Money Money Money Money.... Money!!

I don’t spend money often.  Honestly, there isn’t much I want and typically I don’t impulse buy.  I have my tightwad mom to thank for that. Haha.  Love you mom.  Granted, the things I do want are not cheap…wood floors…deck…back patio, flowers for my lawn, a pistol.  I think I have my dad to thank for most of those desires!  For me, having money saved before purchasing an item gives me a feeling of satisfaction.  I have been thru the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace class and although it sounds cliché, it really did change my life.  (Thank you Living Word Church & Sis Mc.!) The class helped me realize I wasn’t as smart with money as I thought. Though I never spent much per item, I would buy sale items…needed or not.  Seriously, how many black skirts, kitchen gadgets, hair clips, purses etc does one girl need? What follows are not all of the steps Dave Ramsey recommends but they are what helped me the most.  Click here for a link to Dave Ramsey’s site where you can learn more about his financial peace course, conferences and purchase books.

The first step is to build a $1,000 emergency fund.  THIS IS IMPORTANT.  It doesn’t matter how much you make or how many bills you have, start saving for this and don’t touch it unless there is an EMERGENCY.   A new purse, shoes, window tenting etc. are not emergencies!  Even if at this point all you have is $5/week to put in the fund, get started!  Countless times we have needed to dip into our emergency fund and would have been in a serious mess if we didn’t have the fund.  Our fridge went kaplunk, HVAC and electrical work on the house, car repairs, new tires, dental/medical bills, and the list goes on.  Life happens to everyone.

The second step is to pay off all debt.  Mortgage is not considered a debt because it should gain in value.                                 

The third step is to save 3-6 months worth of expenses.  It is to be used if one or both spouses lose a job or a catastrophic event happens.  This step can and probably will take years but it can be done.  Little by little, sacrifice by sacrifice.  We don’t have a television and although the main reason is because it’s mostly trash and one more thing to snatch up my precious time...it also costs money.    There are tons of money saving ideas…eat beans and rice, cut out cable and internet, disconnect the land line, don’t by an x-box and games, stop buying alcohol/cigarettes/dip and teeth-rotting-sodas.  Click here for an excellent list of money saving ideas.   You don’t have to do it forever, just long enough to pay down debt and save.   Dave Ramsey says, “Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else.”  Get it?

After our emergency fund was complete, we set up saving funds for vacation, misc. things we want to buy, money for college, and a fund so we can help people, sponsor an orphan, etc.  If we can’t first manage our own finances we can’t help others and as Christians we are called to help others…. Leviticus 23:22 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not make clean riddance of the corners of thy field when thou reapest, neither shalt thou gather any gleaning of thy harvest: thou shalt leave them unto the poor, and to the stranger: I am the LORD your God.  

If you have debt, no emergency fund, and/or no 3-6 months of savings funds…I encourage you to start now.  The time is NOW, not tomorrow!  If you don’t change the way you spend and start saving, your financial lifestyle is not going to change…. EVER. Remember, they say the definition of crazy is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.   

If you ever need help setting up a budget, please let me!  It makes my heart sing, I’m a nerd like that. 

We have made progress decreasing our spending  but we are not even close to perfect.  Recently, I’ve found holes in our budget and feel we are wasting money on senseless things.  It CONVICTS me.  While I’m buying breakfast because I’m too lazy to get out of bed and make my own…. there is a shoeless baby somewhere with a hungry belly and a missionary driving a piece of junk van with over 300,000 miles and loads of problems.  I can’t help them if I’m wasting the money God has given me. 

It’s soooo easy to buy $5 Tuesday Tacos, $5 Wed Enchiladas, and $5 Pizza….but it adds up!  My challenge to myself over the next few months is to cook more and in turn spend less on food.  Home cooked meals are healthier anyway.  I’m even going to have a few vegetables in a container garden this year.  Hopefully, I won’t murder the poor plants.    It sure wouldn’t be the first time.

Below are scriptures on the subject of money.  This list contains just a few of the many scriptures on money.  Evidently, how we manage our money is a big deal to God. 

Haggai 2:8 The silver is mine and the gold is mine saith the Lord of hosts.

Acts 20:35  I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

Luke 14: 28-30  For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. 

Psalms 37:21  The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again: but the righteous sheweth mercy, and giveth.

Ecclesiastes 5:5 Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. 

Malachi 3: 8-10 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it

Soon I will post a list of my favorite money saving websites.  Do you have any you recommend?

When I Can't, He Can

Recently, I was asked to speak to a small ladies group and let me tell you, honestly, I wanted to say NO WAY!  I would rather run 5 miles and this girl does not enjoy running.   I would rather eat tree bark.  I would rather do a lot of things.  Why you ask? Because what follows is typical Gina when speaking to a group (large or small).

My heart pounds, my palms sweat, my uncomfortable strained wobbly voice speaks way to fast.   My self-depreciating thoughts begin to run rampant…….. What if I say the wrong word?  What if I lose my place?  What if I’m not clear and talk in circles? What if my tag is sticking out?   Wonder if they will see these stinking grey hairs that have popped up overnight? Oh gross- my fingernails need to be filed!  What if I trip and fall in front of everyone?  What if I OFFEND someone?  I wonder if they will notice I have gained weight…again!?!  No lie or exaggeration, these are the thoughts that plague me EVERY TIME I am asked to speak to a group, whether it is at work or even a prayer request at church.  I am 31 yrs old.  I thought I’d be over this by now.

When I was first asked to speak, I didn’t plan on inviting my church ladies purely because it would just make me even more nervous.  Larger audience + people I respect and admire = Babbling Psycho Gina.  When I told my husband, he gave me the “look”.  (The pastors about to step on your toes and you’ll thank him later kind of look)  “Don’t you think the Heartland ladies might enjoy fellowshipping with other Christians? Maybe they need to be uplifted spiritually?”  Ouch.  I was starting to see the spiritual picture he sees ….I had an opportunity to bless people, to encourage them, to introduce them to new friends and I was only looking out for myself.  I’m pretty good at looking out for myself… what is best for me today…what will make MY life easier… how can I take pressure off…. how can I cut a corner.   

I once asked an amazing speaker if she gets nervous and without pause she replied, “No because I have something to say I believe people need to hear”.  As I think back, all my questions and thoughts were me focused and not Him focused.    I should have instead been asking myself…..have I sufficiently prayed and communed with the Lord so I will be sensitive enough to feel his direction? Am I giving God my best in every area of my life?  Am I putting Him first?  Am I honoring Him with my time, money, and the blessings He has given me?  

A wise woman I honor and respect once told me, “it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress.”  While on this earth, I’m not going to be the perfect person I want to be but  I must keep striving to do better, to pray more, to study more, to give more…. The devil would LOVE for me to feel not worthy to speak, not spiritual enough to lead in prayer and worship, not smart enough to speak up at work.  He wants to limit me because he is scared of me.  When I feel like I can’t do something, I need to shake off this flesh and put on the full armor of God.  I must remember thru Him I have power over the enemy.   I must get it thru my thick head that….when I can’t, He can.