To me, being thrifty has two parts. The first is an aversion to spending money. You must take a close look at your spending habits and decide what are necessities and what are not. If you can live without it, don't buy it. Learn to enjoy saving money as much if not more than the enjoyment you would get from owning a particular item. This doesn't mean you can't buy anything purely for enjoyment, but be very selective with what you choose to spend your money on. The second part of being thrifty is spending as little possible on the necessities. Shop around for the best deals, research prices, and think about second-hand items. It takes more time to get the best price but it's worth it.
Whether your finances are tight or not, it's a good idea to sit down and make a monthly budget of your expenditures. By itemizing your expenses for a few months you may be very surprised how much you are spending in certain areas. If your not ready to jump completely into frugality just yet, pick one or two areas to work on first. For people who are new to frugality the food budget is a good place to start. Look for ways to save on groceries, learn to make cheaper meals and reduce eating out. Once you feel good about your grocery expenditures, move onto another area and look for things to cut out or ways to save. I highly recommend the book The Tightwad Gazette <http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=Hge3T*kG5dE&offerid=57189.339843157&type=10&subid=> for everyone for great frugal tips and ideas.
Regardless of your income level, I would urge all Christians to look closely at their budget for ways to save money. Most importantly, are you being good stewards with the money God has given you? If money is tight already then it's not hard to make the case to try and spend less. Many people have to be extremely frugal just to pay their bills each month. But for those of you out there for whom money isn't much of an issue, I would urge you to learn to be frugal in order to increase your giving.
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money." Matthew 6:24
Four Tips to Make Some Extra Cash
Do you need a way to make some extra cash right now? When money is tight, try the tips below for some extra income generating ideas.
1. Use or Sell Your Gift Cards
In 2006, there were $8 billion dollars in retail gift cards outstanding that went unused, or an average amount of $69 per U.S. household. So rummage through your purses, wallets and sock drawers, dust off those old cards and use them up or sell them on eBay. I recently sold a $50 gift card on eBay thinking I'd be lucky to get maybe half the original price, but to my surprise it sold for ninety percent of its face value. After Paypal, shipping and eBay fees I'll end up with a little less, but it was still a good way to make some extra cash.
2. Clear Out Your Clutter
Get your house more organized and make extra money at the same time by cleaning out your closets, attic, garage and basement and selling everything you don't really use or need. You will feel better by having less clutter in your life and as a bonus you can make a few extra bucks. Pick a weekend to have a garage sale, or auction your goods off on that cyberspace garage sale, eBay. Anything left over can be given to charity for a possible tax deduction or placed on freecycle.org, a nonprofit web site designed to help people reuse items in good condition and keep useable goods out of landfills.
3. Shop Around for the Best Money Checking and Saving Account Rates
Shop around to earn the highest rates possible on your checking and saving account money. We opened an account with a mutual fund company where we can transfer money electronically to and from our free but low interest paying personal checking account at our local bank. The difference between the bank savings rate and the money market was over 2% a year. If you keep a balance of $3,000 in your account, that can be an extra $60 a year you can earn on your money.
We keep just enough in the checking account to pay our bills, and transfer the rest to the higher paying money market account with the mutual fund company. If we ever need more cash we can easily sell shares of the money market and transfer the money back to the checking account electronically rather quickly.
4. Start a Blog
Make extra money in your robe and bunny slippers by working on the web. You can make money by developing a blog and putting ads on it. One of the easiest ways to do this is to set up a blogspot blog at www.blogger.com and put Google ads, called Adsense, on your blog. Try starting with a niche topic in a low competition field untapped by the existing professional bloggers. For example, advice on buying digital cameras is a tough field to break into for a novice blogger, but where to get great deals on ukuleles might be a bit easier field to break into. If you love to write, this is a great way to earn a little extra cash, and if you get good enough at it, perhaps embark on a new career. A favorite site of mine with useful tips on how to write for the web and available advertising programs for blogs can be found at www.problogger.com.
Sweet Freedom from Debt
Benjamin Franklin had very definite opinions about debt, one of my favorites being, "Better to go to bed supperless, than wake up in debt." What a stark contrast to the attitude many have toward debt today. Instead of something to be avoided, we have embraced credit as a friend-an easy way to bypass shortages of funds. If debt was once such a disgrace, why do we now see debt as a strange sort of blessing rather than a curse?
Part of the problem is our cultural mind-set that debt is normal. It's as if you are somehow abnormal if you choose to avoid it. We face a fierce pressure to live as "everyone else" does-even if that means spending beyond our incomes. We want the same standard of living as our parents and grandparents, without all the hard work and saving they did to get where they are.
