Wordless Wednesday - Nest Egg for Newlyweds
A bird's nest perched in a tree symbolizes a newlywed couple's future. © Photo by Francesca Di Meglio
The photo above is the view out the window of my home office. In fact, as I write this blog, the nest above sits a few feet from my chair. Today, there are no birds in the next. But an entire family moved in there during the spring. The mama bird took care of her babies from that nest. I saw them feasting on worms once. The nest wasn't always there. The parents, carefully choosing sturdy twigs and sticks, built that nest in anticipation of creating a family.
Many newlyweds should be doing the same with money instead of twigs. Unfortunately, however, nowadays many of us start out our lives together under a pile of debt. Although it would be ideal to pay off your debt and start saving money together before your wedding, many people can't do that. That's all right. You can still get your act together after you say, "I do."
If you're so overwhelmed, you might consider seeing an accountant or someone who can help you learn to live within your means and pay back whatever you owe. If your debt is reasonable and you think you can handle it yourself, you should refrain from using your credit cards, cut back on spending, use coupons, and purchase only necessities. There are so many little things you can do to help yourself, such as brown bagging lunch, foregoing those expensive Starbucks coffees and nights on the town, buying ground beef for hamburgers instead of steaks, shutting off the lights and water when you're not using them, using a fan instead of an air conditioner, looking for sales on the things you need and not buying the things you don't need, etc. Saving money is mostly common sense.
Once you have that nest egg, you'll sleep better at night and can start focusing on growing old together. Without money, whether you like it or not, you can not survive in today's world. You don't have to be Rockefeller. But you do have to be able to provide food, shelter, and medical care to your loved ones. One twig at a time, you'll be able to build that nest egg.
This is so true! I hope many newlyweds take this important advice to heart. It doesn’t get easier to pay off debt, ever, so it’s best to do it right away.
Saying “I do” to saving is a good habit to get into from the get go. We have become credit society accustomed to living beyond our means. Make it a policy not to buy want you can’t pay cash for except for big ticket items which are necessities like a vehicle or home. Do without luxury items and make do with essentials to feather that nest egg and plan your purchases instead of giving into impulse buying and you will be able to have most of what you want with out going into debt over it.
You do have to think about security but if you wait for children to be financially ready you would never have them. Have your family and worry about finances after
I have an olive tree right outside my office window and we quite frequently have jays or mocking bird nests there. Once we even had a tiny hummingbird family in their nest.
Sound advice! I hope your readers will take it seriously.
Good advice!