Decision Making The Lord's Way ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take four to six minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on May 2009 BYU - Hawaii Devotional and it is called; "Decision Making The Lord's Way" by Steven C. Wheelwright. He was the president of BYU Hawaii at the time, this post is part one and I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the devotional. I hope you will learn something new while you are reading throughout this post. 

"Following the Lord's process of decision making results in consistently and powerfully righteous decisions. And that pattern of
righteous decision making in turn develops our character." 

President Wheelwright mentioned the following; "... Elder Robert D. Hales said, “Our use of agency determines who we are and what we will be.” While agency is a powerful, eternal principle, our approach to decision making can be considered its mortal embodiment. Agency, the ability to make our own decisions, is a great blessing bestowed by a loving Heavenly Father on all His sons and daughters. In 2 Nephi we read: "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." Choice is inevitably accompanied by opposing forces. Opposition is, in fact, the very essence of choice. Today I’d like to focus my remarks on ... processes of righteous decision making.

“The Valley of Decision”

... Most of you have already made the wise decision to further your education, but you may now be choosing what to study, what classes to take, and what career path to pursue. You may have had your roommates assigned to you, but you have the choice of whom to spend time with and how to spend your time. Hopefully you young men are considering serving a mission, or, if you have already served, you are choosing to maintain the righteous habits you acquired on your mission.

And I suspect more than a few of you are deciding whom to date and even whom to marry and when. The list of decisions you each face goes on and on. ... If you learn to make decisions according to the Lord’s process, you will form one of the habits most critical to both your earthly and your eternal success.

The Process of Making Decisions

... When we are presented with a choice, our perspective and our attitude combine to largely determine the course of action we will pursue - or, in other words, the decision we will make. ... making decisions the Lord’s way versus making decisions the world’s way. We’ll begin with a closer examination of the world’s way. Let’s use the example of choosing a career path as our choice or decision to be made and assume two possible outcomes, option A and option B. The world’s perspective on such a significant decision would certainly consider... potential for prestige and power, and ease of acquisition. And a worldly attitude might include such things as self-centeredness, a sense of entitlement, and even political correctness as major factors in choosing between options A or B.

Working together, the influences of perspective and attitude will largely determine the decision we make or, in this example, which career path we choose. The result of following the world’s process of decision making in selecting a career would greatly favor certain professions over others. In contrast, let’s now take a closer look at making decisions the Lord’s way. We’ll begin with the same choice of which career path to follow, but, since we know that all things are spiritual to the Lord, we’ll consider a spiritual perspective and a spiritual attitude in this process.

A spiritual perspective would, first and foremost, consider eternity, ... and it would allow for a quality journey. ... For example, opportunities to provide service to others, to strengthen one’s family, and to spend meaningful time in Church callings would all be considered in the Lord’s process. When a spiritual perspective and a spiritual attitude are factored into a major decision, such as the choice of a career, the resulting action might well be quite different than that resulting from following a worldly decision-making process.

Now, let’s superimpose one of my favorite scriptures over this decision-making process. Proverbs 3:5–6 reads: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Using this scripture, we can subtitle the world’s approach to decision making “leaning to thine own understanding.”

Our own understanding is imperfect. We cannot see the future, nor can we see our ultimate potential, but when we follow the world’s process, we rely on that understanding anyway. Similarly, using this scripture, we can subtitle the Lord’s approach to decision making “trusting in the Lord.” The Lord does see the future, and only He knows our divine potential - thus this approach requires trusting the Lord. 

C. S. Lewis described this great truth when he likened our lives to a house undergoing renovations: At first, perhaps, you can understand what [God] is doing. ... Therein lies the key reason we need to make decisions by following the Lord’s process: He is building a palace far beyond our wildest plans. ... Left to our own understanding, we are unintentionally false and unsteady. But through trusting in the Lord with humility, gratitude, and faith, we are blessed and we prosper. If we trust in the Lord and acknowledge Him, not only will He “direct [our] paths,” but He will also ensure that “then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble,” and that “her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”

Stay Tuned until next time.

Meeting Life's Challenges

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a October 1993 General Conference talk, and it is called "Meeting Life's Challenges" by Thomas S. Monson. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk, and I hope you
will be able to learn something new while you are reading this post.

Brother Monson mentioned the following; 

"... Illness is not the only culprit that intrudes and alters our lives. In our hectic and fast-moving world, accidents can in an instant inflict pain, destroy happiness, and curtail our future. ... At times illness and accident take the lives of those whom they strike. Place and station, age and whereabouts make no difference. Death comes to the aged as they walk on faltering feet. Its summons is heard by those who have scarcely reached midway in life’s journey, and often it hushes the laughter of little children.

