There are four things which are little on the earth, but they are exceedingly wise: The ants are a people not strong, yet they lay up their food in the summer. –Proverbs 30:24-25
Go to the ant, you sluggard! Consider her ways and be wise, which, having no captain, Overseer or ruler, Provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest. –Proverbs 6:6-8
A few months back I took a mini-vacation with my sisters and daughter. One night we were talking from one topic to another last night when we lighted on the topic of how annoying ants can be. Like when you know you have cleaned the kitchen to the max yet ants appear (seemingly from nowhere). Or when they appear, it’s not one or two but they seem to call every ant they know to come with them. My daughter commented on how interesting it is see some many of them working together to carry one little crumb back to their home. I then remember the scripture in Proverbs and pointed out that there something to learn from them. They store in the summer (good times) and make sure they have enough for the winter (cold and hard times). Then the Holy Spirit nudged me that this was exactly what we were doing. We were not only having some special family time but we were shopping and storing up food to send home!
Then I thought to myself, shopping sprees don’t have to be stressful or lead to debt. There were benefits to this kind of shopping:
- It was purpose driven – to store up for the future
- It was cost effective – to save on items that were generally more expensive at home
- It had a relationship aspect – to spend time apart from shopping with family
- It required discipline – not to spend more than the budget allocated
- However, it was fun – especially when you enjoy the company of family or special friends
This storing up we were doing had its payoff in the future. We often took the two-fold approach of taking a vacation and stocking up for the future. During that time it can be exhausting making price comparisons, shopping and packing but at the end we know that we have set aside for the future.
You feel like to Proverbs 31 woman who looks to the future with confidence knowing that she has taken care of the needs of her household ahead of time. So shopping sprees don’t always have to end negatively, that is, with you being in debt and unsatisfied with your purchases. It can be done with wisdom.
What do you need to have these debt-free, stress-free shopping sprees that are a win-win situation always?
- Get physically and mentally ready to shop for long periods. If you’re like me and don’t like to shop a lot then you need to get yourself geared up for it.
- Plan ahead – write a list of what you need (and some of what you want). Ask God for wisdom in this process
- Estimate the cost as best you can – it is better to overestimate
- Save based on your estimate with some extra for other items you may buy that aren’t on your list
- Determine the best time of year or season to make the most of your buying power
- Have a shopping buddy and/or accountability partner that will keep you in check so you don’t overspend
- Try to buy the must-haves on your list first before buying any “I-wants”
- Access your purchases and if you realized you don’t need a particular item or it cost more that it does elsewhere; return it. If you can’t return an item consider gifting it to someone else who needs it and would appreciate it or sell it.
- Don’t shop for yourself only – consider others who are in need
- Certainly, give thanks to God for His provision and His wisdom to know how to shop wisely
During the holiday season, we tend to do a lot of shopping but the key in not in getting it all but in being a judicious shopper. It’s important to plan your gift purchases, don’t just wander into the stores hoping to find something that will work. Make a list, assign a specific dollar amount and stick to it. When you have reached your dollar limit, stop buying. Stick to cash only or debit cards and avoid using your credit cards.
Have a stress-free, debt-free Christmas season. Remember, Jesus is the best gift of all.