Saving money for the future does not have to be difficult or painful. Following just a few simple steps will help you to get on your way to a more sound financial future.
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1. Plan ahead – make a list of the things that you need (or that you are going to need) well before you actually need them. This will give you time to save up for the purchase, to find discounts or coupons are to really decide if you need the item. I make a list every few months of what I “need,” “want,” and “desire.” It still amazes me how many “needs” have slipped off the list with a little time.
2. Shop around – look for the best deals for any purchases. If you live in a large city then this can even include grocery shopping (my town only has two grocery stores and neither of them are big chains). Search the internet as well. Websites (like overstock.com or amazon.com) can make it possible to find impossible deals.
3. Pay with cash – having to release actually money may slow down your spending habits. It makes you much more aware of what (and how) you are spending your money.
4. Utilize what you have – there is no reason to wait for anything to begin doing what you want. Begin with what you have until you can get what you want. A few years back my oven died. I used my crock pots, electric skillet, toaster oven, outdoor grill and microwave to cook meals (including Thanksgiving dinner) before I could save up to replace the stove.
Saving money can be simple. The only hard part is changing your spending habits.
January 9th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Hello,
I need help on how to manage my household expense.
I would like advice about paying bills before thitheing etc.
What is correct according to God’s Word. Thank You
January 9th, 2009 at 2:17 pm
Hey Martha,
I’m posting today about basic budget techniques, but I have also posted in the past about different ways to set up a budget. Tell me more about exactly what you need and I will try and give you some tips on those points.
As for the tithe, that is a very personal thing. God teaches us to tithe so that we can learn to give freely. Ultimately all that we have belongs to Him! I always recommend paying bills on time but there may be some ways to decrease your payments in order to come to a place where you can give freely and joyfully to God.
March 12th, 2009 at 12:08 am
How do I respond to credit card dealers whom I’m late. They want me to give them an authorizition to do check by phon on certain day and I tell them no and then they turn me over to hardship div. and it starts all over. Want and date and say if I can’t meet that all I have to do is call and chang. I’m afraid of giving them control of electronic draft. Which I do one time draft monthly but I call and do it for the 1 time. Hope I haven’t messed up where they’ll take our funds. We’re struggling and I have had time reasoning with them. We’re just the current month late on payment day and I keep telling soon as my husband check comes I’ll call. He’s long distance truck drive and changed companies 2 times since october. Hope fully this will be better of companies just getting pay started. They automatic deposit to Bank of Amer and I’m really scarred of that. That’s only bank payroll is sent through for those puroses.
Please help me what to say to creditors, especially Discover Card and It’s higher and higher each month and I don’t ever use it but over the limit.
Thanks for your help
May 6th, 2009 at 8:32 am
[...] Tip for Saving Money The best way to save money is to not spend it in the first place. This is the greatest lesson that you can ever learn when it comes to finance. But living a life of financial freedom goes far beyond just saving [...]