Marriage Thought #8 for Tyler and Emilie: Save money! Resist the temptation to have everything right now. Establishing margin financially is an important marriage-preserving strategy. The best way to understand margin is to think of driving on a highway. When you’ve got both lanes to yourself and a shoulder on each side, you feel comfortable and relaxed. But, if you’ve got a concrete divider on one side and a semi on the other, you feel nervous and tense. Your car still takes the exact same amount of space. The difference is, you’ve got less margin for error – less space to make a mistake or slightly wander off course. One tiny bobble can lead to a wreck. Financial margin give you space for minor mistakes, mishaps and unexpected expenses. Financial margin takes the pressure off, you’ve got room to steer your financial vehicle without fearing an imminent wreck. I’ve seen more marriages wreck because of money problems than anything else. Way too many people live beyond their means and out of control. Their impulsive desires overwhelm disciplined choices. Follow these principles: Don’t allow yourself to have credit card debt. If you can’t pay for it now, you don’t need it now. Don’t try to keep up with what other young couples have. Later in life, they will have loads of debt and you’ll more than catch up with paid for stuff! Live below your means and you’ll always have margin. If you are going to be aggressive financially, be aggressive in saving and aggressive in giving to God. Give to God first. Give to your savings and investment second. Then, spend what you want or can. I’ve never regretted a dollar saved. I’ve often regretted a dollar spent. I’ve never regretted money I’ve given to God. I’ve often regretted missed opportunities to be generous.
Posted on: Sat, 24 May 2014 14:36:17 +0000
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