Why Can’t My Parents Just Get A Loan Instead Of Waiting For Payday?
Answer: Your parents probably could get a loan. But if they did, they would have to pay the loan back plus interest.
Getting a loan doesn’t really solve the problem of needing money. It just postpones the problem and makes it a little worse.
We need to learn to be patient. Usually, we don’t need to buy what we think we need right now. Usually, we can wait a little while.
It’s better to wait and not borrow the money than to borrow money and buy something right now because you’ll pay more if you borrow the money.
This is why it is best to be patient. Besides, if you wait, you may get a better deal!
Key verse: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)
Related verses: Psalm 37:21; 118:8-9; Proverbs 3:5
Related questions: Why can’t I just buy something That I want when I like it? Why don’t parents sometimes have the money to buy things?
Note to parents: Your children will remember how
you handled lean times long after those times have passed.
Set the pattern now. If you are strapped for money, pray as a family about it, entrust yourselves to God, and look for ways other than a quick loan to weather the storm.
Do without if you can. If doing without hurts, comfort each other.
Take this opportunity to point out how God has met your needs and to express confidence that he will keep on doing so, as he has promised (Philippians 4:19).
If People Keep Buying Lots Of Things, Won’t They Run Out Of Money?
Answer: Yes. No one, not even the richest person in the world, has an unlimited supply of money.
Anyone who keeps spending will run out of money sooner or later. Some people act like they have a lot of money by borrowing a lot.
They keep buying new things and buying new things and buying new things.
They always seem to get whatever they want. But most of them don’t really have that much money.
They’re just borrowing lots of it. Meanwhile, they keep having to pay more and more interest.
And they pay so much for this debt that they aren’t putting any money into savings.
Then when they need money for college or another important expense, they don’t have it.
You make a lot of choices about your money. Choose how much money you want to spend before you spend it.
Make sure you set some aside for giving, saving, and paying for things you have to buy.
Then have fun spending the rest, and stop when it’s gone.
Key verse: Those who love pleasure become poor; wine and luxury are not the way to riches. (Proverbs 21:17)
Related verses: Exodus 20:17; Proverbs 13:7; James 4:1-2
Related question: Why do people live above their means?
Note to parents: This question usually arises when neighbor kids have more toys than your kids, when your kids think the neighbor kids have more, or when a neighbor spends money conspicuously.
Exodus 20:17 reminds us that we must not be jealous of how others spend their money. We need to be content with what we have.
Why Do People Spend Money They Don’t Have?
Answer: Some people do it because they can’t say no to their wants. They haven’t learned how to save money and wait
. They have to have everything right away. Pride is another reason. Many people think that happiness is related to how rich they are.
They think that having something will make them popular. Or they believe that everyone will think they are rich if they have a new car, a new suit, or a big TV.
So they buy it even if they can’t afford it. Some people spend money when they feel bad.
They have no joy so they go buy something to try to make themselves feel better. But when the bills come in, they feel worse.
Try to control your spending. Overspending leads to lots of problems and makes it impossible for you to give.
Key verse: Enjoy what you have rather than desiring what you don’t have. Just dreaming about nice things is meaningless; it is like chasing the wind. (Ecclesiastes 6:9)
Related verses: Proverbs 13:7; 25:28; Galatians 5:16- 23; 2 Peter 1:6
Related question: Why do people buy things they don’t need?
Note to parents: Be careful about telling a child that things don’t make us happy.
Things do make us happy. That is why we crave them. But things can get lost, broken, or stolen.
Remind your child that nothing can take God away.
No matter what happens to our things, God will always be there for us working out his plan (Romans 8:38-39).