Everyone should have an emergency fund, no one disagrees with that. But there is considerable variation in opinions as to how large an emergency fund should be. The specific size should always be based on a combination of individual needs and preferences, but if you’re looking for some guidance, below are some recommendations. A $1,000 emergency fund The idea of a $1,000 emergency fund has grown quite popular, not the least of which since it’s been advocated heavily by Dave... Read more
1. Pay God First Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. It’s important to understand that money shouldn’t’ be the sole reason behind why we work each day. Our hope doesn’t lie in the dollar, euro, or gold; it’s founded on Christ. Personal finance is no different. When we acknowledge our dependence on Christ, we can start to see how faithful God really is. This is why giving is so important. We give so that others might... Read more
The thought of being an expert at anything can be intimidating, especially when it comes to money. But you don’t need a degree in finance to become a money saving expert. You just need a little creativity and an open mind. If you’re tired of living paycheck to paycheck, you can learn to spend less and save more with these money saving tips. But before you can really succeed, you need to: – Have a plan Your budget and savings... Read more
Saving for retirement comes with a dizzying array of options. Which retirement account should you choose? Which investments within that account do you really need? What if you make the wrong account choice and can’t get a specific investment that you need? With so many options many people find themselves in analysis paralysis. They aren’t sure which the best decision is, so they don’t make any decision at all. This delays their investment of funds for retirement which eventually means... Read more
$23,186. This is the average debt load a student will end up with after graduating college. If you’re like the 66% of all undergraduate students who have taken a student loan, you probably want to get rid of those things as fast as possible. It’s easy to get caught up in the borrowing maze in college and managing your loans can become a headache quite fast. With lenders selling your loan to other places and changing their name – it’s... Read more
It’s fascinating to read the parables of Jesus because there always seems to be something new that comes from it. That’s how I feel about the parable of the sower. The parable is simple: the sower (Christ) scatters his seeds very generously and it ends up on four different types of terrain. Some land on the side of the road, some on rocks, others in thorny soil, and some in good soil. The first three groups of seed die and... Read more
Every year resolutions are made for the New Year and start strong for the month of January. In the swing of things, you coast into February but then comes March. With tax season approaching, the resolutions take a back seat and it’s all down hill from there. How can you make resolutions that last? It starts before you even begin the newfound habits. Before you make your resolutions, start with the following in mind: 1.Impactful Your resolution must have meaning... Read more
The holidays are great, but buying gifts can get expensive. Real expensive. But if you’re like me, you enjoy giving gifts to people and watching them open it on Christmas day. Even better is giving someone a homemade gift that you invested your own time and energy creating. Making a homemade Christmas gift can be economical and thoughtful at the same time. If you’re the DIY type of person, consider one of these 20 homemade Christmas gift ideas to make... Read more
For many people, God and football go in the Sunday box, chores go into the Saturday box, and work, stress, and more stress go into the Monday through Friday box. Sometimes, we will take a vacation day to get some chores done, or we might take a full week off for a stressful road-trip somewhere. Of course, before we go on this stressful trip, we need to worry about: Accommodations Bathroom stops Food Which highways we hate because we got... Read more
Abraham Lincoln Washington, DC October 3, 1863 An excerpt from Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day proclamation. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens…to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also…commend to His tender care all those who have become... Read more
Faith and Finance
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