You Work Hard For The Money, So You Better Spend It Right

Tips on Money Management

Most married couples typically fight about three things: kids, sex, and money. These areas carry a lot of weight, and can cause a lot of stress if things aren’t the way you’d like them to be. Since I’m only writing a blog post, and not a novel, I’m only going to focus on two of these issues today.

Difficulties with money can be daunting and frustrating, but breaking things down and taking them a day at a time can really help with conquering the troubles that you are having. In fact, studies have shown that being financially stable is not so much about how much money you make, but about how you learn to manage it.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you and your spouse get your financial feet planted firmly in the ground:

1. Listen to the counsel of the Lord.

 Since the time of Abraham (and most likely before even that), the  Lord has been giving us counsel about how to wisely manage our  money. This starts with paying a full tithe. It is important to  remember that all we gain in this life actually belongs to the Lord.  Paying tithing helps us show gratitude for this, along with  expressing trust in our Heavenly Father that He will keep His promises.

He has told us that he will “open the windows of Heaven, and pour [us] out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it” (Malachi 3:10). I don’t know how he makes it work, but as I have seen this principle work time and time again in my own life, I know that when we work to pay a full tithe the Lord will ALWAYS take care of us. The Lord has continued to give us counsel from the current prophets and apostles more specific for our day.

2. Stay out of debt.

This can be difficult in our world of credit cards, same-day loans, and easy- access online shopping. However, avoiding consumer debt allows us to practice and exhibit self- control, and increases our capacity to take care of our families, serve others, and exercise our agency to keep the commandments.

The Brethren have expressed that there are three things for which it is acceptable to go into debt, and these are a modest home, a modest car, and education. However, even in these circumstances, we should still do our best to practice wise money management, and avoid excess.

Written By: Rian Gordon