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    RE:  Spoken For (Obligatory) and Not Spoken For (Discretionary)                        As of   August 2007                             

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        When we pursue our individual life styles, we make use of what Jim Bramer calls  "Spoken For",   (or Obligatory) money decisions  --- or we make decisions about money that are "Not Spoken For" (or Discretionary).

        An option when we establish your  Spending Control  system, is to place your receipts into only these two categories  (yea, BuxBoxes)  and especially control your spending per items within the "Not Spoken For" (or Discretionary) area.  Discipline Discipline Discipline.  

        Of course, we also make prayerful prudent decisions when we obligate our self in the "Spoken For"  (or Obligatory) areas of our life.

        I trust that the sample list below will help you be the stewards that our Lord wants you to be. 

	(1) Not Spoken For	(2) Spoken For
	Auto/Vehicle Operations - not essential	Auto/Vehicle Operations - essential
	Church Offerings etc	Auto/Vehicle Payments
	Clothing - not essential	Church Tithes and Pledges - etc
	Dental - as needed	Clothing - essential
	Eating Out - Restaurant or Fast Food	Debt - College Loans etc
	Entertainment and/or Recreation costs	Debt - Old Credit Card Pay off
	Gifts to Family, etc.	Groceries - essential
	Groceries - non essential	House Payment or Rent
	Investments for Retirement or the future	Household Equipment Payment
	Residence Maintenance - not essential	Insurance - Life
	School/Education/Activity Costs	Insurance - Property - Vehicles
	SetASides for any of these in future	Insurance Medical/dental expenses
	Utilities - TV and Internet/Cel Phones	Residence Maintenance - essential
	Vacation Costs	SetASides for any of these in future
		Taxes - Income (3)
		Taxes - Property
		Utilities - essential
	(1) Defined as "your optional choices that you make"
	(2) Defined as "associated with a need/promise/agreement"  This could be with the Lord, Self or Vendor/Provider;
	(3) Defined as "usually not an option due to employer withholdings"

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         The foregoing is provided by a retired professional with over three decades of Ministry Finance experience. Contact Jim@bcidot.org if you have comments or questions.  UPTD: April 27, 2009  

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