Balancing Our Checkbooks
Honor the Lord with your first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 ESV
Robbing Peter to Pay Paul.
My mother used this phrase incessantly. I too adopted it on the regular when my kids were young. To us it meant we didn’t have enough money and we had to find it somewhere.
The expression refers to times before the Reformation when Church taxes had to be paid from St. Paul ‘s church in London and to St. Peter ‘s church in Rome ; originally it referred to neglecting the Peter tax in order to have money to pay the Paul tax. (www.quora.com).
Survival. It is what we do. But we have other options.
In high school I took a prep course that taught me how to balance a check book and do my taxes. It was a vital class for me since balancing $ was not officially practiced in my family.
Life did not ever balance out. If there was a shortage of funds we either did without…food, electricity etc or we found Peter.
Peter was usually extended family and I know that became old real quick. As I see the economy tanking and costs rising it gives me pause. Crime, desperation becomes a norm when severe financial struggle ensues.
As a struggling single mother for many years there were times of desperation. My gift was Jesus and his provision. Sometimes that would be 3 jobs to make ends meet, random love offerings, refund checks. One time it was unclaimed money. But learning the trick of “robbing Peter to pay Paul” was an art I definitely had to master.
How many of you have struggled financially? Had trouble balancing our financial sustainability? Me, me, me.
Discovering the proper balance formula for your checkbook I have come up with some ways I have learned to balance mine. It is not perfect, I am still learning and growing in it. However, I can say life is more peaceful and balanced with the money managed better. No doubts at all there will be even more peace when it is managed well. Savings is my biggest failure because I too love immediate gratification. But, more and more I learn I cannot take stuff with me and it really does not matter what I have, all of it belongs to God and all of me too.
1. God first. All of the money I earn or receive from all sources belongs to the Lord my God. I do tithe. I do give it away. I do help others. I do not over give or allow others to use me knowing I have it. Boundaries are necessary. This was a big failing of mine, giving when I didn’t really have it to give.
2. Savings for future, short months, unexpected expenses is vital. You can save your change, have your bank save by rounding up, $1’s add up. Not saving anything never will.
3. Pay off debt as quickly as possible. Use the Dave Ramsey Snowball Method. I still have debt and some I could have forever, however, Lord willing I will pay it all.
4. If you do not make enough money to pay your bills seek additional income. Request a raise. Find a complimentary 2nd or 3rd job. I worked at the church paid and so did my daughters. I took short term work such as Festivals or seasonal events. I did Door Dash. I was a soccer referee and my kids were linesman. I have a small but mighty writing, coaching, speaking business. I prayed regularly for God’s provision and I trusted God for it. Look for ways to reduce bills, cut unnecessary bills. You might have to revisit all of this more than once a year.
5. Examine regularly what you spend your money on unconsciously or on habits, eating out, going places. Cut back where you can.
6. Months are usually very lopsided so learning to equalize it has really helped me. I split the large bills in half where possible and pay them 1/2 and 1/2. Many mortgages, auto loan companies will let you pay it 50% on 1st 50% on 15th etc. I even did this on my insurance. On the ones you cannot split do one on 5th and one on 20th. For me that is insurance on 5th and student loans on 20th. It works well for me.
7. Make smart choices on spending. One of my biggest struggles in my life. I can blow hundreds of dollars in seconds…. I now look more and buy less. I also search for quality over quantity because it lasts longer usually. I use some subscriptions as Christmas gifts in December. Book of Month, Fit Fab Fun, Ipsy. There are so many girls in my family and readers. These make perfect gifts and they’re paid for in advance.
8. Actually balance your money often. I know alot of folks who have no idea how to reconcile a checkbook. How do they know what they have? How do you know if you have spent too much? How do you know if the charges are wrong or if there has been a duplicate charge?
9. Budget then stick to it. Tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.
10. Plan ahead. It gives your money purpose. Example. I want to do many things to fix, update my home. I have a running list. I choose the most pressing and begin to save for it specifically. When I have the full amount I buy it and then move to the next pressing thing. I also shop for the best deals and I do not settle for cheapest or most expensive. I research it out.
BONUS. Always, always, always go back to #1 if you fall back into bad habits, or worry about making it or cannot figure out what to do. Always lean into God’s word. Do not forget that God made you a resourceful, purposeful vessel. You can do things to help yourself and God most certainly will be with you in all of it.
God dedicates a tremendous number of verses and stories about money. Here are a few just in Proverbs:
Proverbs 24:30-34I passed by the field of a sluggard, by the vineyard of a man lacking sense, and behold, it was all overgrown with thorns; the ground was covered with nettles, and its stone wall was broken down. Then I saw and considered it; I looked and received instruction. A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man
Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 24:27 Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.
Proverbs 6:6-8 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest
Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
Recently I have been hit with some big expenses. I owe the IRS and I will have to buy a new AC/Heating system before it gets cold(heat has been shut off so air will work). We are talking BIG money. I have a plan. I will get the IRS paid off in 6 months and hopefully save enough to pay at least 1/2 of the AC/Heating. Then pay other half as quickly as possible. I’m going to work hard on sales for commission, sell some books, and maybe do some other fun things to make money. God will provide. I trust that 100%.
Life happens. Habits die hard but they can die that is the key. We can find balance in our checkbook and handle the unexpected with grace.
Join me on this part of our balancing journey. You will not regret it. Let’s stop robbing Peter to Pay Paul and start paying Peter and giving to Paul.
One thing that interferes with money is discontentment. We will address that in the next blog.
I am praying for each of you. Praying for financial provision and for you to put full faith in God to provide that through your hard work and faithfulness. We do not need others to provide when we have Jesus, empowered strength in our own abilities and hope.
Stay Beautiful, Susanne
Susanne Moore 