Financial Discipleship - the Bible on BudgetingSample

When you hear the word budget , what’s your reaction? If you’re like most people, confining or complex comes to mind… a financial straight jacket that’s going to require hours of tedious bookkeeping. That’s why we call it a Spending Plan—because it’s simply a way to make sure you spend your money in ways that are most important to you, instead of getting caught up in impulsive spending. Proverbs 27:23 says, “Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds; for riches are not forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations.” These days fewer of us have flocks and herds, but the principle of staying on top of your finances still applies. So, the first step is to decide the best type of spending plan for you to use. You might choose to use a pencil-and-paper budget, a software program, or an app or online budget like the FaithFi App, which is free. Then, track your income and spending for 30 days to develop an estimated budget, where you’ll break down your spending by category. For example, giving, housing, food, and transportation. Once you start your Spending Plan, you’ll realize that it’s dynamic as your income changes; and as life happens, you’ll always be tweaking it to make it more accurate. A budget—a spending plan—is the most effective financial tool to help you make real progress on your journey to true financial freedom. Warmly in Christ, Howard Dayton, Founder (excerpt taken from “The Importance of Budgeting,” Compass Blog, 2023)