You don’t have to spend more time or money to get more out of life. The good life is about the state of your soul, not the status of your calendar or bank account. The best things in life truly are free, and spending less money on material possessions can improve your life in priceless ways. Pursuing the most important activities doesn’t have to overload your schedule, and you can enjoy them without stress. Here are some ways you can live well and spend less.
Define the good life correctly.
American culture may tell you that the good life is about material possessions, but God says it’s about who you are. If you’re consumed by a desire for something more like status or wealth, you won’t be able to enjoy the peace that’s part of the perfect life. Instead of valuing your life by what you have, define it by who you are. Ask God to switch your desires so you’ll want what God wants for you, a life rich in creativity, faith, and relationships, more than anything the world offers you.
Choose happiness.
No matter what circumstances you face, you can decide to be happy. Avoid the cultural messages you meet that say you don’t have what you need to be fulfilled, and pray for the wisdom to identify what matters most in life. After that, base your priorities on those values. Don’t compare your life to others, and resist whatever drives unhappy feelings, like staying away from the mall and unsubscribing from catalogs. Thank God for His blessings, and you’ll notice them more, allowing contentment to grow in your life.
Find a sweet spot.
Your sweet spot is the place where your abilities and passion overlap. Think about what you’re best at doing and what you love to do most of all. Once you’ve found those, ask God to lead you to particular opportunities to serve others from that sweet spot. Make the most of your current position and allow yourself to learn, grow, and develop toward your maximum potential. You’ll make mistakes, but try not to dwell on them but choose to learn from them. Remember that everything is possible through Jesus Christ, who strengthens us. Rely on Him to uplift you every day.
Write down your aspirations.
Writing down specific goals that will help you complete God’s purposes for your life makes those goals more real, making it more likely that you’ll accomplish them. Clearly state your objectives, write down specific dates to achieve your goals, and break down significant goals into minor ones. You could also measure and monitor your progress or find an accountability group or partner. As you reach your goals, celebrate your success.
Manage your time.
Everyone gets the same 24 hours a day to use, so start your days by giving time to God and asking Him to show you what matters. Then focus your time on what’s important to you so you’re not consumed with what seems essential but is distracting. Avoid time-wasting activities and develop habits to help you get through your daily routines as effectively as possible.
Decrease your possessions to increase your joy.
Removing clutter from your home will decrease your family’s stress level, helping them experience more joy in their lives. Look through every area of your house to assess the stuff there. As you go through things, ask yourself if you currently play with them, wear them, or use them. If it’s clothes, ask yourself whether it fits or when you last wore it. You could also ask yourself if these items enrich your life or if it has sentimental value. Get these items out of your home as soon as you know they must go. Then, put them in your car and sell or donate them immediately. Moving forward, avoid buying new things unless you need them.
Recognize that you need to spend less money than you realize.
Pray for the necessary self-control to avoid overspending and avoid impulse buying. Do your best to honor God by wisely using the money He entrusted you with.
Live within your means.
Saving is ultimately a state of mind, so ask God to give you happiness and peace with what you have and remove the desire to go after more. Develop and stick to a realistic budget. Save money on essential expenses like utility bills however you can. If you can, save three to six months’ worth of income for an emergency fund while also saving for retirement and college if you have children.
Reduce your grocery bill.
You can save money on groceries by shopping sales when they happen at your local grocery stores. You could also keep track of the best prices for things you usually buy and stockpile them when they go on sale. Since meat is expensive, buy less and purchase frozen or in-season produce. If you like, use coupons but only during sales for things you’d buy anyway.
Clean and organize your home to create a happy environment for your family.
You can enjoy your home and be most productive when it’s clutter-free and clean. So create a regular house cleaning system for each area of your home where each family member does their part to work together.
Go after the best thing in life.
Create joy for free by incorporating hospitality, friendship and creativity into your relationships with your friends and family instead of trying to buy happiness.
Share your blessings with others.
The more you move toward generous giving and away from selfish greed, the more fulfilled you’ll feel because God’s love will work through your life. Find areas of your life where you could be more generous with your money, talents, and time. Ask God to help you grow more abundant in those areas by giving to others in particular ways.
We all want to live happy lives, but taking care of daily planning and responsibilities for the future is also essential. There are ways to save money for the future and spend less without sacrificing happiness. God wants you to live a happy life, so lean into Him and let Him show you how to live well while spending less.
