By C.J. Lloyd August 9, 2024

In an ever-changing economy, there are factors over which we have no control. However, we do have control over most of our expenditures. One of the greatest lessons my father taught me was that it isn’t how much you make; it is what you do with it—or, in our case today, what you choose not to do. We can acknowledge that some expenses, such as car, medical, and home repairs, are only partially controllable. When controlling expenses, discipline is a significant factor in success, even if it is not always fun. “For the moment, all discipline seems not to be pleasant, but painful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterward it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:10 NASB20).

There are ways to reduce expenses without doing something drastic, such as downsizing homes or selling household goods to get by. These are not the only options. For example, how often does one eat out? While convenient, eating out is typically much more expensive than making meals at home. For example, a $30 meal out can quickly become more with gratuity. Another example that is used frequently is drinking coffee rather than making it at home or work. This could save an additional $100 per month if coffee is purchased every business day. These are simple, everyday changes that can make a significant difference.

Below are some additional examples:

Trash and Recycling: When is the last time you have shopped around the area for rubbish removal solutions? This does not mean you have to change companies, but if you can find a lower quote, you can leverage it to reduce your own expenses if your current provider matches or beats another company’s quote. Remember, they are already doing business in your area, so you do have control over this expense.

Subscriptions and Memberships: Regularly review your subscriptions to remove unneeded services, items, or duplicates.

Insurance: Consider using a broker and comparing quotes every couple of years. Brokers are paid based on commission so reaching out to new brokers can give you different insight.

Communication services: Negotiating with service providers, cutting certain cable services, or seeing if you are paying for more services than you need are other great ways to reduce monthly expenses.

Through additional research and negotiation, you can positively impact your budget without uprooting your life. This could provide additional resources to contribute to Kingdom missions or provide for others in your community. “In everything I showed you that by working hard in this way you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (Acts 20:35).