Throughout the world there is enacted daily the sorrowful scene of loved ones mourning as they bid farewell to a son, a daughter, a brother, a sister, a mother, a father, or a cherished friend. ... the Prophet Joseph Smith bore eloquent testimony of the Son of God, for he saw Him and heard the Father introduced him: “This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!” As we ponder the events that can befall all of us - even sickness, accident, death, and a host of lesser challenges, we can say, with Job of old, “Man is born unto trouble.”

Needless to add, that reference to man in the King James Version of the book of Job encompasses women as well. It may be safely assumed that no person has ever lived entirely free of suffering and tribulation. Nor has there ever been a period in human history that did not have its full share of turmoil, ruin, and misery. When the pathway of life takes a cruel turn, there is the temptation to think or speak the phrase, “Why me?” Self-incrimination is a common practice, even when we may have had no control over our difficulty.

Socrates is quoted as saying: “If we were all to bring our misfortunes into a common store, so that each person should receive an equal share in the distribution, the majority would be glad to take up their own and depart.” However, at times there appears to be no light at the tunnel’s end - no dawn to break the night’s darkness.

"Our most significant opportunities will be found in times greatest
challenge." - Thomas S. Monson

We feel surrounded by the pain of broken hearts, the disappointment of shattered dreams, and the despair of vanished hopes.

... We are inclined to view our own personal misfortunes through the distorted prism of pessimism. We feel abandoned, heartbroken, alone. 

... Whenever we are inclined to feel burdened down with the blows of life’s fight, let us remember that others have passed the same way, have endured, and then have overcome. ... Turning to our own time, let me share with you an example of faith, of courage, of compassion, of victory. 

It illustrates how it is possible to meet life’s challenges - head on. It exemplifies the ability to suffer physical impairment, endure pain and suffering, and yet never complain. ... There is one life that sustains those who are troubled or beset with sorrow and grief - even the Lord Jesus Christ. ... “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

“Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” Yes, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is our Exemplar and our strength. He is the light that shineth in darkness.

He is the Good Shepherd. Though engaged in His majestic ministry, He embraced the opportunity to lift burdens, provide hope, mend bodies, and restore life. ... What power, what tenderness, what compassion did our Master thus demonstrate! We, too, can bless if we will but follow His noble example. Opportunities are everywhere. Needed are eyes to see the pitiable plight and ears to hear the silent pleadings of a broken heart. Yes, and a soul filled with compassion, that we might communicate not only eye to eye or voice to ear but, in the majestic style of the Savior, even heart to heart.

His words become our guide: “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” He lives. He will sustain each of us. May we keep His commandments. May we ever follow Him
and merit His companionship, that we may successfully meet and overcome life’s challenges ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link below.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1993/10/meeting-lifes-challenges

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Greatest Challenge in the World - Good Parenting ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on October 1990 General Conference talk, and it is called "The Greatest Challenge in the World - Good Parenting" by James E. Faust. This post is part two, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you would be able to learn something new as you read throughout this post.

Brother Faust mentioned the following; "Among the other values children should be taught are respect for others, beginning with the child’s own parents and family; respect for the symbols of faith and patriotic beliefs of others; respect for law and order; respect for the property of others; respect for authority. ... One of the most difficult parental challenges is to appropriately discipline children.

... Every child is different and unique. What works with one may not work with another. ... Direction and discipline are, however, certainly an indispensable part of child rearing. If parents do not discipline their children, then the public will discipline them in a way the parents do not like. ... A principal purpose for discipline is to teach obedience.

President David O. McKay stated, 

“Parents who fail to teach obedience to their children, if [their] homes do not develop obedience society will demand it and get it. It is therefore better for the home, with its kindliness, sympathy and understanding to train the child in obedience rather than callously to leave him to the brutal and unsympathetic discipline that society will impose if the home has not already fulfilled its obligation.” (The Responsibility of Parents to Their Children)

An essential part of teaching children to be disciplined and responsible is to have them learn to work. ... Again, the best teachers of the principle of work are the parents themselves. ... Children need to learn responsibility and independence. Are the parents personally taking the time to show and demonstrate and explain so that children can, as Lehi taught, “act for themselves and not … be acted upon”? (2 Nephi 2:26.)

"I trust that there is a purpose behind my
challenges."

