This is an important principle. It reminds us that the Giver of all is God and when we give back a certain percentage to Him for His work on the earth, He multiplies the rest. We see this happen continually. What a financial plan is that!

“Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine” (Proverbs 3:9, 10).

Another principle of taking care of your two cents is using it for meeting your needs. If you are young and you only get a small amount, talk with your parents and decide what needs you will cover with the money you are getting. As you get older and are paid more money, you will also have more expenses, so it’s good to train with smaller amounts first.

If you are older and always depending upon someone else to buy what you need, that’s not a healthy place to be. As adults we have a responsibility to care for ourselves and our families.

“If any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel” (1 Timothy 5:8, emphasis supplied).

I am sure that you remember that money is not just for ourselves. It is also to help others. As you think of sharing, you will find MANY needs. It is important to mention here that you alone cannot meet all of the needs around you. I have found that I must pray for guidance and that having a certain percentage available for sharing helps in the deciding process. If you only have $10.00 to share, you can’t help a $100.00 need.

“Is it not [God’s chosen fast] to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?” (Isaiah 58:7).

Advertising works on our emotions. Marketers know that if they can get you emotionally tied to something, you will buy it, whether you need it or not! But it isn’t good to operate this way. Over the years I have heard many people say they “need” a new car, new clothing, a new iPod, a new computer, a new DVD, a certain food or drink. Is that realistic? Not really. Remember, money is to be used for supplying your NEEDS, not necessarily all your WANTS!

It is pretty easy to look around and find that those who spend all of their money on pleasures are usually complaining that they don’t have enough money for what they need. Don’t be driven by “I WANT THAT.”

“He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich” (Proverbs 21:17, emphasis supplied).

Getting caught in wanting things badly enough to borrow to get them, or to not be able to meet your needs or responsibilities can really mess you up. And if that happens when you are young, it can affect you for a good part of your life, maybe even the rest of your years, unless you learn from mistakes and do differently.

On the other hand, if you can get a handle on being “cents-wise” when young, you will have an advantage that planning and discipline will give you for the rest of your life.

It is not wrong to get something in the “want” category along the way, but it is a good habit to save up for that special purchase. That way we think longer and more carefully about whether we really do want it or not.

It is also important to learn how to choose the quality that you should have in a product. Some things don’t matter if they are inexpensive, but the years will show that if you can get quality for a lower price, it will last longer and in the long run save you money.

I have met people who say that they are only going to get what they really “need” but aren’t really thinking right. They may think that they don’t really need to have heat in the winter, or warm enough clothes for comfort, or a variety of food. They may be able to survive but not necessarily long or well.

There may be times in our lives when we really do need to exercise a lot of self-discipline because money is scarce, but that does not mean that we need to live like that all of the time. These kind of people often become what are known as misers. What is that? It’s someone who doesn’t want to spend anything. They are often those who look like they have nothing, but in reality there is a lot of money hiding somewhere. They don’t want to spend on themselves or others. Remember, money is to help you and others

There is a law that God has put in place called “sowing and reaping,” and it affects our finances as well. It says, what you sow (plant), you will reap (harvest).

As we work diligently, carefully, seeking to put the Lord first in everything, managing carefully by His guidance what is given into our hands, He can bless by multiplying our means. Trust Him and watch and see!

A budget is a spending plan. That means that you look at how much money you have brought in and then make a plan of percentages in different categories. An example would look something like this:

10% gift to God. This is the minimum amount that we are to return to Him. (After this 10% tithe, the Hebrews routinely gave an addition 10%, 15% or more in freewill offerings toward the cause of God. The Lord is so generous with us; shall we not be the same with Him? This additional amount that could go toward offerings can come by reducing some of the following categories—and you might actually find that the Lord miraculously reduces your expenses when you give more to Him!).

10% saving for a rainy day or a large item that I want to buy.

20% for buying clothing and other needed purchases.

40% for room & board, or rent or mortgage.

15% for transit.

5% for miscellaneous.

This is only an example and is not necessarily the percentages that you would use in your own case. This would be broken down more specifically depending upon your age and your income. Again, I would suggest that you ask someone with successful experience to help you break it down.