Men. Intelligent.™

 

Challenge #14

Don’t start before completing Challenge #13.
If you want to join the IntelliMen Project, start from Challenge #1.

 

Challenge: Create the discipline of regularly saving a certain amount of money.

Explanation: One of the main characteristics of a man is to be a provider. A man fights so that he will never be a burden to anyone. When he assumes the responsibility of caring for others, a wife and children for example, he fulfills that obligation.  An intelligent man is a hard-worker, but not only that. He does not simply do manual labor, he is especially good at using his head. Intelligence makes him conscious of money matters — if he always spends all the money he receives, he will soon go broke.

There is desirable treasure, and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a foolish man squanders it.
Proverbs 21:20

Your challenge, from this week on, will be to develop financial discipline so that you are not constantly spending all of your money. Organize to regularly save or invest a percentage of your income. It doesn’t matter how much you make, it could be millions or the lunch money your Dad gives you for school lunch. What’s important here is the principle and discipline.

Consider this proposal that is followed by many millionaires: the 10-20-70 principle. Simply put it means: “give back 10% to God, save or invest 20% and live on 70% of your income.” The secret is to follow this order exactly. If you pay your bills and buy your groceries first, then set aside your savings or investment second,  and only then think about your tithes, chances are you will not have anything left over. You have to develop discipline. God first, then your future, then the present.

Don’t tell me you can’t do this. If things are a little tight at the moment, you could lessen the 20% to 10% or make some cuts in your personal expenses. But NEVER touch what is God’s and do not neglect setting aside something for the future, no matter how small. (Obviously, our offerings to God come after we return our tithes. They can be taken from our savings, as an investment in the Kingdom of God, or from the money used for expenses, as a sacrifice.)

So this is your challenge. Start now. Make the necessary adjustments. Keep track of your money down to the smallest detail. Don’t be careless.

Notebook: Write about your decision to save money regularly. Specify which formula you’re going to follow: 10-20-70 or 10-10-80, etc. Decide where you will keep your savings, maybe you need to set up a separate bank account for that, or how you will invest your money. You may need to speak to a professional in this case.

Official Partner: Speak to your partner about the challenge: exchange ideas, thoughts on how you will continue to be disciplined, what habits you have to change, etc. (For those of you who are married, you will need to have this conversation with your wife. That is essential.)

Deadline: You may begin working on this task immediately and complete it before beginning Challenge #15. Try to get it done within a week. After a week, if you don’t have all the details ironed out, but are actively working on it, go ahead and start the next challenge. This should become a part of your life, it will always help you.

Post: After – and only after – you have completed the challenge, post your comments – on the IntelliMenWorld Facebook or Twitter page, (not on your own page) and write the following:

IntelliMen Challenge #14 done: I have begun to be disciplined in my finances… (Add any other comment about your experience doing this challenge.)

Links:
www.facebook.com/IntelliMenWorld
www.twitter.com/intellimenworld (when tweeting, use @intelliMenworld)

 

Verification Checklist

☐ I began to be disciplined with my finances
☐ I wrote about my decision and formula in my Notebook
☐ I spoke to my Partner about the challenge (and with my wife, if married)
☐ I posted a comment on Facebook/Twitter

 

Just for laughs

What changed from 1990 to 2013.