A Unique Lenten Promise

Did Lent sneak up on you this year? Seems like 2015 is flying by so fast that last week, Ash Wednesday crept up on us very quickly. A tradition in our home is to sit down with each other and discuss the promises that we want to make for the Lenten season. Many times we give up things for Lent, but a more challenging sacrifice may be to do something that’s out of your comfort zone.

In a recent broadcast of “Managing Your Money God’s Way” on Real Life Radio, we discussed that God plays a role in our finances and we need to be good stewards of his property. I thought that this was a great opportunity to offer a unique Lenten experience of doing 5 money moves that will help you be a better steward.

1. Don’t Use Credit – Give up those credit cards for 40 days. Use a debit card or cash instead of a credit card to stop piling up debt. This is also a way to be more prayerful and thankful for what you do have.
2. Plan. Plan. Plan – Set time aside each week and monitor and manage your weekly budget. If you know what you can and can’t spend, you can also find ways to be more generous.  Almsgiving has always been a part of Catholic Lenten practices.
3. Stay Local – Spend time at home with family and loved ones rather than running out to the movies or going shopping. This will give you more reflection time with your family and helps to keep this season more meaningful.
4. Involve Your Family – Get your family involved in your Lenten promise, even if you have young children. If you are a good steward of your money, your children will see this and learn the behavior as they grow up.
5. Evaluate Your “Utilities” – We don’t mean your electricity. Take a look at things like premium cable channels. If your family doesn’t watch them often, talk with the cable company about removing them from your plan. This is another way to detach a little bit from our secular culture.

This Lenten season, think about the things that God expects of you and reflect on how you can work that into your daily life. Remember, it takes 21 days to develop a habit, and the changes that you make in 40 days of Lent can last a lifetime.

For more inspiration, browse through our blogs at www.compasscatholic.org.