Tips on how to stop living paycheck to paycheck! And increasing tithes and offerings is not on my list.

We do not love money, yet being broke is not cute and stressful. Having more than enough can provide for future generations or invest in making the world a better place.

1. Look at where your money goes each month. Go to the bank and grab a statement or export one to Excel. Look at what you spend money on and dial back what is not needed. Do you need Starbucks every day? It’s $4.99 for your morning fix. Or can you cut that and brew coffee at home? Do you need mega cable? I cancelled cable years ago. Do you need to eat out at restaurants every day? I take my lunch most of the time and have a grocery budget. Yes I said the b word-BUDGET! Yes there are times to splurge. Most of the times there is a target. I also shop weekly so items do not spoil. I went through a phase where I ate the same thing every day to build up savings.

2. Set financial goals. Do you want a vacation? To pay off debt? Pay your house off early? Without a plan, you fail. Without vision the people perish. I set a plan to pay off my car early. I did, even with loss of major income. I set a plan to pay off my house early. I am working towards that plan. I set a goal to have more than 1 stream of income. I now do.

3. What can you do outside your 9-5 to earn money? God gives us the power to gain wealth. There are companies like Fivver, Upwork, etc that hire freelancers. What do you do to solve problems? Find a way to capitalize on it. If you don’t know how to start a business, SCORE can help. And SCORE is FREE for the most part. There are free resources everywhere.

4. SAVE instead of spend. Say you have an extra bonus from work, how about saving some of it instead of heading to the mall. My family has made fun of me because I am not a big spender. I like to travel, yet I still price shop. Can I get this cheaper somewhere else? Can I bargain? Girl has mad bargaining skills. I have not paid anywhere near sticker price for a car, and God has blessed me with favor in this area. Yet I have not ever asked my family for money. I bet they like that…Set up a savings plan. Say what? Yes, even if it’s 10 dollars a week. That’s $40 a month, thats $480 a year. Build at least a $1,000 emergency fund.

5. Stop overgiving. I repeat, stop over giving. It is possible to over give!! It is possible to use your emergency fund to get someone else out of crisis and you end up in a ditch. If I cannot afford to not be repayed, I don’t let people borrow from me. I also assess what I can do and what God wants me to do. I had a family member in crisis a few years ago who was quite angry I would not help them. Well, I am glad I did not. Why? My finances were hit later on and never would have seen that money again.

6. Don’t be lazy or expect money to fall from the sky. If the job offers overtime and you need extra cash, pick up a shift or two.

7. Ask God for wisdom with money. This one is big for me. God loves to provide wisdom. Wisdom is pivotal for thriving in life.

8. Think about future generations even if you do not have kids. I would love to help future generations thrive. Living only for self is not meaningful.

9. Treat money like something you are stewarding for God. The same with a business or ministry. It is for Him. It’s a resource. God is the Source.

10. Don’t steal. Don’t steal your company’s time by not doing your job. Why? One it’s wrong, two the thief pays back 7 times what is stolen. Sow stealing, reap being broke. Do your job with excellence. Show up, do it well.

11. Stop complaining/murmuring and using your words in a negative fashion. “I am always broke.” Stop cursing yourself. Speak life. I had a financial hit last year and I kept saying, “God shall provide all my needs according to His riches in glory. Those who give to the poor lend to the Lord. God is faithful to His word. My bank accounts will not go to zero.” Not one account went to zero.

12. Ask God for ideas, witty inventions, concepts, and answers to the world’s problems. If you’re a problem solver, you can build a business.

You can give tithes and name seed all day and still be broke. Without a plan, you fail. Why? Because there is no vision to funnel wealth into. I have met people who are the biggest givers at church and they are BROKE! Wisdom, the Bible says, get wisdom. Money is a resource. God is the Source. Lord knows He has come through for me in incredible ways when I was hard pressed. He is the Source. He also gives us wisdom, talents, skills, creative ideas, and insight to go create/generate wealth.

Last key, the Bible speaks highly of those who remember the poor. Please don’t forget to invest in those who truly cannot do for themselves at the time. God will repay you! Hope something here was a blessing.

While people are planning their trips to the gym, how about a savings plan. 🙂

Warmly,

Erin