Cutting Costs Toolbox

This week is prep week for our 31 day challenge beginning October 1st.

Yesterday we looked at the condition our finances our currently in, and hope fully we identified habits that brought us to our current condition. Some of our habits are good habits, some are bad habits, but they are habits nonethless and part of our behavior.

Today we are going to start putting together our toolbox to help us cut our costs. Our toolbox will help us become good stewards of what God has delegated to us financially. It will be fairly simple to put together, and I'm guessing you won't even have to leave the house to aquire one thing :)

Here's what you need to gather:

• Your purpose for participating in this challenge
• Your past expenses sheets from yesterday
• A fresh new sheet to create a budget and a pencil OR
• Your current budget
  
• Letter size envelopes
• A zippered pencil pouch for a 3 ring binder or an accordion style check file box.

That's it. These tools are fairly simple, but they can be used to effectively help you manage your money.

Now I do want to ask you a question. Who's in charge of the money management in your home?

Is it just you? Try to encourage your husband to make decisions with you. Ask him for his opinion when you make financial desicions. And respect his opinion.

Is it just your husband? Get more involved! I have heard multiple stories of women who have experienced a family tragedy and found them selves alone and had no clue the status of their finances. Ask him about the budget. Ask him how much debt you have. Ask him where the money goes.

Ask him in a non combative way, and don't nag him, and don't start an argument if you find the money is going to something you don't totally agree with.

If you are in a situation where you are primarily responsible for the finances and he shows no interest, or if you have no clue where the money goes and your husband won't include you, then do the best you can and trust God.

This challenge is not intended to cause strive and division between you and your husband.
This challenge is about you. Your behaviors, your habits, your spending patterns.
Do your part and believe God to do His in regards to your husband.

Ladies, tomorrow I'll finish giving you the rest of what you will need to gather to complete your challenge tool box.

Until then Be blessed.