Family Work and Finances

           One of the things that can create a lot of anxiety and contention in the home is the finances of the family. A lot of couples end up in divorce due to financial problems. But, after we talked about how beautiful is to raise a family and build a strong marriage, we do not want to through it all to the window, all this joy and happiness. A couple most learn to manage their finances on the best way possible to avoid contention and problems. At the same time, we should not let financial problems bring too much stress and affect our intimate and most precious relationships.

            Something essential for a family to have is a budget. Not just to have a budget, but to live by the budget they created. It is important for a husband and a wife to create a budget together for each month and strive to stick to it. There are a lot of unnecessary expenses sometimes we do not realize until we control them. Planning what we are going to spend and how much of it help us avoid unnecessary expenses. A president of the LDS church said concerning this topic: “Every family should have a budget. We have to know approximately what we may receive, and we certainly must know what we are going to spend.” (Spencer W. Kimball, Conference Report, April 1975, 166-167)

            As important as financial planning is saving. It has been proven that saving brings more pleasure than spending. An apostle of the LDS church said: “Frugality requires that we save a little for a rainy day, which always seems to come. It means avoiding debt and carefully limiting credit purchasing. It is important to learn to distinguish between wants and needs. It takes self-discipline to avoid the ‘buy now, pay later’ philosophy and to adopt the ‘save now and buy later’ practice.” (James E. Faust, Ensign, May 1986, 20) I love how Elder Faust talks about being aware of the difference of a want and a need. We need to learn self-control, to be honest with ourselves, and distinguish what we really need and what we want but it is not needed, nor affordable.

            Debts create big problems in family relations. “Some debt—such as for a modest home, expenses for education, perhaps for a needed first car—may be necessary. But never should we enter into financial bondage through consumer debt without carefully weighing the costs.” (Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin, Ensign, May 2004, 40). From an LDS prophet, we received wise counsel on some of the special occasions it is ok to get loan, use the “buy now pay later.“ I do think it is always better to save, and instead of paying interest, you could open a savings account and earn interest as you save.

            Another thing we discussed in class this week was work. At the beginning of time, things in society were so different compared to our day. Families worked at home all together. The father of the family was not the only provider and the one the left home to go to work and bring the bacon home. Parents and children worked together on farms and for their necessities. There were not specific roles of the mom as the cooker and cleaner, or the dad as the main provider. Kids didn’t spend a lot of time just playing around. Instead, the family worked together as a unit and had fun as they worked. They laughed, had fun, and enjoy the day together as they worked. This brought them together as a family. With time, dad started going out for work, leaving mom as the primary cooker and cleaner at home. Kids started going to work outside the home and helping to provide for the family.

            Throughout history, roles have changed. Now we established specific roles in the society within the family unit that did not used to exist. As we start our own families, we should talk about these things and discuss how are we going to work things out in our own family. We should discuss our expectations and goals. In my opinion, both parents should help to provide for the family, and together should manage their finances and keep a budget. They should help one another in the daily chores of cleaning and cooking. The mother is the primary person who is responsible for staying at home and raising the kids, but if it necessary and appropriate in the kids age she can also work out of home and help in providing for the family. I do not prefer mothers leaving the home when the kids are young and leaving them with someone else. The mother is the one that should be at home teaching and nursing those young kids. But as the children grow and start leaving home for school and other activities, I think is good for the mother to find something she can do to also bring money to the home.

            Now it is your turn! After you choose what culture and traditions you are going to keep and incorporate to your family, now is time to decide to live by a family budget, and to establish patters of saving and hard work at home.