Dear Family,

Hey. I wanted to say hi and give you this really cool update on something that I found. At first I was sure this breadcrumb was one you'd find years down the road, but I realized that's just when I found it. I thought to myself, if we are family, then my job is to (if ever) love you, give you grace, and in any way I can, help you become all you dream. At least I think that's my job. I don't know, I just read somewhere in the Bible to be like Jesus. And well, in my life that's how Jesus has loved me, so that's what I'm doing here.

Anyways. I simply want to tell you about savings. But not a deep dive (I'll do that later). Today I just want to tell you about how I view it and how I attack it. And I'm not talking about a savings account.

But first, the reason I even dove into saving: I was starting my journey to financial freedom, and while I was wagging my tail at the door ready to run, God was hooking my leash whispering, "We'll walk this out." His first order of business was teaching me to stop willingly giving my freedom away. When I was serving tables, I'd calculate each dollar as time stolen from my life. That $50 bar tab after my shift? That was an hour of tired feet, disrespect, and racist slurs traded for a few cocktails I wouldn't even remember. I realized I was spending money I should've been saving on things that didn't make me happier — I was actively trading my freedom for nothing.

After this registered, it began to make sense that the first lesson I needed to learn before making more money, investing, or trying to save money, was to simply take care of the money I already had. It was to build a relationship with the little I had. It reminds me of what Mrs. Smith used to tell us at summer camp when we were being stingy with our candy: "If God can't trust you with a little, he can't trust you with a lot."

I remember a man telling me that the way I treat my $10 is the same way I'd treat $1,000,000, regardless of what I want to believe. And the truth was (and still is in some ways) I just wasn't ready for increase. I wasn't mature enough for the blessings God wanted to put on my life. He told me I needed to learn to be a steward, so I went through a season of cutting unnecessary spending (I guess Mrs. Smith was right).

Today we still find ways to cut back, to vote for the life we want by the things we choose to spend our money on. And that's what I want to tell you. To step back for the increase.

A few weeks ago, our internet cut out. And the next 2-3 days it did the exact same thing. We were frustrated because this is one of the top internet providers, and I'd already cut my bill down by nearly 60% and was still spending $105 a month for unreliable service. So we were truly lost, but also done paying for bad service, so we started looking for other options.

I called T-Mobile and asked about their internet. With their highest speeds and discounts for existing customers, they offered me the internet for $30 a month just for adding it to my existing bill.

Now keep in mind, my phone bill had been $83.93 every month. And I recently parted ways with a second device, so it'll be saving me $20, putting me at $63.93. But adding the $30 (new internet), I'll be spending $93.93 every month for phone and internet.

So $105 + $83.93 = $188.93 - $93.93 = $95 in savings each month. Plus they gave me a $200 gift card and a free month.

Say what you want. I feel incredible about this. I'm so proud!

Not impressed? Oh well!

$95 × 12 = $1,140 that I'm saving each year because, well... I picked up the phone.

Or to continue our earlier example, I just bought myself 2 hours back of my life. Each month.

No, this isn't life-changing. But this single action isn't supposed to be. It's supposed to be habitual — a way of life. Not to penny-pinch, but to find what matters to you, to make the journey of freedom more obtainable.

So here's what I want you to do this week, family. Pick ONE bill. Your phone. Your internet. Your insurance. Whatever. Don't make a call. Don't do anything at first. Just study it. Pay attention. Read every line. Then just visually shop. See if you can get equal service for a cheaper price, or can you even go down a tier to save money? And when you get it together, call and make the switch. Don't think, just do. (Just tell grandma the company canceled the other one. You know she's been having those early signs of dementia since we were kids. I don't think she'd even notice.)

Anyways, when you save that first $50, $75, $100 a month, you'll feel this crazy rush. And I want you to write me back, cause I want to feel it with you.

Because that's what this is about. Not deprivation. But freedom. Every dollar you save is a dollar that works FOR you, not against you. So for me, that $1,140? That's a vacation. That's an emergency fund. That's breathing room. For you, it might mean finally taking that vacation or moving to that big city you've been telling me about since we were kids.

Don't be fooled by social media. I'm learning slowly but surely that this is what freedom actually looks like.

Well... as usual, I love you. Do me a favor? I think I left a bowl of rice in the coat closet when I was rushing to pack (I'm sure it's been stinking up the whole house) — could you toss that for me? Thanks.

Now go make that phone call.

TTYL.

— Earl