With recent winter events here in the Pacific Northwest the road conditions have been pretty rough. Even driving an all wheel drive SUV hasn’t been easy. During these times my mind quickly moves to thoughts of providing a little more safety like that of a large truck. It wasn’t long before I was looking at a 2013 Ford F-350 at a local dealer. This, I believe to be my dream truck as my visions of survival quickly turned to visions of desire. I could of traded in my SUV and purchased that truck right there on the spot as my heart beat increased with each passing moment that I checked out that big beauty of a vehicle. It was no longer just a truck, it was a Red Rider BB Gun. I visioned myself driving this awesome truck as friends observed me in this raging machine. It was any man’s dream of testosterone on wheels.
I could have picked it up at incredible deal of just $33,000.00 dollars and with the trade in and some money down could have actually driven off of that lot with a minimum monthly payment. As I thought about the total cost of such an item I quickly returned to reality.
For many years now I have been on this mission to rid myself of all debt. First all those damn credit cards, then the auto loans. All gone. And most recently paying of the mortgage which I am making incredible strides with each month. Yes, each month brings me closer to attaining this dream. I quickly drove away from that dealership with these words pounding in my head, “Stay the course,” “Stay the course.”
The sacrifices I have made of personal desire to fulfill the dream of being completely debt free shall not be in vain. Although I am getting close to 100,000 miles on that SUV it still runs as if brand new. Even in bad weather it gets me to and from work each day and is very reliable. What more could I ask for. If I were to allow my desire to run unattended and easily signed some paperwork that would have made me the legal owner of this big truck would that decision made my life any easier, or hinder my plans of a debt free life.
There will no doubt come a day where I will be able to make a decision on making such a purchase without the worry of sacrificing my plans for the future. Right now is just not the time. That little voice in my head simply says, “Wait for it, Wait for it.” Your time will come.
Once one can claim victory over consumer debt, which includes a mortgage, the quicker life has the ability to change the way we think about the things that we actually do own. How many hours of labor and time out of our lives do we dedicate to the cost of the items we purchase?
I will probably never stop thinking about becoming the owner of that Ford F-350, but my day will come. Life can be this way when you chose the “Simple Life.” We all have a few items on our desire list but by placing “Debt Free Living” in the number one spot on our list keeps us fueled up to keep pushing hard to get it done. Even as a prepper I believe that our number one priority is breaking away from the chains we currently live in and get that debt paid off.
Simple Living Over 50 
Red Ryder BB gun. Lol. Love it.
I’m reminded of something Dave Ramsey says “Children do what feels good, adults create a plan and stick to it.”
“You’ll get yours Black Bart”. LOL.
Good for you….we have down sized….become debt free and it feels so good……our minds are also so much less cluttered 😀
Congratulations! Yes, life is good.
I use an “incubation” period of 24 hours to 1 or more months. Often times after a day or more, I discover, I do not need or even want the item. As I look at the picture of the truck in your post, I think back to some of the big old 80’s ton trucks and remember they oozed quality. So if later it becomes and urgent need there is a good used market, that goes back to the days of quality. Just a thought. Stay on course!
I use the same method unless there is some urgent need but usually I will wait a full 30 days before make a big purchase. I waited almost a year before I purchased my MacBook Pro.
Good for you! I agree with your thinking. The only problem is taxes. Even after you pay off the mortgage, those taxes keep increasing and never go away.
Another good reason to rid myself of that monthly payment.:)
I’m so glad you didn’t get it! Just don’t put yourself in those tempting situations in the first place. Don’t go browsing around a dealership, don’t go to the mall etc. Just treat spending like a drug and stay away.
Agreed 😎
“Once one can claim victory over consumer debt, which includes a mortgage, the quicker life has the ability to change the way we think about the things that we actually do own. ”
Loved it!!
🙂
I do know that feeling when you pass those dealerships…But then I think about everything we are planning and then wanting to be debt free…it becomes a lot easier to walk away
Yes, I agree. Got to keep your eyes on the prize.
Gorgeous truck… Cudos for staying the course! 🙂
It ain’t easy. LOL.
Our RV is a Ford350 It walks, no flies over the mountains when asked…LOL haven’t had a lick of trouble in the last 6 years and we have put on close to 85k miles….I would gladly trade the doge Dakota in on a ford, but my husband doesn’t want to put out anymore money on a truck…yours looks beautiful……its worth the wait…..kat
Great post and we wholeheartedly agree with you. Ridding ourselves of so many THINGS we had acquired over 43 years of marriage was really liberating. We are debt-free with the exception of a small balance on our coach which should be paid off in the next year or so. We went full time in September workamping our way around the country.
We had got caught up in the mindset that buying THINGS (like the truck you talk about) would please us and make us happy, but soon came to realize that happiness only lasted a day or two and then it was on to something else.
Ridding ourselves of belongings (I now have only two pair of jeans and about 8 tee shirts), paring down, becoming debt-free, and traveling with new adventures and making new friends along the way makes us much happier and less anxious, more relaxed. Becoming a little more of a minimalist (if I can use that term) really is liberating.
We wish you the best as you strive toward your new lifestyle.
People and experiences is the inner meaning of success and also the true meaning. 🙂