Thriftiness-and-Frugality--Being-Good-Stewards-of-God-s-Blessings.pptx

Thriftiness

1. Thriftiness and Frugality: Being Good Stewards of God's Blessings

2. Introduction: What is Stewardship? Stewardship: The responsible management of resources entrusted to our care In this context, we'll explore how to be good stewards of our finances Essential Question: How can we use our money wisely to honor God?

3. Understanding Thriftiness and Frugality Thriftiness: Using money and resources carefully and not wastefully Frugality: Being economical in spending and avoiding unnecessary purchases Both concepts help us manage our finances responsibly Essential Question: What does it mean to be thrifty and frugal in our daily lives?

4. God's Blessings and Our Responsibility Everything we have is a gift from God We are called to manage these gifts wisely This includes our money, time, and talents Being responsible with our finances is a way to show gratitude

5. The Importance of Saving Saving: Setting aside money for future use Benefits of saving: Prepares us for unexpected expenses Helps us achieve long-term goals Reduces financial stress Start small: Even saving a little bit regularly can make a big difference

6. Budgeting Basics A budget is a plan for how to spend and save money Steps to create a simple budget: List your income (allowance, gifts, etc.) List your expenses (things you need to buy) Subtract expenses from income Decide how much to save and how much to spend

7. Practical Tips for Saving Set a savings goal (e.g., $10 per month) Use a piggy bank or savings account Save a portion of any money you receive Look for ways to earn extra money (e.g., doing chores) Avoid impulse purchases

8. Smart Spending Habits Distinguish between needs and wants Compare prices before buying Look for sales and discounts Consider buying second-hand items Avoid peer pressure to spend unnecessarily

9. Using Resources Wisely Take care of your belongings to make them last longer Repurpose or upcycle items instead of buying new ones Share resources with family and friends when possible Borrow books from the library instead of buying them

10. Giving Back to the Community Being thrifty allows us to help others Ways to give back: Donate to charity Support local fundraisers Volunteer your time Share your skills to help others

11. Biblical Perspective on Money Management Proverbs 21:20: "The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down." Luke 16:11: "So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?" These verses remind us to be responsible with our resources

12. Setting Financial Goals Short-term goals (e.g., saving for a new book) Medium-term goals (e.g., saving for a school trip) Long-term goals (e.g., saving for college) Write down your goals and create a plan to achieve them

13. Overcoming Challenges Temptations to overspend Peer pressure to buy unnecessary things Unexpected expenses Strategies to overcome: Stay focused on your goals, seek advice from parents or trusted adults

14. Putting It All Together: A Stewardship Action Plan Create a simple budget Set a savings goal Find ways to reduce spending Look for opportunities to give back Regularly review and adjust your plan

15. Conclusion: Being a Responsible Steward Managing money wisely is an important life skill It allows us to be good stewards of God's blessings By saving and budgeting, we can help others and contribute to our community Essential Question: How can you start being a better steward of your resources today?