Love Your Life Not TheirsSample

Day 6
Habit 5: Save Like You Mean It

"Dishonest money dwindles away, but whoever gathers money little by little makes it grow." (Proverbs 13:11 NIV)

You never know when life is going to happen.

The washer may go out. The hot water heater might break. An unexpected trip to the hospital might be just around the corner. Life is full of fender benders and leaky pipes. And whether you're talking about a big problem or a little convenience, being caught by surprise is never any fun!

Of course, saving up for these emergencies won't prevent them from happening. But being prepared will give you options when they do interrupt your life.

I know... saving money is kind of like going to the dentist. It's something we all know we should be doing, but sometimes we fudge when it comes to actually doing it. We put it off until "next month," but when life heats up, next month never comes.

So, how do we make it work? Through discipline.

We have to save like we really mean it! We intentionally take money from each paycheck and put it away for the future. Whether it's to build an emergency fund—which should be an absolute must—or to make a major purchase—like a house, car, wedding or vacation—saving even a small amount gives you peace of mind when the time comes to dip into those savings.

The Bible says that whoever saves money, even a little at a time, makes it grow. It can be done, but it might mean saying no in the moment to let it grow for the future. And, like I said, it takes discipline.

Developing a habit of saving money doesn't just happen. In the beginning, the discipline of saving is more important than how much you save. You just need to start saving something! If you do, your future self will thank your current self for giving you a life you can love.