MONEY: Setting Personal Lifestyle Goals

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MONEY: Setting Personal Lifestyle Goals

By James Hughes

The first question any businessperson should ask about planning is not why plan but how to plan.Planning involves projecting months and even years into the future and setting some realistic goals.When the Bible says that we should not be anxious about tomorrow it does not mean that we should not plan for tomorrow, it only enjoins us not to be overly concerned about the future. The Bible encourages us to plan for the future; in describing preparation it says that: For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it.    Luke 14:28In Proverbs, The Bible cites ants as examples of hardworking fellows worthy of emulation. Ants don’t hoard; they gather food in the summer to tide them through winter.The bottom line on planning is that it is both biblical and necessary to be a good steward.However, when you plan, make big plans, give room to what God can do; don’t just rely on your mental calculations and projections. Not making plans at all is a sure way to failurePersonal GoalsBefore you can work toward effective business planning, you must first have some personal financial goals1.    SET UP AND MAINTAIN A PERSONAL BUDGETThe way people handle their personal finances is usually the way they will handle their company’s finances. When you maintain a personal budget, it gives you guideline and experience to help you plan your company budget.As a family man, you should be involved with the financials and budgeting for your family; it should not be a responsibility delegated to only your wife.If you are too busy to be bothered with things like family and domestic budgets, you would probably not be able to handle company budgets and financials which are on a bigger scale.2.    ESTABLISH SOME SHORT-RANGE AND LONG-RANGE PERSONAL GOALSEstablishing goals involves weighing values, setting objectives, and settling some lifestyle issues, such as how much financial success is enough. There are many resources at our disposal and we have been charged with the responsibility of managing them well; we would give account to the Creator someday. We should, therefore, be careful not to indulge ourselves or waste these resources. Indulgence can be defined as buying things that have little or no real utility to us. Value, and not price, is the key element for determining indulgence.Personal Goal 1: Freedom from DebtIt requires much discipline to be able to live within one’s income. The debtor is servant to the lender. As much as possible, stay out of debt; if you cannot afford something, maintain a modest lifestyle. Don’t live above your income.Personal Goal 2: ModestyLet modesty be your anchor point. People who live for things are materialistic. They can do anything for money and the things money can buy, never mind if it is questionable. You must check your motives for wealth acquisition, is it to show off the latest cars in town or to be a blessing to others?

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