Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (2024)

by Texas Homesteader ~

We all try to pay the bills and still build up a little nest egg for the future. But sometimes building up that savings is difficult.

RancherMan & I learned to employ a few simple tips to build up our savings. But they made our march to financial security almost effortless. Now we are completely debt free! Come see how we did it.

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (1)

Find Recurring Savings Opportunities

The easiest way to build up your savings is to find a recurring way to add to your savings.

For instance if you pay off a large debt, reroute that payment you were making into a savings account instead. Do it every month, and do it automatically. That savings account will begin to build.

When RancherMan & I married I sold my house and we lived in his home. Our expenses were combined which reduced our financial requirements. Now we only had one electric bill, one water bill, etc.

But I asked RancherMan;

“I’m already used to making a mortgage payment of approximately $1,000 each month for my house before we were married. Why don’t we continue to make that payment, but put it into a CD every month instead?”

The Power Of Systematic Saving

If you add money to savings by way of automatic transfer it builds without further action from you. Pretty soon you don’t even think about it and your savings builds effortlessly.

After our first year of investing in a $1,000 CD each month, RancherMan & I knew that were never more than 30 days away from available money from a CD maturity if for some reason we needed the cash. What a comfort!

And because it was using money we were already used to earmarking previously for a mortgage payment, adding to savings didn’t even come out of our current budget. This was brilliant!

Diversify Your Savings

We all know diversified savings helps protect from the ups and downs of only one type of investment.

RancherMan & I had cash building up nicely but we also knew land was a good investment as well. And we’d both dreamed of a day when we’d have our own little place in the country.

We found this piece of paradise in Northeast Texas. I fell in love with that old 1880’s Barn & he loved the lay of the land and prevalent wild game. We decided to call it our own.

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (2)

But we didn’t want to risk our financial security by blasting through the nest egg we’d so carefully built over the years.

So we rerouted those same $1,000 payments to the land mortgage company instead to quickly pay for our new property.

By doing so we expedited paying the loan for our new property while still working our corporate jobs in the city to fund it.

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (3)

The note was paid in record time, yet it still didn’t come out of our built-up nest egg nor our current monthly household budget. Wow, that’s exhilarating. NOW WHAT?

Paying Cash Instead Of Spending Savings

We kept our savings nest egg intact. If we decided we needed to buy something, we paid cash so our nest egg would continue to build.

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (4)

When we needed a tractor, storage buildings, fencing, ponds, etc., they were all taken care of one-by-one using that same effortless step started years ago.

The beauty was that we weren’t going into debt. And it still wasn’t coming out of our monthly budget. Effortless!

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (5)

More Opportunities When You’re Debt Free!

Fast forward a few more years. We built our home here on the Homestead & moved from the big city to realize our dream of country living.

And a few years later when we decided we wanted to pull the plug on corporate employment to run the homestead full time we were able to do so.

With no debt looming over our heads, our monthly income requirement was already low.

Wow, what a tremendous difference being debt free makes in your ability to make decisions. Those decisions are no longer based on your debt obligations, but on your CASH SAVINGS!

Put Back Money For Unexpected Expenses

We needed a plan for unexpected expenses such as car repairs or medical bills. So we started a special savings account for minor emergencies so we won’t have to touch the nest egg we’d built for unforeseen circ*mstances.

Having a minor-emergency account means when your washing machine goes out or the lawn mower dies, the money will already be in the bank to pay for its repair or to buy a new one. You won’t be forced into debt to pay for repairs due to unforeseen circ*mstances.

Because make no mistake – whether repairs, replacements or something else – there WILL be unexpected expenses pop up. So it’s best to plan for them.

Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (6)

You Can Do This!

Are you longing for financial security? You can take the same steps we did. It’s a more effortless way to build that nest egg. I urge you to try it in a way that works for your household.

Maybe start by making a small monthly deposit into a savings account each payday. Treat it just like any other bill to make sure it gets taken care of monthly.

Then when one of your existing debts is paid off add that amount to your monthly savings deposit too. And the same with the next debt paid.

Soon the amount you’re sending to your savings account will be adding up to some real money!

If you start small and build on it you won’t feel the pinch at all.

And the freedom of financial security is priceless!

~TxH~

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Achieve Financial Security With Less Effort | ~ Texas Homesteader (2024)

FAQs

Is Texas a good state to homestead? ›

Discover the secrets to successful homesteading in Texas. Every homeowner in Texas is entitled to the homestead tax exemption. If you own land in Texas and qualify for this exemption, it could save you hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars on your property tax bill.

