| The best way to stop using credit cards is to change | | | | You will surely find some great bargains on furniture |
| your attitude. If you really believe that you need | | | | and many other items as well. Springtime is in the air |
| brand new cars, homes, clothes, furniture, etc, then | | | | and that means garage and yard sales. Be sure to |
| you probably won't make it very far without your | | | | check out your local paper to see where they are at |
| credit cards. But you can make it very well without | | | | in your area. And remember the early bird catches |
| indulging in credit when you change the way you | | | | the worm. |
| think you must live. | | | | Did you know that the collapse of the economy has |
| Twenty-five years ago I used to be embarrassed to | | | | not affected everyone? Only those people who have |
| be seen in a thrift shop. I said to my husband, "What | | | | sustained themselves through the use of credit have |
| if someone I know sees me in here?" And you know | | | | been affected. The collapse was inevitable. Just like |
| what he said to me. "If someone sees you that you | | | | an addiction to alcohol, some people are addicted to |
| know then they are in here too". I was stunned | | | | buying what they want with credit. It is very fearful |
| because I never thought about that way. Ever since | | | | times for many people right now, especially those |
| then I have never been embarrassed to shop in a | | | | who lost a home, job, career, credit, etc. Credit was |
| thrift store. | | | | a crutch for them - its how they sustained |
| I love to find bargains because I love shopping. Thrift | | | | themselves - its how many people have kept up with |
| store shopping can really make twenty bucks go a | | | | the Joneses attitude. |
| lot further. I never leave a thrift store without buying | | | | The good news is you can start all over anew. But |
| a name brand, almost new item of clothing. The | | | | first, always pay off any debts and loans you have, |
| Good Will thrift store sells clothing for one-dollar on | | | | if possible. The best way to start all over anew is to |
| Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. Call your local Good | | | | change your attitude about your needs and how you |
| Will and see if they do the same. No one should be | | | | will buy things to fulfill those needs. Do you need that |
| without clothes, no matter how the economy has | | | | brand new car or will a nice looking used car meet |
| affected them. | | | | your requirements instead? |
| Call or go visit your local farmers. I went down to my | | | | When we love money too much, especially money |
| local organic wheat farmer and bought a 50-pound | | | | we really don't have in the first place, it makes us |
| bag of organic wheat berries for $10 bucks. Wal-Mart | | | | greedy for more and more stuff. People's fear of |
| sells legumes in one pound bags for under a $1 that | | | | "not having" is what spurs on credit card purchases. |
| feeds my whole family, plus leftovers the next day! | | | | The fear of lack is simply the lack of the spiritual |
| Scan your weekly grocery ads and buy veggies and | | | | Christ in our lives. If I am not happy and content with |
| fruits that are on sale for that week. I could go on | | | | what I have, then I am obviously lacking something in |
| and on about how to spend less and eat healthier | | | | my spiritual being. God says over and over again that |
| and better. | | | | we have NOTHING to fear. If we have a growing |
| Start a vegetable garden. Most veggies like | | | | relationship with Christ, then we would not be in fear |
| tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce, and herbs can be | | | | of lack. |
| grown in pots and left on the porch to grow. Anyone | | | | We all just need to learn how to relax, smell the |
| can plant a small garden and have plenty of produce | | | | roses (literally), take a break from "buying with |
| to feed three or four people for the summer and fall | | | | credit" and learn to be more reliant on God, which is |
| season. | | | | self reliance through the knowledge that our Creator |
| Throw Away Your Credit Cards | | | | has given us. Where is our hope? Hope should be |
| Throw away your credit cards and stop buying stuff | | | | with God and all that He says He will bless us with. |
| you don't have the money for. If you don't have the | | | | Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose |
| money for a brand new television then simply don't | | | | confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by |
| buy it. Look in your classified ads and buy a used | | | | the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It |
| television for a fraction of the cost of a new one. | | | | does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are |
| Credit card purchases have become an addiction. | | | | always green. It has no worries in a year of drought |
| What do you think about this concept? Only using | | | | and never fails to bear fruit. (Jeremiah 17:7-8) |
| money that you have, does that sound like a good | | | | We should ask God to give us the blessings of |
| idea? | | | | wisdom, knowledge and love. And then we will be |
| Do you need some furniture? Check out Craigs List. | | | | living in a peaceful life with the Lord, Jesus Christ by |
| Scan your local classifieds for whatever you need. | | | | our side. |