I’m continuing my series of 40 Things I’ve Learned By Age 40.
31. While it may not be the wisest course of action, debt is not a sin (unless God has specifically told you not to do something and you do it anyway). Being in debt and paying it back according to the agreement and in a timely manner is not a sin. Taking on debt and not paying it back is the problem.
32. No matter how tired I am, I always get up and take a shower, put on clean clothes, and do my hair and makeup. In forty years, I can probably count on two hands the number of times I’ve been so sick I couldn’t find the strength to get up and do these things (including a couple of months of morning all day sickness). No matter how tired or depressed or overwhelmed I’ve been by life, I always feel better if I know I at least look good.
33. How you dress impacts how you act and how others view you.
34. Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other gold. This is so true. I am thankful for new friends, but the greatest treasures are the friends who have been a part of my life for many years. Old friends can often offer you perspective that your newer friends can’t because they know the paths you have walked with God and can remind you when you grow weary.
35. Laugh or cry. I’ve learned to choose laughing more often than not. If you are fortunate enough to have a spouse who follows this as well as friends, you are rich indeed.
36. It is not a sin to pay retail. It is not a moral failing to pay full price. It is not a sign of weak Christian character to want something new instead of settling for something used or thrifted. While there is value and merit in being frugal and making the most of your money, you are not a horrible person if you run out of Tide and have to pay full price because your stash ran out.
37. If God makes you wait or puts a restraining hand on you, there is a reason. More times than I can count, I kept meaning to do something and was delayed. Eventually I realized why I was delayed. It wasn’t me procrastinating. It was God restraining.
38. Excellence is worth pursuing. Perfection is not.
39. You can frequently save time or money, but rarely both. It takes wisdom and discernment to know which way to go and it frequently has to be decided on a case-by-case basis in daily living. While I like to save money, I also like my time and my time is frequently related to the value of my relationships. And so I’m thankful to live in day of fast food, convenience foods, and other services that allow me more time as a trade-off for some of my money. Sometimes it is a trade-off well worth making. The bottom line in life is not about saving a buck.
Tomorrow I’ll do #40 – the greatest thing I’ve learned along the way the past 40 years.
See all of the posts in this series:
40 Things I’ve Learned By Age 40 | #21-30
I particularly like your #s 36 and 39. Over the years, I have known people who acted almost like it was some CHARACTER STRENGTH to go get everything from garage sales. The (strong) implication was that it would be a sin to buy new clothes. I don’t have a problem with their doing that…but on the other hand, I don’t happen to think (and my husband agrees) that when I feel so pressed for time already, and God has PROVIDED the money to buy new, that it is a sin for me to USE that money to gain a little more time!
That said, we do analyze our purchases and try to be thrifty! As you have said, sometimes it’s better not to buy at all!!
Happy coming (?) birthday. We have 2 March birthdays in this family! Nice month. One little girl just turned 9, and a young man will be 15 before too long.
In Jesus, Susan
Loved this bit of wisdom –
“Excellence is worth pursuing. Perfection is not.”
I think I need to write this one out and stick it somewhere where I will see if frequently!
-Darcy
Hello Sallie, I just love reading your blog. You are so very correct in your 4o’s lists. Some of your statements never occured to me till now. I like that.
Caroline is so adorable and growing up so fast. Her bedroom is very pretty. Thanks for posting it for us out here in blog land.
How are you doing with your treadmill? You write that your so busy.
Well, Sallie have a great day.
Always, Janice
Again…happy upcoming birthday! Forty is a wonderful age.
I found myself agreeing with everything you wrote. YES…to all the above.
I’ve enjoyed reading this series. I’m facing the milestone a decade ahead of you this summer, so I am feeling a little old. 🙂
While I am nodding my head to many of these, #36 and 39 stuck out to me today. I’ve learned, too, that things often cost either money or time, and sometimes it’s worth a little bit of extra money to save time. I’ve also gotten the impression from some that they think it is a sin to buy anything that’s not on sale or from a yard sale or a thrift store. I’m grateful when I can find deals like that, but I can’t always find what I need that way.
A friend of mine who had her own business was talking with one of her vendors who made the comment that the Christians he knew “appreciated quality but weren’t willing to pay for it.” I don’t know that that’s the best testimony to have. Sometimes it is the right thing to pay a full price for something of quality or convenience.
Happy birthday, whichever day it is (I’m wondering if it’s tomorrow since that’s when your 40th tip is coming). 40 is not bad at all. 😀
31,36,39…I know what you mean! It’s great to try, but come on!! I did have to smile since it’s almost like you are replying to a particular blog that I check. 🙂 I admit to it grating many times…
Sallie, do you know why I like your blog so very much? Because you keep things REAL. There are many blogs out there that make me feel like the writers are trying to put me in a box. I put myself in a box (a very, very small one) back in the 90’s by reading certain magazines and books and I’ve been trying ever since to let myself out. It has been a long, painful process and from experience I can smell *legalism* now a mile away.
And I run.
Your blog makes me feel just the opposite.
Like a breath of fresh air. Ahh….:)
I read somewhere once, and I’ll never forget this…the writer gave ways in an article for saving and using SHAVINGS OF SOAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How do you spell HELLO???
Is it my imagination or is soap CHEAP to buy? Do we really need to save and then use SHAVINGS OF SOAP?!!
I’ll never forget that.
Every time I come to the shavings of soap in the shower I think of that article. And wonder if I should use them down to the smallest piece-for economies sake. It’s a brief thought but the thought still does come.
Then I throw off the shackles and squish that little sucker and stamp it down the drain with my foot.
Ahhh….FREEDOM!!!!!
LOL!!!!
Joanna
p.s. I get a little carried away when I think someone is trying to put that yoke back on me again-sorry. Garage sales are fun but I rarely think to go and even more rarely ever find anything worth buying. I have no “deal” stories to share. So, if you support my decision to not have to scrimp and save for every penny, and then to watch and see how they are spent…well then, I’ll keep reading what you have to say.
Here’s to freedom!! 🙂
I like your list, Sallie, and am looking forward to #40 tomorrow. (Tomorrow is also our firstborn grandchild’s 7th birthday.)
A very big happy birthday blessing to you, dear Sallie. I love this series. Absolutely love it. I want to do this in the fall to celebrate my 30th.
And I totally agree with you about the debt and finances. While I am on a big huge massive QUEST to get out of debt (and I don’t think we should ever seek out debt), it is good to know that we can do it right and get out of it. Saving money is always wise, but if you lose your mind in the process, it wasn’t really worth it. Sort of reminds me of: What is it if I gain the whole world, yet lose my soul? principle….
Thank you, ladies, for your encouraging words. It blesses me to know that things I write bless others.
Janice – I’m going to do an update about the treadmill soon. 🙂
aussietiger1980 – No, I wasn’t thinking of anyone in particular when I wrote these. I’ve actually had most of these jotted down since I started the series and I’ve been going through them and crossing them off as I used them in an entry.
Joanna – I’m glad you find this place one of fresh air. I understand about the reading too much and being in a box. I so can relate. And I don’t think I’ll ever see a sliver of soap again without thinking of you squishing it to its watery death! LOL!!!
Lindsey – This is off topic, but I thought of you when Duke went out in the first round. Tough year to be a Dukie!
Thanks for sharing what you’ve learned.
Number 36 made me laugh.
I had to learn the reverse. That it ISN’T a sin to buy at thrift stores.