Hot Date!

Had a hot date night with Sonya last night. We did some shopping and a few errands. Then we went to Panera Bread for hot tea and dessert. We slid into the same side of the booth, looked into each others eyes, popped open the laptop, and reviewed our finances for 2007. Where did we spend our money? How much do we have? What do we owe on the house? What's our retirement account look like? All those romantic things. Then we looked ahead to 2008. What are our goals? What does 5 years from now look like? What about college for the kids?

Then a big ugly word slipped out... BUDGET. We need to get a budget set up for 2008. Or a term I like better...Spending Plan. Too often we view a budget as a whip that tells us what we can't do. I like to see it from the other side. A spending plan is what helps us do what we want to do, what's important to us. We love missions and want to give a lot to missions. We better plan for that before I spend it in the drive-thru. It's easier to make small sacrifices if I have a goal or purpose. Even your kids will get it. They think we can spend as much as we want, but tell them your goals and why you spend or don't spend and now they can catch the vision too. We're going to the Dells in February with some old high school friends of mine and their families. We may skip eating out or some other things to make that trip happen, but the kids don't complain if they know there's a good reason to sacrifice. We didn't use much of a spending plan in 2007 (although we're both pretty conservative) but it still showed at year's end. Dave Ramsey likes to say that a budget is you telling your money where to go rather than wondering where it went.

If you're looking for a way to spark your marriage, may I suggest Panera Bread and your checkbook? It's NOT the money! It's your dreams, your goals, your values, your unity. The number one cause of fights in marriages relates to money. Take a few minutes early in 2008 and share your hopes, dreams, and goals. Then make a plan to see it happen. Now that's romance!

Be Refreshed!

Proverb of the Day: Proverb 4:26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

Scripture of the Day: (Keep this in mind when preparing your plans for the future) James 4:13-15 13 Now listen, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money." 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that."

Quote of the Day: Some couples go over their budgets very carefully every month; others just go ever them. Sally Poplin