Day 117 - Road to Financial Freedom

I've never been the type of gal to tithe on a regular basis, nor have I been the type of gal who is wise with her money.

I feel God leading me to be both a regular and steady tither, and a more dedicated budgeter.

I'd heard of Dave Ramsey through various folks: online communities, friends. And with my new raise in pay and with my newfound zeal to be wise in not only my giving but my saving, I have decided to begin taking steps towards reducing my debt, saving more money, and eventually -- hopefully -- eliminating my debt altogether.

Dave Ramsey has this program that teaches you a cash system versus a debit card/credit card/check system. The idea is to budget a certain amount for each area of spending: groceries, gas, credit card payments, bank loan payments, etc. And with each paycheck, you place cash into a set of envelopes marked with these areas of spending. For instance, I will place $250 cash in an envelope marked "groceries," and then that's the money I use towards my grocery shop. The hope is that because I'm handing over cash, I will feel a bigger "hurt" as I spend, spend, spend, instead of just swiping my debit card or writing out numbers that mean nothing. I will see my cash stash dwindling with each shop.

Hopefully, this will curb my tendency to visit the local thrift store and easily drop $35 or more each visit.

And hopefully, this will teach me to pick up those dimes and nickels and pennies and put them into my piggy bank.

It's going to be a long process. There isn't much wiggle room for savings yet. But with careful attention to spending, that amount left over every month can go into a savings account for emergencies.

Lord, I pray for further guidance with my money management, both in tithing and in spending. Amen.

Proverbs 6:6-8 says, "Go to the ant, sluggard; consider her ways and be wise; who has no guide, overseer or ruler, provides her food in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest."

And this one found in 1 Corinthians 16:2 "On the first day of every week, each one of you is to put aside and save so he may prosper."