I know this subject has been discussed before, but I have a question. Our pastor spoke on tithing yesterday and both my dh and I have been convicted. We were not tithing, mainly because we felt we couldn't afford to. Now we wonder if we can afford NOT to! We were giving whenever we felt we could afford to, which really wasn't very often. We both know what the Bible says about tithing, but when we look at our income and the outgoing bills, it seems that there is not enough money to do both. I know this is a big faith issue and something God needs to work on us both about. Our question is, do we base the tithe on gross or net income? I know most say gross, but sometimes this doesn't make sense to me, because by the time the government takes their "share", there really isn't much left to tithe, save, pay bills, and buy groceries. We want to tithe and become debt free, but right now this all seems a little overwhelming to us. Any suggestions?

I'll share our experience and then you can take what you want from it. When I was working full time, we were not tithing. I wanted to stay home so we took a budgeting class at our church. According to the paperwork, we were already over $600 a month short. We put my vehicle up for sale (although it didn't sell for several months) and cut other expenses like cell-phone, cable tv, etc. Well, we decided that if I was going to stay home, then we needed to make sure we tithed to receive God's full blessing since we would be back in the hole again.

We tithe on the gross because that is the "first-fruit" (before the government takes its share). We have never gone without anything and we have paid more than $40,000 in debt in the past 4 years (that's not counting what we paid off before we started keeping track since I became a SAHM in 2003).

Although by looking at the figures on paper, we shouldn't have been able to do what we have. God blesses us by keeping our vehicles running longer and needing to be fixed less often. He blesses us by people sharing their hand-me-downs with us (we haven't had to buy the girls' clothes for the last 6 years except for one or two things each year). He blesses us with people sharing their abundance of eggs with us. He blesses us with the knowledge and ability to be better stewards of what we do have.

The bible tells us to test Him in this one area. We tested and He proved faithful!

It never makes sense on paper!!! We just do it because its right and God has never let us down. We have been blessed in so many ways!
We tithe on Gross. Like MM said... You cannot out give God! I'll be praying for Gods direction in this area! :pray:

So, if it comes down to tithing or paying a bill, do you put the bill off? I ask this because this is what it looks like it would come down to. Like I said, I know this is a HUGE faith issue and we need to take the step, but in our case I feel like it would be a HUGE leap. We are already living paycheck to paycheck and stretching as much as I think we can. I'm sure there are a few things we can cut out, but we've already cut quite a bit.

Why is this such a scary thing to do?

BTW: I am going to be attending a budgeting class that our church is offering on this coming Saturday. My dh wanted to go, but we don't have anyone to watch our kids. Since I'm the one that usually pays the bills, we decided that I should be the one to attend. I'm hoping that I can figure some things out there.

I think this would be a great question to ask at the budget class at your church... My opinion is do what you can to tithe if that means cutting way back on groceries... do you have cable? do you have luxuries that you could really do without until you get straightened out??? I know there are areas that I also need to work on just to take a load off of dh! I am excited for you Leah! This will be life changing for you guys!

I'll share our experience and then you can take what you want from it. When I was working full time, we were not tithing. I wanted to stay home so we took a budgeting class at our church. According to the paperwork, we were already over $600 a month short. We put my vehicle up for sale (although it didn't sell for several months) and cut other expenses like cell-phone, cable tv, etc. Well, we decided that if I was going to stay home, then we needed to make sure we tithed to receive God's full blessing since we would be back in the hole again.

We tithe on the gross because that is the "first-fruit" (before the government takes its share). We have never gone without anything and we have paid more than $40,000 in debt in the past 4 years (that's not counting what we paid off before we started keeping track since I became a SAHM in 2003).

Although by looking at the figures on paper, we shouldn't have been able to do what we have. God blesses us by keeping our vehicles running longer and needing to be fixed less often. He blesses us by people sharing their hand-me-downs with us (we haven't had to buy the girls' clothes for the last 6 years except for one or two things each year). He blesses us with people sharing their abundance of eggs with us. He blesses us with the knowledge and ability to be better stewards of what we do have.

The bible tells us to test Him in this one area. We tested and He proved faithful!


Did you do the Dave Ramsey budgeting class? How did you pay off $40,000 in debt? Would you mind giving us details? I'd like to be able to do the same thing.

Thanks!

Did you do the Dave Ramsey budgeting class? How did you pay off $40,000 in debt? Would you mind giving us details? I'd like to be able to do the same thing.

Thanks!

