The Earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein. (Psalm 24:1)
All of us want to have a little bit more control over our lives. Sometimes we are controlled by our impulses, which lead to decisions we later regret. Often this includes how we manage our money.
During my days of writing papers for school, I remember researching how items are strategically placed in stores so we have to pass them on the way to things we actually need. Think about where the bread, eggs and milk are located in your grocery store–often in the back. That is intentional, so that we will pick up others items along the way we did not intend to purchase. This might seems harmless, except when it gets you to spend more money than you had planned.
Like me, many people don’t carry a lot of cash. When I am buying something I did not intend, I sometimes use my debit card. I have seen others shop with credit cards in the grocery store as well. I don’t know if it was planned or not, but I know that there are times when I spend more than I had planned.
One way to avoid wasting money is to develop a spending plan. I used to be a lot more diligent, but lately I have trusted myself to shop without a list or go to the mall for one thing–then I see something on sale that says “take me home with you.”
Before you know it, we have lost control of our spending. It happens gradually and can mushroom into a large problem. The good news is that we can take charge of our finances by implementing these four tips:
- Pray and ask God to help you develop a spending plan that acknowledges that he is the owner.
- Accept your responsibility to be a good manager of what has been entrusted unto you.
- Build contingencies into your spending plan so that you can stay on track.
- Measure your progress and adjust as needed.
God bless you! And join us January 21 for Take Charge of Your Finances Day of Prayer.
