The X-Ray
There is a section of verses found in Haggai 1 that spoke to the people who had put themselves and their own houses above the Lord's. As you read, think about how these same words can also relate to our spending and our awareness of it:
"Now there thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways and set your mind on what has come to you.
You have sown much, but you have reaped little; you eat, but you do not have enough; you drink, but you do not have your fill; you clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; and he who earns wages has earned them to put them in a bag with holes in it.
Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared."
Do you feel like despite earning what may be a reasonable wage for some time that you are not moving forward.. that there is little to show for all of your work? Does it seem like there is always more month left than there is money?
I'm going to share what is the #1 tool you can use immediately that will quickly bring "the truth" to your eyes and help you get to where you want to be.
Track and define every expense you make
You probably think, "I know how much I spend on things". I challenge you squarely that you do not. Most people can probably rattle off their car payment, mortgage bill and a few other fixed amount bills - but to speak for the rest of their spending would be a series of assumptions and guesses.
The first step is to track, this means logging every expense, no matter the size, as you make it. You can keep a notebook, index card or "write" it into your phone - it does not matter how, only that it is faithfully and accurately done. As you begin doing so, you will discover there were many more smaller purchases made than you first believed.
As you are tracking your expenses, you will need to break them down into some groups and define them. Just knowing you spent $57 at Walmart is not sufficient, it is in knowing what items you bought that is equally important. This segmenting and defining is going to assist you into making judgments on those purchases.
While you define your categories and slot those expenses into them, you will begin to see which ones you would call a necessity and which others were not... which ones were proper and which ones were extravagant.
Once you embrace this concept and put it into action for one month you will see what was meant about not knowing exactly how much you spend on things. It will be illuminated perfectly like the picture above of the X-Ray. On the left side, you can see the skin, the form and some wrinkles - that is your current perception of your spending. On the right, you now see everything hidden and underneath the surface - that is after being armed with the knowledge of having tracked and defined your actual spending.
Once you have the advantage of knowing exactly where your money is going, along with your defining of what is a necessity, it becomes much clearer what spending is not aligning with your real intentions in life. With this information you can make some changes to not only balance your spending, but to pay down debts and move towards freedom from them altogether.
Years ago, I was frustrated at how little money I was ending up with. I began writing down my expenses on sticky notes. It was the most important step I took, because like an X-Ray it showed what was going on underneath my daily conscience and how much of a bite certain categories were taking. It was only then that I could make some choices to get where I really wanted to be... and you can too.
Lastly, in encouragement to be diligent about recording every small purchase and to be good stewards of the resources God has provided to you, dwell on these verses from Luke 16 and Matthew 25:
"He who is faithful in a very little (thing) is faithful also in much, and he who is dishonest and unjust in a very little (thing) is dishonest and unjust also in much".
"His master said to him, Well done, you upright and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy which your master enjoys."
God Bless you and may He show Himself greatly to you,
Paul
