Ridgell's Originals

 For years, we have used budgeting as a tool for financial management.  The rule for budgeting is simple.  Project what your income will be.  Figure out where it will be spent.  Don't commit to spend more than you have coming in. 

We sometimes help people with budgets because they are in a financial mess.  Lots of people do not like our advice.  We have told people they need to sell their house.  We have talked about the difference between wants and needs.  

Two things I believe when making your budget.  One is that if you really cannot meet your needs, your community of faith will step in and help.  We do it at our church all the time.  

Second, God provides.  Budgeting is not about how successful we are with money.  It is about how God blesses us.  So thank God for you job.  Honor Him with your budget.  Be thankful always.

So here are a few suggestions when building your budget.

Start with the necessities.  Food, clothes, shelter.  Medicine.  There are basics essential to survival.  Start with those.  There is a lot of room to trim and save but there is a bottom line that you must meet.  If your income does not even cover basic needs, then you will need help.  Better paying job.  Side job.  Your church elders or deacons will help you figure some of this out.

Giving to God.  Tithe plus.  That is a good principle.  We Christians are not required to give a certain percentage or amount.  We are required to give as God prospers us.  We start at 10% to our local community of faith.  But if you have met the necessities, it is a great idea to budget a pool of money for extra giving.  Special needs at your church, individuals that need help, family members that you may need to take care of, parachurch organizations.

Debt.  In our culture, almost everyone has debt.  Houses,  Cars.  Education.  Business.  Be careful about buying "wants" on credit.  Debt handicaps you.  You are restricted on what you can give for immediate needs that arise.  You are locked in to a certain income level so you can service your debt. And if you have debt, budget to pay extra if possible.  The Biblical advice to not owe people is sound.  True because it is in the Bible.  Try to put extra toward debt.

We do spend enough time as Christians talking about the financial resources God has blessed us with.  

So as we have planned our 24 budget, I thought I would just share these thoughts.

And as always for every planned budget, it is in God's hand.  If the Lord wills, this is our plan.   

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM