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Hey, ever look at your budget
and feel like there's absolutely

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nothing you can cut, like every
single expense feels essential.

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Today we're getting real about how to
tell the difference between what you

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truly need and what you simply want.

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Hey there, and welcome back
to Your Daily as Ralph.

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I'm Ralph, and it's
great to have you here.

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As we keep building on our series, the Joy
of Living Below Your means, we're working

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towards breaking that cycle of financial
shame and doing it with confidence.

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Now, yesterday we scheduled that
all important weekly money check-in.

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Today we're digging deeper
into our spending itself.

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So you've got your budget draft,
maybe you're even tracking

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spendings, you're checking in.

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But when you look at the numbers,
perhaps you're still feeling stuck.

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You know you need, or you
want to reduce those expenses,

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maybe to pay off debt faster.

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Maybe you wanna save more
or just have some breathing

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room, or what I call margin.

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But when you look at each of these
categories, you think, I can't cut that.

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I need it.

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Everything starts to
feel like a necessity.

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From the streaming services to the daily
coffee to the latest phone upgrade, that

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feeling of being trapped, believe in,
there's absolutely no fat to trim in your

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budget because everything feels essential.

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I. That's the single challenge
we're digging into today.

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'cause it keeps us from making
progress because we can't identify

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where changes are possible.

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And here's the thing
you need to understand.

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Our culture is brilliant and convincing us
that our once are actually needs marketing

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messages constantly blur the lines.

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Plus we get used to certain conveniences
or luxuries in our lives and they

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start to feel essential over time.

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But the Bible encourages a much
different perspective, and Jesus

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tells us not to worry excessively
about food or clothes ' cause our

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heavenly Father knows our true needs.

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That's right in Matthew chapter six
and in one John chapter two, the Bible

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warns about letting worldly desires.

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And it says this.

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It says The lust of the flesh, the lust
of the eyes, and the pride of life.

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And it warns us not to let
those things take over.

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They're strong words, but
they're extremely useful.

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I see.

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Getting honest about needs versus
once requires us to push back

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against the cultural norms and even
our own internal rationalizations.

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So you might be asking, Ralph, how do
we break free from the feeling like

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every expense is, non-negotiable?

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How do we gain the clarity needed
to make intentional spending

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cuts if they're necessary?

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Well, a single crucial solution is this
to honestly and objectively distinguish

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between your true needs and your
discretionary wants within your budget.

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Think of it this way, needs, those are
those absolute essentials for survival

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and basic functioning in our society.

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General things like basic
housing, essential utilities like

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water and heat and electricity.

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It also includes things like core
food, staples, simple groceries.

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It also would include essential clothing
and basic transportation to work or

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to school and essential medications.

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But then there are these things
that we call wants, which is

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pretty much everything else.

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And this includes entertainment,
eating out vacations, hobbies, yes,

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those subscription services, fancy
coffee, upgraded electronics, brand

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name, clothing beyond their basic
function, convenience services, and

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you get the idea and so on and so on.

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And I'm betting I probably
named some of your vices there.

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I know I named many of mine.

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Now listen wants aren't necessarily
bad, but they are optional.

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And see, gaining this clarity
doesn't mean you have to

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eliminate all once immediately,

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but it does empower you to see exactly
where your discretionary spending

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lies, making it much clearer where
cuts could be made if needed to

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achieve your overall financial goals.

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The solution is this, it's
clarity through honesty.

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You gotta label your needs in once.

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Okay, so here's your one
action step for today.

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Grab your budget draft, or your
recent spending tracker and

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set aside 10 or 15 minutes.

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And what I want you to
do is go line by line.

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I want you to look at each
category or significant expense

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and ask yourself this question.

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And you gotta be, honestly, honestly,
ask yourself, is this a true need for

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survival and basic functioning, or
is it a want that enhances my life?

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But isn't essential.

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And then I want you to
label it really simple.

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I want you to write an N for a need
or a W for a want next to each item.

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I want you to be tough, but I
want you to be fair and listen.

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If you're married, do this
together because it might spark

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some interesting conversations.

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Now listen, no judgment yet.

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Just remember the goal today isn't
necessarily cutting, it's just

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honestly labeling and gaining clarity.

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See how much of your spending
falls into that want category.

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' cause the results might just surprise you.

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And now you might be asking, Ralph, why?

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Why do this labeling exercise?

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Because it directly attacks
that painful feeling of being

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stuck with no room to cut.

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It forces clarity and exposes
the reality of your discretionary

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spending, and it empowers you to show
exactly where you do have choices,

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which makes future decisions about
potential cuts so much less daunting.

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How about we pray together?

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Father God, thank you for
providing for our true needs.

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Lord, give us the wisdom and the honesty
today as we examine our spending.

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Lord, help my friend listening to
clearly distinguish between genuine needs

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and those discretionary wants without
making excuses or even feeling guilty.

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Grant them your perspective, Lord, rooted
in contentment and stewardship, not those

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worldly desires that are all around us.

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Lord, we ask that you help bring clarity,
and bring freedom and and empower wise

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choices as they manage their resources
that you've already entrusted to them.

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Lord, we just thank you for your abundant
grace and we ask this in Jesus name.

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Amen.

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Alright, well I want you to take
some time today for some honest

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reflection on your needs versus wants.

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I'm gonna tell you right now, it's gonna
be an eye-opening exercise for you.

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And remember this.

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Clarity is kindness to your future self.

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Okay, so we've identified needs and wants.

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Now tomorrow we're gonna go zoom in on
one very common want that adds up fast.

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So be sure to join me back here on
Ask Ralph as we explore a common

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want and the surprising impact
that small changes can make.

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And listen, if this episodes help
bring some clarity, do me a favor

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and please share it with somebody.

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You can find resources and links.

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In the show notes or@askralph.com,
and I'm gonna also ask you to please

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consider support in the show by going
to ask ralph podcast.com/support.

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So until tomorrow, seek honesty in your
finances and keep seeking him first.

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Stay financially savvy and God bless you.

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Have a great day today.