... Children are also beneficiaries of moral agency by which we are all afforded the opportunity to progress, grow, and develop. That agency also permits children to pursue the alternate choice of selfishness, wastefulness, self-indulgence, and self-destruction. Children often express this agency when very young. Let parents who have been conscientious, loving, and concerned and who have lived the principles of righteousness as best they could be comforted in knowing that they are good parents despite the actions of some of their children. 

The children themselves have a responsibility to listen, obey, and, having been taught, to learn. Parents cannot always answer for all their children’s misconduct because they cannot ensure the children’s good behavior. ... In a sense, some children in those circumstances hold their parents hostage by withholding their support of parental rules unless the parents acquiesce to the children’s demands. Elder Neal A. Maxwell has said, “Those who do too much for their children will soon find they can do nothing with their children. So many children have been so much done for they are almost done in.” (Ensign, May 1975)

It seems to be human nature that we do not fully appreciate material things we have not ourselves earned. ... what should parents teach? The scriptures tell us that parents are to teach their children “faith in Christ the Son of the living God, and of baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost,” and “the doctrine of repentance.” (D&C 68:25.) These truths must be taught in the home. They cannot be taught in the public schools, nor will they be fostered by the government or by society. Of course, Church programs can help, but the most effective teaching takes place in the home. 

Parental teaching moments need not be big or dramatic or powerful. ... The little things are the big things sewn into the family tapestry by a thousand threads of love, faith, discipline, sacrifice, patience, and work. There are some great spiritual promises which may help faithful parents in this church. Children of eternal sealings may have visited upon them the divine promises made to their valiant forebears who nobly kept their covenants.

Covenants remembered by parents will be remembered by God. The children may thus become the beneficiaries and inheritors of these great covenants and promises. This is because they are the children of the covenant. (See Orson F. Whitney, in Conference Report, Apr. 1929.) God bless the struggling, sacrificing, honorable parents of this world. May He especially honor the covenants kept by faithful parents among our people and watch over these children of the covenant. ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk either now or in your own time, here is the link.
www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1990/10/the-greatest-challenge-in-the-world-good-parenting

Stay Tuned until next time.

The Greatest Challenge in the World - Good Parenting ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

Feel free to ask yourself, and answer the following simple questions either now or in your own time. What would be the greatest challenge in the world? Have you ever thought about good parenting is the greatest challenge in the world? 

This post focuses on October 1990 General Conference talk, and it is called "The Greatest Challenge in the World - Good Parenting" by James E. Faust. This post is part one, I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you would be able to learn something new as you read throughout this post.

Brother Faust mentioned the following; 

"..., I ask for your faith and prayers this afternoon as I feel moved upon to discuss a subject which I have chosen to call the greatest challenge in the world. It has to do with the privilege and responsibility of being good parents. ... Even so, the most conscientious parents feel that they may have made some mistakes. ... The Lord has directed, “Bring up your children in light and truth.” (Doctrine and Covenants 93:40.) ... Being a father or a mother is not only a great challenge, it is a divine calling. It is an effort requiring consecration. 

... While few human challenges are greater than that of being good parents, few opportunities offer greater potential for joy. Surely no more important work is to be done in this world than preparing our children to be God-fearing, happy, honorable, and productive. Parents will find no more fulfilling happiness than to have their children honor them and their teachings. It is the glory of parenthood.

... In my opinion, the teaching, rearing, and training of children requires more intelligence, intuitive understanding, humility, strength, wisdom, spirituality, perseverance, and hard work than any other challenge we might have in life. ... To have successful homes, values must be taught, and there must be rules, there must be standards, and there must be absolutes. Many societies give parents very little support in teaching and honoring moral values. 

... As societies as a whole have decayed and lost their moral identity and so many homes are broken, the best hope is to turn greater attention and effort to the teaching of the next generation - our children. In order to do this, we must first reinforce the primary teachers of children. ... Somehow, some way, we must try harder to make our homes stronger ... Harmony, happiness, peace, and love in the home can help give children the required inner strength to cope with life’s challenges. 

"When life gets harder, challenge yourself to be stronger."

Barbara Bush, wife of President George Bush, a few months ago said to the graduates of Wellesley College: “But whatever the era, whatever the times, one thing will never change: Fathers and mothers, if you have children, they must come first. 

You must read to your children and you must hug your children and you must love your children. Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House but on what happens inside your house.” (Washington Post, 2 June 1990)

To be a good father and mother requires that the parents defer many of their own needs and desires in favor of the needs of their children. As a consequence of this sacrifice, conscientious parents develop a nobility of character and learn to put into practice the selfless truths taught by the Savior Himself.

