• A consecration is a set of rules that God has specifically given to an individual or a community to be doing as a way of setting themselves apart for Him.
• For example, fasting every Wednesday preceding the last friday of the month and crossing over to a new month in prayer are consecrations for Mountain of God Ministries.
Judges 13:1-7, 16:17-21
• When you break your consecration, you will lose the connection to God you had as reason of that consecration.
• God is not the only one that gives consecrations.
• The devil will fight you as you do your consecration but keep asking for God to give you grace to do it.
• When you are a visitor in a new place and want that place to accept you, get to know what is expected of you and do it.
• If God tells you to fast every friday, that fasting is your consecration and it will make you strong. If you don’t do what God told you, you will be sinning.
• Don’t wait for God to tell someone else the consecration He gave to you.

PRACTICAL AND BIBLICAL TIPS FOR MANAGING FINANCES IN THE FAMILY
4. MANAGE YOUR FINANCES PROPERLY BY BUDGETING (Continuation)
AREAS IN WHICH YOU SHOULD BUDGET

c. ADDRESS YOUR WANTS, NOT NEEDS (John 13:29)
• An example of a want is home entertainment (eg. Dstv subscription) and an example of a need is food for for home.
• Jesus used money to deal with needs and help others.

d. LIABILITIES / OBLIGATIONS (Prov 11:24-25, 22:7, 9, Eccl 5:4-6),
• These are debts, bills to pay (water, electricity, school fees, etc.) , remittances, blessing others (sowing)
• If you are owing somebody, prioritise that on your budget.
• Blessing others should be deliberate because you know that in doing so you are blessing yourself.
• There are certain needs you won’t be told but you can see with your eyes.

e. ADD EXTRA TO AFFORD FOR MISCELLANEOUS THINGS
f. BUYING FOOD IN BULK SAVES MONEY AND REDUCES FINANCIAL STRESS

HOW TO CREATE A FAMILY BUDGET
1. CALCULATE YOUR MONTHLY INCOME
2. IDENTIFY AND ADD UP YOUR EXPENSES
3. REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR BUDGET AS NEEDED

BUDGETARY SYSTEMS
1. 50 / 30/ 20
• In this system, you use 50% of your income to meet your needs, 30% to meet your wants and 20% goes towards your financial goals (savings, investments).

• In many homes, what they eat is not planned. They eat anything out of convenience.
• When you plan meals for the home in advance, you save a lot of money.
• If your expenses are more than what your budget is, you have a mental problem.
• A budget is not an endless list of your needs and wants.
• People end up in debt because their expenses exceed their income.
• Don’t take your child to a school where you have to pray every time you need to pay school fees.
• One of the hindrances to financial freedom is comparing yourself with others.
• Stay and live within your means.