Money Thieves: Where Does Your Money Go?

Ever wonder why there's not enough money to make the month or why your expenses never seem to go down but continually rise - even when your paycheck stays the same?

Matthew 24:43 says, "But know this, if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched...."

There are numerous areas where your money may be slipping through your fingers in excessive amounts while you sit around unaware.

I call these money thieves.

Let's look at a few of them.

1. Negative thoughts/words/attitudes are the number one cause of money problems. Proverbs states, "As a man thinks in his heart, he is" AND "The power of life and death are in the tongue and he that indulges shall eat the fruit thereof." These two scriptures alone prove wealth is a mindset. If you are continually thinking and talking lack, you will have lack. So change your thoughts and words to abundance and you'll change your circumstances. Now this may not happen overnight but if you stick with the program, things will turn around. Be grateful for what you do have and expect things to get better!

2. High energy costs are another way money is devoured. Homes should be checked regularly for typical money thieves. Caulk or weather strip windows and doors, have AC & Heating ductwork cleaned and maintained, wrap pipes with insulation, check plumbing for leaky pipes, add another layer of insulation to your attic or underneath the house if it is on piers; set the thermostat and leave it alone! It takes more energy to heat up or cool down a house from constantly adjusting the thermostat settings. Set your utility bills up for "average billing." This enables you to budget for a whole year.

3. Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Using high interest credit cards to pay your monthly expenses is a waste as are payday loans and most bill consolidation opportunities. That said, there are times when these options are absolutely necessary but they should be reserved as a last resort, not a way of life.

4. Insurance premiums are another reason money runs out before the end of the month. Have Comprehensive/Collision coverage on an old car? Waste. Have medical payments and/or uninsured motorist coverage AND health insurance? Not necessary. High limits and low deductibles on auto or home insurance - all of these can be adjusted as your life changes. Paying for huge amounts of term life insurance with few or no bills (ie; a mortgage) to worry about? Get rid of some or all. Pre-arranged funerals can lock in your costs and save money in the long run.

5. Improper auto maintenance will drain your checking and savings account if you let it. Put aside a few dollars for regular oil changes, tire rotation, spark plugs, etc. Keeping your vehicle in top running condition will save you hundreds of dollars over time in fuel costs and repairs.

These are just a few ways you can reduce or eliminate expenses and stop those money thieves before they put you in the poor house!