Getting out of Debt

A young couple we know had a goal to start a ministry, so shortly after they married, they buckled down and paid off over $12,000 of debt in just six months! It took teamwork and sacrifice, but they had a big and important goal, and that became the top priority—over dinners out or many other things.
You can do the same, if you set a goal together. Maybe your goal is to buy a house or have a baby in a year or two. Maybe its to live on one income. Here are some helpful hints to help you accomplish your goal:
First, stop adding to your debt. Buy only what you really ned or do only what you can afford, and refuse to put anything else on your credit cards.
Second, be strong and choose together to cut out all luxuries—cable, fine dining, new clothes. You may even trade in your expensive SUV and buy a more economical used car for cash. The more you can downsize your expenses, the faster you’ll get out of debt.
Third, get down to one credit card. Consolidate all the others to your lowest interest card. It helps you keep track of your debt and gives you the reality of where you are with your debt. If you can’t consolidate, pay off your cards from the highest interest card first until you only have one.
Fourth, once you’re out of debt, use your credit card only when you’ve budgeted for paying it off monthly or for a real emergency, such as a car repair or fridge giving out.

Budget? Me?

For some, the word budget is a dirty word. "That's for my parents or for accountants" they say. But the truth is, all of us need a budget. It's not enough to have all your facts and figures stored up in your head as too many of us do. It needs to be on paper, in ink, so you really, really know what¹s coming in and what's going out. Couple are regularly surprised at what doing a budget reveals.
Then there are those of us who have done our own budget for years. But now you have to budget together? That's a whole other ball game. You have to work together, discuss all the details, compromise and find a solution to budget crunches that works for both of you. Just remember that, although it may be a challenge, it's the right thing to do.
To start, be sure to list it all. For example, how many of us have a Starbucks line in our budget? If each of you makes just one trip a day for that morning cup of coffee or afternoon latte, your monthly bill can be as much as $200-300! That's $2,400-3,600 a year! But how many of us don't even realize how something like this impacts our bottom line.
In our book we have a budget you can easily fill out. Start now, and commit to making your budget work for you.

Thinking About Money

People have lots ideas about money. Some believe money brings happiness, contentment, security or freedom. Others think that having a lot of money will make them popular. Some feel it’s OK to borrow money from family and friends when you get in a pinch. And others think that, as long as they haven’t exceeded their credit limit on their credit cards, they can keep on purchasing things, even when they can’t pay off their balance each month. All of these are dangerous ways of viewing money.
Money is a tool to help you live life and serve others. It’s not an end in itself, and it can’t solve your popularity or security problems. What’s your perspective on money? If you tend to think about it in any of the above terms, take a few minutes to reevaluate those beliefs and the value you place on money. Then ask God to help you see money His way.

Keeping Up With the Joneses

There’s a big trap out there, especially for newlyweds. It’s often not verbalized, but it’s screams at you through the media and through other people’s lives. It’s the trap of materialism.

Truth is, you don’t have to have it all, especially in the first years of marriage. There’s something very intimate about struggling and sacrificing for a common goal—whether it’s getting out of debt or saving for that new sofa. And there’s something very rewarding about self-control and avoiding the stress of going into debt for things. So what’s the secret? Just say no!