Money Money Money

Must be funny ... in a rich man's world. That my friends is a line from a song from arguably one of the greatest groups of all time - ABBA. But if you are anything like me, which you probably are a little or you wouldn't take the time out of your day to read my often incoherent ramblings; you like music, but you don't like numbers. Am I right? Can I get an AMEN! Numbers, are NOT our friends! Math has always been a sore spot for me. For some reason early on in life Math decided to hate me. I'm not sure what I ever did to it, but it has hated me ever since.

That being said, I do like money. Ever since my first babysitting take I've been hooked. Which is funny because there is a lot of math in money. So I guess you could say we have a love hate relationship. The love of working hard and earning a paycheck to do with what I choose, and the hate of having to calculate anything.

About a year ago, my husband, the brilliant mega-genius he is, decided to put us on a budget. That's kinda like putting my 30 pound overweight Great Dane on a diet. It's awesome on paper, but putting into action results in him eating countless boxes of just opened tissues and pooping Puff's for a week. It's been hard to say the least. Cutting spending on EVERYTHING to help get us out of the debt we're in. But ironically it's not from super over spending. Sure we bought things we pry didn't need when we didn't need them, but he has more regrets about that than I do. We've never been a couple to rack up 10 grand + in credit card debt. Nope. It's MY student loans. Awesome considering the fact that I don't have a job related to my degree. Well kinda, but now we're just arguing semantics and who cares. But isn't it ironic? You spend so much money to get the education everyone says you need to not get a job where you want and end up staying home taking care of a kid, then your husband puts you on a spending freeze so you can finally pay off all that money you thought was going toward the right things. It's not a run on if I say it's not. And I say it's not a run on!

So that brings us full circle. Okay it doesn't but I couldn't think of a better transition. Sue me. (Or don't because I don't have any money!) But many people, along with weight loss, include money in their New Year's Resolutions. So, here to help with that is None Other Than ME! *APPLAUSE APPLAUSE* I was at a Women's Conference many years ago and one of the speakers said something that to this day I have not forgotten. Probably because she made it easy to remember. Five things to do with your money. But before you learn those things, you must first know your money. Take a look at those pay stubs no one ever thinks they need, and study it. I really mean study it. Look it over, learn what each number on there means. What you make pre and post tax. It's painful sometimes, but it really will open our eyes. And if you don't know what it means, let me introduce you to a little something we like to call ... the Internets and Google! Look it up. If you have a spouse, make that commitment to sit down with them and go over the money together. Yeah for me I would rather get 72 cavities filled, or have Nathan - the kid who I was convinced would drown one day, as a private lesson again - I remember his name for a reason. But alas, my husb is the numbers guy - betcha didn't see that one comin. So it's a necessity - one I dread.

Next, divide your money into 5 categories. Save Some, Spend Some, Invest Some, Give Some Away and Tithe Some. It's so simple, but if you really pause and consider this, that's all you really need to do with money. Which is why you need to know your money.

Now the Tithe part, that may get some of you. If you're not Christian, or aren't into the church thing, this word means The First Tenth. God set forth back in the day a sort of agreement with people. As part of their obedience to Him and their acknowledgement that everything they have God blessed them with, they were supposed to give or sacrifice the first 10% of their earning to God. (In olden times that usually meant crops or animals, today it's money) This is probably the hardest for me to accept. I consider myself a relatively faithful Christian, but it's still hard for me to sit there and write that check. Especially since I know it's supposed to be 10% of my earning BEFORE tax! Yikes. But if it is one you can grasp, it is more than worth it. If you don't follow that kind of thing, then allocate this portion to other sections. But I highly recommend donating a portion to churches or other religious affiliations. Just, you know, throwin that out there.

The other areas are a lot less complex. Spend some. Obviously this will include bills. Know all of your monthly expenditures so that after you know what's coming in, you can know what's going out. Rent/Mortgage, car payment, utilities, cable, phone, insurance etc. Then look at what's left. After you decide on all the other categories there should be some left for you to spend on yourself. Going out to eat, movies, clothes, whatever your vice is! Save some. I don't think it can get more simple. Put some of your money into an account so it sits there. It can accrue interest or not, up to you, but put some away! Ever hear the saying saving it for a rainy day? Invest some. You might need some help in this area and that's okay. Put some of your money into something that will work for you. Invest it into something that will do something. And just so you know, some people consider investing in people, and that includes children. Give Some Away. Perhaps my favorite next to Spend Some - yeah I'm greedy! But at least I know it!!! Give some of your money to something worthy. Salvation Army. Girl Scouts. Not to toot my own horn, but once there were little Girl Scouts selling what was left of their cookie collection in the vestibule of a Giant Eagle. I walked in telling them I already bought some - which I had, but felt very guilty the whole store trip. On the way out I handed one of the mom volunteers the $2 I had with me, saying it's not enough for a whole box, but here you go. I can't help it, I was once a Girl Scout and I have the badges to prove it! Give some to a local charity. Just give to others. It's better than the best work out, meal, or shopping spree I've ever had. It feels right.

It may be shocking to you. So be prepared, but you shouldn't be spending or out putting more than you have coming in. That being said, in order to reach these 5 areas, you may have to make some cuts. My husband has officially cut everything in our house. We don't have TV, our phones are pre-paid, and if it isn't nailed down, it gets sold on ebay. But that's what helps make our house work, and gets my debt paid off before I retire.

I strongly encourage you to look into these. Even if they don't work for you, you don't like them, or you think I'm nuts. It's worth a shot to help get you where you want to be financially. And don't say rich, because that may not happen. Unless you win the lottery, which I've heard you have a better chance of getting hit by lightening than actually winning. But you know.

In the spirit of keeping Resolutions ... go forth and KNOW your MONEY!