Ross Buttenshaw is the director of ‘Christians Against Poverty’ (CAP). Ross will contribute a weekly article helping us Excel in our finances. You can find out more about CAP by visiting www.capaust.org

Rediscover cash
Today I want to introduce you to an old friend of mine – Cash! In this modern age cash has become a second rate form of payment and is often usually only used for small purchases like buying the newspaper or getting some milk when you’ve run out. But I’m leading the charge in the “get back to cash” movement.

Now I know what you’re thinking – “He’s living in the 60’s!” – Well I love my internet banking, direct debits, periodical payments, eft-pos and all the rest but here is the truth. Banks make a lot of money out of you, their customer, not really knowing how much money you have in your account. Have you ever gone to the ATM and stuck your card in, just hoping there was enough, not really sure what was in your account, looking over your shoulder hoping no one would see you walk away without the cash – At CAP we call this the SAS raid on the cash machine.

When I teach people how to budget the number one key is to start using cash for all your weekly budget needs. Commonly that’s things like food, petrol, leisure, travel, maybe more depending on your needs. There’s many great things about using cash so I’ve listed a few:-

• Using cash gives value to your purchases. It hurts more when you hand over your hard earned cash and this makes you value it more.
• You know exactly how much you have to spend. It’s so much easier to make the cash in your pocket last the week.
• Take your cash out once a week and make it last – when it runs out it’s gone, and as long as you stay disciplined it’s easy

So the challenge today is to start using cash for all your weekly needs. Take it out once a week and make it last until the same time next week and if you simply do this then you cannot fail. Give it a go!

Ross Buttenshaw – National Director
Christians Against Poverty www.capaust.org

Ross Buttenshaw is the director of ‘Christians Against Poverty’ (CAP). Ross will contribute a weekly article helping us Excel in our finances. You can find out more about CAP by visiting www.capaust.org

Don’t buy stuff – Remember there is only two ways to make your budget balance – spend less or earn more. Well you may no like this post because the only way to spend less is to STOP buying stuff! That’s it Stop it! We fill our lives with so much junk. We are consumers who have become consumed and as a result we lose control of our spending patterns.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a day out shopping with the wife (actually that’s not true) but now is the time to plan ahead and decide how much you will allow yourself to spend – that’s called budgeting.

Here a great tip for you. If you get paid weekly, put aside something from each pay, into a separate account. Each time you go shopping just debit this account. ‘But I use my credit card’ I hear you say – Well that’s another post on advanced credit card usage but I’ll give you a sneak preview – it in involves scissors! You gasp in horror but you will return to hear the truth about credit cards.

Ross Buttenshaw – National Director
Christians Against Poverty www.capaust.org

Ross Buttenshaw is the director of ‘Christians Against Poverty’ (CAP). Ross will contribute some articles helping us Excel in our finances. You can find out more about CAP by visiting www.capaust.org

The B word – Its time to do what you’ve been putting off – that’s right, a budget! Most people don’t even put a budget together because the truth can be hard to handle, but if we want to excel in our personal finances it all starts with the truth and we all know what the truth does – it sets you free!

So you’re sitting at the computer, Excel Spreadsheet a click away, trying to make excuses about how good you are at managing your finances – but the truth is you have no idea how much money you spend each month! God’s called us to be good stewards and generous people but that’s hard when our finances are not in order.

So find a find a budget tool (they are all over the web) and give it a go.

If you don’t know where to start here are 3 easy steps:-

1) Work out all your income on a regular basis – record it in your budget tool.
2) Work out all your expenses on the same regular basis
3) If your expenses are more than your income you can only do 2 things SPEND LESS or EARN MORE

Sounds too simple but I’ve got more to come over the next few weeks which will really set your finances free!

Ross Buttenshaw – National Director
Christians Against Poverty

www.capaust.org