Not having control over your daily spending is like having a leaky car tire — you may not notice that slow loss, but eventually you end up with a flat.
The same thing is true of your wallet. Unless you set a limit on what you allow yourself to spend each day, that trickle of cash or credit here and there can quickly mount up. You’re courting enough trouble if you’re shelling out too much cash, but you’re headed for absolute disaster if your constant resource is a credit card.
It’s all in the discipline, and we are disciples of whatever discipline we follow.
As believers in Jesus Christ, our financial management, like all other areas of our lives, should never be chaotic because our God “is not a God of disorder” (1 Cor. 14:33).
So how do you put order into your financial life? Make every decision the wisest possible. If there’s a nickel’s difference in the price of fuel at two nearby stations, then don’t ignore those five little pennies — stick with the lower-priced source. On average, that’s a savings of $75 a year.
Doesn’t sound like much? Then throw $75 out your car window and see how you feel. While the effect isn’t so immediately obvious, over the course of time, you’re doing the same thing when you continually ignore less expensive options.
In big and small ways, there are hundreds of simple things you can do to decrease your outgo. For example, think about your cell phone. I’ve personally learned to minimize my cell phone time, which allows me to buy $100 worth (1,000 minutes) of prepaid airtime about once a year – which comes to less than $10 a month (www.T-Mobile.com).
For those of you who could never survive on such a minimum, consider Boost Mobile’s (www.BoostMobile.com) latest offer: a $50-a-month prepaid package. This includes unlimited nationwide calls, text messaging, walkie-talkie and Web access.
There are also no roaming charges or contract, and it offers international call rates starting at just 2 cents per minute. Boost’s phone prices begin at $29.99. This may be the perfect way to reduce your cell phone expense and maybe even simultaneously increase your services.
For a huge percentage of people who have health care insurance, their coverage either doesn’t include eye care or only pays a small percentage of the expenditure. For these and the completely uninsured, this means the entire cost of prescription eyewear comes out of their pockets. How do you find the best price for eyewear?
First, be aware that there are enormous variations in providers’ prices. Second, realize that many optometrists — the doctor who does the eye examination and writes the prescription — work in conjunction with opticians, who fill the prescriptions. Using a certain optometrist does not obligate you to use his or her recommended optician; you’re free to take your prescription to the provider of your choice.
One great money-saving choice is to use an online provider. Zenni Optical (www.ZenniOptical.com) offers complete eyeglasses — frames, lenses, case, cleaning cloth and a guarantee — for prices as low as $8. Complete bifocals start at $25 and progressive lenses at $37.
These are just a few tips to reducing your expenses but overall, controlling spending requires discipline. The most important aspect of discipline is obedience. As you pray and ask the Lord to guide your financial decisions, listen and watch for His instruction and direction. And then be obedient.
Psalm 121:1–2 reminds us: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”
He is ready, willing and able to help you improve your finances.
EDITOR’S NOTE — Judy Woodward Bates offers more money-saving advice at www.Bargainomics.com.
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