The first budgeting class we took was not a Dave Ramsey class. Although it showed us that we were short and needed to make some changes, that is about all it did. Jan. 2005 we started Financial Peace and it is since starting that class that we have paid off more than $40,000 in debt. Now granted we have had some large financial gifts from family to help in that, we have also had three children and a cut in pay since then as well.

What works for us is I sit down and "spend" the money on paper for the next month until I have a zero based budget. DH and I then go over it together and he lets me know if I need to make any changes. As Dave Ramsey always says, make sure you do what you need to live first and then pay the other bills. There were quite a few months that we couldn't afford to pay my college loan payment so my parents had to pay it because they were co-signers (we paid them back later) and we could only make the minimums on our credit cards (which we hated doing), but we always made sure that paid our house payment on time and had food to eat. That being said, we made major changes to our diet so we could spend less on our food. We even visited a food bank for a couple of months so we could make things do. We got really sick of eating the same things over and over, but we were willing to make that sacrifice to get out of debt. We made due with what we had and I learned how to fix things and make things myself. We prayed often and God always supplied (and still does) our needs.

I have a few home based businesses that God will bring business my way either right when we need a little extra money or just before so when the check arrives, so does another bill, but it is taken care of at least! DH also will try to pick up extra side work when he can and we know that if a bunch of people come to him at the same time needing auto work, that something is going to come up that we need that money for!

God is just so amazing that He will take care of us when we are faithful to Him. I would highly suggest taking part of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. If you think you can't afford it, check with the different locations that are offering it and see if they have a scholarship program. I asked about if I could make payments because we couldn't afford it all at once and I was told that the church board had approved to pay for anyone that wanted to take it but couldn't afford it. I know that my parents church also has scholarships because people will give for another couple (my parents have always given for another couple since they have gone through it and are now out of debt). God will provide a way if it is His timing for you to take the class. If you can't take the class, then at least read Financial Peace or Total Money Makeover.

Thanks for sharing MM. I would love to take the Dave Ramsey course! They have offered it twice now at our church, but it would cost $100, which we can't afford right now. I mentioned to my dh about asking if the church would pay for it, but he doesn't feel right doing that at this time. We haven't been attending there for even a year yet and we aren't members. I just reserved a copy of Financial Peace from our library. It's checked out right now, so who knows how long it will be before I get to read it.

Thanks for sharing MM. I would love to take the Dave Ramsey course! They have offered it twice now at our church, but it would cost $100, which we can't afford right now. I mentioned to my dh about asking if the church would pay for it, but he doesn't feel right doing that at this time. We haven't been attending there for even a year yet and we aren't members. I just reserved a copy of Financial Peace from our library. It's checked out right now, so who knows how long it will be before I get to read it.

Not that I'm going to change your DH's mind, but the church that we took the class at wasn't even our church and not even in the same denomination of where we attend. I saw in the paper that they were going to offer the class and were having an informational meeting. I went to that and the rest is history. Also, they provided child care and the parents were just asked to "donate" to help the kids as they could. We didn't give much while taking the classes, but by the end we gave a nice "bonus" because we had been doing so well with our budget.

That's encouraging MM!! They already started the 2nd class, so if they offer it again, I may just have to find out if they have some help for those who can't afford to pay at the moment. Hopefully they offer it again!! I know they limited the class size, so maybe they will offer it a few more times.

I have to agree with everything that has been said. We give God the firstfruits, as if we never even had it to begin with. God will supply the money for the bills and there are always ways to cut down. Coupons, no cable, cut a phone line if you have more than one (cell, landline), research cheaper internet, cut the collision off your car insurance and/or switch car insurance companies and/or raise your deductibles on insurance (home, car, etc.), make less trips out of the house (gas money), turn down the heat, turn off the lights, its amazing what all these things add up to. Making a weekly menu and grocery list has saved us a ton in just a few weeks. I throw out less food and spend less at the store.

You can do it. It will just take a bit of change and some getting used to. But God will bless you for it, I guarantee it!

God will supply the money for the bills and there are always ways to cut down. Coupons, no cable, cut a phone line if you have more than one (cell, landline), research cheaper internet, cut the collision off your car insurance and/or switch car insurance companies and/or raise your deductibles on insurance (home, car, etc.), make less trips out of the house (gas money), turn down the heat, turn off the lights, its amazing what all these things add up to. Making a weekly menu and grocery list has saved us a ton in just a few weeks. I throw out less food and spend less at the store.


I wanted to mention about cutting back. When we made our first budget during Financial Peace we were $15 short so DH called the insurance company and told them that we had to make changes so that we could cut at least $15. They worked it out and we were able to have a zero based budget (not counting the student loans).

