Are You Underspending?

Overspending. We’ve all done it. We’ve spent money we didn’t have on things we didn’t need but that made us feel better in the moment. Or we’ve lacked intentionality in our finances and ended up spending more than we make just because we weren’t paying attention.

But is it possible to go too far the other way? To “underspend”?

In a word, Yes! It is possible to underspend. Underspending may not cause the immediately obvious problems that overspending does, but it can have several negative impacts.

• Underspending can lead to lack of faith, as we rely on money rather than God for our provision and security.
• It can lead to lack of generosity, as in the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12:13-21)
• The restrictive environment of underspending can cause us to “binge spend” wastefully – much like yo-yo dieting.
• Underspending often leads to lack of joy, which impacts both our relationship with God and the way we reflect on God to others.

Podcast host James Lenhoff outlines the dangers of underspending and argues for a balanced, intentional approach that emphasizes stewardship over ownership, generosity over hoarding, and a sense of abundance over a sense of scarcity.