I had to smile as my vehicle hit 220,000 miles this week.  Eighteen years ago, with title in hand, I drove this brand new truck right off of the new car lot.  It was the first vehicle that I had saved up and paid cash for.  While our family has bought and sold other vehicles since that time, we made a decision in 2001 not to make car payments a priority in our monthly budget.  

Paying cash rather than financing has been taught for years by budget experts like Larry Burkett, Ron Blue and Dave Ramsey.  Most likely they were taught by their grandmothers with the trusty envelope system which has been around for decades. The envelope system limits you to only spend the amount that is placed in the envelope. Advantages of using this system creates a sense of discipline and accountability with your spending, along with making it challenging to overspend.

Although it may be unpopular to wait and save in our "instant gratification" society, the absence of financing can truly free you up from the burden of debt.  One of my favorite quotes from Dave Ramsey says...

"If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else."

What small decisions are you making today to make a positive difference in your future? - Rusty Fulling