Financial Preparedness: What we've been asked and how we can do it

With Tax Season upon us, I started thinking about money. The subject of money has been talked about for centuries in society. Evidently, "...you can't take it with you, it doesn't really make the world go around, and it can't buy you love" ("On a scale of 1 to 10 how much do you worry about money and why?" Real Simple Mar. 2008: 53). Yet, it is an intergral part of everyday life. With today's housing market, gas prices, and the talk of a recession (Read about economic recession), money is even more on our minds. We're all trying to figure out how to save more and spend a little less money.

For decades, the leadership of the church have counseled us on the use and management of our money. They have asked us "to be modest in [our] expenditures; discipline [our]selves in [our] purchases to avoid debt. . . . " (The First Presidency, All Is Safely Gathered In: Family Finances, Feb. 2007, 1). The late President Gordon B. Hinckley said, "Set your houses in order. If you have paid your debts, if you have a reserve, even though it be small, then should storms howl about your head, you will have shelter for your wives and children and peace in your hearts” ("To the Boys and to the Men," Ensign, Nov. 1998, 54). So, we've been asked to live modestly, avoid debt, pay off current debts, and accumulate a reserve to prepare for difficult times. So, how do we do all that?

The church has provided a wonderful pamphlet called One for the Money: Guide to Family Finance. It is a worthwhile resource to aid in becoming more financially sound. There are also several links on finances in the Financial Preparedness section on the right-hand side of this blog. I've also included several valuable articles about finances and new links to help save you money at the end of this article. Let's all try to do a little better at following our leaders' council to become more finacially prepared this year.

• “Happily Living within Our Means,” Ensign, Jan 2008, 58–63


• "Guide to Family Finance" Marvin J. Ashton, Ensign, Apr 2000, 42


• “Preparing Youth Financially” Debbie Woodward, Ensign, July 2002, 72


• “Five Steps to Financial Well-Being” Lane V. Erickson, Ensign, Mar 2004, 66–71


• Real Simple Money section


• GasBuddy.com --Locate the cheapest gas by state or zip code


• Get ClarkSmart courtesy of finanicial guru Clark Howard

FHE Lessons on money, budgeting, and debt

• Debt-Free Family


• Ponder the List


• Freeing Our Children From Bondage