We've bought into the lie that says living the good life means having what we want when we want it. The line of thinking goes like this: "If you want to be happy, you have to have stuff. To have stuff, you have to have money. If you don't have money, you can still have stuff, but you have to have debt." Debt is seen as a necessary evil.
Do you think you'd have to be on the verge of bankruptcy to be seriously affected by debt? Think again. Debt changes the way we live and the way we relate to our families. Many mothers who would rather stay home with their new babies can't because they have to go back to work. Couples who say that family time is most important rarely see each other and their kids because they must work long hours to make payments on their debt. Decisions are not made according to what is best for the family but, instead, what is necessary to pay basic expenses plus all the debt too.
Does your family have more consumer debt than you care to admit? How would your life look if you were debt free? What would you do that you can't do now? Would you spend more time with your family? Volunteer more? Explore career options that never seemed viable before? Likewise, what wouldn't you do that you must do now? Would being free from financial concerns make it easier to live life the way you truly want to live it?
Unfortunately, Satan can use debt as a noose around your neck. Whether you owe a little or a lot, being in debt causes you to have divided loyalties. How can you truly put your family first when financial obligations dictate when, where, and how much you work? How can you fully pursue God's will for your life when you are so busy just trying to pay the bills? Like the other forms of clutter, debt takes your attention away from God. Buying on credit keeps you from looking to God for his provision to meet your needs. After all, why wait for God to provide when instant credit and no down payment mean you can provide for yourself right away?
Would you like to make a clean break from the bondage of debt? Using these steps, your family can experience this kind of freedom:
1. Stop sugar-coating debt. You must see debt for what it really is: slavery. Consumer debt is not a necessity. It is not a convenience or a luxury. Debt is a ball and chain that keeps you from living your life the way God wants you want to live it. Get angry about the situation, and use your anger to propel you into action to do something about it.
2. Take responsibility for the problem. Take a serious look at why those debts occurred. Debt is an external symptom of clutter of the heart. Spend time figuring out what is going on inside you that caused the debt in the first place. Was it because your family didn't trust and wait for God's provision? Did you try to take the easy way out and use credit instead of saving up for what you needed? Could you have avoided debt by setting aside funds to cover the inevitable emergencies of life? Whatever the underlying reason for the debt, admit any wrongdoing on your part, and ask God to help you deal with that issue.
3. Seek godly counsel. Seek counsel about the best way to deal with your debt. Several Christian organizations (Crown Financial Ministries, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University) help families use biblical principles to break free from debt. Ask a trusted friend or your pastor to suggest the best resources for guidance and support to work through the steps of debt repayment.
4. Be patient. Just as we don't gain weight overnight, we don't sink deeply into debt overnight either. Both situations take time and effort to change. The larger the debt problem, the longer it will take to work through it. But instead of focusing on how long it will take you to repay your debts, focus instead on how wonderful it will feel when you are completely free. Celebrate small victories along the way so you will not get discouraged as you work toward your ultimate goal.
[Excerpt taken from: From Clutter to Clarity: Simplifying Life from the Inside Out © 2007 by Nancy Twigg, published by Standard Publishing (www.standardpub.com). Used by permission.]
Nancy Twigg is an author and speaker who loves inspiring women to live more simply. To learn more about Nancy's speaking and writing ministry, visit her online at www.keepitsimplesister.com <http://www.keepitsimplesister.com>
25 Money Saving Tips
By Lara Velez
In these times we are living in finances are tight and many of us are desperately trying to find ways to save money. It is a time when people are being laid off, receiving pay cuts, and trying to raise families on low income. Of course soaring gas prices do not help either!
I hope that these money saving tips help you as they have been helping our family!
Money Saving Tips
Shop Second Hand. I have to admit, I had a hard time with this at first, however, I see the value in it now. Who says we have to have "new" clothes? There are a TON of great second hand stores out there with awesome styles. When I took my teenager to a second hand store we have here in town, she was very excited as she looked through the racks. Why? Well, the prices were SO low that she realized she was going to get a LOT more than she normally does! She understands the concept of getting more for your money! Now, she has a wardrobe of beautiful clothes that are perfect for her style. The best part, we only spent fifty bucks! I also saved a bunch of money on my toddlers clothes! She got dresses and shorts and outfits galore for 30 dollars!! Ho cool is that?? Note: We do not buy undergarments at second hand stores...Only clothing.
Another great tip for second hand stores, is that YOU can sell YOUR clothes there and make some easy money! When the kids out grow their clothes, take the ones that are still nice to the resale store and "recycle" them for cash!
E-Mealz.com. This cool site helps you make a food list for shopping. You choose the store, and THEY provide the plan. It saves you a ton of time to let THEM think! They find the best prices for items and make your plan based on that week's sales at the store you picked.
