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10Oct 2014

When Willpower Isn’t Enough: 5 Tips for Staying on Financial Track

Continuing Financial Growth

I’ve heard it said that there’s a difference between “simple” and “easy.” The steps to getting and staying out of debt are simple, but they’re not easy. If they were, everyone would be debt free.

 

Here’s another truth about financial freedom: it takes more than willpower. Maybe you’re struggling to get (or stay) on financial track. Or maybe you’re doing pretty well but could use a little boost to propel you to the next level. If that’s the case, check out these five tips and be inspired to take that extra step toward financial peace.

 Have an accountability partner

We’ve posted about the importance of having a “foxhole friend” to keep you accountable when it comes to spending habits and financial goals. If you’re married, the natural choice is probably your spouse, but it’s also a good idea to have a friend or another couple to keep you on the straight and narrow.

This doesn’t mean revealing your salary, your 401(k) balance and every little detail of your budget. It’s about finding encouragement, seeking wise counsel, and having someone in your life who isn’t afraid to say, “no” to frivolous purchases and bad financial choices.

 Post goals and reminders where you’ll see them often

There’s something powerful about speaking a goal out loud. It makes it real. Equally powerful, I believe, is the act of writing (or typing) out your goal.

Do you want to be debt free by next Christmas? Write it down.

Do you want to save $40,000 to put down on a house? Write it down.

Post a sticky note where you’ll see it. Use your calendar app to remind yourself to take action. Whatever you do, make it concrete and visible.

Be part of a small group

Whatever challenge you may be facing, it’s important to remember you’re not alone. But sometimes we have no way of knowing someone else has gone through the same thing we’re experiencing unless we fess up and put ourselves out there.

Make it a priority to get involved in some kind of small group or Bible study. Many churches also offer financial education classes, which is a great way to learn about a biblical view of money while meeting others who are in the same boat. You can share ideas and help each other reach your goals faster.

Create space for a daily “quiet time.”

If you have financial problems, chances are they didn’t just fall out of the sky. There are underlying beliefs and habits that led to the problems.

So, how do we change our attitudes and fix what’s broken? Through daily, intimate time with God.

Whether you have to wake up 30 minutes earlier, find a quieter lunch break spot or skip a TV show, do what it takes to make time with God a priority.

Dive into the Bible.

Journal.

Pray.

It’s amazing how a few minutes spent communing with God can change us from the inside out.

Track and celebrate your progress

Nothing is quite as motivating as a win. When I’m working to lose weight and I see that I’ve dropped a couple of pounds since my last weigh-in, I get an extra pep in my step, and I’m motivated to work even harder. The same is true for most of us when it comes dropping debt or hitting a financial goal.

Track your progress carefully and don’t let a win slip by without some kind of recognition. We’re more likely to keep on pushing when we mark our successes and celebrate them well.

The celebration doesn’t have to be lavish; the simple act of pausing to recognize an achievement can go a long way.

So, are you ready to get that next win?

Go!

 

10Sep 2014

Building Your Blessing Fund

Christian Debt Relief, Continuing Financial Growth
The Blessing Fund

Charitable giving is a noble endeavor and a cornerstone of Christian money management, but it often leaves us grappling with the question of allocation – how do we balance our personal finances, obligations to our church, and the desire to contribute to other worthy causes? Our solution—the Blessing Fund. Read on to learn more.

We recently wrote about 30 ways to store up treasures in heaven.

It was basically a blessing list, with ideas that included everything from sponsoring at Compassion child to paying for the person behind you at the drive-thru.

What we didn’t discuss was the fact that many of the ideas involve spending money to bless others. We also didn’t talk about where that money should come from.

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