Thoughts on Weekly and Monthly Planning

The plans of the heart belong to man,
but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
but the Lord weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the Lord,
and your plans will be established. —Proverbs 16:1-3

New Beginnings for 2012 mean planning more. I also want to be a little "over" organized. This is an example. We have been freezing our salsa for a year now, it works out great. We have learned an important organization lesson besides putting the date on it, which we do- to tag it as great, decent, okay. That way I know to use certain batches for beans, or for regular eating. Good lesson to learn. 

Another that we started this week is sorting out the meat as we buy it by not only the purchase date but the meal it is intended for and the date of it. That is where planning a little in advance really helps out. I love the idea of planning a month in advance because we can watch the sales a little more.

The heart of man plans his way,
but the Lord establishes his steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

I admit that last week the menu got used every night, we did swap meals twice, once out of time for people being home to eat it and the other due being busy. We did still eat every meal of the week though. 

The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance,
but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.

—Proverbs 21:5

I love my new planning menus. They have a menu on one side and a grocery list on the other. I have learned I can write the two or three items I need for that night right next to it. This week I also added in the menu box if we had the particular meat, which freezer it was in etc. I even was able to list that we had frozen shredded cheese to the menu box, so that I would not purchase more this month. 

Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

—Proverbs 19:21

I am praying as we continue to follow some biblical principles and grow more in our organizational methods that we will live a little easier and become more efficient with our finances.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

—Jeremiah 29:11

WordFilled Wednesday

Money and Becoming out of Debt is Our Goal for 2012

I keep hearing about Dave Ramsey's books. I have tried to win a couple but so far that had not been God's plan, so I put in a request at the library. I am not sure why I didn't think to do that months ago. I plan to make a better plan. I tracked our expenses bill wise on Excel all last year; that was a great start. I would like to track this year what we spend on extras when it is food, gas, the kids expenses. That takes dedication and planning. I like the idea of his Debt Snowball so that is where we are going to start, pay all the small stuff down, as we can, so we can tackle the bigger stuff, if not in 2012 then in 2013.

I will say we do not have car loans so that will make tackling everything a little easier.

Sometimes its about priorities, for example with our recent washer and dryer situation, we could have financed them, charged them on the credit card but I had the exact cash we needed saved, it meant that we would not do a couple things during Christmas Break and also our anniversary but I am thankful we chose that path. There is no stress over how to pay it back later. 

I love how the Lord seemed to put his hand over the basic remodel we needed to do, it went pretty smoothly over all, is finished and it didn't cost us anything out of pocket. We were able to find things around the house/yard to finish the job and make the larger washing machine and dryer work for us. 

I love this verse, I think of the simple yet very complex message it contains to all of us about how To plan, how to use, how to save...

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he may have enough to finish it; lest perhaps, after he has laid the foundation and is not able to finish, all those seeing begin to mock him, saying, This man began to build and was not able to finish. Luke 14:28-30

So that is our plan for this coming year. To sit down and make a small plan. Last year we tried to tackle it all and I think became very overwhelmed and discouraged. This year I just want to tackle it in sessions so we are breaking the year down into three month segments. What we want to pay down every three months, what our plan is, how we can accomplish it. I also want to try out best to pay groceries and gas with cash from side jobs to avoid paying for them with credit cards since we already know our income will not cover it. Then I feel like we are using the Lord's Blessings in a better way. That will require me to continue to plan our menu a month at a time too, and then stick to it. 

The bible also says this, 

He who has no rule over his own spirit is like a broken down city without a wall.
Proverbs 25:28

This is huge in our lives here on earth. It is so easy to make excuses. We almost did it today. We have an opportunity for some side work tonight and then again Friday night, maybe some over the weekend. We really need the extra funds but we also have our anniversary Friday. After really thinking and praying I called my husband and said that we were not going to finance eating out, we were not using the cash he could get for a side job for it either, he was going to work the partial job tonight and then again on Friday and pick up what he could on Saturday evening, then leave Sunday for church and work around our won house. We have to think about sticking to our plan, making sacrifice and most importantly contentment.

For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances may be. I know now how to live when things are difficult and I know how to live when things are prosperous. In general and in particular I have learned the secret of eating well or going hungry of facing either plenty of poverty. I am ready for anything through the strength of the One who lives within me. Philippians 4:11-13

Let 2012 be a better financial year for you and your family.