In what way does the homestead laws of Texas protect Texas residents? ›

State homestead protection laws help prevent people from becoming homeless in the event of a foreclosure or change in economic circ*mstances. In Texas, every family and every single adult person is entitled to a homestead exempt from seizure passed on the claims of creditors, except for a pre-existing mortgage or lien.

Can you make money from homesteading? ›

Market gardening is one of the most common ways homesteaders make income from their land. This consists of growing produce, flowers, or a combination of both at a scale that provides for you AND surplus to sell.

How do I become a homesteader in Texas? ›

You must apply with your county appraisal district to get a homestead exemption. Applying is free and only needs to be filed once. You can find forms on your appraisal district website or you can use the Texas Comptroller forms. General Exemption Form 50-114.

Can the IRS take your homestead in Texas? ›

The IRS can seize or levy on homes in Texas. As described in this article, the Texas homestead exemption may make it easier for the IRS to collect by preventing others from having a superior interest in the taxpayer's property.

How many acres can you claim as a homestead in Texas? ›

State law allows you to claim that portion of your land that you maintain for residential purposes but this amount may not exceed 20 acres. Generally, one acre or less is maintained for homestead purposes.

At what age do you stop paying property taxes in Texas? ›

According to the Comptroller, there is no provision for the cessation of property taxes at any stage. However, there is a Texas property tax exemption for people over the age of 65, which offers temporary tax relief for seniors. At the age of 65, seniors can apply for an exemption from Texas property taxes.

Can you rent out your homestead in Texas? ›

No, darlin', you can't homestead a rental property in Texas. The law is clear as a bell on a quiet night – homestead exemptions are only for your primary residence, where you live and hang your hat. If you're renting out the property, it doesn't qualify as your homestead.

What is the new homestead rule in Texas? ›

As part of an $18 billion property tax relief package, Texas homeowners will see their homestead exemption on their property tax bill increase from $40,000 to $100,000 of their home's assessed value. If you have an existing homestead, the changes will automatically apply.

What are the disadvantages of homesteading? ›

Cons of Buying Homestead Property:
  • Limitations on Property Usage: Homestead laws often impose restrictions on the use and development of the property. ...
  • Reduced Mobility: Homestead property typically requires a certain level of commitment, as it may limit your ability to relocate or sell the property easily.

How many acres do you need to start a homestead? ›

For the average family of four, you can expect to grow a year's worth of food on three to five acres. We really do think that five acres is the sweet spot because it allows you to stack your animals and really utilize permaculture practices. One acre for gardens, perennials and fruit trees.

How to become a homesteader with no money? ›

10 steps to start homesteading, on the cheap
  1. Simplify your life. This would be the first thing to do when you want to start homesteading. ...
  2. Make homesteading friends. ...
  3. Start gardening. ...
  4. Preserve what you grow and what you gather. ...
  5. Learn to sew. ...
  6. Get starts from other people. ...
  7. Plan ahead. ...
  8. Cheap chickens.

Can I have 2 homesteads in Texas? ›

A married couple can claim only one homestead.

What cities in Texas give out free land? ›

The South Texas Town Of La Villa, TX Is One Of Those Places.

Of course, there is a catch to the "free land": You will have to pay respective property taxes for the land.

Who is exempt from paying property taxes in Texas? ›

For persons age 65 or older or disabled, Tax Code Section 11.13(c) requires school districts to provide an additional $10,000 residence homestead exemption. Tax Code Section 11.13(d) allows any taxing unit to adopt a local option residence homestead exemption. This local option exemption cannot be less than $3,000.

What are the benefits of homesteading in Texas? ›

Advantage of Homestead Exemptions

A homestead is generally the house and land used as the owner's principal residence on Jan. 1 of the tax year. Homestead exemptions reduce the appraised value of your home and, as a result, lower your property taxes.

How much does Texas homestead save you? ›

A general homestead exemption in Texas can save you money on property taxes by lowering the taxable value of your home by up to $100,000 for school taxes. Senior homeowners, disabled homeowners, disabled veterans, and military or first responder spouses can claim additional exemptions.

What state is the best to start a homestead? ›

10 Best States For Homesteading 2023
  1. Tennessee. Rural Tennessee is already a popular location for sustainable living enthusiasts, with a fantastic harvesting season of around 9 months of the year, there are low property taxes and costs.
  2. Idaho. ...
  3. Oregon. ...
  4. Maine. ...
  5. Michigan. ...
  6. Connecticut. ...
  7. Montana. ...
  8. Alaska. ...
Feb 9, 2024

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