Allowing myself and others to spend only what is necessary.
Thriftiness is not just about saving. Thriftiness is careful management of ones resources by earning diligently, saving faithfully, and spending carefully to maximize their value. By diligent labor, an individual earns (or builds) resources. Once resources are identified and accounted for, thriftiness sees to their proper storage or saving. To spend with thriftiness is to carefully research major purchases and to patiently restrain oneself from impulsive purchases of any size.
Samuel Budgett, a prominent nineteenth-century British businessman, is reported to have found a potato one day, while walking along the road. Handing it to an employee walking with him, he suggested an experiment. Budgett would provide the man with land on which to plant the single potato, and every year that the potatos yield was replanted, Budgett would provide additional land for the increase to be planted, as well. The employee agreed to the experiment. After one year, 13 potatoes were harvested. The next year, 93 potatoes were gleaned. The third year brought forth a bushel. It has been said that, had the potatoes continued to be saved and planted for 50 years, all of England would not have been big enough to plant the exponential fruitfulness of that single potato. Whether its potatoes or money, saving is a discipline.
Saving money is tough, especially in present society. With credit cards, ATMs, phone and mail-order catalogs, television and the internet, spending money is dangerously convenient much more convenient than it was in days when any purchase required an all-day trip into town. In a society that offers instant gratification, saving money does not bring an instant reward. The reward of saving is long-term. It requires faith to keep focus on the long-term advantage of saving over the immediate advantage of spending. Faith is confidence that actions rooted in good character will yield the best outcome, even when I cannot see how. Faith is an important complement to thriftiness. Faith strengthens thrift by keeping focus on ultimate truths rather than being distracted by tangible temptations. Exercise your thrift with the faith that saving really is a wise discipline, even though the immediate evidence may seem to encourage spending.
At home, encourage your children to learn the discipline of saving early. Give them a piggy bank to keep in their room and encourage them to save a percentage of their allowance every week. This simple plan is a good way to introduce young kids to the discipline of budgeting and thriftiness.
Brought to you by the Four Corners Character Council. Character First! definitions and information used by permission. Copyright Character First Training Institute www.characterfirst.com.
