How Is This Family Living Debt-Free, Homeschooling, & Traveling?

We have been bamboozled. 

Past generations have told us that the dream is the big house (with a huge mortgage), a fancy job (that stresses us out), and 2.5 kids (that we only see on weekends).

This lifestyle is causing conflict in our marriages, ruining our finances, and diminishing our relationships with our kids. 

Most importantly, it’s draining our batteries so much that we have nothing left for studying scripture, serving in the Kingdom, or equipping our kids to do the same. 

Mainstream churches have deluded us into thinking that if we just show up on Sunday and tithe, we’re checking all the boxes. 

But we all know that’s not enough. 

This is why many of us are thinking outside the box. We’re exiting the American nightmare and creating better realities. 

Here’s a family that took an uncommon path to making their life better reflect their values. A couple things to notice:

  • The husband wanted to provide without killing himself, and the wife was the one who first pitched this new lifestyle to him. 
  • The husband wanted to be closer to his children.
  • They have no debt and their children are learning real-world lessons through homeschooling.
Matthew 6

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven. Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you [a]openly.

“And when you pray, you shall not be like the [b]hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [c]openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.

“Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. In this manner, therefore, pray:

Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
10 Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
13 And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
[d]For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.

14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the [e]hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you [f]openly.

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is [g]good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is [h]bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and [i]mammon.

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by worrying can add one [j]cubit to his [k]stature?

28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not [l]arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31 “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Romans 12:2

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Proverbs 1:15

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them,
Keep your foot from their path;

The Take Home Messages/Reflection Questions
gray check box icon You don’t have to be in debt. There are creative ways to live without it. 
gray check box icon This couple was in sync about their goals and the life they wanted. They had one mind and worked together to make it real. 
gray check box icon What are the top 3 changes you and your spouse need to make to get out of the American nightmare? Would you consider a lifestyle like this?

Disclaimers: The content featured on Meachum Village is for information and inspiration only. Please consult your own attorney, physician, financial advisor, pastor, therapist, mama and daddy, or whoever before you take any advice. The content featured on the Meachum Village website means the specific message resonates with the mission of Meachum Village. It does not mean we endorse everything about that person. The Meachum Village team may not know these people personally, and we are not responsible for any unGodly craziness they’re into outside of the featured content.  If your content has been featured on the Meachum Village website, and you would like it removed, please email hello@meachumvillage.org.

Leave a Comment