President Kimball made the following statement:

Every family should have a budget. Why, we would not think of going one day without a budget in this Church or our businesses. We have to know approximately what we may receive, and we certainly must know what we are going to spend. And one of the successes of the Church would have to be that the Brethren watch these things very carefully, and we do not spend that which we do not have. (Inside cover, quoted in Marvin J. Ashton, One for the Money, pamphlet, 1992)

If the Church does not spend money it does not have, why should we? Obey the prophet and always spend less than you earn. Change your attitudes about spending and money. Eliminate the “I deserve this” mentality and truly separate needs from wants. Learn to save for your wants.

Decide now to budget; decide to keep your priorities in order. Always pay the Lord first and pay yourself second (in the form of savings). By doing this, you will learn to manage your finances instead of allowing your finances to manage you.