Saving Pennies and Choosing Wisely

Suppose one of you want to build a tower.  Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? Luke 14:28

I am reading a new-to-me author this week. Throughout the book the author has included phrases from one of the character's grandmothers. The one that has stayed with me is “Save your pennies, and the dollars will save themselves.” This morning on the national news there was advice from financial experts about the ways that spending has changed during the pandemic and how we need to look at our budgets as things begin to re-open. Not everyone was able to have the blessing of work during the pandemic. And now there is news that some unemployment dollars will need to be paid back.  Our family has been fortunate to work during the pandemic. We have benefitted from the interest deferral on federal student loans. No concerts, sporting events and limited travel have helped us to save up for bigger purchases. Prior to the pandemic we had set some goals for paying off debt and increasing our savings.

As I read this verse from Luke I thought about instances where we make decisions without evaluating if we have enough. This could be about money, but it could also be about time, or personal interest. Do we stop often enough to think through what we are committing to? Many times for financial items, if our need or desire is deep enough we will “borrow” the funds, this could be for a mortgage, a car, education, or vacation. This allows us an opportunity to have what we want and plan to pay it off in the future. This isn’t as easy with personal commitments. With time, we often have to review our available budget to see if we can fit something in. This could be volunteering for a community charity, serving at church or making a weekly date night with our partner a priority. 

Budgeting isn’t only about adding, but also subtracting to get things to balance. If you want to go to Europe for 3 weeks where are you willing to trim expenses to save for the trip? Your daily coffee? Reducing your clothing budget? Maybe 6 months without cable? If you want to give back to your community or your faith what are you willing to give up to make time to do this? Maybe it means cancelling Netflix night. Maybe it means not sleeping in on the weekends.  What does your personal and financial budget cycle look like?

Prayer: Guiding God, help us to evaluate our personal and financial budgets and listen to the hope inside our hearts. Help us to be conscientious with all the gifts that we have been given. Lead us to good choices and service in your name.  Amen.     

Christi Moock