Why you shouldn’t trash your budget when money gets tight

Dear Chuck,

I know all the steps to financial health. I’m just experiencing extreme frustration because of such slow progress. We were making headway until the price of gasoline jumped; now everything seems to be falling apart. I’m tempted to just trash the family budget completely and do the best I can month to month.

Trash the Budget

Dear Trash the Budget,

I hear your pain. Many others are experiencing your frustration and financial stress. I was recently reading an article about how we all tend to deal with stress differently, so I created a framework that may be helpful to you.

When facing a circumstance in our life that causes stress, we tend to deal with it in a variety of ways:

Stress out —This is when we succumb to fear, anxiety, or even depression, and we enter the doom loop. We tell ourselves that things are bad and will only get worse. We lose hope, become exhausted, and want to give up.

Drop out — This is an attempt to deny the problem by ignoring it. We avoid facing the problem in hopes it will go away.

Fake out — This is pretending all is well by masking the stress with other activities that soothe our nerves. This attempt leads to addictions and foolish wastes of time without addressing the real issue. Think: endless scrolling, mindless games, binge-watching movies, and addictions.

Cry out — This is when we recognize the problem is bigger than we can handle and invite God to help us. When we cast our cares upon the Lord, we acknowledge we are weak and need Him.

Let me offer a biblical approach to your stress: Face the battle, take action, and don’t give up.

Face the battle head-on

Every believer has the responsibility of wisely managing resources. That can be difficult in the midst of inflation, economic uncertainty, and business, family, or personal challenges. This responsibility can create serious stress, even despair, just as you are describing. We can learn to confront these financial challenges with confidence by declaring war and not giving up! It boils down to imagining yourself as a soldier on the battlefield so you can stand up under stress and discouragement, knowing that God will help you through it one day at a time.

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.  Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:10–13 ESV).  

Refuse to allow the enemy to accuse, shame, or remind you of failure. Satan will attack whether we are weak and vulnerable or proud and ungrateful. Just remember, the Victor is on your side, and you need to trust Him by walking in His ways.

Now take action

That budget is actually your friend. You simply need to make adjustments every day that keep you on track to live beneath your means.

“In all toil there is profit, but mere talk tends only to poverty” (Proverbs 14:23 ESV).

Imagine hiking a mountain. You follow a deeply wooded trail, winding your way back and forth over a path that seemingly leads to nowhere. The terrain becomes so treacherous that you have to pause to catch your breath before moving on. Determined to make it to the top, you trudge on; suddenly, there’s a clearing. You look behind you, able to see just how far you have come. Small steps can lead to breakthroughs, but we have to keep going.

Nothing of value comes easily. God wants you to depend on Him for strength and provision. It is humbling but precious to experience His amazing grace as we implement the principles He gave us for our good. It is only when we recognize our limits that we can begin to see His limitless power, might, majesty, faithfulness, and wisdom.

Delight in the simple knowledge that you are willing to climb your way out of this pit. I applaud your effort!

You admit that you know the steps, but let me remind you of the importance of the following:

• Set realistic goals based on your values.
• Create a flexible plan to get there.
• Act with intention — automating what you can.
• Seek encouragers and wise counsel.
• Renew your mind with the Word.
• Post progress where you see it daily.

Never give up

Focus on what you can control. Don’t expect perfection of yourself or others. Turn grumbling into praise by looking for God’s goodness and giving thanks in everything. You may encounter times when you don’t make progress. Rejoice that you are not going backward. 

Sacrifice and hard work are satisfying in the long run. They are good for us because they build character and produce hope. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 5:3–5, “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (ESV).

God will give you strength

Do not be afraid. Trust Him.

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10 ESV).

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint” (Isaiah 40:31 ESV).  

What is rewarded is repeated

Be faithful with little by prioritizing what is truly valuable. As you make progress, plan for small celebrations when you reach a new savings or giving goal. By taking small steps, you will create a new discipline that will pay long-term, even eternal, rewards.

Crown has many biblically based, practical, and empowering courses and studies that can help you find freedom with your finances. Learn how to be a faithful financial steward of the resources God provides.