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I stared at our credit-card bill in amazement. Did I really spend that much money last month? I recognized several transactions for Christmas gifts, but I didn't remember making all those purchases. As I scanned the itemized statement, I realized some things I'd bought I hadn't even used yet! Other purchases were for eating out—the food was gone before it was paid for. Farther down the statement, I recognized many of the vendors' names as the titles of mail-order catalogs I love to browse. I guess I was doing more than browsing.

I sighed as I remembered my New Year's resolution: Spend less money. Luke 12:48 reminded me, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded." Although our family wasn't rich, we did have more than many people in this world, and I knew God expected me, as the bill-payer in our family, to manage our money responsibly. I realized I'd disappointed him by being a poor steward of the resources he'd given me.

I decided right then things had to change. I had to pay off this credit-card bill. But the deeper issue was my need to change a lifetime of habits. How could I put a stop to uncontrolled spending?

Through conversations with other women and time in prayer, I've discovered several basic yet effective strategies to get my spending under control. To be honest with you, it's not always easy. I'm still often tempted to spend with abandon. But by consistently focusing on the following techniques, I've been able to curb excess spending and get on the path to reasonable financial management.

First Corinthians 10:13 tells us God always provides a way of escape when we're faced with temptation. Coming to terms with the truth of this verse showed me one the most effective ways to stop spending: If I remove the temptation to spend, my money's more likely to stay in the bank where it belongs!

For me, that "way of escape" meant tossing out catalogs before I looked through them. I avoided eBay on the Internet and blocked the home shopping channels from my television as well—no more flipping through and "accidentally" seeing something I just had to have.

Kathy, a pastor's wife and mom of three, told me, "When Mark and I first entered the ministry and I knew we wouldn't have a lot of money, I decided I'd never go shopping just to look." Since following this policy, Kathy's been able to avoid buying something for which she and her husband haven't planned.

Examine your spending habits to discover the ways you're tempted to spend. Then do your best to eliminate those temptations. You may have to steer clear of the warehouse club for a while if that land of plenty tempts you to buy too much. Or maybe you need to turn down invitations to those home party shows—where you usually buy something just to avoid hurting the hostess' feelings. Wherever you're tempted to spend, look carefully for your "way of escape."

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January/February 2003, Vol. 25, No. 1, Page 62

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