Have you ever come to the end of the month and looked at your checkbook register and thought, Where did it all go?
Being a good steward of what we have is a key to financial success. It takes time and effort to write things down, plan, and keep track of what you own, what you’re spending, and what you need to prepare for in the future.
Are we going to replace the couch in the next year? If not, we don’t need to worry about it. Is the washing machine 15 years old? We might want to consider that. Are we going to need new tires? Are the kids going to need braces?
How much do we spend on clothing, or groceries, or our vacation, or Christmas presents? Most people don’t know what they actually spend each month or each year. For example, the average American household spends about $2,500 in home repairs every year, so we’d better divide that by 12 and budget for it. It’s going to take about $210 a month to keep our homes and the things in them in good repair.
The key is to find the truth so we can really use our faith when we pray. Instead of saying, “Lord, bless our finances,” we can pray, “Lord, thank You in advance for an extra $200 a month to keep the home You gave us in good repair. Thank You for helping us to prepare in advance for our needs.”
THE TAKE AWAY
When we get everything down on paper, it will help us to see where we’re at and help us to make wise decisions. We can look at what we have and where our money is being spent and then consider: do we want to continue to do some of these things, or is there something else that’s more important right now?
