Finances

I read the article below from www.crown.org. I thought it was helpful. We will be discussing finances based on Crown resources at Bridgeway this Sunday, October 4th at 10:30 am. It will last about an hour and it is free!! Anyone is welcome to attend.

Develop a “saving” lifestyle
by Crown Financial Ministries
www.crown.org


Into today’s economy, we are all looking for ways to cut back on our spending and save a little more. This is good news for the simple fact that the household savings rate has hovered near or below zero for the past few years.

Saving money is a good thing. The Bible tells us to “go to the ant, o sluggard, observe her ways and be wise, which having no chief, officer or ruler, prepares her food in the summer and gathers her provision in the harvest” (Proverbs 6:6-7, NASB). By developing a “saving” attitude, we can begin to live a “saving” lifestyle.

Here are some ways to change everyday habits that will save money in the long run.

Save on your energy bill
Turn it off. Turn off lights, TV, computers, etc. in a room when you exit it. If you aren’t using an appliance, unplug it. Household appliances, such as toasters, coffee makers, hair dryers, and lamps still use energy even when they are not turned on. Plug your computer, TV, cable equipment, etc. into a surge protector with an on/off switch. When you aren’t using it, turn it off.

Set your thermostat to a few degrees cooler in the winter or a few degrees warmer in the summer. Wear sweaters and use extra blankets on the bed to be more comfortable. Wear lighter clothing in the summer and use ceiling fans to circulate the air in the room you are in. Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day.

Switch to energy-saving fluorescent bulbs. Use a timer for your thermostat to keep the home warmer or cooler when no one is home. Set it to change to a more comfortable temperature an hour before you return home. Do the same for your water heater and set it to start heating the water an hour before you shower in the mornings.

Save on gas
Think before you drive. Group errands together instead of going to the grocery store one day, to the post office another day, etc. Carpool to work or talk to your boss about telecommuting one or two days per week.

Keep your car in good shape. Check tire pressure. Under-inflated tires can cause the car to run less efficiently. Have the oil, oil filters, and air filters changed frequently. Do this at home if you can, but if not, shop around for the best deal in town. Some places allow you to purchase your own oil or filters and charge a discounted rate for their services. If you change your own oil, check with your local garbage dump or recycling center to see if they recycle used motor oil.

Watch your driving habits. Be careful of rapid starts and stops. Accelerate slowly and go the speed limit. Traveling at speeds over 55 mph decreases fuel efficiency, according to the Department of Energy.

Be your own handyman
For minor repairs around the house, try doing it yourself. You can check out books from the library on basic home repairs and learn to fix things on your own. Or attend a free class at your local home improvement store. You save money, gain new skills, and bask in your own accomplishments.

Be creative
Make homemade gifts for your family and friends. Use a skill you already have, such as painting or drawing or even cooking to create thoughtful and memorable gifts for birthdays or Christmas.

There are numerous ideas for using your God-given talents to bless others. Gifts from the heart are so thoughtful and appreciated long after the “newness” of a store-bought gift goes away.

Save at the grocery store
Make out a weekly menu and shop for only those ingredients. Plan meals around store specials and coupons. Look for coupons online at www.coupons.com and www.grocerydeals.com. Stock up on nonperishable foods when they are on sale. Go “meatless” a couple of days a week. Learn to cook at home from scratch and save money on prepackaged foods and eating out. Save eating out for special occasions.

Try the store brands, especially for canned and frozen foods. They usually have the same ingredients and are just as nutritious. Be careful about buying in bulk unless you know you will use all of the product and that the price per unit is cheaper than buying individually. Beware of “impulse” buys at the checkout counter.

Be a savvy shopper
For clothing needs, shop thrift or consignment stores or discount department stores. You can often find new or barely used clothing at these stores for 50% off of retail price or better. Buy basics, such as socks, underwear, and t-shirts at discount stores. Beware of trendy items that will be out of style next year. Think twice before buying an item that can only be dry cleaned. Look for home washable fabrics instead. Buy items that can be worn with more than one outfit.

Check yard/garage sales for barely worn baby and children’s clothes. Many times children outgrow the clothing before it shows any wear. Do check carefully to make sure the items are not stained. Learn to sew and make clothing, or at least learn how to make basic alterations, such as hemming or replacing buttons or zippers.

