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Chapter 10

spending, they often waste their money on
frivolous purchases (wants) without even
realizing it. Then they find themselves
unable to meet their fixed monthly expenses
(needs).A budget helps to curtail extraneous
purchases by providing accountability for
money spent. For example, if you realize you
have only $50 available for food expenses
that week, you might decide to forgo that $4
specialty cup of coffee.

Control Unplanned Spending

Impulse buying is a major budget
crusher. Unfortunately, we live in a culture
of “instant gratification.”We see something
we want and we want itnow. We justify
this, of course. Sometimes a price “just
can’t be beat.” However, we take a beating
later when we can’t pay our bills. Make it a
policy to avoid buying anything on
impulse. Go home, sleep on it, and see if it
is still important to you the following day.
Rarely is the “must-have” item as attractive
the next morning. If it is, then work it into
your budget.
Before you make an unplanned
purchase, ask yourself these questions:

If the item is something you want,

rather than something you need, wait to

buy it until you have given the purchase

more thought. If the product is useful and

necessary, and if it doesn’t interfere with

meeting your monthly obligations, then

you can justify your purchase.

Avoid Comparing Yourself to Others

People often fall into the trap of

comparing themselves to others. They

compare their homes, cars, salaries, job

positions, clothing, and even their

children. When you compare yourself to

others, you generally arrive at 1 of these 3

conclusions:

Scripture is full of warnings against the

pitfalls of comparison. The Apostle Paul

told the Galatians,“Do your own work

well, and then you will have something to

be proud of. But don’t compare yourself

with others” (Galatians 6:4 CEV). He was

a bit more adamant with the Corinthians:

“Their trouble is that they are only

comparing themselves with each other

and measuring themselves against their

• Is the purchase useful in some way?


• Is it simply a “feel good” purchase?


• Is the item serving as some sort of
  reward?
  
  
  1. I am better than that person.
  
  
  2. That person is better than I am.
  
  
  3. I wish I could be like that person,
     or, I wish I could have what that
     person has.