I have the greatest respect for single parents who struggle and sacrifice, trying against almost superhuman odds to hold the family together. They should be honored and helped in their heroic efforts. But any mother’s or father’s task is much easier where there are two functioning parents in the home. Children often challenge and tax the strength and wisdom of both parents.

... I wonder if having casual and infrequent family home evening will be enough in the future to fortify our children with sufficient moral strength. In the future, infrequent family scripture study may be inadequate to arm our children with the virtue necessary to withstand the moral decay of the environment in which they will live. Where in the world will the children learn chastity, integrity, honesty, and basic human decency if not at home? These values will, of course, be reinforced at church, but parental teaching is more constant.

When parents try to teach their children to avoid danger, it is no answer for parents to say to their children, “We are experienced and wise in the ways of the world, and we can get closer to the edge of the cliff than you.” ... If children are expected to be honest, parents must be honest. If children are expected to be virtuous, parents must be virtuous. If you expect your children to be honorable, you must be honorable."

If you have read this far, quick question to ask and answer the following; would you believe this post marks 150th blog post?

Stay Tuned until next time.

Overcoming Challenges Along Life's Way ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a October 1987 General Conference talk, and it is called "Overcoming Challenges along Life’s Way" by Joy F. Evans. This post is part two. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you would learn something new as you read this post.

Sister Evans continues and she mentions, "There are lesbian women, as well as homosexual men, in the Church. ... these people must likewise keep the commandments. Marriage and intimate relationships are to be reserved for husbands and wives, and ...

Sometimes we hear of Church members who outwardly do all the things that would indicate full Church involvement, yet who neglect their children or abuse them physically, emotionally, or sexually, who are untrue to their covenants and marriage vows, or who are dishonest in other ways. If such a person is listening, could we plead with you this night to repent, to seek help and forgiveness.

Mormon wrote of other people in another time and place who also were in such a state of wickedness. He said, as it might be said today, “Now they did not sin ignorantly, for they knew the will of God concerning them” (3 Nephi. 6:18). ... “Tell the sisters that it is all worth it. Tell them how beautiful and joyful life can be when you keep the commandments.”

"We don't grow when things are easy. We grow
when we face challenges." 

Perhaps this lesson is twofold: If you are not personally living a pure, righteous life, if you have somehow slipped away, repent and come back. Love and hope are real! If you know someone, or the loved one of someone, who has been excommunicated or disfellowshipped, try to understand the anguish. 

Sometimes what is said or done is less important than that someone cares enough to say or do anything at all.  ... It is indeed hard for them to feel that “all is well”; but even here, there is hope. 

Seeking help early is the best chance for recovery. Pretending there is no problem, covering up for the behavior, or shielding the person from the consequences of that behavior will never solve the problem. .. 

Above all, acknowledge your dependence on the Lord. Let him help and heal you. ... All can be well again. 

                                                                                                    There may be times when we do not understand the “why” of the challenges we face, when whatever is happening doesn’t seem fair or the people about us seem to be indifferent to our suffering. ... So it is with most of our personal suffering. The world goes on about us as if nothing out of the ordinary were happening. 

... One of our daughters and her family recently suffered a tragedy. Their house burned down, leaving little in the place of all their worldly possessions. The blessing was that even though five of their six children were at home, their two teenage sons remembered the training they had been given, picked up the little ones, and ran from the house. All were safe. And they felt great comfort from their ward and neighborhood, who rallied around with food, clothing, and offers of help. Such a blessing it is to belong to “the household of God” (Eph. 2:19). 

... For this family, as for others who experience trials and grief, love and help were extended, along with priesthood blessings and the assurance from the Father of us all that “blessed are they who are faithful and endure, whether in life or in death, for they shall inherit eternal life” (D&C 50:5). They have the same promise given to Joseph that “thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a … moment” (D&C 121:7). May we never be indifferent, sisters, to the suffering of others. May we be sensitive to those about us who are hurting for whatever reason. ..."

If you would like to read this whole talk either now or in your own time, here's the link below.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1987/10/overcoming-challenges-along-lifes-way

Stay Tuned until next time.

Overcoming Challenges Along Life's Way ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

Have you ever felt satisfied after overcoming the past challenges in life? 

This post focuses on a October 1987 General Conference talk, and it is called "Overcoming Challenges along Life’s Way" by Joy F. Evans. This post is part one. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you would learn something new as you read this post. 

