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I cook from scratch, garden, can, raise our own beef, and hang my clothes out on a line. I do my best to stretch our dollars. But there are times when I go through our budget and my gut begins to churn. How can I possibly cover all the things we need and still have some money in savings?
Money | Photo: 401K /Flickr/Creative Commons License
We’ve set a weekly budget so we don’t overspend, something we’ve been doing these past few months due to some unexpected bills. We don’t carry credit card debt. I pay off our card in full every month and use the reward points. Last week I was tempted to let some of the balance ride.
This month we have to buy hay for our cattle. We’re spending our yearly vacation camping, but we’d like to take the kids to the fair for the day. All the little things add up Friday night and exploded into a jaw clenching fight with my husband.
Until God asked me something. “If you trust Me with your soul, why aren’t you trusting Me with your finances?”
I ask God to protect my family, turn to Him with my children, my health, but I have a hard time giving Him my checkbook. I started tithing regularly almost two years ago. It was something between me and God. Me showing my trust and thankfulness to Him for all He’d given us.
I thought of borrowing against my tithing check this week. Shorting God is not an option. I wrote the check for the full amount.
But it’s more than writing a check to God. It’s fully trusting Him. In the middle of the night, when an unexpected bill pops up, it’s trusting that He’s got me in His hands.
‘And everything that does not come from faith is sin. Romans 14:23
When I worry, it is sin.
I know worrying doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t make my situation better. In fact, it makes it worse.
But I didn’t truly realize it was a sin.
It is. The next time I catch myself worrying, I’m reminded this means I’m telling God He isn’t big enough for my troubles.
Worry is an insult to our heavenly Father.
I answered Him back, “I’m sorry, Lord. I lay our money in your Hands. Please take this burden from me and help me to glorify you with my thoughts. You are big enough to handle my finances, even when I don’t see it, I will believe it.”
How do you keep from worrying? What are some of your best money managing tips? How have you seen God come to your rescue in a time of need?
This post if featured on The Better Mom Monday Link-up.
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Oh Melissa… I love this post. I need to start implementing the DIY tips you’ve been introducing us all to lately. Not just because of the money saving advantage, but also because how cool is it to be totally independant on the stores now?! Thanks for this… it’s gonna help.
Brittany, I’m so glad you find the tips helpful and will implement them. They really do bring your bills down. I love being able to do a stock up run once a month of things like flour, sugar, etc and only having to go to the store for a things between times. Plus, it tastes so much better!
Yes, we’re definitely in that worrying season…my husband is looking for a new job in our very rural area. I’m guilty of pushing him and prodding him to hand-deliver resumes, but I know he has to go about this job-search his own way, to find the job God has for him. Lack of money can be so stressful in marriages, but I’m thankful that we’re both God’s children so we can take our worries and fears to Him, without dumping them on each other all the time!
Great post, Melissa!
Dear Jesus,
Please give peace and rest to Heather and her husband. I pray that you will send just the right job to her husband, that nothing will stand in the way, and you will let them know when the time is right. Bless them as they lean on You during this time. May you help us all to go to you and trust in Your word. In Jesus name, Amen.
Thanks so much, Melissa! Appreciate that prayer!
Wonderful post, Melissa! These are very trying financial times for so many. I am guilty of the same worries and have been trying to trust that all will work out for the best and that God is leading us down the path He has chosen for us. Heather, I will pray for you and your husband, too.
My money-saving tip would be to try making your own laundry detergent. Melissa, you may have already posted this on your site before but I’ll include it just in case. With five kids, we were spending a TON on laundry detergent especially since the kids wash their own clothes and they always use more than necessary. I started mixing equal parts of finely grated Fels Naptha soap (works fabulous on stains!! Dampen the stain and rub directly with the bar), Borax, and Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. I think it works out to about 2 cups each when using one bar of soap. I also started using plain vinegar for fabric softener. It works pretty well, except that your clothes don’t have any extra perfumey smell.
Thanks for sharing your tip and recipe, Gail. Making my own laundry soap is on my list. I do use the vinegar in my fabric softener dispenser and it is wonderful killing odor in your machine as well. I’m okay with no perfumey smell because I prefer the sunshine and wind smell of the line.
How much does this recipe make? My issue is storage at the moment. We’re hoping to put up a garage next year and I can’t wait.
When using one bar of soap, you end up with about 6 cups of detergent but then you’re stuck with the remainder of the Borax & washing soda boxes. The first time I made it I used a 3/pack of Ivory soap (which you can also use & it’s cheaper than Fels) with equal parts Borax & washing soda. I think that used up the whole box of washing soda & almost the whole box of Borax. I store it in a tall, square-ish plastic container with a lid & keep it on top of my washing machine with a plastic tablespoon in it. Be sure to mix everything very well. I only use 1 to 2 tablespoons in my HE front-load washer. I’m guessing maybe 1/3 cup for a top-load??
