At first, my husband was adamant that we not add to our debt load (which at the time consisted of our home, student loans, one of our two vehicles, and some credit card debt), but in time, we began to realize that if forced to prioritize debt “worthiness,” surely A CHILD would top the list. After all, we had borrowed $13,000 to help pay for a minivan, a vehicle, a chunk of metal that would complete its “life cycle” in a few short years and would mean nothing to us in the eternities. Admittedly, we struggled a bit in the beginning because while a home is an earthly necessity, we couldn’t really say adding a fifth child to our family was essential. But when we got the inspiration that adoption was the right thing for our family, our daughter-to-be immediately became an essential, and seeking a loan didn’t seem quite so painful.

I mentioned above that if families can figure out a way to sneak a few hundred dollars more into their monthly budget, it can make all the difference for them. This is where a loan can come into play. It’s so easy to be discouraged by thoughts like, “Holy smokes! How will we ever come up with $22,000 for our Viet Nam adoption?!” TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS! $22,000 in one lump is a lot of money, and as I’ve already said, not an amount to be found in the average sock drawer (or dryer or sofa). But the idea of finding $400 a month to make PAYMENTS on a $22,000 loan suddenly makes the whole idea seem more tangible, more within reach. Especially if you’re literally “finding” the money by eliminating unnecessary expenditures, this is money you were already spending but are now merely reallocating.

Again, let me make it clear that I’m not advocating that families take out adoption loans willy-nilly, but if this is truly your only option for filling in the gaps, it’s certainly worth taking to the Lord and studying out in your mind. With the possible exception of your education, your spouse and children are the only things involving financial cost that you can take with you!

This article, which I’m posting in its entirety because it’s so good, can help you gauge the importance of your adoption plans as they relate to indebtedness. I’d also suggest picking up a copy of One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance, by Elder Marvin J. Ashton. Your ward clerk’s office may have a copy, and a new edition is due out on the Provident Living website any day now. Provident Living also has a new 5-part money management series available called Peace in your Hearts: Managing Household Finances Wisely. You can find the series of courses here.


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