Do one-(low)-income families ever get ahead?

Geebee

Hi Stayathomemom,

May i ask, are you from the LDS church?.. if so I would imagine that you can maybe speak with your Bishop about assistance. Depending on where you are in the States, you may have canneries etc close by.

It is difficult for anyone who doesnt live the law of tithing to understand this principle but i do and its not really something that is hit and miss, you pay it... simple as.

I hope that you can find some help on these boards. there is lots of info, its just about finding whats helpful and relevant to you.

ETA... a friend of mine used to say "Some people say they cant afford to pay tithing, I say that I can't afford not to"

GB

Marisco

Hi Geebee, I didn't realise you had to pay a tithe by law??? I thought it was a voluntary thing:o Maybe if people knew that it wouldn't have been mentioned.:)

Geebee

Marisco wrote: »

Hi Geebee, I didn't realise you had to pay a tithe by law??? I thought it was a voluntary thing:o Maybe if people knew that it wouldn't have been mentioned.:)

Maybe i should have worded it better, as i said, it is difficult for those that dont understand it.....;)

sueeve

Some Christians understand tithing to be 10% of disposable income, rather than the lot. This seems to be a very extreme interpretation. As you have given up your job in order to care more for your daughter, and you will see your daughter as a God given gift, surely her welbeing is almost a part of the recipient of that tithe.
Other yhan that, nursing does sound a useful profession for being able to do perhaps one or two night time or weekend shifts. You don't need a full 2nd income to make all the difference.

Geebee

sueeve wrote: »

Some Christians understand tithing to be 10% of disposable income, rather than the lot. This seems to be a very extreme interpretation. As you have given up your job in order to care more for your daughter, and you will see your daughter as a God given gift, surely her welbeing is almost a part of the recipient of that tithe.
Other yhan that, nursing does sound a useful profession for being able to do perhaps one or two night time or weekend shifts. You don't need a full 2nd income to make all the difference.

Sueeve, I agree with certain points in your post, it is all about ones own interpretation of the tithe. There are many debates about what should and should not be paid. From my own personal point of view, it isnt about what we are made to feel we ought to pay, or ways to justify not paying a full tithe, it is about having the faith to pay the tithe in the first place. If i have the faith and understanding as to why the tithe is to be paid, how can i not pay it?. As i said, there are many debates about it.
I do rather like the point you have made about the daughters wellbeing.

GB

wigglebeena

katsu wrote: »

Could you maybe do a 5% tithe until you clear your debt and sort your budget? I'm sure God doesn't want you to pay the tithe with money that you owe others (which is basically how you are paying it when you are in debt).

This is how I always think of it. If I'm in the red and I make a charitable donation, I'm making it with someone else's money (and without their permission).

Nargleblast

I think you have to look after yourself and your familiy first, then others. If you do not take care of your own needs then you will not be able to take care of anyone else's! It is perfectly reasonable to make sure that you and your own family are housed, fed and clothed, then any surplus money (after paying debt repayments) can be used for whatever you wish, charitable causes or personal luxuries. Of course, if you have no surplus funds then the basics of living have to come first!

Nargleblast

Another thought comes to mind - if someone who is a member of a church that operates the tithe system is unable to afford to pay the tithe, then can this person not give of their time instead, by doing some voluntary work with the church?

1666hby

Hi stayathomemom - welcome to this forum and indeed the UK. Nice to see some of your fellow Americans joining the thread too. Congratulations on your happy little family and good luck with all the moneysaving to help you pay your way, be a full-time mum and make room for the next addition to the family.
Please do start a spending diary - just write down absolutely everything that you (and your husband) spend. Recite the moneysaving mantra 'Do I need it? Do I want it?' whenever you are in a spending situation. Don't worry - that mantra is completely compatible with all faiths and none!
Do post a statement of affairs (SOA) here - it's completely anonymous and people can suggest good ways to save money and improve your income.
Do visit the Old Style forum on here - they have great ideas on feeding the family healthily on a budget.
Do also look at the Up Your Income area on the site - there are lots of suggestions. Lots of stay at home mums here do online surveys to earn vouchers which they use to pay for Xmas presents etc. Many of the survey sites we use cover the US as well, such as Globaltestmarket, ACOP and Pinecone.
I have no problem with the concept of tithing, except that pride and shame often gets in the way of tithers recognising the periods in their lives when they need to be receiving help as well as giving it.
And boo to Doug Ramsey (sp?) for charging for membership on his moneysaving site! I'd like to see him up against our lovely Martin Lewis.

Geebee

It seems this thread has now become a debate as to whether or not one should pay a tithe. If one has a testimony as to the law of tithing, how can one not pay?. It isnt about being forced/expected to pay, its about wanting to pay because you have the faith to do it, during bad times as well as good.

A Jehovas witness for example, abstains from blood. To a Non~witness, this can seem like a mad idea but it is down to the faith of the individual in question, and part of that faith means abstaining from blood even when sick and being told that you NEED a transfusion to save your life. Do they immediately lose faith because it doesnt suit them at that time?.

Whether you agree with the OP paying tithing or not, is not the issue here, its about the OP trying to save money/make her income go further, NOT cut back on her tithing. She voluntarily pays so perhaps she isnt looking for ways to 'get out' of paying and doesn't need any comments about ways to justify NOT paying/not paying a certain amount.

1666hby makes a good point about people often allowing pride to get in the way of asking for help, but faithful members need not be ashamed or too proud. This is exactly what the Church welfare system was put in place for.. so that members can get help and still remain faithful to the doctrines of the Church. Many times (and this is purely for the sake of example,) a member of the church may be paying a faithful tithe of £100 per month but getting back far more than that in assistance.

GB