GIF Saving Money
“Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”
(Proverbs 6:6-8 NIV)
Saving Money
by Chuck Bentley
By saving money, we can be prepared for God to use us to serve others in times of plenty and in times of need.
If you haven’t saved money in the past, start now by setting money aside for emergencies. Your first goal should be a $1,000 emergency fund that will allow you to pay cash for unplanned expenses.
Your savings goal should increase to one month’s living expenses, then three to six months of living expenses.
Savings should become a way of life for you, and you can avoid hoarding by giving along the way. If your job is volatile, if you have health issues, or if a major expense is upcoming, you’ll need more savings.
Every time you save money, you take a step back from the cliff. If you’re living without margin, you’re on the cliff ’s edge, and one gust of wind will push you over.
A key to being successful at saving is to develop a spending plan, which helps you spend on purpose. You need to stop spontaneous and needless spending, which consumes the money you should be saving.
As you develop your plan, focus on cutting expenses. Set limits for spending, then faithfully live within those limits every month. Reducing excess consumption will help you create financial margin, and as a result, you will have more money to save.
Daily Scripture Reading:
2 Kings 24:1-4
2 Chronicles 36:6-7
Jeremiah 25, 35, 46-47