About five years ago, I got into PF blogs and started tracking my net worth. Fortunately, I was never a big “buy on debt” guy – and always paid cash for cars after a brief car loan on my first car – but wasn’t paying much attention to net worth building before I got married, and spent more money on fancy electronics than I probably needed.

Also, one of my big expenses ten years ago was long-distance phone calls; I averaged $2-$300/month and sometimes got over $500/mon. The massive drop in long distance rates and universal calling plans helped hugely, as did getting married and having my wife move from China to here, where I can just chat with her instead of calling at $0.50/min (in 1998). I also spent way too much money and damaged my health by eating fast food pretty much every day, often more than once per day.

In 1998, my net worth was probably around $150K. It’s now well in seven figures and growing by about $150K/year.

If you don’t go to church or don’t tithe, fine. But, I don’t think you should question what is my choice.

I tithe because I feel it is the right thing to do based on my belief in the Bible as God’s word. If you don’t believe that, that’s fine.

The better question is; why should the church’s work be supported? The majority of churches and charities are like people, they exist, but don’t do much.

I’m fine with giving to a church but tithing is another way for humans to control other humans. Giving every time you go, gives you control.

“Don’t you think if there was a god, he or she would rather you save the 10% for your retirement or family or college for your children than give it to a church?”

How is the work of the church to be supported?

I hate debt!,

I hear ya. You have to start from where you are. You’ll get there.

Oh, thanks for getting the posts going faster, that was kind of confusing.

then once a month or so (or every other) we get a treat from amazon.com that was extra…movies or stuff that would normally come out of a normal ‘budget’.