Manage Your Money Well Over the Christmas Season
With the end of the year fast approaching, I want to encourage you to manage your money well.
At the end of the year, many spend, spend, spend, and give little thought to the consequences.
Another mistake that many make is that they look for easy finance options and get into debt over the festive season to fund their end-of-the-year spending spree.
This is dangerous and can lead to a stressful start to the new year, with more debt and dan eroded cash flow. At this time of the year, I want to warn you to stay away from credit cards and loans. Don’t get deeper into debt!
You may be one of the few who are receiving a year-end bonus. If so, avoid the temptation to spend it all.
Yes, set some money aside to spend on the Christmas season. It is nice to reward yourself for the hard work you have done over the past year. If you do have surplus cash flow, set some money aside to spoil your family and yourself over the Christmas holidays, but make sure that you still stick to good financial priorities.
However, if you do not have disposable income to spend money, then look for alternative things to do. Instead of spending money on things you cannot afford, spend time with family and friends. Get into nature and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Remember that the best things in life are free.
And why not plan to set some money aside each month over the next year so that you can build up a holiday cash fund for next Christmas?
I want to encourage you to budget well. Make sure that you cover your essential needs before you spend money on the nice to-haves.
Budget and manage your money well.
One of my bedrock scriptures on money management is…
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
If you…
- Are diligent
- Plan carefully
- Work hard
- Are disciplined with your money management
… you will prosper.
But if you…
- Don’t have a plan
- Take easy shortcuts
- Are lazy and make poor decisions with your money management
… you will fail
Set up a plan. If you spend more than you earn, you will run out of money, and you will get deeper into debt. This leads to stress. This festive season, stay out of debt, live within your means, and manage your money wisely.
Steps to Good Godly Money Management…
- GIVE GOD YOUR BEST
“Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:24-25)
“Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor.” (Proverbs 22:9)
“Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce. Then he will fill your barns with grain, and your vats will overflow with good wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
- SAVE BEFORE YOU SPEND
“The wise man saves for the future.” (Proverbs 21:20a)
- ONLY SPEND WHAT IS LEFT OVER
“The foolish man spends whatever he gets.” (Proverbs 21:20b)
- PAY YOUR BILLS
“The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” (Psalm 37:21)
“Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.” (Romans 13:7)
- BE SELF-CONTROLLED
“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” (Proverbs 25:28)
- SAY NO TO DEBT
“The borrower is a slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
“Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love on another.” (Romans 13:8)
- DO NOT WORRY ABOUT ANYTHING. SEEK GOD.
“So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:31-33)
- TRUST GOD. COMMIT YOUR PLANS TO HIM.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“Trust in the LORD and do good. Then you will live safely in the land and prosper. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires. Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.” (Psalms 37:3-5)
- BE CONTENT
“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:11-13)
- BE GRATEFUL AND ENJOY YOUR JOURNEY
“Even so, I have noticed one thing, at least, that is good. It is good for people to eat, drink, and enjoy their work under the sun during the short life God has given them, and to accept their lot in life. And it is a good thing to receive wealth from God and the good health to enjoy it. To enjoy your work and accept your lot in life—this is indeed a gift from God.” (Ecclesiastes 5:18-19)
You can manage your money well.
Invite God to be your first.
He knows what is happening in your life.
He cares about you.
He wants to be part of every area of your life.
Have a blessed Christmas Season. May your life be filled with God’s richest blessing, peace, favour and joy!