Sister Evans mentioned the following; "Do you ever wonder, as I do, what gave the pioneer women the courage to sing, “All is well!” in the face of their many challenges? Do you wonder how, as we face today’s problems and concerns, we can continue to sing, “All is well”?

We need our personal answers to these questions as we, the sisters of the Church, respond to the charge given us to seek out and relieve the distressed, minister to the poor and needy, feed the hungry, teach and train wives and mothers, welcome and include every sister, lead the young women, and nurture the children - all these to further the work of perfecting the Saints.

... Sisters, we, too, can know that if we sometimes forget the instructions, when we are wondering what to do, indeed our Father will come. ... Our God will never us forsake. We may not, probably will not, receive a personal visit from the Lord, but the answers do come from prayer, the scriptures, the words of the prophet, the still, small voice of inspiration.

I should like to reassure you that we truly can find courage to face our challenges and also give service to those whose needs are even greater than our own. ... Sometime to each of us will come questions of life and death, purpose and our own inevitable parting. All of us have had losses or will have. Perhaps it is for this that we are taught “to mourn with those that mourn” (Mosiah 18:9) and to “weep for the loss of them that die” (D&C 42:45).

"Don't limit your challenges; challenge your limits. Each day we
must strive for constant and never ending improvement."
- Tony Robbins.

... We do miss those who die. No matter how many friends or family members one has, the loss of one beloved person is difficult. 

One great difference for us is our added knowledge that death is not permanent, that families can be forever. 

The understanding we have of the reality of the Resurrection makes the waiting endurable and purposeful. Indeed, “sweet is the peace the gospel brings” (Hymns, no. 14).

... Single women in the Church continue to be included daily in the prayers of Church leaders. Many single sisters are living rich, full lives. They have made happy homes for themselves, their families, and friends. ... They attend the temple and do genealogy work. They give compassionate service. They make the world better for their being in it. 

There are those in this group who have never married, although most of them would like to do so. There are widowed sisters who live alone and those whose marriages have been shattered by divorce. Many have difficult decisions to make regarding their choices in life.

Should they pursue a career? Can they be successful in what is traditionally a man’s business world? Should they try to be? How do they balance their expectations with the reality of their lives? ... How can they best fulfill the role given by the Lord to women?

Some of these sisters are single parents. Their challenges are many as they try to be both father and mother on what is most often a diminished income. ... Even when their children are grown, single mothers are still mothers and share in the trials as well as the joys of their children. ... For all of them, there are no simple answers except, as for all sisters, to do the best they can every day to look up; to learn; to evaluate resources within themselves, their families, their communities; to pray with faith; to search the scriptures; to find ways to be of service; to keep their own lives clean and pure, their relationships true; to forgive those who have caused the hurt.

Even as this is so, however, may every sister feel the warmth of friendship from her sisters in the Church and priesthood support from home teachers and bishops who care. May she be included, welcomed, given
opportunities to serve."

Stay Tuned until next time.

Some Budgeting Tips ~ Part Two

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is part two. 

I would like to let you know that this post focuses on more budgeting tips that I have thought of for the past several months and I hope you would learn something new as you read throughout this post. I have decided to mark the following budgeting tips in bold followed by I would be sharing why I have shared those budgeting tips that isn't mark in bold. You can choose to use any of the following budgeting tips. 

 ~ Do you know the differences between your needs and your wants when it comes with budgeting? I know that it is necessary for everyone who does budgeting to know the differences between their needs and their wants. I know it is easy temptation for people to easily to think about and worry about their wants than their needs when it comes to budgeting. I know that I do that at times. Needs are things you absolutely have to have to live life such as food, water, shelter, transportation, utilities, etc. Wants always cost extra money such as eating out, shopping for unnecessary items, gym memberships, vacations, etc.

~ Did you know that there are some engaged couples around the world who has created a budget for their wedding? I know that there has been some couples who have considered to do a budget for the costs of their wedding while they were planning for their wedding, and I know that some of them may have even considered to include the cost of their honeymoon within the same budget.. I know that my husband and I have done reasonably well when we both budgeted for our wedding including our honeymoon costs, and we spent even less than half of our wedding budget. We have spent total of less than $2,500 US dollars ($3,000 Australian dollars) for our wedding.

~ Have you remembered to canceled on FREE trials from your bank card right before those trials aren't FREE and start charging money? I know that I always have enjoyed FREE trials on certain things in the past before the subscription has started for me to pay money towards; especially on Amazon Prime, Hallmark Channel, and so forth. Subscriptions are very easy to add up in overtime without those FREE trials.

