"One night a man had a dream. He dreamed he was walking along the
beach with the LORD. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life.
He noticed two sets of footprints in the sand. When the last scene
of his life flashed before him he noticed that many times there was
only one set of footprints. He also noticed that it was at the very
lowest times in his life. He questioned the LORD about it. "LORD,
you said that once I decided to follow you you'd walk with me all
the way. But I have noticed there is only one set of footprints. I
don't understand why when I needed you most you would leave me."
The LORD replied, "My precious child, I love you and would never
leave you. During your times of trial and suffering, when you see
only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you".
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FUNNY HAS HELL I'm a little teapot, short and stout Here is
my handle [one hand on hip], here is my spout [other arm out
straight] When I get all steamed up, hear me shout Just tip me over
and pour me out! [as song ends, lean over and tip arm out like a
spout] I'm a clever teapot, yes it's true Here's an example of what
I can do I can change my handle to my spout [switch arm positions
and repeat tipping motion] Just tip me over and pour me out
Going hand and hand with an effective household budget is saving
money on those things that you truly need. To start saving, take an
inventory of your needs to see where you can shave the dollars.
Begin with the biggest items first, where the most potential for
savings is, and move down the scale to the less expensive items. A
moderate savings on one of the big items (houses and cars) combined
with savings on the smaller items (food, clothes, etc.) can reap a
large reward in your total budget. The following are some thought
starters: General Tips Distinguish between Wants and Needs: You
will save a ton of money if you don't mistake wants for needs.
Needs are pretty simple to identify--those items that are necessary
to sustain: Shelter, food, clothing, transportation. Wants are
those things that enhance or possibly improve our family life. A
car is a need. Unless necessary for your business, a $40,000 Sport
Utility Vehicle is a want, even if a lot of people don't see it
that way. Have you ever heard (or said) "I absolutely need...?"
when the actual meaning was "I really want?" This is not to suggest
that you shouldn't be able to have the things you want--only that
to delude yourself into believing that a want is a need--and
busting your budget in the process--is a recipe for financial
disaster. Is less better? Perhaps it was due to the booming
economy, perhaps "keeping up with the Joneses", maybe its ego, but
for many of us, we often seem to insist on the biggest and the
best, no matter what the cost. When a $15,000 new car may be more
than acceptable, we stretch the seams of our budget to afford a
$25,000 vehicle. We buy $25 shirts with $35 designer labels
attached. We opt for the $100 dinner at the trendy restaurant when
a $20 meal would have been just as delicious. Think about where you
are spending the family money--and how--to see if there couldn't be
savings found with minor changes in habits. Try before you Buy:
This goes a long way in helping to avoid the silly purchases of
things you rarely or never use. Before you buy something,
especially items with big price tags, borrow one, rent one or try
one out before you plunk down the cash. If you are bored with it,
or determine that it truly is not something you need before you buy
it (and you will be on a certain percentage of items) you will
definitely be bored with it, or find it not that necessary, after!
Example: You feel that you absolutely must have a new Jet-Ski, at a
cost of $4500 (and that is before financing and taxes). You go to
the lake, rent one, and 45 minutes into a one hour rental you are
saying, "geez, this is a long hour." Saved: More than $4500
(perhaps a year of college fees for the kid!)
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