We also switched internet providers because we could save $2 a month. Our heat got turned down as well.

You can do it. You just need to get creative. A couple of websites that helped me are:

Living on a Dime (http://www.livingonadime.com/)
Hillbilly Housewife (http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com/index1.htm)
The Dollar Stretcher (http://www.stretcher.com/index.cfm)

I also read all the Tightwad Gazette books from the library as well as Miserly Mom.

You can do it and I'm praying for success for each of you who are going to embark on the journey!

thanks for the websites mm...i like the sound of "Hillbilly Housewife" hehehe!

Another thing I've heard people do is make their menus for the week from the grocery inserts. Figure out whats on sale and use that to make a menu.

Another way to get more money in your pocket now is to adjust withholding from paychecks if you can. We liked getting that extra bonus money come tax return time but by adjusting w/h you get more money in your pocket now, rather than waiting til April (and letting the gov't make interest on your money!) Just don't go overboard where you have to end up paying taxes...

I grew up in a home where my parents thithed faithfully and were blessed in some very difficult times. In my own marriage, once my DH was convicted to tithe (over 15 years ago), we have tithed on the gross without exception ever since. Even during a time of unemployment many years ago, he tithed on his unemployment check. It was not always easy to make ends meet, but we never went hungry. God has met our needs through the good and bad of life. I agree with what the others have said about cutting back and thinking of creative ways to stretch our finances. Sometimes things just happen,(like an illness or a job loss) other times we make our own messes by bad decisions we make. I have rarely seen God just pluck people up out of their mess. It usually takes some hard work and sacrifice on our part. But,I believe when we are faithful to do our part, God is faithful to meet our needs. :praise: :)

Wow! ... I can't believe this is a topic right now. I have been struggling very much with this. And have been feeling troubled.

My parents raised a family of five on 1000 a month .. and they still gave ten percent if not a little more to God and God always took care of us each month .. in fact as kids I don't remember being poor. We would get huge bags of second hand clothes given to us and my sisters and I were super excited! .. it was like Christmas every time :D.

I make just a little more than my parents did back then. And since I've come back to God its been hard but I've been learning to trust in God .. give my situations to him instead of trying to do it all myself. One area I am so scared to trust in is tithing. So I do understand what you are saying lmy911 .. I know your fear.

I work at a home building center .. and as its winter business slows down .. so the hours I work have been cut back .. and its realy hurting. Let's just say I am waiting for cut-off notices to appear in my mail. I haven't been giving 10 percent as I'm scared to .. I've been giving what I felt I could. A couple weeks ago .. after I paid what I could to bills .. I had 60 dollars to last the kids and I two weeks. I have no idea how it happened but by the end of the two weeks .. I still had 15 dollars. I live in a small town .. no wal-marts near by .. but it still lasted. God does take care of his children!

My dad told me that this is the one area we can test God. He told me that many times when I was a child he challenged God ... if you provide 40 or 50 extra dollars a month from somewhere .. I will give it to you Lord. Guess What??? Every month my dad says he got money from another source. God proved himself to my dad. My dad has been encouraging me to trust God .. that he won't let me down. And after much trouble in my heart .. I have finally decided its time to trust my Lord.

If God can stretch what little money I have for food .. and can take care of the kids every month .. I know that he WILL bless and provide for me as I give to him, trust in him and walk with him. I wish I had just decided to trust him from the beginning and save myself all this stress and anxiety.

Just like my dad has challenged me and I'm taking this step .. I challenge you lmy911 .. trust in our Lord. He is so good and promises to bless us! If he is blessing and caring for others around you .. for these other wonderful people on this board .. he will most definetely do it for you .. and for me. I am praying for you :hug:

:praise: Ladies, I am looking forward to hearing some exciting stories of what God does as you step out in faith and trust him in this area. Keep us posted! :dance:

I am so thankful for all the encouraging posts!! I know this is a big leap of faith for us, but one that I think both my dh and I know we need to take.

I really need to take a good look at all of our expenses and see where we can cut out some things. We have already talked about going to just cell phones and also getting rid of the extra DVR box we have that we rarely use. Those two things will save us at least $45/mo. We are also in the process of refinancing our home. We have only lived here 4 years, but by refinancing it will lower our payment by $140/mo. There were some other things that led us to refinance, otherwise we probably wouldn't have even looked at that. I'm going to keep looking for those "extras" that we can do without! Thanks for all the suggestions!