The board game Monopoly is simply an American classic. You, your parents, and even your grandparents probably owned this world famous game. The brilliance of Monopoly is that it gives each player the chance to walk away victorious whether they are 8 or 88 years old. With a little luck and good financial cents, you have just as good of a chance as everyone else to turn your initial $1,500 of Monopoly money into the ultimate real estate investment. Now... Read more
Here are two passages of scripture that challenge us to seek wisdom like we would seek out hidden treasures. Proverbs 2:3-4 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. Matthew 13:44 (Parable of the Hidden Treasure) The Kingdom of Heaven is like a treasure that a man discovered hidden in a field. In his excitement, he hid it again and sold everything he owned to get enough... Read more
I recently read the book Getting Things Done by David Allen. While I won’t give a full review of the book here, I will say that it was definitely motivating and encouraged me to set up a system to become more organized. If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve been overwhelmed by the number of projects you have going on at times. The feeling of ‘too many things, not enough time’ can be paralyzing. Even when you do find the... Read more
There’s a simple calculation that everyone should know: The Rule of 72. It’s an easy way to estimate how long it will take for you to double your money in terms of compound interest. Now if you’re interested in learning how to calculate compound interest by hand, we take some time to review our past article. So how does the rule of 72 work? You simply divide 72 by the projected interest rate that you hope to earn. The outcome... Read more
Many Americans are still feeling the pressure from the economy and a lot of people have turned to their retirement savings as an emergency. While it isn’t the first place you should turn to if you can’t make ends meet, it’s sometimes one of the only options left for struggling families. Before you tap into your 401(k) or 403(b), understand that there are certain provisions that are extended to you if you are going through a hardship. The IRS outlines... Read more
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) As Christians, we’ve been equipped with the most powerful resources ever – the Word of God. There’s no question in my mind that the Bible is the most relevant book for every personal, emotional, business, and financial issue that we face. With over... Read more
You’ve probably seen the show on TV that follows extreme couponers as they save hundreds of dollars at the grocery store by purchasing 100 bottles of BBQ sauce and 50 bottles of soda. That’s not realistic. Is it possible? Sure, but who really needs 100 bottles of BBQ sauce. My wife and I have saved thousands of dollars over the last few years by couponing, but we’re not extreme about it. Our shopping trips are much more realistic and very... Read more
My last post, Are Credit Cards Sinful, stirred up quite a bit of controversy. Most people agreed with the idea behind what I was saying, but felt I went too far calling credit card use sinful. Calling it a sin, in my opinion, gives the card more power than you have. Asking this question is the same as saying that anyone who gets a tax return is a sinner. Why not? You are giving a loan to the government, right?... Read more
With unemployment still higher than anticipated for 2012, many Americans are still struggling to find a job. It can be frustrating, especially for new college graduates who lack work experience. But instead of letting the national numbers discourage you from seeking out work, focus your attention on these job search strategies that you can do to separate yourself from the pack. The days of relying on a stunning resume to set you apart are long gone. Recruiters are flooded with... Read more
Do you ever feel like your work is worthless, like you’re just going through the motions waiting for something better to come along? That’s usually the breaking point for most people, and the ultimate question of what to do with my life seems to repeat over and over in your mind. Step back in history to about 500 B.C. to a time where kings ruled the world and had servants for nearly every task. If you can imagine, there was... Read more
Faith and Finance
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