Our Story, Part 1b: Julie

I grew up on the good ‘ol 10-10-80 rule when it came to personal finances.  As soon as I got my $5.00 allowance for doing my chores (note: a great early lesson that money comes from hard work, not trees), I would put 10% in my piggy bank, bring 10% to church as tithe, and keep 80% in my wallet.  My parents intentionally taught and demonstrated the importance of being responsible with your money.  Over time, I automatically separated all of my earnings this way.

When I graduated from Hope College and started my first job, my mom sat down with me and helped me make a budget.  She had me first list my fixed expenses (rent, utilities, insurance, etc.) and then listed my variable expenses.  I remember asking her how my grocery bill is a variable expense since I have to eat??  She said, “it’s variable because you either eat filet mignon or ramen noodles.”

Frugality is in my blood, so once I started working full time, I continued to save as much as I could and live on as little as possible.  I still did the things I wanted to—trips to the Dominican Republic to visit a friend, shopping trips with girlfriends, and meals out at restaurants.  But I always made sure I was saving as much as I could because I knew the day wouldn’t be too far that I would need (dum, dum, dum) a down payment on a house!
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Check back each Friday as we continue this series, “Our Story.”