Posts tagged stewardship
Overspenders Unite!
Sep 13th
Having trouble staying in your budget? You’re not alone. The human tendency to consume more than we create was identified thousands of years ago: the virtue of conquering this proclivity is touted in the Bible, in other religious texts, in ancient philosophy, in modern stewardship movements… it seems like everyone but the salesman sees the wisdom of conquering consumerism.
Studies show the link between financial insecurity and divorce, ill health, and unemployment.
Here are some tips to help you do right by your debit card:
Turn off the Television
Sure, I enjoy Hogan’s Heroes as much as the next guy, but the program airs because advertisers pay for it. Those adertisers know full well that if they can get me to watch their message four times, I’ll learn that message enough to respond to it when I see their product in stores.
But even more than this, modern product placement schemes are slick. Even unintentional product placement works. Within days of meeting Sarah Palin, the American public responded with a full-scale assault on the Kawasaki 704 eyeglasses inventory. Buy, buy, buy!
Replace the High
Instead of chasing the euphoric fix that comes from indulging your shopping habit, chase another carrot. Get fit!
If you set a fitness goal and acheive it, you’ll feel great about your accomplishment, you’ll live longer, you’ll improve your health and well-being, and you’ll have found something productive to long for instead of filling up your shopping bags with junk.
Feed Before Your Forage
You’ve heard this one before, right? If you’re grocery shopping on an empty stomach, you’re more likely to indulge on more than you need, and all the wrong foods at that.
Don’t shop hungry. It helps.
Put it Off, Do it Later
If you’re anxious to add to your inventory of [fishing poles, consumer electronics, shoes, whatever 'your thing' happens to be], set a date to make the purchase, and don’t speed things up. If it’s over $100, pick a date at least sixty days away.
Your logic might fight it. You’ll say, “I’m going to buy it anyway, why wait?” This tactic helps you recognize how many things you crave to own. It also gives you time to process your sense of want, and often gives you the time you need to power through it and conquer the impulse.
Try the Freezer Trick
Here’s another old trick. Your credit card will make it through the wash, right? Drop it in a bowl of water and stick it in the freezer. If you’re an impulse buyer, and you like your credit cards, this will make you think twice!
Sure, it sounds absurd, but it might be just what you need! Then, the next time you sit down for a cool, refreshing glass of lemonade, you can taste the sweetness of debt-free living!
Break Away from Paycheck-to-Paycheck Living
Sep 10th
Ten tactics for moving away from paycheck-to-paycheck living as shared by the always on time Trent from The Simple Dollar.
If you’re into bookmarking sites, make this one of your regular stops on the net.
Read this piece on The Simple Dollar for your tips to financial independence.
How to Avoid the Trap of Splurging as a Reward for “Being Good”
Sep 8th
We really can’t say enough good about Trent at The Simple Dollar – his tips for reigning in finances are simply brilliant. But why? Is he a certified financial advisor? Trent’s a regular guy who know about trouble with money. Read his story here.
Chances are, you’ve done it. You’ve gone out for “one last hurrah” early in your own personal financial revolution. Or, you’ve adopted the reward strategy for yourself – the book, or DVD, or dinner out, or movie, or whatever it may be to reward yourself for getting through the work week, or sticking to your budget, or putting up with family from out of town, or whatever it may be.
Trent puts this habit in perspective and shares four strategies for beating this habit once and for all.
Read it here at The Simple Dollar.
Change Your Own Oil
Sep 7th
Yesterday, we highlighted some pretty important ways you can save on auto fuel, an even included a link to a “change your own oil” tutorial.
Then we found this one.
It’s ridiculous. Idiotic. Bizarre. Oh yeah, and seems to promote beer swiggin’. But if you want to save $100-$200 per year, it’s worth the 5 minutes it takes to sit through it.
Now, that you’re saving money, what are you doing with it? Paying off debt? That’s good. Wasting it on more junk you probably don’t need? Bad. Donating to your church? Wise. Donating to the casinos? Foolish.
For your stewardship questions, you can talk to Mike Owens, our Corps Treasurer. For more money saving tips, stick around krocchurch.org. This “The Good Life” series seems to be working for us!
