According to Statista.com, the estimated amount of money consumers spent on Christmas gifts in 2017 was $906.00. The National Retail Federation projects that consumers will spend (on average) $1,007 during the holiday season in 2018 (see updated stats).According to the U.S. and World Population Clock, we have a little over 327 million people in the United States (see here). If we multiply $906.00 times 327 million, we will arrive at the enormous figure of over 294 billion dollars spent on Christmas gifts in 2017 (using an online calculator). The credit card debt in our nation is estimated to be approaching the one trillion mark (see here, here, and an update here). See average credit score in every state here.
What do all of the above statistics indicate? They indicate a society with out of control spending habits (see AT article). Here are 11 common sense tips and tricks on controlling our spending habits. Here are 7 money saving tips to frugal living.
The Bible teaches us to be good stewards over the possessions that God has blessed us with (1 Corinthians 4:1-2; cf. 1 Peter 4:1-10), so that we might be able to give to others who have financial and other pressing needs ( 2 Corinthians 8:1-14 -- see here). Sad to say, but many times, the children of this world are wiser in their saving and spending habits than we who are supposedly spiritual (see here).
The principle that our Lord stated in Acts 20:35 still holds true, but note in that verse, that our giving is contingent on our willingness to "labor." Also see Ephesians 4:28; 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-10).
Beloved, there's an old maxim that states, "waste not, want not" (see article). If we are willing to deny ourselves of a few material things that we actually don't need, we will have more than enough to share with others, including the saving gospel of Christ.
---Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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