Practical Guidelines to Spending Money(Adapted from Randy Alcorn, Money, Possessions and Eternity, Tyndale House, 1989)
Nothing is a good deal if you can’t afford it
God isn’t behind every good deal
Understand the difference between spending money and saving money
Resist manipulative advertising
Know that Little things Add up
Proverbs 21:20, “In the house of the wise man are stores of choice food and oil, but the foolish man devours all he has”
Set up a budget
Do not overspend
Stick with the budget
Buy the basics. You will be able to afford the best later(think “stewardship”)
Save, Save, Save(remember…”cash flow margin”!)
Start with establishing your income per month. Take yearly income and divide by twelve. Shoot low on commissions. Understand what the difference between your “spendable income” and your “total income”(total income is before tithe and taxes). List all your expenses(see categories from handout)
To manage the affairs of another is to be ready at any time to give account.
“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me”(I Corinthians 4:2,4)
10 Principles of Christian Finance That Will Last A Lifetime
- God is the owner of everything in my life
- I am responsible to do my best as a steward of what He has entrusted to me
- I need to be faithful in my income and in my expenses
- I need to give to God in accordance with the Scriptures
- Set goals that reflect God’s heart and wise stewardship
- Live by a spending plan that flows out of your Godly goals
- Reduce and Eliminate Debt
- Make a covenant commitment with your spouse to monitor your financial lives
- Consider sharing your financial goals with others as a step of accountability
- Practice “Whole Life Stewardship” with your income, assets, time, talents
