Keep Your Money May - How does your spending effect your family?

This past week during the Dave Ramsey session, he quoted this verse from Proverbs 31:11-12

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.

I have heard Proverbs 31 over and over during my life. I have read it many times and I have heard many lessons taught from it. But hearing this verse singled out really gave me pause. The verse is saying that the husband trusts his wife to be a wise steward, and in doing so, he will have plenty. This means the wife's spending habits directly effect the prosperity the family will have. I have a great responsibility!

Is your husband counting on you to spend wisely, manage the finances and household to the long term benefit of your family? My husband is trusting in me in this regard and so is my Lord. The Lord has blessed us with EVERYTHING we have - even the very air we breathe! We owe Him so much and the least I can do is my very best to manage our blessings well.

To keep myself in check I like to ask myself hard questions such as:

1. If I make little purchases "here and there" which seem insignificant because their price is small, will I keep my family from some long term goal (vacation,savings, etc.)? Otherwise known as "Nickel & Diming" myself to death!

2. Is this something I really love? Or am I buying it because someone else loved it or suggested it? (Blog reading is really bad for encouraging these types of purchases!)

3. What am I teaching my children with my purchases? To never be satisfied? There is always something better I need to obtain? That "things" make me happy? I can never have enough to be content? Children are very keen and pick up quickly!

4. Am I displaying selfishness in my purchases? (Example: Telling the kids they have enough so-and-so items, but Mom needs another dress - despite having 15 in the closet already.) Sends mixed messages. How can you ever teach the principle of contentment?

5. Ask your children this question. "What is the most important thing to Mommy?" or "What makes Mommy the most happy?" You may be surprised at the answers you get. Do they say "looking pretty", "shopping", "a new purse"! What should be most important to Mommy is having a heart for God and living His Word in my life.

I am chronicling this No-Spend journey for myself, so I can learn and grow. I am in no way telling anyone else what to do in their life. I am simply writing things I am experiencing during this time and if it helps anyone else, I would be glad.

I am not perfect and I often make mistakes and hope that I learn from them and won't repeat them. Thank God for his patience in my life as I continue to study, pray and grow in His grace during my Christian walk in this life.