To The New Year - Monetary Goals (Part 4 of 7)

So, I have a lot of trips and plans for this year, and well….traveling cost money! (Who would have thought?!) If you have big plans this year, then being mindful early about saving for your travels will help to keep things low stress.

Here are a few ideas that may save you some cash this year.

Monetary Goals

- Save a dollar each week -
If you save $1 on the first week of 2014, then add $2 on the second week, and $3 on the third, and so on and so forth, by the 52nd week you have pretty close to $1,400!
That may pay for your plane tickets for your vacation trip.

- Tithing -
Dear Christian,
This is not a guilt trip, nor does God need your money. Be sure of that, He's not asking for a hand out or begging for funding. Tithing is a command, that we give back to God that which is His, and is done in Joy and Thanksgiving.

My Daddy explained it like this. It's as if God is handing you $9 and you give Him $1, you just GAINED money, you didn't lose anything!

- Pocket Change -
This year try putting all your pocket change into a jar (a pretty jar or vase…or a giant water jug). I am using a pretty jar I got from Hobby Lobby. I am saving my pocket change for a discipleship trip with Iglesia Biblica de La Gracia in Alexandria, Virginia to the Dominican Republic.

- Save part of your paycheck for a specific purpose - 
I'm the type that would love to have a dozen savings accounts and name them things and then sort my money that way. BUT….apparently that is a hassle. :-P So, I cash a part of my paycheck and put it in a jar (see above for 'why?'). This holds it in it's place so that I remember what it is for. That way I stay motivated about saving for that jar's purpose (in this case the 2014 DR Trip).

Saving part of your paycheck will be awesome, it will add up quickly, aiding you to pay for a vacation, new car, house payments, or to get out of debt faster!

I hope you enjoy watching your money grow towards your goals as much as I do.

- Pay off DEBT -
Some of us were taught and raised to live debt free, and thus don't live crushed beneath the seemingly insurmountable monster that is debt. But if you are in debt, don't give up, you can get out of debt! It will require of you to be willing to get out of debt and the dedication to not add to your debt.

Using some of the ideas above you maybe aid in getting out of debt.

Although, $1,400 seems like a drop in the bucket if you have a $150,000 student loan debt, credit card debt, and medical expenses. Here is an idea…work a few extra hours a week, and take the pay for those hours and dedicate them to paying into the debt. Maybe something you might consider is taking a small/part time job to dedicate towards paying off debt.

Debt is not permanent, there is a way out.

Proverbs 3:9-10

"Honor the LORD with your wealth

and with the firstfruits of all your produce;

then your barns will be filled with plenty,

and your vats will be bursting with wine."