Good in Every Situation
While running errands, this summer I ran across the most incredible yard sale that was loaded with multiple versions of antiques, kitchenware, furniture, collectables, linens, new clothes, old albums, CD, construction materials, and much more. There were so many items it seemed as if someone had emptied out the entire contents of their home on to the front yard. I mean, the sale encompassed at least 20 years of items, new unopened packages and old collectibles too. The lady, to protect her identity we will call her Sally, holding the sale was very friendly and knowledgeable. She and I began talking and laughing about where all of the merchandise came front when my eyes were drawn to a set of three short jackets. I said to Sally, “Where did you get those nice jackets from and why are you selling them so cheap?” She quickly responded that, before a recent layoff, she always brought three of the same item at each purchase. WOW, in my mind I thought, is she for real. How many duplicates, triplets or more does a person need? Then suddenly it became apparent, that this lady had a shopping addiction. It was obvious to me that she was clearly in denial about years of impulsive spending. Although, sadden and sympathetic about the loss of her job, I realized it took unemployment to draw attention to the shopping addiction. Now, the blessing for Sally is that she can maintain a decent lifestyle or even come out ahead using profits from the sale and by changing the way future purchases are made.
Unfortunately there are so many people all over the world that share this very similar illness. Trust me when I tell you, it is very evident by the sheer number of flea markets and rummage sales posted on Craigslist. In my neighborhood alone, there are homeowners living under the stress of financial foreclosure that began selling off the multiple versions of stuff that once filled their homes and garages to the very brim. I often wonder why people try to fill emotional and psychological voids by holding on to things that have no real value especially those items that have only been used once or twice in the last two years. When we discover that careless spending only makes matters worse and causes us to live in a state of unrest, we must do something about it. I believe if there is one good thing that has manifested from the global economic crisis, it is the attention drawn to way we handle our finances.
Just like Sally, you may be unemployed or may have a desire to gain a better handle on re-addressing your finances. Whatever the case, Write Press News recommends the Your Money Map book written by Howard Dayton to help you develop a comprehensive plan and detail solutions for creating a stable and healthy financial state. Debt problems that have cumulated over many years simply cannot be fixed in 30 days. Dayton recognizes that dealing with bad spending habits and mounds of debt requires an in depth thought out plan and outline of what works and what does not. This book, written from a Christian perspective (and given the jam some of us have gotten into it will take prayer to help get us out), is divided into sections covering why we even need a money map, what type of tools are required for the trip, and how to overcome the roadblocks at each destination on our journey. There are plenty of charts and graphs explaining the auto depreciation process, yearly investment growth and how the cycle of giving can increase our spiritual and physical bank accounts. If it is time to get serious about living within your means and the book Your Money Map will teach you how to take a balance approach to resolving your money problems.
