How to Begin Putting Away for a Rainy Day

“The person who doesn’t know where his next dollar is coming from usually doesn’t know where his last dollar went.” (Unknown)

We are surrounded by exhortations to spend, spend, and spend.  We’re told that the way to bring back our economy is by increasing our purchases at the mall. And so, we find ourselves and our nation deeper and deeper in debt. Learning to save and to stock away for “a rainy day” is especially hard given the current tone.  But wise preparation requires the habit of saving.  We want to have resources put away for our times of need.

You don’t have to start rich to end rich.  Countless individuals, with a variety of educational, social, and economical backgrounds, have risen from poverty to success.  They have done so through the disciplines of frugality.  Making wise financial choices now and tomorrow and every day thereafter will yield rich reward.  Control your spending and increase your savings.  Is it really that simple?  It is.  Is it easy?  It is not.  But the ease of mind obtained by wise financial preparation is well worth the hard work.

This Day in Church History

April 27, 1667 – Milton’s Classic, Paradise Lost is sold for publication.  This date is significant in the history of literature for a transaction that occurred. On this day, Milton sold the most magnificent epic in the English language, conveying the rights for Paradise Lost to publisher, Samuel Simmons.

The blind poet’s epic poem required twelve books to tell. In it he details the rebellion of Satan and the fall of man. Milton presented his epic in blank verse, avoiding the use of rhyme, which might make the words seem trivial.

A Puritan, Milton fought with Oliver Cromwell against the English King Charles I in the English Civil War (August 22, 1642 – September 3, 1651). No doubt this conflict and his disdain for the king helped him frame the sentiment he ascribed to Satan: “Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heav’n.”

Milton earned a paltry £ 5 with promise of £5 more at publication and £5 for each reprinting. According to the agreement entered that April day the number of copies to be printed with each impression was limited. “[The] impression shall be accounted to be ended when thirteen hundred books of the said whole copy, or manuscript imprinted shall be sold or retailed off to particular reading customers. . .” Millions have sold since.