I know that my husband have been paying for Hulu (not including LIVE - TV such as HBO) monthly since towards end of last year and my Photoshop and my Lightroom subscription combined monthly since towards end of last year, meanwhile I have been paying for my Spotify premium account monthly. My husband thought it was a great idea for him to download a playlist from my Spotify account for getting all of the songs that he likes and enjoy listening to while he is working.

"If you can't pay cash, you can't afford it."

I have a seperate playlist from my Spotify account for me to listen to at home and whenever I am out of the house (while I'm not being near him) to still play songs from my Spotify account. 

We honestly saved more than $3 US dollars (over $4 Australian dollars) a month for using my Spotify account, instead of us deciding to get Family Premium Spotify account. 

~ Are you fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can? I know that sometimes all it takes is being fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can especially during difficult times. I know that you can get easily discouraged when it comes to not being fully committed and fully determined to save as much as you can. 

~ Have you ever thought about or considered of having an emergency funds account while you are budgeting? I know that some people may not fully thought about or considered of having an emergency funds account as much as they would like to. I know that it does comes handy for having at least one emergency funds account while budgeting especially when those funds can be accessed to during unexpected events and unforeseen circumstances. Emergency funds account can have $5,000 US dollars (close to $7,000 Australian dollars) or more. You can add a certain portion from your income into that account.

~ Have you ever tracked your process while budgeting? I know that it does comes in handy for tracking the process while budgeting, because it would help of what you have been doing great at budgeting for saving more and spending less.

~ Who should be in charge for your budget? I know that you should be in charge for your budget because it is your money, and you know what works best for your budget not someone else's budget. Some people has different reasons and purposes why they have their budgets because they are in control with their money.

By the way; Happy Birthday to my Dad, and Happy Birthday to Sister Sia Leifi, I hope they have a great birthday..

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Some Budgeting Tips ~ Part One

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post is part one.

Have you ever heard of some tips about budgeting before? 

Well; I would like to let you know that this post focuses on some budgeting tips that I have thought of for the past several months and I hope you would learn something new as you read throughout this post. I have decided to mark the following questions focuses on budgeting tips in bold followed by I would be sharing why I have shared those budgeting tips that isn't mark in bold. You can choose to use any of the following budgeting tips. 

~ Have you considered about eating at home more often than eating Fast Foods? My husband and I have been mostly eating at home because we know it is certainly cheaper, affordable and mostly healthier which has helped us to save a lot even though we do have a maximum spending limit for eating Fast Foods and dining in Restaurants. 

~ If you have a budget; have you thought about what is your reason/s for budgeting? I know that there are multiple reasons that I could think of what would have been your reason or reasons why you have decided to have a budget. I have decided to do budgeting for myself and my husband at the beginning of our marriage, and that has been one of the major decision to make. I know that one of the reasons why I have decided to do budgeting for myself and my husband at the beginning of our marriage, and throughout our marriage thus far is WE CAN SAVE more and SPEND less.

"A budget isn't about restricting what you can spend. It gives you
permission to spend without guilt or regret."

~ Did you know every month would be different to budget for? 

I have acknowledged over the past ten months duration of my marriage with my husband, that the monthly budget is always kept changing and has been different when the new month approaches. 

I have recognized that there has been some months when my husband has spent more than other months and I also have recognized that there has been other months when my husband has spent less than some months. 

I know that it would continue happening in the same pattern in the near future, and in the future. At least I know what to expect in the near future and in the future.

                                                                                                                                                      

For an example of a expensive month to budget for; A month that can consist of paying costs for car maintenance, purchasing more toilet paper, more meats, more paper towels and more laundry detergent because you are running low. 

For an example of a cheap month to budget for; A month that can consist of deciding to use public transportation as a method of transportation instead of driving to work, you have decided to use less electricity, no spending on fast foods, you have done a lot of cooking for homemade meals (such as tuna bakes, baked potatoes, homemade pizzas, chicken and corn soups, homemade burgers, and so forth), making extra homemade meals for leftovers, and so forth. 

~ How soon can you pay off most or all of your debts? Well you can pay most or all of your debts as soon as you can. I know that some people have set a goal to pay off all of their debts prior to their marriage. It is a great goal to have. I remembered prior to my marriage to husband, he paid the remaining installments of his truck which was great feeling to know that my husband wouldn't have to continue paying off his truck during our marriage. My husband and I are doing our best to avoid having debts in the future. I know that if my husband and I do ended up having debt/s in the future, we can always do our best to pay it off as soon as we can afford to.