I think I spent maybe $8.00 for all 3 items at Walmart.
Thanks, Gail. This recipe makes a little bit less than some of the others I seen. One made something like ten 5 gallon buckets. I’ll let you know when I try it!
I loved reading this post Melissa, I struggle with relying on God to lead my family especially when it comes to finances! But looking back God has always been there and carried us at times where now looking back I’m not even sure how we were able to keep a roof over our head! And now we are so blessed with the comfort and gift of being able to purchase our own home GOD is Awesome! Tithing is something so new to me that I have struggled with understanding but it took a post from someone on facebook discussing the topic of tithing. The ignorance that came from her post that really shined a light on my own ignorance on the topic! I am now tithing my 10 % Praise the Lord! I have never felt better it is such a huge weight lifted that I can trust in God, let go of the power of $ and give as God intended! And God has already blessed me with comfort, peace, and understanding that tithing is His will! Thank you for this post I love reading them! This one really helped me to see that during hard times that is when we need to be most deligent to God in our giving not only in tithing but by giving Him our faith and handing our crisis financial, emotional, health, or whatever we may struggle with over to God! Looking back at some of the most trialing times in my life especially with finances and how much stress and worry I carried around that effected my marriage, and other relationships! I now wish I would of been at a place where I knew God in my heart and could say! “I am placing this in your hands God give me strength comfort and peace knowing you are in control! AMEN!”
I also recently read in a book I am reading that discusses what the Bible says about Child Training that is so important to share with our children our struggles often times as parents we think we might burden them but the author discusses his own situation of where they were down to their last dollar and had to sell their lawn mower to buy food they prayed about it but only told the kids that God had brought them a buyer for the lawn mower and did not allow them to be a part of the praying process and to truly be able to understand the situation and how deep the need was! So I think it is important of course depending on age for children to pray with the family together for the need at hand so that they may first hand see God’s answer and give Him the Glory. It is such an awesome Spiritual lesson where our children can experience the peace and security God provides through every trial and that they can see that God’s abundance is so gracious! So maybe have the kids join in with the prayer for the need or want to take the kids to the fair and while they are enjoying the fair and all the fun memories that come with it their Glory will be to God who provided!
I love that your growing so quickly in the Lord, Cheyanne. Lot’s of people like to argue about tithing, but I give 10 percent as well. God does bless us when we’re obedient to Him, but not always in the ways of money. I think some people view tithing as a ticket to “get more.” Sad.
Allowing our kids to see God work in our lives, through prayers, and through the hard times is important. At times, I’ve wanted to shelter them more than I should. What’s the title of the book your reading?
The book is called “What the Bible Says About Child Training Parenting with Confidence” by Richard J Fugate! I am on chapter 18 and have been learning so much! It is very straight forward has lots of scripture references and it has been very helpful so far!
The “buying hay for cattle” part made me smile. I know what that’s like — except for horses
I make the “big” batch of homemade laundry soap too. We have been using it for 2 years now. I didn’t think of sharing it on the blog until I ran out and used store bought and found that my homemade soap takes out stains so much better!
Anyway, this was such an encouraging post. I am glad I stopped by
Visiting from The Better Mom. I liked your Facebook page, too 
Thanks, Michele-Lyn, I’m glad you stopped by too. We did have horses, but after I had to put my ex-barrel racing mare down, we decided to wait until my daughter is old enough to ride before getting another horse. I miss them though.
Good to know it takes stains out better.
I love this post! My husband and I just bought our own home on 2/3 of an acreage. Our goal is to eventually be more self sustainable. Finances are different now that we have a home payment, and I know the holidays are just around the corner. You offer great tips in this post. I know I need to be giving my worry to God. I trust Him! It’s just a hard process sometimes. Thanks for the reminder!
Congrats on your home Monica and acreage! I’m going to have lots of posts come the holidays on homemade (affordable) gifts people will actually want.
And, I’ve got some surprises coming up on how to become more self-sustainable. So glad to have you stop by and hope to hear about your successes.
Just an update on the laundry detergent…I just came back across my scribbled down measurements from when I first made it and it looks like I first used 1 bar grated soap, 1 cup Borax and 1 cup washing soda (instead of the 2 cups each I mentioned previously). I have definitely made it with 2 cups each of Borax & soda, though, and didn’t have any problems with it.