11 tips on how to manage your finances and live a good life.
Good day beautiful people.
As mentioned previously today’s post is about finances. If you’re new here welcome to our new series called ‘How to live the best life’. And if you’re an old subscriber/frequent reader thank you for your continual support.
The aim of this post is to give readers insight into how they can learn to manage their finances through taking practical steps and by looking to God’s word before making decisions.
Some tips
1. Be patient: Research and don’t rush the purchase process (take it slow). Take your time to see if you can get any discounts. Trust me every little helps, even if it’s 10% off it’s a saving that can be put to use elsewhere. If you’re a healthcare worker in the NHS you have access to a few perks (discounts at restaurants, clothing stores, equipment stores etc). So if you haven’t got a BlueLightCard get one ASAP or start using your NHS ID badge. Also when researching make sure the item you get is something you know how to use and will serve its purpose in your life. Many people fall into the trap of buying expensive products but don’t know how to use it, or use it inappropriately, so it doesn’t work for them. Buy smart. Certain companies tend to do frequent sales on certain days so if you investigate for yourself you’ll be able to find out what days are best to buy certain products for example ASOS usually give customers discounts on a Sunday.
Proverbs 19:2 ~ “Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.”
2. Buy what you can afford: I’m all for people treating themselves. Hard work should be celebrated and rewarded, BUT if you don’t need it and can’t afford it, don’t get it. Never buy things you want at the expense of not being able to get what you need. It’s great to have fun in life, and God wants us to enjoy our time on earth, but if having fun means getting into debt, then you need to discover new ways to have fun.
3. Cut your cloth according to your coat: Research has shown that a lot of people get into debt due to buying a car on finance. A lot of people in the west don’t own what they have these days. You can get a phone on credit, and even clothes on credit. This is actually really helpful for those who are trying to provide for themselves or dependents as it provides a person with the opportunity to pay in instalments, but it can also be dangerous for those who lack self control and have bad spending habits.
4. Stop trying to meet up with the joneses: Each family has different needs so it’s useless comparing yourself to others and trying to live their lifestyle.
Exodus 16:18 ~ “But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.”
Ecclesiastes 4:4 ~ Then I observed that most people are motivated to success because they envy their neighbors. But this, too, is meaningless—like chasing the wind.
5. Avoid manipulative sales people: Walk away and learn to say NO. I remember having a discussion with a car dealer who said to me ‘but this is your dream car’, after I declined buying a car outside of my budget. I couldn’t believe it, because I knew in my heart that it was NOT my dream car. Then I realised how easy it is for people to fall into financial traps through buying items outside of their budget through coercion. Material is just material. You get bored with it after a while and it’s not worth getting yourself into debt over such things. Another useful tip I have for you is if you are looking to purchase a car, see if you can get your hands on a display car as they are cheaper to buy because people have gone into the car for a tester experience.
6. Learn to share and not hoard: The bible tells us that it is good to give, it’s a blessing. Stockpiling/greed actually leads to waste, for example food which has gone off has to be thrown out which means you would have lost money.
Exodus 16:19-20~ “Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.”
Acts 20:35 ~ And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”
7. Don’t give outside of your means: The bible say’s when you give you should do so cheerfully. And you should not be pressured into giving. Beware of people who emotionally manipulate people into giving. Always ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and wisdom.
2 Corinthians 8:12-13 ~ “Whatever you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you have, not what you don’t have. Of course, I don’t mean your giving should make life easy for others and hard for yourselves. I only mean that there should be some equality.”
8. Get help from a financial advisor: You can get free financial advice from certain bank providers or community help groups. They can help you look into ways on how to save and invest wisely.
Proverbs 24:6 ~ “So don’t go to war without wise guidance; victory depends on having many advisers.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1 ~ Send your grain across the seas, and in time, profits will flow back to you.
9. Learn to cook as every little helps: Money spent on daily takeaways can be used for other essential needs or can be saved. Shy away from buying takeaway everyday, make your own coffee, bring your own tea bags to work, make packed lunches etc.
10. Learn to save: No matter how little you manage to save it will be of great help one day, especially during seasons of financial decrease. Jospeh was smart and prevented the nation of Egypt and surrounding nations from being wiped out by starvation through frequently saving grain (Genesis 41:47-57).
Genesis 47:23-24 ~ “Then Joseph said to the people, “Look, today I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. I will provide you with seed so you can plant the fields. Then when you harvest it, one-fifth of your crop will belong to Pharaoh. You may keep the remaining four-fifths as seed for your fields and as food for you, your households, and your little ones.”
Proverbs 21:10 ~ The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.”
A good pattern to follow is the spend, share, save model (this is not something you have to do)
Earnings
Spend: 60% of your salary goes towards paying bills, mortgage, groceries etc. [Essential items].
Save: 20% of your income should be put away.
Share: 20% shared(10% tithes, 10% should be used to treat yourself and bless others).
11. Surrender your finances to God: Pray against shopping addictions because they’re toxic. Stop buying new things if there’s nothing wrong with the item you already have (you don’t always need to get a phone upgrade or a new car every 3 years). Pray against gambling addictions, as gambling can hold you in financial bondage and destroy your life.
Philippians 4:6 ~ “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”
I hope you enjoyed today’s post? Join us next week as we continue our series on ‘How to live the best life’. You are blessed, special, and wonderfully made.
Love from
Christian Lady After God’s Own Heart 💜
