Finances

This unit we've been studying about family finances. We were asked to create a financial plan, which includes starting/improving a budget and tracking our income/expenses daily. I've had two other classes in the past year (Life Skills and Math) that have required us to do that. Usually when so much emphasis is put on something by the Church, there's a reason for it.

General Relief Society President Julie B. Beck has warned, “When we go into debt, we give away some of our precious, priceless agency and place ourselves in self-imposed servitude. As our freedom is diminished by debt, increasing hopelessness depletes us physically, depresses us mentally, and burdens us spiritually. Our self-image is affected, as well as our relationships with our spouse and children, with our friends and neighbors, and ultimately with the Lord. Becoming self-reliant temporally affects our spiritual self-reliance, and we are going to need to be more temporally self-reliant in the days to come…” (Sister Julie B. Beck, Women’s Conference, 29 April 2010.)

I thought it was interesting that Sister Beck addressed this when talking to the women. I know in my family, I do a majority of the household buying. It's important that there is sufficient funds for the needs of our family. When we purchase frivolous things, the money isn't there for the items that we need or the bills that need to be paid. Having a budget and keeping track of the expenses/income helps me stay more on top of things. 

One of the things that I have done is not shop at Wal*mart. The main reason I started this was because I was irritated by the lack of customer service whenever I was in the store. My husband would always remind me that the employees there don't make very much money, so they don't feel the urgency to get the customers through the lines. But after a while, I noticed that we were spending a lot less. I think the reason was because although I was shopping where items may cost a little  more, I wasn't adding silly things that would tempt me during my usual "one-stop shopping".  If I can't get the item at WinCo, Costco, Target, or Home Depot (or online) - I can live without it! My shopping habits changed when I went to specific stores for the items I needed.

In the One for the Money pamphlet you will find great counsel. I encourage everyone to look through this and really study up on how following these principles can bless your life. I once heard someone compare Dave Ramsey's teachings to the things found within this little booklet.