{"id":1117,"date":"2016-07-03T19:47:52","date_gmt":"2016-07-03T19:47:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/gator3012.temp.domains\/~wearebul\/?p=1117"},"modified":"2023-07-03T19:48:04","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T19:48:04","slug":"practical-tips-for-managing-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/gator3012.temp.domains\/~wearebul\/2016\/07\/03\/practical-tips-for-managing-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"Practical Tips for Managing Finances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Today we\u2019ll revisit the first of a two-part series exploring the link between a budget and the tenth commandment. Next week will include some ways to prepare our kids for managing their own finances. Johnny Mac gives us some very practical tips and resources for diving in to this not-always-easy topic. Check \u2018em out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scripture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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\u201cYou shall not desire your neighbor\u2019s house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\nDeuteronomy 5:21<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Reflect<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The afternoon of my college graduation my mom handed me an envelope. \u201cIt\u2019s your car now,\u201d she said \u201cand this is what YOU still owe on it\u201d. Inside was a booklet with the remaining payment slips for my car. We give our kids many things; among them should be the skill of managing finances. It is a skill partly taught and mostly caught by children. And it\u2019s a skill partly about math and mostly about desires (just ask my mom how badly I desired that \u201995 Honda).  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s start with the math. In its simplest form a budget is a written list of income against expenses. Take a moment to look at the attached example. It\u2019s quite a list huh? But notice how just seeing a list that long makes you think twice about where all the money goes. The most effective way to counter our desires for that new object is to easily recall the existing bills. The best way to recall the existing expenses is to write them out. Here are the benefits of a written budget:<\/p>\n\n\n\n