Love Your Life Not TheirsSample

Day 7
Habit 6: Think Before You Spend

"The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." (Proverbs 21:20 NIV)

Spending money is a subject that's near and dear to my heart. I want you to know there's nothing wrong with spending money. Going on vacation, upgrading your house, eating out, and shopping are all ways you can use money to enjoy your life, create memorable experiences, and do things that you value.

So, spending money and loving your life aren't mutually exclusive.

But we do need to balance our spending with a healthy dose of reality. Today there's a growing gap between some people's spending choices and the actual cash they have to spend. They're acting rich—and falling into debt while they do it.

Here's a principle to remember: Every spending decision moves you closer to either success or distress. When you think about it that way, it only makes sense to think before you spend.

See, it's not enough to have a budget every month. That's good defense, but any sports coach will tell you that you also need a strong offense. They work together to achieve success. The same is true for money. Budgeting and wise spending work together to create success, while spending money you don't have leads to distress.

Proverbs 21:20 points out that wise people save, while fools waste what they have. Wise people don't just throw money around. They save when they need to save and spend when it makes sense to spend. Meanwhile, foolish people spend money as fast as they can.

Maybe your spending history isn't all that great. If so, I have good news for you: Your past doesn't have to dictate your future. You can create new spending habits today that will change the course of your tomorrow.

There is hope, but living a life you love means taking control of your spending right now.