Myths about money abound. Unfortunately, like all fables, we unconsciously allow them to influence our behavior. Reflect on these five. In the last three months, how have they affected your spending decisions? Do you see areas you need to change? As you monitor your spending for the next month, ask the Lord to help you make adjustments.
Money Myth #1: Money is the root of all evil
This legend stems from a misinterpretation of 1 Timothy 6:10, which clearly states that the love of money is to blame Some Christians behave as if money is bad. They do not study and therefore do not learn effective stewardship. They inadvertently do not adequately support their families. They believe it is wrong to save, plan for retirement, or accumulate money in any way. They overlook 1 Timothy 5:8 which tells us that a believer must provide for his family, or he is worse than an unbeliever. Furthermore, they are ignorant of Matthew 6:21 which states, where your treasure is, there your heart will also be.
Money is neutral; you need it only to buy things. Learn to use it wisely, because unconsciously, it can become your idol, you become its slave, and you descend into deep debt. Pay attention to the words of Matthew 6:21.
Money myth #2. money is manageable
Probably the most shocking myth about money is that it is manageable. All of us use “money management,” “managing money,” and similar terms. When we say them, we believe them.
Stop; think about this. How do you handle money? You want to buy a car, a house, clothes or pay university fees. Are these money management decisions? Not! They are lifestyle decisions that require money to execute.
When we develop the attitude that money is unmanageable, our behavior will change. Before you spend or commit to spending, consider needs and overall affordability, rather than short-term payment options. Don’t buy a house simply because the rent is less than the mortgage. Consider the full effects on family finances, lifestyle, offerings to the Lord, and the overall budget of home ownership compared to the full effect of renting.
When faced with a decision that involves money, understand that these are lifestyle choices that could affect your family for decades. Where you live, the vehicle you buy, the college your children attend, are all lifestyle choices. Before you commit to spending, reflect on these essential questions and discuss them with relevant family members:
- Do I need it: the car, the clothes, the camera?
- How will I pay it?
- Will the expense increase my debt and interest costs?
- How will this cost affect my family budget and my family’s lifestyle?
- Will it prevent family or family members from having planned or unplanned events such as family outings, dinner parties, camping trips, or other activities?
Money myth #3. We make rational decisions when we spend
If you need examples to illustrate this point, take a look at the buying patterns that led up to the Great Recession. The subprime mortgage fiasco is the poster child. People bought houses that they knew they could never afford to buy. People took vacations they knew they couldn’t afford. People spent what they didn’t have to buy what they didn’t need. However, ask ten people if the purchasing procedure they followed was rational and logical, and most will give you numerous reasons why they had to act as they did.
This irrationality has been with us for a long time. In the 1970s, people were buying pet rocks, invisible dogs, and other weird items.
Retailers know we spend irrationally, and we take advantage of this through smart advertising, packaging, and financing. Why else would a deeply indebted couple on a small fixed income take out a home equity loan to buy a big-screen TV? The publicity caught them; it was captivating. They succumbed!
When we realize and accept that we don’t make rational decisions before spending, with the other four items in this article, we’ll wear merchant-proof vests while surfing the Internet, walking through malls, and looking at merchant flyers.
Money myth #4. We save when we spend on a sale
In the last six months, how much did you spend on sales in order to “save”? If you spent $1,000 and the average sale price was 50%, did you save $1,000 (half of $2,000)? Where did you put those savings? You didn’t save anything; rather, he spent $1,000. You never save when you buy an item. The price you paid could have been 50% of the original list price, but you didn’t save. Still, even if you don’t save on a sale, you benefit from a sale when the NAPPY principle exists:
- You necessary the object.
- You could afford and you did not increase your debts to buy it.
- You planned to buy the item.
- You paid less than the planned price you set before you purchased the item.
- You, not the merchant, decided to buy the item; the merchant did not force him to buy it.
When the NAPPY principle and the fact that you manage your lifestyle become second nature, your level of spending will drop and you will end up buying what you decide you need or want. You will ignore the seductive advertising.
Money myth #5. A budget or spending plan is a limiting tool
A budget or spending plan is a liberating tool. It is not a panacea or a straitjacket, but rather an early indicator of likely outcomes based on realistic assumptions. These are goals, plans, estimates. After doing so, as you progress through the budget period, you need to check your actions against the budget and execute any necessary behavior changes. Budgeting, the act of preparing a budget, is part of a total plan-do-execute-review cycle that I call PAZ budget control:
- Plan for a certain period to make specific goals.
- Estimate and record the expenses necessary to achieve these goals.
- Act on the plan and record the results as you move towards your goals.
- Compare actual expenses with estimated expenses and progress toward achieving your goals.
- Execute the changes necessary to stay on track toward goals.
Do you want to be aware of your finances? Try to work with a PEACE budget control and spending plan. You will notice a big reduction in stress and a big decrease in family arguments about money.
Copyright (c) Michel A. Bell
