As a college student have you ever heard the statement, “I’ll start budgeting when I have more money”? Do you find that to be true in your own life? Most people understand the significance of a budget, but they fall into the misconception that budgets only help those living in a surplus. I want to present a new way of thinking that suggests we all, regardless of the number in our bank account, should start budgeting today. Not only are budgets extremely beneficial, but the habit of budgeting is vital in optimizing financial stewardship.

Budgeting and learning how to distribute money are habits that must be formed. How much easier would it be to learn this habit before you have bills, are in a higher tax bracket and have other financial obligations? Reframing your mindset on finances takes time. If you’re able to start looking at your money as something your stewarding for God’s will now, you will be prepared to manage a larger income in the future. The best way to begin budgeting is by reviewing your expense history. You may also research the purpose of saving, giving, and planning for the future.

Another common phrase I hear a lot is that college students don’t spend money while at school. In fact, I used to believe this within my own life as well. However, almost everything you do costs money. If you drive home for the weekend, you are spending money on gas. If you are enrolled in a class, you most likely will spend money on textbooks. Whether or not it’s your money is another question, but every college student spends money one way or another in college. Therefore, I encourage all college students, me included, to track your expenses. Once you’ve tracked your expenses, it’s easy to create a tentative budget for your lifestyle. As previously stated, budgeting might seem insignificant now, as you might not have much to budget, but it will be extremely helpful in the future. Budgets help paint a picture of where you’d like to spend your income and then you can compare it to where your money was distributed. Additionally, budgets help ensure you are spending less than you earn.

In the Bible, God tells us to do everything to his glory. Everything we do is a representation of who Jesus is. We are his ambassadors in this world. This means that we are testifying to his goodness in all we do – including how we manage our finances. The money in my bank account is not mine but God’s. He has given it to us as a tool to further his kingdom. This is a beautiful opportunity to spread his Word. I want to conclude with looking at a story in the Bible that reflects this concept well. In Mark 12:41-44, it says, “Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything – all she had to live on.’” I think this depicts the way we should view our finances perfectly. It does not matter how much we have – we can use it to further God’s kingdom. Even if we have little to nothing, our money is going somewhere. How am I glorifying God with that money?

Citations:

Taylor, J., & Taylor, J. (1978). In The Bible (pp. Mark 12:41–44). essay, Printed by Fay & Davison.