Most of the time, it is not the lack of money but the proper use of money that is essential to live a successful, worry-free life financially. Budget is the plan for spending money. It is also defined as the estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time. Webster dictionary defined budget as, "an amount of money available for spending that is based on a plan for how it will be spent".

In this lesson, we will study on the art of Budgeting.

1. Although everyone knows the income, most people do not know all the ways the money is spent. It is encouraged to write down every expense of the month for at least few months, to get an accurate list of expenditure. God wanted Hezekiah to set the house in order. As believers, we must keep the house in order, if we have to live long and exemplary for God.
   1. 2 Kings 20:1 me;ehl;fspy; vNrf;fpah tpahjpg;gl;L kuzj;Jf;F VJthapUe;jhd;; mg;nghOJ MNkhj;rpd; Fkhudhfpa Vrhah vd;Dk; jPu;f;fjuprp mtdplj;jpy; te;J> mtid Nehf;fp: ePu; ckJ tPl;Lf;fhupaj;ij xOq;Fg;gLj;Jk;; ePu; gpiof;fkhl;Bu;> kupj;Jg;NghtPu; vd;W fu;j;ju; nrhy;Yfpwhu; vd;whd;.
      In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.
   2. 2. mg;nghOJ vNrf;fpah jd; Kfj;ijr; Rtu;g;Gwkhfj; jpUk;gpf; nfhz;L> fu;j;ju; Nehf;fp:
      Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying,
   3. 3. M fu;j;jhNt> ehd; ckf;F Kd;ghf cz;ikAk; kd cj;jkKkha; ele;J> ckJ ghu;itf;F eykhdijr; nra;Njd; vd;gij epidj;jUSk; vd;W tpz;zg;gk;gz;zpdhd;. vNrf;fpah kpfTk; mOjhd;.
      I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.
   4. 4. Vrhah ghjp Kw;wj;ijtpl;L mg;Gwk; Nghfpwjw;FKd;Nd> fu;j;jUila thu;j;ij mtDf;F cz;lhfp> mtu; nrhd;dJ:
      And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying,
   5. 5. eP jpUk;gpg;Ngha;> vd; [dj;jpd; mjpgjpahfpa vNrf;fpahit Nehf;fp: cd; jfg;gdhfpa jhtPjpd; NjtdhapUf;fpw fu;j;ju;nrhy;YfpwJ vd;dntd;why;: cd; tpz;zg;gj;ijf; Nfl;Nld;> cd; fz;zPiuf; fz;Nld;; ,Njh> ehd; cd;idf; Fzkhf;FNtd;; %d;whk; ehspNy eP fu;j;jUila Myaj;Jf;Fg; Nghtha;.
      Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD.
   6. 6. cd; ehl;fNshNl gjpide;J tU\q;fisf; $l;LNtd;; cd;idAk; ,e;j efuj;ijAk; mrPupah uh[htpd; iff;Fj; jg;Gtpj;J> vd; epkpj;jKk; vd; jhrdhfpa jhtPjpd; epkpj;jKk; ,e;j efuj;Jf;F Mjutha; ,Ug;Ngd; vd;W nrhy; vd;whu;.
      And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake.

1. Most of the catalogs and television promotions are built to increase our expenditure. Unrestrained spending gets us into a lifestyle of want. Soon our hard earned money can be lost in buying frivolous things that do not add value in the future. The Lord wants us to be faithful in the little in small things, before he can give us big things. If we are not faithful in little, it is impossible to be faithful in big things.
   1. Y}f;fh 16:8. mePjpAs;s cf;fpuhzf;fhud; Gj;jpaha;r; nra;jhd; vd;W v[khd; fz;L> mtid nkr;rpf;nfhz;lhd;. ,t;tpjkha; xspapd; gps;isfisg;ghu;f;fpYk; ,e;jg; gpugQ;rj;jpd; gps;isfs; jq;fs; re;jjpapy; mjpf Gj;jpkhd;fshapUf;fpwhu;fs;.
      And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
   2. 9. ehd; cq;fSf;Fr; nrhy;YfpNwd;> ePq;fs; khSk;NghJ cq;fis epj;jpakhd tPLfspNy Vw;Wf;nfhs;thUz;lhFk;gb> mePjpahd cyfg;nghUshy; cq;fSf;Fr; rpNefpjiur; rk;ghjpAq;fs;.
      And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
   3. 10. nfhQ;rj;jpNy cz;ikAs;std; mNefj;jpYk; cz;ikAs;stdhapUf;fpwhd;> nfhQ;rj;jpNy mePjpAs;std; mNefj;jpYk; mePjpAs;stdhapUf;fpwhd;.
      He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
   4. 11. mePjpahd cyfg;nghUisg;gw;wp ePq;fs; cz;ikahapuhtpl;lhy;> ahu; cq;fis ek;gp cq;fsplj;jpy; nka;ahd nghUis xg;Gtpg;ghu;fs;?
      If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

