Francine L. Huff - The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women

2004 by Francine L. Huff

Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com

Spire edition published 2006

Previously published in 2004 under the title The 25-Day Financial Makeover

Ebook edition created 2012

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ISBN 978-1-4412-3330-1

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture is taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version . NIV . Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

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To Gregory

Contents

Introduction

G etting people to organize and clean up their finances can be like pulling teeth. It hurts! Often it becomes easier to avoid reining in out-of-control habits and behavior than to accept the call to responsible stewardship. At prayer time many folks earnestly ask God to show them the path away from their money woes and to bless them overwhelmingly and abundantly. But somewhere along the way they dont do their part toward achieving that goal. Im just gonna wait on Jesus for a big ol miracle, they tell family and friends, while waiting for him to do all the work.

As a young newspaper reporter right out of college, I learned to live frugally on my modest paycheck. I was able to cover rent, basic living expenses, student loan payments, and little more. My immature handling of a credit card during college resulted in me beginning my adult working life with a blot on my credit record. Because I couldnt get another card for several years, I only bought things when I had enough cash. You would think this set up a pattern for responsible money management that carried over as my income grew, right? Wrong!

After changing jobs a few years later and being blessed with a higher salary, I began to feast on the material possessions I felt I had been denied for several years, such as a new stereo and computer. While I genuinely needed some of the things I purchased, often I was shopping just to pass the time. Once the credit card offers began pouring into my mailbox, I wasted no time joining the ranks of Americas debt-plagued consumers.

Frustration over having little savings and the constant stress of keeping up with my credit card bills finally snapped me out of my buying binge. My prayers to get out of financial quicksand became more genuine and led to some critical self-assessment. When I read Proverbs 17:16Of what use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?a light bulb went on in my head. I had been acting like a fool, throwing away money on things I really didnt need and focusing too much on keeping up appearances. I was angry with myself and ashamed that Id abused the resources God had given me.

I was a young Christian who was just beginning to understand the concept of applying biblical principles to all areas of my life. Hungry to learn more, I searched for what God had to say on the subject of money and possessions, and I began to understand that my spending was linked only partly to a desire for material possessions.

Shopping gave me an outlet for the feelings of loneliness and isolation I felt because I was living far away from my family and most of my friends. It was easy to go to the mall, even if I didnt have a friend to shop with. And if I looked good in new clothes and had a fabulous hairdo, I thought, surely Id be able to get a date and would no longer have to be lonely. Addressing the feelings of loneliness helped bring healing to other areas of my life. I began to curb my out-of-control spending and deal with my time alone much better.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed (Luke 5:16). Even though the environment Jesus lived in was different from our modern world, it had its own distractions. He knew the benefits of having time alone, whether in the wilderness or in a boat. After those periods of solitude, he would emerge refreshed and ready to continue with his calling.

As my appreciation grew for my times of solitude and for the possibilities of what I could accomplish, I relied less on shopping trips and other activities that got me deeper in debt. Exercising, volunteering, and other free or low-cost activities filled up more of my time, and my home became a haven and retreat. But just as important, solid plans for managing money, paying off debt, and saving up for a home were formed, and I began studying personal finance books and magazines. Now I continue to remind myself that Im just the caretaker of what the Creator has allowed me to have.

Do you know what motivates your spending? Are you willing to admit that there are influences and patterns in your life that are keeping you in debt, living paycheck to paycheck, or unsure about how youre going to meet your familys basic needs? Are you interested in assessing the difference between wants and needs? Perhaps some of the poor financial habits learned from your own parents are keeping you in fear and bondage.

Just as the goal of a beauty makeover is to help you look, smell, and feel pretty, this 25-day makeover will help get rid of some of your financial junkand for a whole lot less than a visit to the salon. Many women spend lots of time and money in beauty salons and day spas. Being pampered can make even the most stressed-out woman feel like a princess for a day. But the rosy glow is usually long forgotten by the time the credit card bills for all those wonderful manicures, perms, and facials show up in the mailbox. If you havent done so before, you owe it to yourself to invest in a makeover that will not only make you feel good, but will teach you positive financial habits that will last a lifetime.

Women are increasingly flexing their financial muscle and becoming bigger players in the global economy, and almost half the U.S. workforce is female. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the median income of women working full time rose to $31,223 in 2004. As that groups spending power continues to increase, its no wonder that corporate America is looking to court these consumers. Mortgage lenders, auto companies, financial-planning professionals, and home improvement specialists are all trying to grab a piece of the pie by offering more products and services targeted specifically at women. But with the smorgasbord of opportunities and advice being presented, trying to discern the right financial path to follow can be confusing.

Many people look to those around them for cues on what to do with their money. But think about it: As much as you love and care about them, why would you take financial advice from your family and friends if they arent any better (and are possibly worse) at managing their own resources? Take the time to educate yourself and set up a financial management system that works for your household. Once you begin making changes, dont be surprised if the people in your life start coming to you for advice in this area. Being a good steward over your resources will begin to positively impact you as well as others in your sphere of influence. When that happens, dont hold it over their heads, but share it in humility.