It’s been seven days since Christians commemorated Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of the Lent Period…a day of repentance, when Christians confess their sins and profess their devotion to God.
Lent is a period of 40 days during which Christians remember the events leading up to and including the death of Jesus Christ, whose life and teachings are the foundation of Christianity. The period is called Lent after an old English word meaning ‘lengthen’.
Lent period doesn’t have to be only about fasting and abstinence from things that are unholy, it can also be a time to make decisions about our finances and savings culture. This is the best time to add extra colour to your way of life in order to make life more meaningful.
In this regard, here are six best financial ideas for lent period;
- Don’t buy things you don’t need — Break the chain of impulse buying by looking away this lent period. Some people buy things they don’t need for various reasons; from trying to impress, to having a shopping habit that needs to be broken. If you discipline yourself to not do the impulse buying for the remainder of this lent period then you may be on a path to saving more money and being able to take on low risk investments.
- Give up Soda — This is harder than most people think. There are people who are addicted to soda. If you feel the urge to drink soda, take a glass of water instead and go a step further by saving the money for those soda drinks in your Penn Wallet. At the end of this period, you may have saved a substantial amount of money enough to recharge your phone monthly (and also take advantage of PennyTree’s 2.5% instant cashback offer on all airtime purchases) and probably realize you can survive without drinking soda. Your general health will also be better for it
- Donate to an NGO — Lent period is much more than fasting and praying, its about doing a bit more good in the world. An act of kindness lasts long and gives a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. Donating to an NGO also means that you are giving to the underprivileged children and adults in order to improve their circumstances and lessen their hardship through the work that is done by the NGOs. We have non-governmental organizations in Nigeria working tirelessly for the betterment of the society and the people, shinning light and advocating on different issues ranging from mental health, to domestic violence, out of school children, rape victims and so on. Seek them out and donate something this lent period. Nothing is too small. NGOs are reliant on the support of philanthropic organizations and individuals like you.
- Clear your debt — have you borrowed money from multiple fintech companies because of the ease to access these loans? Then this lent period is a time to rethink your choices and plan towards paying back. What does the bible say about debt? Psalm 37 vs 21 — “The wicked borrow and do not repay but the righteous give generously”. Repaying your debt honours God and it’s the morally right thing to do.
- Start saving — Saving is important — that’s the message. In 2022, if you are not saving, then you just do not want to save. As christians, if we are to put our hope in God, it does not mean that we should not take charge by planning ahead for the future — saving, investing and diversifying. Proverbs 13:16 reads — A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t and even brags about it. There is nothing to brag about when it comes to not saving especially with varying fintech solutions like PennyTree which automates savings, makes it seamless and ensures you earn up to 12.5% on your savings. You have no excuse.
- Cut down on your spending — This is the time to reflect on how you’ve been spending on a daily basis before the lent period. Have you been spending more than you make? Were there times you bought some things you really didn’t need? Are you now realizing where your money has been going? This is the best time to note all these points and work towards being better financially.
May God’s light guide our day and may His spirit bring us peace. Amen