Beating Debt News Archives

By guest blogger: kls

Procrastination…what’s not to love about it?  Put off that unpleasant, uncomfortable or painful thing or issue that takes up too much time or commitment.  A few of my favorite projects to avoid are cleaning out a closet, going on a diet and creating/sticking to a budget.  All require sacrifice.  All require time.  All require planning and deliberate actions.  (These are excellent reasons for using the avoidance technique!)  However, by continuing to procrastinate, I miss the wonderful rewards at the end of the journey. 

Cleaning out my closet reaps the benefits of knowing that there are no monster dust bunnies hiding in the back, that I do indeed have something nice to wear, and that I can give clothes to people who are less fortunate than I am. 

Changing my diet to a healthy, well-rounded, balanced part of my life means that I’ll have less health issues in the future and that I’ll have more energy to deal with things (like cleaning the closet). 

Creating and sticking to a budget is probably the most rewarding project for me.  Knowledge is a good thing.  Knowing how much money is available to me enables me to shop responsibly and truly evaluate whether I need something.  It allows me to make informed decisions about big purchases (i.e., a car or major appliance) that prevent me from acquiring ridiculous amounts of debt.  Budgeting allows me to manage my money instead of letting my money manage me.

We need to develop a healthy perspective of who owns our bodies and our money.  We need to realize we are creations of a wonderful God who are merely stewards of all He gives us.  When we make good choices for our bodies and our finances, our lives are more attuned to His direction and blessings. 

All good things start with a decision.  Too often, we wait too long to make the right decision and get ourselves in a mess that is hard to fix.  When our food choices cause diseases or obesity to set in our bodies or our spending habits cause a huge amount of debt, we feel hopeless to change.  It’s NOT hopeless; it just feels that way.   Procrastination does not have to be a way of life.

Make specific goals.  Track where your money goes.  Decide to save some of it, even if it is pocket change and especially when you feel like there is not any money to save.   Saving $1 each working day is much more powerful than a one large time savings.  Make saving money a habit!  Reducing unnecessary expenses has a much more powerful impact on your financial health than boosting your income (because of Uncle Sam takes a portion of the income’s effect).

See the goal in the distance, and work hard to attain it.

Concentrate instead of procrastinate. 

Luci Swindoll’s father once told her “‘Every dollar you ever get, if you spend some, save some, tithe some, invest some and give some away (ticking off each finger), then you’ll always have money, and you’ll always enjoy money.’ I never forgot that, and to this day I call it my five-finger exercise. It works!”

So with that in mind, realize that you need to change.  Make change a habit.  See how blessed you’ll be by spending money in accordance with God’s will!

Photo by: akeg

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