Be an investor, not a spender…

What’s your mindset when you head into Pakkies?

• Get what’s needed . . .

• See what’s on sale . . .

• Feed the hunger . . .

• Spend as much as I can . . .

• See who is in there for a yak . . .

• All of the above?!

Apply the same list to when you head into The Warehouse . . . same answer?

Or how about Farmers? Mitre 10? Maccas? KFC? Same answers or does it differ depending on where you go?

At church we have been sharing about money, debt, investing, stewardship - it’s been a great series, confronting, true, practical and super funny as we have considered various scenarios we are all far too familiar with . . . like . . .

• Feeling like we were rich when the banks offered us a massive credit card . . .

• Going into the supermarket to get 4 things and coming out with a trolley load . . .

• How we as families used to have a loaf of bread on the table at every dinner meal . . .

• How 50c used to buy us a meke pie . . . and now you’ll struggle to find a packet of lollies for 50c!

The world we live in is a consumer-focused economy. Money - make it, spend it. Stuff - buy it, use it, store it. Hunger - feed it . . . now.

We are called to operate not according to the ways of this world, but according the the principles and plans that the Lord has set out for us. This is called Kingdom Living, being led by the Spirit and following in the ways of the Lord.

To this end, I am encouraging you to CHANGE the way you do things with your putea ($$$).

Don’t be a SPENDER. Spenders end up in debt. Then they hand this debt down to their children. This is not cool and this is not what the Lord has called us to.

I am encouraging you to take on the mindset of an INVESTER. Be an investor.

Investers look at shops, purchases, and ‘stuff’ differently.

They consider how it will benefit them and their family in the future.

Note that this is completely different from Spenders who only look to satisfying themselves in the short term.

Example?

You and the kids are hungry. You head to town and hit your favourite takeaways. Bam! Everyone is content and full . . . full of sugar, fat, chemically-enhanced ingredients . . . and you’re now $50 less . . . and that’s just the kai . . . nevermind the cost of gas! But at least they’re fed. Your last name? Spender.

Here’s a couple of alternatives:

1. You and the kids are hungry. Because your surname is Investor, you already have kai in your cupboards and you make do with what you have.* You don’t head into town and you’ve saved yourself $20 gas for a start. Bam.

2. You and the kids are hungry. You check the cupboards, but them cupboards are a little lean. You head into town, go past a heap of families at the takeaways, and head into the supermarket because you know that the food in there is cheaper than other places in town. You head in with your list which you’ve already explained to your children are the only things you’re getting because you as a family are focused on getting out of debt; automatically you’ve taken out the moaning and tantrums that some other families experience because you’ve had your ‘pre-game’ talk before heading in to the shop. You nail some healthy kai that will take a little bit of time to cook up but you know that:

   1. This kai is healthier than takeaways (you just invested into the health of yourself and your children)

   2. Your children won’t die of starvation before the kai is finally ready

   3. You can feed your entire family for $30 by shopping smart

   4. Your children need to learn how to cook

   5. This is how the previous generation did it

   6. Raising children on ‘instant gratification’ leads to entitlement and poverty

   7. You want to teach your children about the benefits of patience, waiting and being smart with money

I hope you get my drift :)

My challenge to you for the next fortnight, is that you take on the mindset of being an Investor . . . and not a Spender.

If you do, and continue, you will smoke your debt, be healthier for it and set you and your children up for financial success.

Now that’s a great inheritance.

Action points:

• Buy things with an Investor mindset

• Eat what you have in your house

• Have simple meals that are good for you

• Get the kids to help you cook and clean up

Have a great week whanau and see you next Sunday - church starts at 9:30am!

* I am guessing that someone said to themselves at that point, “Yeah but my kids won’t eat that stuff in the cupboards.” Well - try it. If they’re hungry, they’ll eat it. If they don’t want to eat it, I’m sure they’ll get hungry . . . see if you know the rest of the korero . . . :p