The pain of reducing a church’s budget may be accompanied by all the classic stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, and depression. This resource from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership helps you work through them. (Photo: Creative Commons)
‘Money saving’ ideas that actually cost you more
Inflation may be under control, but everybody is still looking to save some money. The intent there, but sometimes the ways we approach frugality backfire. Lifehacker.com reports. (Photo: Creative Commons)
Where do churches spend too much, AND too little!
Many churches have lopsided budgets — spending too much in some areas and not enough in others. How can your church achieve a better balance? From the Lewis Center for Church Leadership.
The Budgeting/ Happiness Connection
Budgeting may not only improve one’s financial condition but also one’s happiness. Good budgeting is also connected to smarter spending. Check out this article and see how you can adjust your spending habits to yield more satisfaction with life. (Photo: taxcredits.net, Creative Commons)
Try a Vision-Based Budget Retreat
How about planning and leading a “vision-based budgeting retreat” this year? Here are some thoughts from David Putman and Todd McMichen of Auxano, as well as a link to a more in-depth resource. (Photo: taxcredits.net, creative commons, http://taxcredits.net/)
Live Abundantly Within Your Means
Today, we’re bombarded with advertising designed to convince us that we need the latest, the fastest, the biggest, and the best. No wonder many of us live with too much debt. To maintain financial priorities and live within your means, you must reconcile your needs and your wants. From LifeWay. (Photo by Katerha, used by […]
Streamline your Life with Good Stewardship Habits
Good stewardship habits are good for both your life and your wallet, according to Consumer Psychologist Kit Yarrow, who includes sharing, gratitude, and contentment among her twelve tips to streamline one’s life and budget. Dr. Yarrow’s suggestions are particularly timely for this season of Advent when we are bombarded with messages to overspend and overbuy. (Photo: Rubbermaid Products, Creative Commons)
A Budget Your Family Can Live With
It’s important to plan for how you’ll allocate your financial resources for each month of the year. This process, commonly known as a budget or spending plan, won’t take long to develop but will pay great rewards throughout the year. This article, posted on LifeWay, can help you budget. (Photo by Chris Potter, used by […]
Create a Sound Congregational Budget
Creating a sound budget is the result of two ongoing disciplines: clear visioning, discernment and articulation of your congregation’s mission and ministry; and routine, year-round internal monitoring of financial results and regular reporting within the vestry and to your congregation on its financial status. This article, from the Episcopal Church Foundation, tells you how to […]
The ‘Regular Offering’ is Anything BUT Regular
Many churches calculate their needed monthly offering simply by dividing the yearly budget by 12, and yet everyone knows that the actual giving tends to differ by month and season. There are better ways to calculate what is an adequate gift for any given month, according the United Methodist Church.
