Cheap Ways To ...

I read a wonderful book yesterday about living beneath your means and the biblical reasons to do so. It’s called Living With Less: The Upside of Downsizing Your Life by Mark Tabb (Broadman & Holman).

In a chapter on contentment, he cites two very telling stats:

• On average, Americans spend $1.22 for every dollar they earn. (CNN)

• The average U.S. household with a mortgage, two college graduates who borrowed money for school, and more than one credit card, now owes about $112,000—a number that is expected to rise. (MSN Money)

Tabb analyzes these stats and sums up the book soon after. He says:

“You’ve already read about how you need to lean on God for your security rather than on your possessions. The last chapter told you to give stuff away, so that your possessions will stop possessing you. The final key to simplifying your financial life and keeping material goods from blocking a life that matters is just as simple: be content with what you have. Let God’s just enough be enough … Contentment means choosing to believe God when He says He knows what we need before we know it ourselves and accepting whatever He provides as good enough.” (p. 77)

It’s a challenging book that causes the reader to re-evaluate his priorities, definition of success and pursuit of happiness. I recommend it.