Spend or Save?

"The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless." Proverbs 14:15-16(ESV)

When it comes to personal finance, every waking hours of our lives we have to deal this simple question of whether to spend or save? You may or may not like it, but you are doing it while you are living and awake.

Unfortunately, the world around us dictates the urge to decide on spending rather than saving. Can we blame this on multimedia, the smart and genius of marketing and advertising, man's innate egocentric physical character that tends to lust for the latest gadgets, the latest fashion and style, or anything that can make us feel and look good?

All of the above is a resounding answer. Hence, it is an uphill battle for one to save.

The first two factors mentioned are given. We can do nothing about it. These are outside our control. However, the third factor, which is man's egocentric physical character is under our control.

Man is a composition of the physical body, soul and spirit. Simply put, you and I should deal both our physical and spiritual components.

The control that we can do on the third factor relies more heavily on our regard with both the physical and spiritual. Jesus' rebuttal to the devil that goes "man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes out from the mouth of God" when asked to turn the stone into bread at the time He is fasting simply dictates us that man should also feed his spiritual hunger and thirst by the Word of God.

Being prudent and wise, especially on the way we deal with our finances needs wisdom, which comes from God. To do this, we should take care of our spirituality by constantly communing with God through prayers and devotional reading of the Bible.

If the physical is controlling, reckless and careless decisions shall be made. A decision to just spend, spend, and spend while completely disregarding to save for the rainy day is the way of life.

As part of our reflection this lenten season, we may examine our financial health. Have we overspent and not saved? Have we accumulated so much debt instead of savings? Only you and your God know your standing.

Anyone who is financial in bondage, is not spiritually free.

Be wise. Save.

"Which One?"

"Eeny, meeny, miny, moe..." In our dialect (Cebuano, and I don't know with the rest of the Visayan) the version goes "butikaw, butikaw, ikaw..."

This rhymes are mostly uttered by kids when choosing who would be the "it" in the game they are playing. However, it has been observed that almost all adults may also be using this rhymes, especially at the cashier's counter. It has been observed that adults undergo a multiple choice question while at the cashier's counter.

The choices that adults have to pick are as follows: (a) pay in cash; (b) pay using debit card; or (c) pay using credit card.

If the choice is (a) or (b), in most likelihood that person can afford what he purchased. The payment mode is based on the available cash. In business terms, the person is liquid. While in layman's term the person has enough cash available.

If the choice is (c), there are two possible scenarios. The person is either a responsible credit card user, or a freak. Sadly, statistics show that majority of the credit card holders belong to the second one. That is the reason why credit card issuers are making good money for majority of the adults are freaks when it comes to usage of the credit cards.

And for the sake of discussion, after choosing (c) as their pick a further eeny, meeny, miny, moe occurs. The choices now are (a) visa, (b) mastercard, (c) diners club, (d) and many others. Statistics also reveals that in this modern day, people own at least two credit cards.

Every person who happens to read this write up must be familiar with the aforementioned story. It is now time for you to classify yourself as that of the first person picking (a) or (b), or the second one choosing (c) and further sings the eeny, meeny, miny, moe rhyme.

If you are that second person, be a responsible type. Do not be a freak.

Better yet, aim for that first person and be debt free. For it is said that "a borrower is a slave to the lender."

God bless!!!