~ Why is it best to keep cash on you at all times? I know that sometimes it is best to have cash on you at all times and rely on it as a backup payment option when you go to places and just in case you decide to not making purchases in-stores by using your bank card. I have acknowledged at times when my husband and I go groceries shopping, sometimes he gets less than $35 US dollars (less than $50 Australian dollars) out and it certainly does come handy whenever we go to places where it accepts cash only because the stores' EFTPOS machine isn't working.

Stay Tuned until next time. 

Reach for the Stars

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take three to five minutes to read from start to finish.

This post focuses on a April 1981 General Conference talk and it is called, "Reach for the Stars" by Barbara B. Smith. I would like to share with you some highlights while I was reading the talk recently, and I hope you will be

able to learn something new.

Sister Smith has mentioned the following; "... We’re not only confronted with it in the media, but we experience it with virtually every purchase we make. Most Saturday afternoons my husband and I make a trip to the grocery store for our weekly supplies and food storage items. ... We discussed the high cost of food for large families with limited incomes, elderly people with small pensions, and single parents often with uncertain means.

... How might Relief Society enable a woman to create an environment of optimism and adventure, while at the same time helping her stretch her dollars and resources by implementing sound economic principles in the home? Let me point out a few mini courses each Relief Society unit might hold to help women meet this challenge:

First, home and money management -

Wise home and money management instruction should help each sister learn how to bring all expenditures within the family income. It has been thoughtfully said that we should set our scale of living one degree below our means. ... The first hard rule of fixing our scale of living below our means is to budget, planning first for basic needs and then for other desired items.

"Balancing the budget is like going to heaven. Everybody wants to
do it, but nobody wants to do what you have to do to get there."
- Phil Gramm.

We should help all women enjoy the peace of mind that comes from making and following a plan for spending. 

... Women must learn to budget and to help their children learn to budget also. Women and children should know that, no matter how important or how worthwhile an item might seem to be, if they cannot afford it, it is an unwise expenditure. ..." (Ensign, July 1975)

                                                                                  Living on a budget is not a chore - It need not even be a deprivation. Budgeting should be a great learning experience. ... We can teach women to be realistic in money management and still maintain a spirit of resourcefulness and optimism.

Next, a resource management mini course might be planned. It could enable the sisters to share ways to save energy. ... Resource management includes wise stewardship of possessions and an appreciation of the value that still remains in some used goods. 

... Other mini classes on resource management might focus on ways to take better care of clothes - how best to repair, clean, and alter them for longer wear. A mini class on laundering tips could also add to a woman’s understanding of how to add life to fabric. ... If we “make do” creatively, we don’t have to do without. We can enrich the lives of our family members at very little cost. 

A third mini course might be on healthful living. Plan ways to help the sisters save money by attaining the best health of which they are capable. Relief Society should provide training to promote physical well-being as the least expensive medical treatment. The illness you avoid costs nothing. Good health habits save money. To promote good health, women need to plan nutritious meals. Most of us could have smaller portions of food and still be healthy, but all of us should eat regular, well-balanced meals each day. ... 

One basic concept of the welfare system of the Church is to prepare for a time of emergency by careful planning. Relief Society has the capability of helping sisters further this effort by making their homes models of provident living that can meet present need and possible emergencies.

I have thought about the emergency preparation necessary when Noah’s ark was made ready. Noah must have achieved the most effective welfare planning in the history of mankind when he very carefully followed the Lord’s counsel and built the ark. His wife and their sons undoubtedly worked and planned with him so that the blessings of the Lord might be theirs. ... Noah and his family must have been able to plan and provide in such a way that they could find pleasure in their efforts (selecting just the right two of each animal), adventure in their voyage (surely there were new little furry creatures almost weekly), and joy as the splendor of the very first rainbow filled the sky, and the Lord’s promise was fulfilled.

Could we be as diligent today? Can we as women be accountable and help meet the great challenge of economic stress by our wise stewardship over that with which the Lord has blessed us? ..."

If you would like to read the whole talk now or in your own time, here's the link below.
https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1981/04/reach-for-the-stars

Stay Tuned until next time.

Reliable Budgeting for a Married Couple

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

My husband has been able to continue working after I moved over here, - thankfully. He works some long days (over ten hours), and he works some short days (less than ten hours). I don't ever know exactly what time is he expected to finish work on most days, and I would just estimate roughly what time would he be home by at times. Sometimes those roughly estimated times has been wrong, because my husband works either longer than expected or shorter than expected. 