1. One must plan our expenditures. Unless the expenditure is planned, we will soon spend more than what we earn, because of the innumerable expenses that come on our way.
   1. ePjpnkhopfs; 24:27. ntspapy; cd; Ntiyia vj;jdg;gLj;jp> taypy; mij xOq;fhf;fp> gpd;G cd; tPl;ilf; fl;L.
      Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.
2. Jesus wants us to follow him completely. This requires discipline, forsaking distractions and focus on where we want to go.
   1. Y}f;fh 14:28. cq;fspy; xUtd; xU NfhGuj;ijf; fl;l kdjhapUe;J>
      For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
   2. 29. m];jpghuk; Nghl;lgpd;G Kbf;fj; jpuhzpapy;yhkw;Nghdhy;> ghu;f;fpwtu;fnsy;yhUk;:
      Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
   3. 30. ,e;j kD\d; fl;lj;njhlq;fp Kbf;fj; jpuhzpapy;yhkw;Nghdhd; vd;W nrhy;ypj; jd;idg; gupahrk;gz;zhjgbf;F> mijf; fl;bj; jPu;f;fpwjw;Fj; jdf;F epu;thfKz;Nlh ,y;iyNah vd;W Kd;G mtd; cl;fhu;e;J nry;YQ;nryitf; fzf;Fg;ghuhkypUg;ghNdh?
      Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
   4. 31. md;wpAk; xU uh[h kw;nwhU uh[hNthNl Aj;jQ;nra;ag; NghfpwNghJ> jd;Nky; ,Ugjpdhapuk; NrtfNuhNl tUfpw mtidj; jhd; gjpdhapuk; Nrtfiuf;nfhz;L vjpu;f;ff; $LNkh $lhNjh vd;W Kd;G cl;fhu;e;J MNyhridgz;zhkypUg;ghNdh?
      Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
   5. 32. $lhnjd;W fz;lhy;> kw;wtd; ,d;Dk; J}uj;jpypUf;Fk;NghNj> ];jhdhgjpfis mDg;gp rkhjhdj;Jf;fhditfisf; Nfl;Lf;nfhs;thNd.
      Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
   6. 33. mg;gbNa cq;fspy; vtdhfpYk; jdf;F cz;lhditfisnay;yhk; ntWj;Jtplhtpl;lhy; mtd; vdf;Fr; rP\dhapUf;fkhl;lhd;.
      So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

1. Being content is the biblical way to be happy in all circumstances. Accumulation of wealth does not bring happiness. Rather, being content in every circumstance is the key to happiness.
   1. gpypg;gpau; 4:11. vd; Fiwr;rypdhy; ehd; ,g;gbr; nrhy;Yfpwjpy;iy; Vnddpy; ehd; ve;j epiyikapypUe;jhYk; kduk;kpakhapUf;ff; fw;Wf;nfhz;Nld;.
      Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
   2. 12. jho;e;jpUf;fTk; vdf;Fj; njupAk;> tho;e;jpUf;fTk; vdf;Fj; njupAk;; vt;tplj;jpYk; vy;yhtw;wpYk; jpUg;jpahapUf;fTk; gl;bdpahapUf;fTk;> gupG+uzkilaTk; FiwTglTk; Nghjpf;fg;gl;Nld;.
      I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
   3. 13. vd;idg; ngyg;gLj;Jfpw fpwp];JtpdhNy vy;yhtw;iwAQ;nra;a vdf;Fg; ngyDz;L.
      I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
2. The ideas given below can help us to come out of debt and to budget expenditures. You can choose the ones that are applicable to your situation and it will vary from person to person.
   1. Shelter
      1. Plan a modest home suitable to your needs and also expandable to meet your future needs
      2. Apartment living can be less expensive with less lawn care, maintenance for sometime
      3. Taking care of lawn, carpet cleaning, painting and pest control can bring substantial amount
      4. Limit the use of lights, heaters and appliances
   2. Food
      1. Prepare a menu for week and shop according to the list
      2. Shop once a week
      3. Reduce ready-made food which has labor added to its price
      4. Leave children at home while shopping
      5. Reduce use of paper products (plates, cups) which are expensive
   3. Transportation
      1. Use one car to travel if it is possible
      2. Purchase a low-cost used car until repairs become too expensive
      3. Smallest car is most economical to use.
      4. Routine maintenance will increase longevity of vehicles
   4. Clothing
      1. Make a list of clothes you need and shop from that list
      2. Purchase home-washable fabrics. Commercial cleaning are expensive
   5. Insurance
      1. Select insurance based on need and budget
      2. Raising deductible feature will reduce premiums substantially
      3. A capable agent can save money
   6. Health
      1. Proper sleep, exercise and nutrition is required to stay health
      2. Prevention is better than cure
      3. Practice proper oral hygiene for healthy teeth and to reduce dental bills
      4. Visit competent physicians and dentists when needed
   7. Entertainment and Recreation
      1. Plan and save for vacation
      2. Plan your vacation in off-season and closer to home
      3. Expensive entertainment can be replaced with creative alternatives such as picnics and free state parks
   8. Hings
      1. Each month, reconcile the check books
      2. Think yearly. Figure out not only monthly and but also yearly costs.
      1. $6 for lunch each day times 5 days a week, times 50 weeks a year gives $1500. Forgoing lunch can save significant amounts in a year. Do the same for other routine costs.
      3. Avoid instinct spending
      1. Do not purchase car in 1 day. Pray about it for few weeks
      2. As you pray, the instinct will soon pass away
      4. It is wise for husbands and wives to include personal allowances in budget, to spend as they please. This will eliminate arguments.
      1. Husband can play golf within the budget
      2. Wife can participate in her favorite hobby.

1. Do not stop to budget. A budget properly used can save 1000s of dollars. Write it each month and revise it. But do not stop budgeting.
   1. Mg$f; 2:2. mg;nghOJ fu;j;ju; vdf;Fg; gpujpAj;jukhf: eP juprdj;ij vOjp> mijf; fle;NjhLfpwtd; thrpf;Fk;gbg; gyiffspNy jPu;f;fkhf tiu.
      And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
2. Budgeting will help you to save and accumulate savings and will help you stay out of debt.
3. Any additional income should be aimed to pay off debt and not increase spending.