 35:25 says, " Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun--blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen."

Proverbs 31:10-31

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10^c A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

11Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

12She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

13She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

14She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

15She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.

16She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.

18She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

19In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

21When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

23Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

26She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

27She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

29“Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.”

30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

We are all familiar with the Proverbs 31 woman right?

~How perfect she is.

~How her family wants and needs for nothing.

~How she is up early catching that worm.

~That she is never lazy, idol, or slothful.

~How beautiful, strong, and prepared she is.

~How much her husband just adores her and how blesses her children call her!

PERFECTION AT IT'S FINEST

.....AND SO NOT THE WOMEN OF TODAY!

 Let me tell you beloveds, it is ok....we are not perfect by any means. However, making sure we are using the wisdom GOD has given us to spend our money accordingly is one step closer! Do you want to be the woman who's husband quarrels with her about finances? Do you want to explain to your children why you cannot send them to college? Do you want to wear raggity old clothes that have no more space for patchwork or stitching....all because of a fast food habit?

 NOT I SAID THE HEN!!!!!!

 

 

So, to conclude... we have stopped eating out as much as we were. We are now able to save over $1,300 towards purchashing our first home! Alongside cutting back we also held a yard sale which brought in $522.50! This whole process has been rough, I'll admit, but it has made an lasting impact on not only us, but our children as well. They have been such a blessing to us as their parents. They gave and donated graciously. They helped to organize and remind us NOT to put our money in the trash, and they loved helping to raise money to save towards owning our 1st home!

  

P.S. Our new motto: When life hands you lemons...have a lemonade stand and turn your sourness into sweetness!

It is the hard moments that really make you realize just how BLESSED you are woman of God!

BE ENCOURAGED!

 Psalm 37:4 reads "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." TRUE INDEED!