Application Activity

I seem to be spending an appropriate amount of money on tithing and offerings, which is what I set aside money for before I even think about any other expenses. I have long known that if a full and honest tithing and reasonable fast offering are the first expense that is covered when money is made, the Lord will bless the payer with the ability to either stretch their current resources or bless them with ample opportunity to add to their income. When I lived on my own and also when I lived with my parents, I always set aside money for tithing and offerings first even if I didn't have a lot of money and the Lord made it possible for me to have enough to get through the month.

I think I sometimes spend more money than I should on impulse or personal buys for others, as I get walking around downtown or in a department store and find something that is interesting and that others might enjoy having, which is a feeling that parents probably get when they are shopping and see something their spouse or children might like to have. I don't have a spouse or any children of my own yet, but I like to do things for other people whether it be service for others or doing things for my family because I like to see them happy and comfortable, but sometimes I end up spending a little more money than I should on making them happy instead of making them happy or meeting expenses that need to be met.

I seem to be spending too little money when it comes to actual things that I do for myself, as a lot of money goes towards tithing, food, bills, and covering the bills of others. I am very happy to help others and make sure they are taken care of whether it be my family or things I buy to give to others, but I would like to buy things for my personal enjoyment a little more than I actually do. Even if things for myself come from a thrift shop, I would like to buy more things that are just for me. I'm not very good at doing things for myself and I need to get better at it in order to maintain good enough emotional health that I can be of help to others when they need it.

 I have to admit that after doing this activity, I am not overly worried about my personal spending habits because ever since I have started bringing in my own money, I have always paid my tithes and offerings first and the Lord has always helped me to have enough money to get through each month. I always am very careful about what I spend to the point where my own mother calls me a 'miser' in response to the great lengths I go to be frugal. I am always generous about making sure others get what they need after I have met the needs of the Lord and my own needs and I know I will be blessed for helping others after making sure God is honored and I am taken care of.

 The financial calculators I accessed at the Provident Living website were 'Where is my money going?', 'How much should I save for retirement?', and 'Would spending a little less and saving a little more make a difference?'. I found them very interesting, as I have been rather concerned with where my money has been going ever since I was old enough to start paying for things on my own. I do monthly budgets in my head all the time, but it is interesting to actually see how much I spend on paper whether it's through my monthly bank statement or me actually writing my income down on paper and then writing down expenses and their amounts down. It keeps me responsible, as when I see where my money's going, it makes me protective over it.

I found the financial calculator 'where is my money going?' to be the most interesting to look through and utilize because it showed me that although I have a good amount of expenses to take care of using what money is available to me, I am blessed to not only be able to cover personal expenses, but also support my mom financially because I make tithing and offerings a priority and I show the Lord that I trust He will take care of everything if I have enough faith to put Him first. Through using that calculator, I also gained an insight into how many expenses actually exist and how important it is to be fully aware of your income and allocate it responsibly so that no expenses are neglected or postponed until there is sufficient money.