Controlling Holiday Spending

Have you heard what toys are hot this Christmas? Anyone in your life wanting Hatchimals, Trolls, Furreals, and LuvaBella dolls, drones, Storm Trooper action figures, Pieface and Drone Blaster! Yikes!

When you’re bombarded with advertisements everywhere, you have to consciously work at not letting the lure of consumer goods eclipse the riches of God.

Many people demonstrate love with gifts. But, when those gifts cost more than you can afford, problems will arise.

So, how can you control your spending during the holidays?

First, seek the Lord. Ask Him for creativity to bless those you love while staying within your budget.

Make your list, set a realistic budget and use cash. Aim for simplicity and to create memories.

Contrary to what the world tells you, gifts don’t have to cost money. Give time. Pass down an heirloom. Give your talents by teaching or tutoring. Can you cook, sew, or do repairs? Maybe you can host a game night, puzzle night, or movie night for loved ones. Those memories will last a whole lot longer than a Hatchimal!

Whether or not money is an issue, we have an obligation to steward what God’s provided.

So, ignore the trending toys and gimmicks and give that which has lasting value.

When tempted to buy for yourself, ask what that same amount of money would buy someone in the third world? Food? An education? A home? A business? A church building?

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.

Focus your giving around the gift of Christ. Celebrate Him this year. Love well and steward wisely. Then both you and your loved ones will be blessed!

If you’ve been blessed by this ministry in any way, we hope that you will consider making a generous donation to Crown and your local radio station. This year your donation to Crown will be matched dollar for dollar! And to say thank you for your generosity, we’ll send you Total Life Stewardship, a brand new study on what it means to live a life devoted to stewarding your God given design, talent, finances, children and legacy. Find it at crown.org.