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How can I control my spending with an envelope?

How can I control my spending with an envelope?

by Amber Drabek

 

I never dreamed that I would be stuck in a financial hole, as deep as I was, three years ago. God had led me to a new chapter in life and to a new city. However, the choices I had made financially finally caught up with me. Whenever I felt empty inside, I would grab my credit card and start spending. I needed my God to fill that empty place inside of me—not material possessions! God placed it on my heart that He had plans for my life and they were beyond anything I could ever imagine! Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP): “For I know the thoughts and plans I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.” However, the question that I had for myself was: How can these plans come to fruition if my god was a credit card?

The Lord came to my rescue once again and led me to the Financial Freedom in 7 Weeks Plus book and course. God used this program to show me ways to control my spending and my cash flow. A cash flow system is a way to keep track of where your money goes and how it is spent, saved, or wasted. One of these cash flow systems is an envelope system. A flexible spending plan is projected and planned to allot specific funds to specific spending categories. Some examples of these categories are as follows: groceries, rent, clothing, entertainment, and savings.

Now, to use the envelope system, take your envelopes and label them with these specific spending categories. You can use whatever category you choose, but those that you have a more difficult time controlling are great places to start. Once you receive your paycheck, place the allotted cash monies into the envelopes. A log sheet or register should be used, for each envelope, to track incoming and outgoing monies. If your spending plan is balanced with a positive monthly cash flow, then there should exist sufficient monies for each envelope. Once the funds from an envelope are used, then spending from that category must be stopped for that time period. Money can be transferred from one category to another, if need be. However, new debt is not an option. Restraint and discipline are required for the system to work properly.

A simple envelope cash flow control system has enabled me to avoid the use of credit cards and stop overspending. This has been imperative for me to remain on a road to complete financial freedom and to achievement of God’s life plan for me. Of course, for anything to flourish and prosper in life, God has to remain in the center. I have to continually pray and to remain in God’s Word. “Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 (AMP)

Analyzing My Monthly Cash Flow

Analyzing My Monthly Cash Flow

by Kristi LaMontagne

Failure to use a flexible spending plan is one of the leading causes for financial woes. Many people lack a clear understanding of basic accounting principles; therefore, learning a few of these simple principles can help you better manage your money (Prov.27: 23). Cash flow analysis on a monthly basis shows you whether you are generating enough cash to meet your financial obligations and how your expenditures (outflow) relate to the money coming in (inflow). A monthly cash flow analysis helps you determine where you lack capital or have a surplus. This information can then be compared monthly to the records that you have accumulated in the past months. Putting God in the center of developing your flexible spending plan will give you an assurance and peace that you are moving toward a well balanced cash flow.

Financial Freedom in 7 Weeks Plus is a Bible-based workbook that will guide singles, couples and families step-by-step through all the basics of managing money. Chapters 4 – 7 focus on the Flexible Spending Plan concept and Cash Flow Management.

Money, Prosperity, the Devil and Spiritual Warfare

Money, Prosperity, the Devil and Spiritual Warfare

by Bill Sitter

For over twenty years I, (Bill Sitter) owned a successful executive recruiting firm. A vital component of a successful executive search initiative was, and is, the development of a clean and comprehensive position description. We devoted hours of Q&A and pages of detail to the formulation of an excellent job description. We invested this effort because we knew how essential it was to delineate the exact target….The bull’s eye, before launching a nationwide recruiting campaign.
In John 10:10 Jesus provides the two most important jobs descriptions, and as believers we must know them well! 
“The thief (devil) comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” (ESV). This one passage of scripture makes it clear, beyond any doubt, that our enemy is the devil and his mission, as explained by Jesus, is to steal from all of us; to kill us; and to destroy us and our loved ones. Fortunately our Lord explains that He alone is the life- giving and redeeming answer. And, God’s Word provides specifics for believers to be pro-active in our Spiritual Warfare. Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the “Whole Armor of God” that we are to put on and never take-off. We, like our military, only need armor for battle, but we see from the devil’s job description that we must be ready for battle day and night 24×7. 
“Financial Freedom in 7 Weeks Plus – Legacy Edition” devotes an entire chapter to the topic of:  “Spiritual Warfare… Breaking Curses, Blockages, Judgments and Strongholds that Control Our Finances”. Our lead scripture is Ephesians 6:12 (KJV) “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” 
When we hear the public testimonies of graduates of the small group 7 week study we are no longer surprised to hear that most major breakthroughs resulted from practical application of 2 core course concepts: Biblical Giving and Spiritual Warfare.
In case you have yet to acquire your copy of the work book, I’d like to leave you with a basic Spiritual Warfare example “from page 33” that believers can adapt to almost any situation.  You may find it helpful to put copies of this on your mirror, refrigerator or PC.

Spiritual Warfare Example:  “In the might Name of Jesus Christ, and in accordance with God’s Word, we take authority over Satan and all his demonic forces that try to come against us.  We are God’s children, protected by the blood of Jesus, and we declare that you – devil – were defeated at the cross and at the grave of Jesus and you remain defeated.  Your weapons will not succeed or prosper.  So we command you to take your hands off in Jesus’ Might name!  And all God’s people said…Amen!”