Your bankruptcy has just given you debt freedom, here are some tips to help you maintain that freedom for the rest of your life!
Set a monthly budget and stick to it – don’t spend more in a month than you earn
You’ve already had to prepare a budget during your bankruptcy – simply list all your regular monthly expenses and then limit discretionary spending on food and entertainment so that your total expenses are less than your take-home income.
Include some savings each month in your budget – try to build up a “safety net” for unexpected car or home repairs or medical bills.
Consider setting aside some money each month towards a yearly vacation – this will help you set a goal and give you motivation to save.
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty.” Proverbs 21:5.
“The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” Proverbs 21:20.
Only take out a loan for a house (or a car if absolutely necessary)
Try to buy a car with cash, but if you must get a loan, find a good used car that is at least 3-5 years old with a reputation for reliability and longevity.
When buying a house, make sure your total monthly payment on the home is less than 25% of your take-home pay – the lower the better!
“. . . the borrower is the slave of the lender.” Proverbs 22:7.
Make giving and generosity a part of your lifestyle
“And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:35.
“The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.” Proverbs 11:25.
Learn to be content with less
Many people end up in debt by spending more than they earn on non-essential, luxury items.
The more you save by spending less on yourself, the more generous you can be. Living to help others gives more joy than living to satisfy your own desires.
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.” 1 Tim. 6:6-9
Make the decision to commit your life to Jesus Christ. This makes you a child of God. As His child, you don’t have to worry about provision
Jesus says in Matthew 6:25-32: “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Visit https://debtfreedomga.com/total-freedom/ to learn how to make this critical life decision and begin walking it out.
We hope these tips will help you stay debt free for the rest of your life! If you’re currently struggling with debt and are looking for a bankruptcy attorney near Snellville, Loganville, or Monroe, Georgia, please don’t hesitate to give us a call!