The Grocery Game or couponmom.com. These coupon sites go very well with the emealz site. You can get the coupons for the plan that emealz came up with! VERY cool! And, you will save time AND money!
Hot Water Heater. You can save money each month simply by setting your water heater temperature to a lower temperature. Or, you can buy a hot water heater timer at home depot for the same results.
Blockbuster or Netflix. This is a great way to save money and TIME for entertainment. The fees are quite low and the movies are delivered to your home.
Library. You can get FREE movies and music "rentals" at your local library.
Starbucks Lovers. You can save 10 cents if you bring in your own cup! Does not sound like much, but if you get coffee there in a regular basis, it can REALLY add up!
Energy Audit. Call your electric company and request an energy audit. Most of them do it for free. They will tell you where you can make adjustments to save money on your bill each month. Plus, in many cases, they will give you some freebies (light bulbs, etc).
Rate Reductions. Call your cable or phone company and tell them that you would like a rate reduction. Shop around for better deals and let them know you have been. They will want to keep your business and in many cases lower your bill a bit. Or, at the very least offer you some incentive.
Employee Discounts. USE them. Know them. Oh, and USE them!
Sale Papers. Read them and LOOK for sales on items you need to buy. Research for the best deal. Clipping Coupons is another great use for sale papers!
Leftovers. Make meals that can also be used for a great "leftover" meal the next day.
Conserve Electricity. Shut your lights off during the day and open your blinds. Turn off lights when room is not in use. Keep the air on 78 degrees during the day. Open your windows and use ceiling fans as much as possible. Wash with cold water. Just a few changes can really LOWER your bill.
Prescriptions. Go to Walmart. They offer very low prices on MANY prescriptions. Oh, and for those of you who are near a Publix supermarket, they give FREE prescriptions for several popular antibiotics.
Dollar Movies. Why spend big bucks to see a movie? If you wait just a few more weeks, you can see the SAME movie on a big screen for a buck or two!
Dollar Stores. They have many cleaning and household items that you can get instead of paying full price.
Car Pool. When possible get together with other who work with you, and car pool. You can also take turns picking up your kids from school if you do not work outside the home. You will save gas money.
Garage Sales. This is a great way to find some furniture items you need. Some people find great treasures and then sell them on eBay. Not only can you SAVE money, you can MAKE money if you so choose.
Shop After Holidays. A great time to buy gifts is AFTER the holidays! If you wait till after many holidays, like Easter, Christmas, etc...you will find great deals. Obviously, not on perishable items, however, you can find perfume, gift sets, and MUCH more for 50-75% off. Put them in your closet, and give them as gifts next year!
Store Brands. Buy store brands as often as possible. On most cases they have the EXACT same ingredients and/or quality as "name brand." Name brand is nothing more than commercialization. They are no different. Maybe we are watching too much TV??? LOL!
Shop Online. You can find a TON of deals AND get free shipping JUST for shopping Online.
Amazon and eBay. You can get incredible deals shopping at places like eBay and Amazon. Use and New. I buy most of my books through Amazon used. I save a TON of money that way and even though they are used, they really do not appear used when I get them. Oh,and yet again, this is another venue to make money. Sell YOUR used books on Amazon!
Eat In. Eating out costs a LOT of money. Get out of the habit and get more creative with your cooking! You will not only save money, you will make your family happy! If you work outside the home and you go out to lunch, try bagging it! Think about it this way...You are literally flushing your money down the toilet!!!
Restaurant Savings. If you MUST have your out to eat treat sometimes there is still hope for you! Many places offer kids eat free nights. Take advantage of them when you want to have an out to eat treat. Applebees has it on Sundays, Fazolies and Roadhouse have it on Tuesdays. There are also quite a few restaurants that offer free meals and/or discounts on your birthday. Call around and find out which ones have the best deals.
Drink more Water. It is MUCH healthier for you than soda, tea, or coffee. Plus, it's FREE! If you do not like your tap water, invest in a filter. Water is the BEST thing you can drink and most people do not drink enough of it anyway! You will be SHOCKED at the amount of money you save each week by simply eliminating the unhealthy sugar filled drinks from your diet! Oh, and your waistline will not complain either!! LOL!
As you can see, there are MANY ways to save money. This is by no means even the tip of the iceberg on the amount of money you can save if you set your mind to it! Happy Money Saving!
Lara Velez is a Christian wife and homeschooling Mother of two. She is a published writer, web designer (designedbylara.com <http://designedbylara.com/> ), and Mom of Faith (momsoffaith.com <http://momsoffaith.com/> ). She enjoys cooking, writing, scrapbooking, and web design.
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved.
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