Should We Raise Chickens?
Should We Raise Chickens?
When we bought 26 acres almost five years ago, our priority was to build our dream home. As we evaluated our property, we also had visions of raising animals. We were looking specifically at raising chickens, since the price of eggs was fluctuating so much. I had grown up on a farm and remembered the days we brought home the baby chicks. The first few days were exciting, to feed and cuddle the chicks and watch them eat and start to grow! But there were also considerations such as keeping them under the heat lamp, making sure the door was latched securely to keep out predators as well as to keep them from pecking at each other. Even though I was excited at the prospect, my husband had reservations about moving forward with this adventure.
We had to ask ourselves these questions:
* Do I Have the Capacity for this?
When considering a new commitment, you may have room on your calendar, but does it fit your mental load as well? As Rachelle Crawford puts it, “Just because something fits on your calendar does not mean it fits in your life.”
*Is the Timing Right?
Are you in a season of your life to put in the efforts to make something new work? Not every new undertaking is a fit for every life season. For us, raising chickens meant being home every night to make sure they were securely in; that is not the season we are presently in.
*Will I Still Have Margin if I Say Yes?
Margin is a must; something we don’t give enough importance to. “Margin” in life refers to the intentional space you leave – physically, emotionally, mentally, in your schedule so you are not constantly operating at full capacity. It is breathing room between your load and your limits.
Ultimately, we said “no” to the chickens – for now. Maybe someday. At the end of the day, every time we say “yes,” it costs us something. And I always think, for every “yes,” we need to say “no” to something else. For every decision, give yourself time to consider what it will cost you and how it will benefit you.
This is something to think about. If I can assist you, please let me know.
“If you measure something, you can understand it. If you understand it, you can control it, and if you can control it, you can improve it.” The same holds true in your monthly budgeting.
The reality is that it is nearly impossible to complete & follow a monthly budget without improving your overall financial position. There are several reasons for this, so I would challenge you to do this.
First, just developing a budget for yourself will raise your awareness of what you have for revenue or income sources and then also boost your cognizance of how much you are spending each month. Next, you will come to grips with the reality of one of three facts. Either you need to boost your income sources, reduce your outgoing expenditures or, thank goodness, if you have more income than expenses, you can then save some money. Of course, this is fantastic! You just need to determine where you will store or invest those extra funds each month…
Read More