How to Tithe on a Budget

Have you ever wanted to tithe to your church or to a charity but felt you couldn't work it into your budget? Most budgets you find online don't account for that small 10% some of us want to give away to help others. If you follow these easy steps, you'll be amazed at how little it will affect your lifestyle, and how great it will make you feel.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Calculator
• Bills
• Checkbook
• Bank statements from last 3 months

1. Add up how much you make every month. Take 10% from that total. You need to budget your finances as if that 10% never existed. The whole point of this budget is to learn to live on 90% of your salary.
2. Subtract all your bills of which you pay a set amount every month. Include rent or mortgage, car payments, utilities, credit card bills and so on. Write down how much you have remaining for the month.
3. Average what you spend every week on groceries, gas, entertainment, and miscellaneous items. These are figures you can juggle a little bit, and may also fluctuate every week or month. For example, you may spend more on groceries around the holidays. Try to allow yourself a set amount each week and don't go over that amount.
4. Cut any unnecessary expenses if you have little or no money left once you are finished subtracting all your outgoing expenses. If you still have money left over, great! If not, you need to take a serious look at your spending habits. What can you live without? For example, do you really need all those cable channels? Do you need that high-priced cell phone plan? Is a home phone necessary if you find yourself always using your cell phone? Once you really focus on what you spend, you will be amazed at how much money you may throw away every month without realizing it.
5. Feel good about yourself. Not only are you giving back to the One who blessed you in the first place, you should feel a sense of contentment knowing a little of your money is going a long way towards helping others.

Tips & Warnings

• Set aside that 10 percent right after you are paid. Write the check to your church or charity before you pay your bills.
• Claim your tithe as a tax incentive at the end of the year. Your church or charity should send you a letter at the beginning of the following year if you paid by check. Keep copies of all your records just in case.