Check out consignment stores for used sports or exercise equipment. Look online on eBay or Craigslist for used books, furniture, toys, and other items. Just do your homework to make sure you are getting a good deal and that the item is in good condition.

Look for alternatives
Instead of paying for newspaper delivery, get your news from the television, the radio, or the Internet. Or read the paper at your local library. The library is also a good place to read the latest issues of your favorite magazine instead of paying for a subscription. Many of those magazines also have e-mail newsletters which you can subscribe to for free. The library is also a good source for movies or books on tape and many offer free classes or children’s story hours. Check your local community centers for other free or low-cost class offerings.

Conclusion
Living a “saving” lifestyle means thinking before you buy and being a good steward of your resources. This is in opposition of the consumerist society in which we live. We are taught to always think more, better, faster. We are conditioned to think, “If I want it, I should have it, and I should have only the best.” God can change our attitudes towards material things and help us to learn to be contented with what we have and to enjoy life to the full, without spending every dime we have.

Serving

I had one of those moments the other day, I think it is called an epiphany, where suddenly life clicked in a new way. My son Reagan is almost 4 and is in a stage of life where he loves to help even with the most menial tasks around the house. I don’t care what it is: from vacuuming to washing windows he wants to be involved. He especially loves to use the spray bottle which causes a clash with me since that is my favorite part as well! Anyway, the other day I was taking out the trash and as usual Reagan quickly put on his green “rubber frog boots” so that he could help. Quite honestly my first thought was, I cannot wait until he is big enough to do this on his own so that I do not have to! As we walked out back (both carrying a white trash bag by the cheap red straps) I began to fantasize about Reagan also being old enough to cut the grass. As I considered how great this would be I had the epiphany. I began to think…why is it that Reagan is so enthusiastic (and this is not an understatement—he dances and jumps while flailing his arms when he hears that it is trash time---me, well, not so much) about something so menial? As I pondered this for a moment I considered all of the things that he loves to do and it hit me… it was just one of those moments that God clearly speaks to something deep inside you! I realized something….. the reason that Reagan is so excited to take out the trash is because he gets to do something with me!!! At this moment I was hit with two major realities. 1. I have a son who wants to be with me. Quite honestly, there are many times that I do not even want to be with me. This was quite impactful to say the least. Alright—I am sure at this point if you are still reading this you are saying—wow Brad, this was the great awakening!? This was your special moment? How obvious! Maybe so, but you know how some things that are routine just hit you in a unique way and you walk away changed… Anyway. 2. The other thing that hit me was this idea….I get to do things with God! Follow me here: Honestly, I cannot say that I like to serve. The Bible has much to say about the importance of serving and honestly I viewed serving as more of spiritual a discipline than something that I get to do. At that moment reality hit me that the joy of serving results from me recognizing that I get to do something with and for God. We get to spend time together. This has changed some of the menial tasks of the Christian life to say the least. Maybe this is why Reagan will hate to take out the trash one day. We think that it is because he will be older and less interested, but maybe it is because dad will quit going with him….who knows!

Brad

Direction

I am excited for the next few weeks as our church begins to meet in a new facility. I am reminded of the importance of destinations in life. All too often we end up somewhere by accident. This happens for many reasons, but frequently it is a result of a lack of vision. We all have an idea of what we hope that life looks like down the road (1 year, 5 years and 10 years). But we often fail to commit to the vision of our life and pay the necessary price.

"Life is a journey. As you know, every journey has a destination. Not just heaven and hell, but your destination in this life. Where you will end up in the various roles you play; what you will accomplish personally, professionally, domestically and spiritually.

Everybody ends up somewhere in life. A few people end up somewhere on purpose. Those are the ones with vision. They may have other things going for them as well. But they certainly have vision. Not necessarily a vision (singular). Vision for each of the key roles they are assigned along the way.

Life is a multifaceted journey. It calls for a multifaceted vision. Whether you are aware of it or not, you have multiple visions for your life. That is, you have a mental picture of what you want the various arenas of your life to look like down the road."

Andy Stanley

From the Book Visioneering

Over the next few weeks (on Sunday mornings as a church)we are going to be discussing how to gain a vision for your life and pay the price to make it a reality down the road. I hope that you will come and be a part regardless of your church background.

Brad