Christian Budgeting Basics: How To Create A Budget To Build Wealth God’s Way!
Last Updated on 12/31/2023 by Nicky
Christian Budgeting Basics: How To Create A Budget To Build Wealth God’s Way
If you are a godly woman who desires to get her finances in order but feels confused about Christian budgeting, this article is for you!
As Christians, we have a unique perspective regarding money and budgeting. We are called to be good stewards of God’s resources, and this stewardship extends to our finances. That means that when we budget, we should do so with an eye toward glorifying God and building His kingdom.
Reading through my Bible, I realized that God is not against us having money… and lots of it; what He doesn’t want is for money to own us and be the center of our desires.
So, are you ready to create a simple but effective budget that will help you take control of your finances and build wealth God’s way?
Let me show you how I help Christian women create a God-centered financial plan through budgeting.
– Materials to help you get started with journaling (free printables)
Budgeting can seem like an overwhelming and impossible task but trust me, it can get more manageable when you have the right tool to work with.
Here are some of the options I found helpful:
1. Using free printables
There are free printables available online that can help you get started with budgeting. These can be found by doing a quick search on Google or Pinterest.
But you don’t have to do all that as you can download a free mini budget binder by clicking here!
2. Using a budgeting app
If you prefer to use an app to track your finances, several budgeting apps are available, such as Mint and Every Dollar. Those don’t tend to work well for my needs but they may be perfect for you! I use Trello as a financial planner which you can sign up for here (don’t worry it’s free)
3. Using a spreadsheet
If you prefer using a spreadsheet to track your budget, templates are available online, such as Vertex42. You can also use a Microsoft Excel sheet or Google spreadsheet to achieve the same result.
4. Using pen and paper:
If you prefer the old-fashioned method of budgeting with pen and paper, that’s perfectly fine! You can find budget worksheets online or in many financial planning books.
5. talking to a financial planner:
If you want professional help with creating your budget, you can talk to a financial planner. This is majorly helpful if you have complex financial needs or working towards a specific financial goal, such as retirement.
Now that you know some of the different tools to create a budget, I’m ready to provide answers to the next question…
Why create a budget, though?
There are a few key reasons:
1. To get control of your finances – A budget is a tool that can help you take control of your money. It allows you to see where your money is going and make adjustments as needed.
2. To save money – A budget can help you save money by identifying areas where you can possibly cut back on spending.
3. To give more – When you have a budget, you can make intentional decisions about where your money goes. This includes giving to God and His work through your local church (Matthew 6:33) and other charitable organizations.
4. To plan for the future – A budget can help you plan for significant expenses down the road, such as a building project or a trip to an annual Christian convention.
5. To reduce stress – Money is a common source of stress in our lives. You can ease the stress of managing your finances by creating a budget. More so, you may want to channel some of that extra attention to nurturing your relationship with God.
6. To sleep better at night – If you are someone who worries about money, a budget can help you to rest easy, knowing that you have a plan for your finances.
Now that you’re aware of some of the reasons why you should create a budget as a Christian woman, let’s talk about how to actually do it!
– Basics Biblical Financial Principles You Should Know
Does the Bible say anything in particular about budgeting, or are we just making the term-Christian budgeting up? I thought about it, too, and here’s what I found out.
Luke 14:28-30 – “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower- Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?- For if you lay, the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.”
Here is one scripture that shows us God expects us to be accountable and to plan our finances thoughtfully. If you need to build a house or pay your yearly rent, your financial plan has to start when you make that decision; otherwise, it could be challenging to achieve your goal.
Another verse that comes to mind is Luke 16:10 “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.”
If you’ve read the account of Joseph in Genesis, I bet you can relate easily to this scripture. Joseph was faithful as an enslaved person in Potiphar’s house and eventually got promoted to become the Prime minister in Egypt.
How? God rewarded his faithfulness!
Christian budgeting is more than a cliche; it helps us become more diligent (Prov. 22:29) and faithful with the finances our Heavenly Father has entrusted to us… And then God can trust us with enormous opportunities and resources, knowing we wouldn’t be reckless and wasteful with the additions.
How faithful are you with the resources that have been committed to your trust?
As Christians, we recognize that all blessings come from God, through men (your job, business, friends, etc.) to us. Acknowledging God as our source means we have to be faithful stewards in return… and this is what budgeting helps you do.
– How To Create A Budget Easily & Simply
You’ve made it this far because you’re intentional about building wealth God’s way, and I indeed congratulate you. I’ve put together what I believe would be the easiest and most practical way to create a budget.
1. Start by gathering all of your financial documents in one place. This may include your pay stubs, bank statements, credit card statements, and other documents showing your income and expenses. You can also add income from your job, side hustles, tax refunds, etc.
2. Make a list of your regular monthly expenses. Here, you can add items such as your:
rent or mortgage payment
car payment
insurance premiums
student loan payments
groceries
Take note of what bills go out monthly, quarterly, and annually.
In this section, I always include my tithes and contributions (that I give to my church or other charitable causes) to connect my finances to my Source-God. I encourage you to do the same.
3. Savings. After calculating your expenses, you should determine how much you will have left over and where you will send that money. This is the money that you’ll set aside either daily, weekly or monthly for future goals, such as retirement, your first home, or an emergency fund.
Decide which of your accounts you’ll like to save it in and determine to follow through on your decision.
4. Create your budget. Once you have an understanding of your income and expenses, you can start to create your budget. Be sure to make an allowance for unexpected expenses.
5. Track your spending. This will give you a good idea of where your money is going and where you may be able to cut back on expenses.
6. Stick to your budget. The only way a budget will be effective is if you actually stick to it. This may require some changes, like eating out less or shopping less. But it’ll be worth it in the end.
Finally, remember to keep God at the center of your finances when creating a budget. Pray for guidance as you make decisions about your money, trust that God will provide for your needs, and multiply your financial means.
Start Building Wealth By Creating A Budget
There you have it! These are the basics of Christian budgeting. These tips can help you to a great start- create a budget, control your finances, save money, build wealth, and even give more.
So what are you waiting for? Get started today!
Download a free mini budget binder by clicking here!
