As we welcome the arrival of Spring on September 1st, it's the perfect moment to refresh your financial outlook! Here at The CS Group, we're excited to celebrate our 17th anniversary this month. After nearly two decades of assisting South African families in breaking free from debt, we want to share an important insight with you:
Your financial future begins with speaking intentionally about where your money goes.
The Hebrew letter Pey (פ) - the 17th letter of the Hebrew alphabet meaning "mouth" or "speech" - perfectly captures what we've learned: just as every word should have purpose, every rand should have an assignment.
The Problem with Budgeting
After 17 years of debt counselling, we've seen families earning R15,000 per month achieve remarkable financial stability, while others earning R50,000+ drown in debt. The difference isn't the amount - it's the approach.
Why Most Budgets Fail
Budgeting in your head doesn't work. We've never met someone who achieved lasting financial freedom by managing money mentally. Your mind forgets, justifies, and rationalizes spending decisions.
A budget is done on paper or on a template (Excel, sheets). Budgeting is not done in your head - it needs to be written down. This isn't just practical advice - it's Biblical principle made practical.
You need to know where your money is going. Most South Africans can tell you their salary to the cent, but ask them where last month's money went, and you'll get vague answers about groceries, fuel, and "stuff."
The Mindset Shift That Changes Everything
Here's what transforms families from financial chaos to financial freedom:
A budget is there to free you, not to restrain you.
Budgeting doesn't restrict you - it restores you to God's original design for financial stewardship.
Budgeting teaches you to become intentional with every financial decision rather than reactive to every financial crisis.
Why More Money Often Means More Problems
In our 17 years of experience, we've observed a pattern that affects South Africans across all income levels:
When you have more - you will spend more!
The Tale We See Repeatedly
We have seen people who had little and came a far way with that little. We have seen people who have so much and still have so much debt, as they didn't spend their money wisely - they up their lifestyle which they could no longer afford.
The family earning R18,000 who budgets every rand often has more financial peace than the family earning R65,000 who never tracks their spending.
Breaking Free from Financial Bondage
Poverty is a mindset. It's not about how much you earn - it's about how intentionally you manage what you have.
You can't manage what you can't track. This simple truth has liberated thousands of families from financial stress.
The Pey Principle: Speaking Life Over Your Finances
The Hebrew letter Pey (פ) represents the mouth and the power of speech. Just as our words have creative power, our financial decisions speak either life or death over our future.
What Are Your Finances Speaking?
Unintentional spending speaks:
- Chaos and confusion
- Lack of control
- Fear about the future
- Bondage to circumstances
Intentional budgeting speaks:
- Order and peace
- Stewardship and wisdom
- Hope for the future
- Freedom and choice
The Foundation: Tithing First
Tithing is measured in money, but tithing is part of worship. This isn't just religious obligation - it's spiritual positioning for financial breakthrough.
When you don't have money to tithe, remember:
- The miracle starts with what you have in your hand
- God can bless what you release
- God can multiply what you have
- God multiplies what you surrender
The CS Group's 17-Year Testimony
When Bernidene Thieroff started CS Group in 2008, she received a prophetic word that she would help people in their time of need. Seventeen years later, we've seen this fulfilled:
- Families facing home repossession now own their homes debt-free
- Individuals who couldn't afford groceries now have emergency funds
- Couples on the brink of divorce due to financial stress now have peaceful marriages
- People who felt hopeless about money now teach others financial wisdom
This is what happens when you align your budgeting with Biblical principles.
The Zero Balance Movement
Every rand should have an assignment.
Zero balance means you spent intentional. Every rand of income should be assigned to a category - expenses, savings, debt repayment, or giving. If there's money "left over," it hasn't been properly assigned.
This isn't about having zero money left - it's about having zero unassigned money. Every rand knows its job before you earn it.
Ready for Practical Application?
Understanding these principles is just the beginning. In our next blog post, we'll give you the practical tools to implement everything we've discussed today:
Coming Next Week: "Your Free Biblical Budget Template: Step-by-Step Guide to Financial Freedom"
We'll share:
- Our budget tool
- Step-by-step instructions for South African families
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- When to seek professional debt counselling help
Spring is here, and your season of financial renewal starts with speaking life over your money. Join us next week as we put these principles into action!
CS Group - 17 Years of Faith-Based Financial Freedom