subject: Ways To Get Your Finances Under Control [print this page] Debt does not happen overnight, and we cannot expect to get out of debt overnight. However, we can learn some simple skills that can help us get our finances under control before they end up controlling us.
A budget is simply a plan for our finances. It is a guide upon which we base many of our financial decisions. If we were to build a house, we would not start without first figuring out what we want the house to look like. Then, we would create the blueprints that outline the details that the builder would need to turn our dream into a reality.
Have a blueprint
In the same manner, a budget serves as our financial blueprints to help us determine what goals we can afford. We should never spend our money frivolously; everything should be thought out well in advance.
Jesus told us about planning in Luke 14:28-30. He said, "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, 'This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'"
A budget is not a tool only for people who are "financially impaired." Everyone needs a budget.
A common myth is that a budget limits our spending. However, it is actually not designed to constrain us. Rather, it sets us free from the daily worry about where our money has gone. Since all funds are allocated among our daily expenses, we no longer have to worry about being able to cover certain bills. After looking at the costs of debt, we can see how important a budget is just to maintain our sanity.
Analyze spending decisions
The best way to begin creating a budget is to analyze our current spending habits. First, we need to distinguish between our needs, our wants, and our desires. Confusing these categories is a common way for our budgets to get out of line.
Our needs are just that - the day-to-day necessities. This would include such purchases as food, clothing, and shelter. We can do just fine with these items and nothing else. Paul encouraged us to be content. In 1 Timothy 6:8, he tells us, "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
Our wants go one step further to include things that might make our lives a little more comfortable or enjoyable. This might mean improving upon the quality of our needs (such as getting a better brand of clothing or going out to a first-rate restaurant) or buying something nice (for instance, getting some jewelry). We need to be careful, though, about letting these wants define us. Peter told us that our beauty and self-worth should come from within (1 Peter 3:3-4). Remember that material goods will never bring lasting happiness.
Our desires are even more sophisticated than our wants. These are the ultimate things we would like to enjoy in life. However, there are two precautions that we should keep in mind.
First, desires only come after everything else has been done. If our basic needs have not been met, then we should not try to splurge on desires.
Second, we need to keep our priorities straight. John reminded us in 1 John 2:15-17 that we should not love the world or anything in it. Our focus should always remain on God and His will.
by: Ozeme J Bonnette
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