Do You Live - Paycheck to Paycheck?

SF, Stagecoach, NV

Dear Brothers & Sisters,

     This financial information may seem redundant, but it seems the twerp is hitting hard in this area for many, which is why I feel the Lord wants me to cover this area too.
     I've been budgeting my finances - it seems like forever, reality 49 years.  With the blessings these last 12 years, I've not needed to.  My sister Jenny and I both learned and have taught our nieces how to save for their weddings, budget monthly to pay their bills, in general save for whatever they wanted.  So I'm sharing these steps with you.

1)  Gather up your monthly bills.  Run a total on how much you need.

• Be sure to add in everything you spend money on including; gas, entertainment, computer costs, clothes, coffee, child support, Charge Cards etc., everything!  Should you have a bill, say insurance (or whatever) you pay every 6 months (or whenever), divide it by the months, to know what you need to have when it's due.  DO NOT add in "what you wish you had", but what you presently spend money on.

2)  Gather your pay stubs.  Total what you get in a month.  

• Do not use the gross, but net (in America) they take out the Federal and State taxes.  Use your net, because that's all you have to work your budget with.

3)  Does your total take home amount cover your monthly bills?  IF YES, then you probably won't need to budget.  GOOD WORK you are blessed.   IF NOT, you need to reduce your spending.  Take a lunch to work, you'd be surprised how much you can save in a month, stop going to Starbuck's, or speciality coffee shops, McDonald's or eating out as often, etc.  Decide what is mandatory for work and living expenses.  Then what is left reduce until you get some other bills paid off.  Never pay just the minimum on charge cards, it will take you forever to pay them off.
4)  I found by creating an envelope with the monthly (or other time), name and amount on it, then paying that envelope what is needed each paycheck.  If you get paid weekly, divide the amount you need to place in each envelope for the month by 4.  This way you'll get an extra week's pay to use every 4 months.  If bi-monthly then divide the month by 2 and so on, based on when you're paid.  IF you are short, are you tithing?  Start now.
5)   Make an envelope for God.  it should be 10% of your GROSS.  Keep in mind, taxes are just a bill the government doesn't trust you to pay at the end of the year.  And we're to bring our FIRST FRUITS to the Lord. Watch your envelopes fill up faster and you will always have enough to meet every need and soon the desires of your heart to save for.
     Budgeting is fairly easy, once you know what you MUST have each month.  Just know any sacrifices you make at first will not always be there; better jobs, money and promotions can come if you TITHE.  For you will no longer be under a curse in Malachi 3:7-10.

Malachi 3:7-11 NKJ

7   Yet from the days of your fathers You have gone away from My ordinances And have not kept them. Return to Me, and I will return to you," Says the LORD of hosts. "But you said, ‘In what way shall we return?’

8  "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.

9  You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.

10  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.

11  "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," Says the LORD of hosts;"

Blessings and Shalom, Shalom
Jesus IS Coming Soon - Sandy F.
The Lord's Servant