Put Your Money Where Your Priorities Are

How you spend your money says a lot about your priorities, your values, and who you are as a person. Flip through your check register, recent credit card statements, or receipt file. Do you notice any categories or expenses that are out of sync with your priorities? If a stranger were to see where you’re spending your money, what would they think? Do you like what your checkbook is saying about you?

Look back at your list of dreams. What are your goals in life? Do you want to retire comfortably? Do you have dreams of sending your kids to college, or perhaps going back to school yourself? On your priority list, is that higher than say, a salon manicure or refreshing your highlights every few months? Of course! Who wouldn’t agree? But yet a startling number of aren’t putting their money where their mouth is. Do more than give your dreams lip service. Put your money where your dreams are.

There’s more to being frugal than being careful with spending. I think it means that you’ve taken the time to prioritize your spending and given thought as to how you can really use your finances to support your own goals, dreams and priorities.

Assignment: Think about some of your expenditures that aren’t in line with your priorities. Which dreams and goals are most important to you and your family? Create a plan to ensure that your money is put towards those things first and foremost.

Your plan may look something like this:
Cancel gym membership and instead add $50/month to kids’ college fund
Limit eating out to one night per month until emergency fund is built up
Use money earned on eBay to save for vacation

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Funny we were just talking about this last night. We both are liking the idea of capitolizing on hobbies. DH makes Chain maile Jewelry and I knit and scrapbook. We enjoy doing them so if makes since.
We were also talking about WW and dirrecting the money somewhere else.
We would also like to keep throwing money at the house. We enjoy fixing it up but at the same time we need to work on debt. Work on eating out less (we have had a bad week for this).
Our big priority goal is a little out of our control. Which is we want another child. We are working on it every month.

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Kimberly Proud Mommy to Bethany Rose April 2006 &

Organizer of the Coupon Clippers of Tacoma

I think we are doing okay in this department. One of our big goals is to be able & ready to move in about 2 years. We have been spending money on home improvements ~ not huge ones, but ones that will definately add the value to our home. One is the curb appeal - this will get people in the door... and the other big thing we are doing is painting - this will give a nice neutral/fresh look to the house...So I think we are doing okay!

Now on the other hand, dd to build a bear... not so much
(But we are getting back on track!!!!)

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"I want my children to have all the things I couldn't afford. Then I want to move in with them." ~ Phyllis Diller