Month Two: Spending

So after praying about it for awhile and deciding between covering the topic of clothing or spending this month, I am confident it's time to work on spending.

I'd like to think of this as something I may adopt from here on out and not just work on it for a month only to go back to my "normal" way of living after. But seriously, sometimes I wonder where half my money goes. I even budget; only to find that I have to shift money around at the end of the month to come out even on my budget. A few years ago a friend of mine loaned me her cd's of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to help me get on track...I'm not terribly off track...but I could be more comfortable if I had some of my debt paid down. School loans, a credit card, my business debt...just a few things. But I still find myself living from paycheck to paycheck. Mostly, I'm assuming, because I don't track the little things that add up by the end of the month. I haven't used a credit card for 1.5 years, only my debit, so I am proud of that. But if I could only work on those little things, key word would be CONSISTENLY, then possibly I could feel that I'm stewarding my money the way God wants me to.

Like I said before, my brother and I are looking to purchase a house together hopefully within the next month and how awesome would it be to have some cashflow to make the place awesome. How great would it be if my savings account started to become a little more than just an emergency fund!

Here are the details:
I will be spending money in only 7 places throughout the month.
1. Online bill pay...phone, credit card, insurance, student loans
2. Gas (gas only) at Holiday
3. Tithing at church
4. Lakewinds/Whole Foods (they are basically the same thing, just in different cities)
5. Target
6. buying a house
7. everything I would be spending anywhere else goes straight into savings
Yes that is all. Yes that includes bills and gas. March 19-April 18

So no lunch after church, no quick coffee on the run, no meals out because I don't feel like cooking, no new clothes, no random purchases at the mall, no Redbox movies, no treats at the Twins game...and here's my goal: nothing I don't NEED. I could sustain most of my life at Target, but most people know when you go in to Target to buy 2 things, you come out with a $40 reciept of stuff you swear you have no idea how it got into your cart. Wants are put aside this month, and only necessities will be bought.

Thank God I have no children or a husband that I will force to suffer through this month...

Day 31: The end!

Well, I wish I could say that it's been perfect and everything I had expected. It was not. But I'm ok with that. It was a very very interesting journey. Food is such a huge part of our culture and no matter where you go or what you do it seems that it's just not totally in our control.

I would say, if we're rating the month based on accomplishment, I would give myself a 7 for sticking to the majority of my meals each week. There was at least one circumstance every week that beyond my control of food, but that did help to break up the monotony and agony of the same old same old.

If we're rating the month based on journey with the Lord...well you can't put a number on it. God is pretty amazing and I can't wait to see what He brings my way over the next few months. Before I start the next fast on Monday, I'll write a better review of the month.

The week of Valentine's Day, my good friend Erin, made chocolate covered strawberry cupcakes for our Bible Study. Of course I had to sit there and watch every one gobble one or two down and rave about how amazing they were...I just sat there and drank water. Bummer. BUT lo-and-behold, Erin secretly put one in the freezer to celebrate the completion of this month! Even though she was running late for her day, she ran this into my work (I know you're jealous!)

I'm going to pray a little more on what topic to tackle next and I will hopefully have an answer by Friday!

Day 24

One week left! I feel great! My energy is up, my pants are falling off, and I am SO ready to be done with this month. haha

There's something about a rainy day that makes me extra productive; I suppose it's because I don't feel that I should be outside or something. I love rain, it's so soothing. So I thought I'd post today since I just know the creative juices are flowing...

I was really challenged in Bible study last week. Phil 3:16 Let us hold true to what we have attained As I was sitting there thinking about the next 6 months of this fast, I was instantly convicted. Let us hold true to what we have attained. Why am I always looking toward the future and what it holds for me, or striving for the next stage in life, when I haven't quite finished the work in front of me?

I'm just finishing up my month of a food fast. And instead of going over what I've learned and applying it to my life, I've just been focusing on what comes next. We can't be making judgements today on what our future holds when we haven't experienced the journey to get there.

Is it just women who fantasize about the next stage in life? Somehow I can't see men yearning for a white dress or little feet running around the house...hmmm

Regardless of the fantasy, I think we are all yearning for what comes next. We don't want to be obedient to what we know, but if we don't use what we know and just continue searching for what's next, we will never truly grow. Matt Chandler challenged us: Do we need to stop and repent before we can move forward? Complacency is not the high road to success. 

It's time to start applying the basic truths to my life consistently! More prayer, more time spent in the Word, more awareness of what is going on RIGHT now. Less less less time worrying about what the future holds and less time focused on what I can learn to benefit tomorrow. It's about NOW

Day 19

This is hard. I knew it would be hard, and I've slipped up a few times, but I didn't really realize exactly how hard it would be. I love experimenting with food and flavors...being so limited is a nightmare. It's hard to live in a society that centers around food and going out to eat when there isn't much that you CAN eat. Boy am I thankful that I don't have any health issues that cause me to stay away from certain foods.

I am constantly reminding myself that this is only a few more weeks and asking God to keep me motivated to continue. At least God understands our shortcomings and the end result will bring growth!

James 1:2-4. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers [and sisters], whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance. Perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."