Cash Challenge

Ok, I know you probably are going to want to blow off this challenge, but trust me, this will be eye opening and life changing so just try it, o.k.?

Use cash only to pay for certain expenditures. Why cash? You will spend less than if you paid with debit/credit cards, 18% less. Science says that when we spend cash it registers in our brain as pain. You visually see the money dwindling as you spend it and it keeps you on your target spending plan because once the money is gone you can't keep spending.

You'll also become a more conscious spender. You'll begin to consider whether or not each purchase is worth it rather than blindly using your debit/credit cards and waiting (sometimes until the bill comes) to consider if it was worth it. Cash makes you more aware of that decision before you buy. This will also show you where you tend to overspend as well so you can choose to alter your budget or change your spending habits.

How to:
Choose one or more categories: lunch, groceries, entertainment, gas (some places give a cheaper cash price. bonus!), non-food items (cleaners, toiletries, paper goods). Decide on an amount you think you should spend in a pay period on each category. Take out cash to last for one pay period and place it in separate envelopes. Write the category on the envelope. Once that envelope is empty you must wait to refill until the next pay period.
If you enjoy the benefits of using cash, you can purchase a coupon organizer and use that for your envelopes or create tabbed dividers and place in your wallet.
For more information on using the cash envelope method, click here.

Living Simply

Living simply has become quite a trend in recent years. People are looking at the atmosphere of their home and making changes. They are cutting back on the amount of clothing they buy, amount of time spent watching TV or playing video games. They are realizing how often they are "busy" with things that aren't important and once they begin to change a few things they stop eating out as often because now they spend a little time making dinner and eating together as a family talking to each other instead of going in seperate directions. Even the Oprah show has challenged people to cut out things (unnecessary driving, tv, computer, etc) for a week and the people praised the results they saw. So, I challenge you to think about what you'd like to see in your home, look at the atmosphere you currently have and begin to make some changes.

Welcome!

I'm excited about what God will do through this blog. Your comments and questions are always welcome. The purpose of this blog is to provide support, tips, and encouragement to those who wish to be good stewards of God's money. We are stewards or "managers" of the money God provides. No longer will we choose to live by the world's ways, but we will live by God's ways and experience His wisdom, blessings, and favor in our lives. Join me on this journey to a deeper, more intimate walk with our God in finances.