That green paper sure does go fast!

Today I got my monthly letter from the bank, showing my deposits, deductions and balance.

To say the least, I was blown away at how much money I spent in the past month. I thought I was going to be sick!

Now, while I feel guilty, I do have some good excuses, including my passport, which was over $100, along with plane tickets for my mission trip which were over $300 as well. But still, there was definitely a good chunk 'o change that I could have saved if I had been wiser with my money. 

Consequently, I created a budget for myself with the help of a book my Dad bought me when I was younger. It had a basic plan for creating a budget as follows:

Tithing 10%

Spending 25%

Long Term Savings 10%
Short Term Savings 25%

Taxes 5%

Expenses 25%

I took taxes, expenses, along with both saving categories and combined them, considering I don't really worry too much about taxes, nor do I really have any "expenses" (yet). 

Hopefully this plan I've devised will be beneficial and allow me to spend less and save more!

Here's my challenge to you: Are you wise about your spending/saving habits? Are you frugal or do you blow your money 'like nobody's business'? I've heard before that you can tell a lot about a person simply by what they spend their money on. What does your spending habit/purchases show about you?

 

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:21

"The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty."

Proverbs 21:5