This post isn't about my husband's employment. This post focuses on the reliable budget that my husband and I have together as a married couple, and I hope someone will gain new understanding of budgeting as a married couple. My husband has given me permission to keep one of his bank cards with me at all times because he trusts me, and he knows that I would be able to spend wisely by making purchases online and in stores. I must admit that bank card definitely comes in handy, because I wouldn't have to worry about paying international fees - thankfully.

"A budget is telling your money where to go instead of wondering
where it went." - Dave Ramsey.

I know that if I used my Australian bank card, I would have to pay the international fees each time I make a purchase while I am living over here. He has his other bank card with him at all times, and he uses it often. 

Throughout the first three months into the marriage; I strongly believe that my husband and I were spending way too much money on groceries, it was cost over $350 US dollars a month. 

Can you imagine for the cost of groceries was most than $490 Australian dollars a month? I knew it costed so much because we didn't considered of having a reliable budget at the time and I always wanted to have frozen meals to be heated up in the microwave and eat it for lunch.

You may ask who does the reliable budget between myself and my husband. Well I currently do the reliable budget between my husband and myself which has been great. We often review our reliable budget often, we both always do our best to agree a lot with the maximum spending limits monthly and I have been doing my best to encourage my husband to SAVE for whatever amount that we don't spend a month. 

We have budgeted of maximum spending cost for electricity monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost for water monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost for groceries monthly, we have budgeted of maximum spending cost of getting fuel/gas monthly, and so forth. 

We couldn't have budgeted for our rent where we currently live at, the costs of our health insurances, the costs of having WiFi, and my current mobile plan monthly because those have set prices. I know that it would've been nice if the monthly cost of rent, the monthly cost of our health insurances, and the monthly cost of my current mobile plan was about either 20% or 30% cheaper than it currently is per month and I know that my husband would agree with me. 

Having a reliable budget for a married couple definitely comes in handy, it definitely teaches the couple to spend wisely, they would be able to spoil themselves on dates, they would be able to spoil themselves on vacations, SAVE as much as they can, having full control with their money, they would know what money comes in and out, and so forth.

Stay tuned until next time.

Reliable Budget for an Individual In the Past

Good Morning, Good Afternoon, Good Evening,

this post should take approximately three minutes to read from start to finish.

I have some simple and easy following questions that you can ask yourself and answering those questions either now or in your own time. What is true your definition and understanding of having a reliable budget in the past?
If you have created a reliable budget in the past, what has motivated you for creating a reliable budget? Did you received some help by anyone while you were creating a reliable budget in the past?

What were some of the blessings that you have received from having a reliable budget in the past?
What were some of the things that has helped you for sticking to your reliable budget in the past?

If you haven't created a reliable budget in the past, what was your reason/s for not having a reliable budget?
Do you think that you will eventually create a reliable budget either in the near future or in the future?

Have you thought about some of the blessings that comes from having a reliable budget in the near future or in the future? Have you thought about seeking some help by someone when you would decide to create a reliable budget?

"One of the great laws of earth is that your expenses need to be less than your income. - Jeffrey R.Holland."

I know that some people are doing a great job for creating a reliable budget and sticking to it. I know some people might have thought about creating a reliable budget and sticking to it is a massive hustle in their lives. I know that some people may forget and not even thinking about having a reliable budget in their lives. I know that some people just doesn't know who to talk to for seeking assistance, and requesting some help for them to be able create a reliable budget one day successfully.

I know that some people just doesn't care about some of blessings or all of the blessings that they are missing out on from not having a reliable budget. I know that I am truly grateful for having a reliable budget in the past, because it has helped me in many ways and it has taught me so much.

Some of you may be wondering about what were some of the things that has helped me and has taught me from having a reliable budget. in the past. I would be happy to share several of major things that has helped me and has taught me.

For having a reliable budget in the past; it has taught me multiple effective ways of how to save as much as I can successfully, it has helped to create a reliable emergency/unexpected funds account successfully - it was separated from my savings account, it has helped me to purchase groceries, it has helped me for setting a maximum spending limit that went towards car maintenance regularly, it has helped me to save a portion from the earnings that I was receiving, it has helped me to pay all of the necessary bills either on time or early, it has helped me to afford of spoiling myself such as spending on vacations to go overseas, and so forth.

Stay Tuned until next time.