Budgeting is not just a list of categories that we use to divide our income. Budgeting is an opportunity to see how far we can make our income go.
As a momma of five who chose to stay home and homeschool rather than work when my children were growing up, budgeting was essential to that endeavor. People would wonder how I could stay home, and they would comment that they could not choose that path due to income. However, it is a choice that more people can make if they are wise with their budgeting.
Budgeting is not just a list of categories that we use to divide our income. Budgeting is an opportunity to see how far we can make our income go. When I walked through a few years as a single mom, seeking to save money was an income in itself as I still stayed home and homeschooled my children.
1. Saving Money is an Income
Philippians 4:19 ESV: “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”
Determining what we need can help us to be mindful of our budget and help us save money. Saving money is a common budgeting tip, with the focus of having savings be part of your budget—an envelope contributed to. But saving money can be more than just one category on our budgeting sheet. It is a way of life in which every category can become a place where money is saved, helping us to spend less.
Looking at each category and considering how the allocation of funds can be less helps us to need less for an income. Check each category on your budget sheet and ask yourself how you can spend less.
Is there less expensive auto insurance? Compare auto insurance companies and see what insurance company provides the best value and still meets your specific needs. Do this for every vendor on your budget spreadsheet.
The home insurance that mortgage companies provide can be compared to other companies with little research. Check into the providers for electricity, water, and gas—look into any options for each one.
Groceries are a huge opportunity to save money. When I was a single mom, there was a ministry that had groceries for less. I could spend a fraction of what I normally spent by going to a church and buying my groceries there. Churches also provide food pantries which are free. Of course, coupon clipping can also save a lot of money. When my children were young, I would shop at stores that had double coupon days and even had one day in particular in which I was paid to shop, as my total after coupons was a negative figure. Free samples are also helpful in defraying our expenses.
Another way to save money with groceries is by using fewer ingredients and ingredients that are less costly. One of my favorite cookbooks was the More-with-Less Cookbook. I could make two loaves of French bread, a family favorite, for under a dollar, for example. There is another version of this cookbook available today, as well. We also have a garden each year which is a huge saving in the grocery store. Be aware, though, of what you can grow from seed versus spending a lot on plants.
One of the easiest ways to kill a budget is the entertainment category. Find ways to be entertained for free. Sometimes there are free concerts or church events that can be encouraging and often free or inexpensive.
Clothing can be a huge deficit to any budget. But consignment shops and “GW,” or Goodwill, can be a great way to save money. Where I live, there is also a Cinderella Dreams where I was able to buy prom dresses for $5 for my girls, then donate the dresses back for others to use.
Finally, another big saver of our budget is not opting for automatic deduction for various services that really add up each month. Subscriptions for services can really deplete our income. Sometimes we are not aware that we signed up or forget that we did a free trial of a service or product. Try to find free options as an alternative to services we think we need.
2. Don’t Let What You Own, Own You
Hebrews 13:5 ESV: “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
Material belongings can be the undoing of our budgets. The more we own, the more it costs to maintain what we own. Depending on the cars we purchase, our gas costs might be higher, for instance. And perhaps we don’t need two cars. When a company car was provided during a season of my life, I gave away the other one to someone in need.
Owning things that require money to use can quickly undo the work we have done in saving. Is the item truly necessary, or a preference? Water filters are one such item. Our refrigerator will tell us we need to change it, but I have found the tap water to be just as good, so since the water filter is used predominantly for ice, it can last longer. Perhaps it is not just practical items that we need to consider. What material belongings do you own that might be a hindrance to your walk with God?
3. Change Your Budget
Ecclesiastes 11:2: “Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, for you know not what disaster may happen on earth.”
We can be driven by our budget or drive our budget. There might be categories we insist upon that we simply do not need. If you are not able to stick to your budget, consider what changes need to be made. We got rid of cable TV when we realized we hardly watched it. Combining services in a bundle can be savings, or it can make you spend more. We got rid of our home phone landline when we realized that we also did not use our home phone, and our cell phones did the job just fine.
Different seasons require different needs. Now that only one child still lives at home, we don’t need some of the things that our kids needed. Or thought they needed. Each year, consider if your budget fits the season of life that you are in.
4. Use What You Have
Proverbs 21:20 ESV: “Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man's dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.”
Sometimes we don’t realize what we already have that can be used. We will challenge ourselves to use up some of the food in the pantry or fridge that admittedly we don’t want. But perhaps they can become ingredients in a recipe that will help us to use them up before buying something new. It might even be that we can barter what we have and trade with someone else who considers what we have to be a treasure.
5. A Side Hustle Saves the Day
Ecclesiastes 9:10(a) ESV: “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might.”
Successfully budgeting will require humility and losing an entitlement mentality that says we should always have the best of everything. And sometimes it also requires an additional income source that can help in a pinch when times are lean. In different seasons, I was able to pick up just a few hours a week as a virtual assistant, or teach piano or voice lessons, to supplement our income.
6. Do Money God’s Way
Proverbs 19:17 ESV: “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.”
When we tithe what God gives first, God has a way of providing what we need miraculously. During one season when my husband was out of work, God met our every need. He blessed our garden so much that we were able to be generous with others in a season when times were lean. Be generous. Be a wise steward of what, ultimately, God owns.
7. Don’t Love Money
1 Timothy 6:10 ESV: “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.”
Budgeting is difficult because sometimes we don’t want to let go of the things or the lifestyle we have grown accustomed to. But when we see finances as a necessity for functioning in this life, we are not trapped by our use of money. Instead, we learn that the wise use of what we have becomes a catalyst of worship to God as we use all that we have for His glory.
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