Financial Freedom

 Alright, lets get down to business! We have all heard that money talks, but it is a conversation that most of us try to avoid. Unfortunately we all have a love hate relationship with money. We need it to fund our lives and to buy all the cool stuff that we want to be prepared for the future, but it is something that most people find awkward and try to avoid because it causes tension in our relationships and it usually means some sort of restriction. Boo Hiss!!

So how do you deal with the elephant in the room? Tackle it head on! There is no use trying to go around it because it will end up biting you in the end. I could go on and on about budgeting and ways to get out of debt ad nausea but let me just give you a few pointers that I have found helpful. For additional financial advice I recommend checking out my Be Prepared board on Pinterest. I found some really cool stuff on there that is very easy to apply and follow. Remember to just search prepared4this.

The first step is to be informed. Most of us don't use cash anymore, it's all on debit card. If you can use the cash and envelope system, by all means, go for it because it is probably the most effective way to manage your money. The nice thing about debit cards is that all of your spending is trackable. Courtesy of the digital age you can instantly go online and see exactly where all your money went. Most bank websites can even separate your spending into categories which makes it really easy to plug into a budget because you know exactly how much you are spending on gas, groceries, eating out, entertainment, etc. So get on your banks website and check out where your money went in the past 30 days, you might be surprised. Then make a habit of checking it daily. The more you check, the more you will realize how much you are wasting, and you will make better buying decisions. Like I've said before, knowledge is power. I don't care what kind of budget you live on but by doing this, you will find ways to save and be able to get the things you need.

Step #2 is to stop impulse buying! STOP IT NOW! Set a limit before you go out. Set a specific dollar amount and don't buy anything that costs more than that amount without waiting at least a few days and doing research on it. More often than not, if you look around, you will find a better deal somewhere online. It never fails that when you buy something big you end up finding it for a better price right after you buy it. There is research out there for when the best time of the year is to buy stuff so just hold off the urge, be patient, and wait! Your wallet will thank you for it!

The last step of the day is to pay yourself. Allow a small amount for play money with each paycheck and get that in cash. Once it's gone, it's gone! This will help you to stop impulse buying and will help you to feel freedom to get those extras that aren't in your budget. Another part of paying yourself is paying your savings account. You need a financial reserve. Let me say this again, You NEED A FINANCIAL RESERVE! Rainy days will always come, but how will you handle it? Credit card? Don't always count on that one, and besides you have to pay it off anyway but you end up paying interest up the wazoo! Do yourself a favor and build that savings account.

The bottom line is that this is an impulsive, self centered world and if you want financial freedom, you have to get over that. Self serving buying only benefits one person, The Man. Stick it to the man and show him that there is a God greater than he is and that you are going to take better responsibility for the things that God has given you. Recognizing where it all comes from and thinking about how He would have you use it will help you make better choices that lead to greater happiness and preparedness.