5 Weeks to Be a Better Housewife: Week 4 - Money

Raise your hand if there has been tension in your home due to money concerns in the past month.

*raises hand*

Money (and fights about money) is one of the leading causes of divorce in the United States.

We don't want divorce.  We want healthy marriages.  It's time to question our interaction with money as Christians.  Let's consider the Proverbs 31 woman:

Proverbs 31:

15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.  16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.  18 She sees that her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go out at night.  

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and provides the merchants with sashes. 

Who handles the money in your household?  Do you balance the checkbook or does your husband? Do you work together, do you divide up the tasks, or does one of you take charge?  Who brings home the bacon?

The division of labor in bill-paying and money-handling is a topic for another post in the future.  Today we will consider bringing in money and providing for the family.  I submit that the image of a homemaker we may still carry from black and white TV is a bit off from the Biblical image of a homemaker.

You can help the financial status of your home several ways:

• Save money through frugal shopping
• Save money through planning and preparing meals at home
• Save money by making your own cleansers and detergents
• Save money through careful planning and budgeting
• Save money through repairing items rather than replacing
• Save money through creative decorating
• Save money through self control
• Begin a small business from home
• Plant a garden

I've done the frugal shopping.  I am working on planning and budgeting although I have really slacked in this area these past couple years.  I am keeping my rear end OUT of stores for the most part to guard against the temptation of the deal.  I hope to do some container gardening this coming summer!

What are some ways you contribute to the financial status of your home?  Where do you need to grow?