Let me share something really cool.
This past weekend Jeff and the boys picked up another side mowing job (they were driving by and saw one of our neighbors (who they already mow lawns for) and our neighbor was talking to her friend who had been considering hiring Jeff and the boys to mow. After some conversation, and some price quoting, Jeff went home to get the mower, edger, and backpack blower to mow their front lawn. Just $20.
But, they were coming home from another side job of laying some sod (actually to help a small group friend out who had pulled his back out) and ended up getting paid $100. So the boys came home with $120 dollars after running a 5K Race for the Cure in Savannah, and then participating in Highway Cleanup for their Boy Scout Troop.
Good day.
When Jeff exchanged the larger bills for smaller bill so the boys could divide it up for their 'bills' a really cool thing happened. Through this yard mowing business the boys have learned to tithe first, save second, then pay the bills third. Some of their bills are maintenance fees, their workers' (Jeff) pay, and a debt to pay off (a portion of their mission trip last year and last years boy scout camp expenses).
Jeff gave them a minimum payment they had to pay each mowing job but then let them finish out how they saw fit. Before this sod laying job they were down to double digits on their debt. They tithed, saved, paid their worker and the maintenance fees and then...
They paid in full their debt.
This has been such a great learning experience for them. They have grown tremendously from those first yards mowed to now. From that first time monies was divided up and they had spending money. From that first time paying into their debt. And then they took the whole chunk of sod laying money and paid their debt in full.