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Sorry, just kidding. I couldn't resist. No, I don't have any
secret tricks on how to save millions. I can't really promise you true
wealth, either. Oh, and I have no secret prayers or powers to share
with you that will attract whatever you want. But, here's a few
pointers that might help you in our economic tough times.
1. Don't fill up your gas tank all the way. When you do that, it makes the car to heavier, which in turn causes more gas to be burned up faster. Fill it to either 1/2 tank or 3/4 tank.
2. Cut down on the number of Starbuck's coffees to buy each day. No, seriously, I mean it. This could save you thousands of $$ if you just grin and bear some of that coffee at the office. Orm if you simply MUST get coffee out of the house/office, go to a 7-11 or one of those Kwik-Mart gas station thingys, which not only have coffee, but the coffee is good, cheaper, and you usually can fix it any way you like with an assortment of creams, flavored syrups, and sprinkle spices. Consider these figures (Do you go to Starbucks twice a day? Pick up one of their $4 muffins at each visit? Then, double, even triple the following figures):
3. Haircuts for guys = $20 - $25 x 1 a month = $240 - $300. Cut down to every 2, 3, or 4 months. That'll save a little chunk of change.
4. Women, seriously, I KNOW this is going to hurt, but really, how many pairs of shoes do you need? I have two pairs: one pair of sneakers; one pair of black dress shoes. Okay, so you're a gal. Can you really wear more than, oh, I don't know, 8 pairs!? That's a LOT of shoes: active sneakers, flip-flops (California beach wear), black dress high-heals, neutral high-heals, black low-heals, neutral low-heals, work shoes, plus a pair of "fun" shoes. Feel free to swap according to your lifestyle, and apply a similar principle to the rest of your wardrobe.
5. Instead of VAcations, take a few DAYcations or STAYcations -- anything you can do in a day. Go to the beach, spend the day a fun mall, rent a few 99 cent movies and have a movie night, complete with microwave popcorn, have video game marathon for the whole family.
6. Use coupons at stores and restaurants! It really does work. And at stores, switch from name brand groceries to store brand groceries. This change alone can save 15%-50% on groceries!! That's a lot of extra cash to help pay off bills and reduce interest on Credit Cards.
7. STOP STOP STOP STOP spending money that you don't have to spend. (Yeah, I know, the truth hurts, and sometimes it's really lousy). We live in a far, far, far too greedy society. And too many people -- including Christians -- have gotten themselves in financial trouble by simply trying to live beyond the means that God has given them. This has been the source of so much worry, concern, strife, and tension. It need not be that way. Call the family together, talk about where you can cut back. Let go of things that you really do not need (especially if you are in financial hardships based on wanting too much of a good thing). Be moderate. Don't try to keep up with others. Be content. be faithful. It will make those blessings God gives you even more precious.
Living the Christian life does not have to be a life of poverty, but at the same time, do we absolutely need everything we spend God's money on? After all, it's all his, to be honest. We are stewards. What kind of stewards are we? let's make sure that we understand and live each day under the words of Christ: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
peace-out,
R. Abanes
1. Don't fill up your gas tank all the way. When you do that, it makes the car to heavier, which in turn causes more gas to be burned up faster. Fill it to either 1/2 tank or 3/4 tank.
2. Cut down on the number of Starbuck's coffees to buy each day. No, seriously, I mean it. This could save you thousands of $$ if you just grin and bear some of that coffee at the office. Orm if you simply MUST get coffee out of the house/office, go to a 7-11 or one of those Kwik-Mart gas station thingys, which not only have coffee, but the coffee is good, cheaper, and you usually can fix it any way you like with an assortment of creams, flavored syrups, and sprinkle spices. Consider these figures (Do you go to Starbucks twice a day? Pick up one of their $4 muffins at each visit? Then, double, even triple the following figures):
A Starbuck's java chip Frappuccino = $4.75
One a day (5 day work week of 261 days) = $1,239.75 a year
Five years of caffeine addiction = $6,198.75
One a day (5 day work week of 261 days) = $1,239.75 a year
Five years of caffeine addiction = $6,198.75
3. Haircuts for guys = $20 - $25 x 1 a month = $240 - $300. Cut down to every 2, 3, or 4 months. That'll save a little chunk of change.
4. Women, seriously, I KNOW this is going to hurt, but really, how many pairs of shoes do you need? I have two pairs: one pair of sneakers; one pair of black dress shoes. Okay, so you're a gal. Can you really wear more than, oh, I don't know, 8 pairs!? That's a LOT of shoes: active sneakers, flip-flops (California beach wear), black dress high-heals, neutral high-heals, black low-heals, neutral low-heals, work shoes, plus a pair of "fun" shoes. Feel free to swap according to your lifestyle, and apply a similar principle to the rest of your wardrobe.
5. Instead of VAcations, take a few DAYcations or STAYcations -- anything you can do in a day. Go to the beach, spend the day a fun mall, rent a few 99 cent movies and have a movie night, complete with microwave popcorn, have video game marathon for the whole family.
6. Use coupons at stores and restaurants! It really does work. And at stores, switch from name brand groceries to store brand groceries. This change alone can save 15%-50% on groceries!! That's a lot of extra cash to help pay off bills and reduce interest on Credit Cards.
7. STOP STOP STOP STOP spending money that you don't have to spend. (Yeah, I know, the truth hurts, and sometimes it's really lousy). We live in a far, far, far too greedy society. And too many people -- including Christians -- have gotten themselves in financial trouble by simply trying to live beyond the means that God has given them. This has been the source of so much worry, concern, strife, and tension. It need not be that way. Call the family together, talk about where you can cut back. Let go of things that you really do not need (especially if you are in financial hardships based on wanting too much of a good thing). Be moderate. Don't try to keep up with others. Be content. be faithful. It will make those blessings God gives you even more precious.
Living the Christian life does not have to be a life of poverty, but at the same time, do we absolutely need everything we spend God's money on? After all, it's all his, to be honest. We are stewards. What kind of stewards are we? let's make sure that we understand and live each day under the words of Christ: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Matt. 6:19-21).
peace-out,
R. Abanes
