Money Saving Tips

“There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.” — I Corinthians 12:6

Tithing–giving money to your church to help with outreach programs–is at the foundation of the Christian faith. Too often, however, as our budgets get stretched, we struggle to find money for the church. One creative way to find money for your tithe is to start a “side gig,” that is, something that makes money other than your regular job. Below are just a few ideas to start you thinking:

Ways to Find Extra Money with a Side Gig

1. Sell your stuff. Virtually every family has too much “stuff.” Books, CDs, games and other media can be sold easily via the Internet. Check with bookscouter.com to see who is offering the best price. Of course, traditional methods like garage sales and consignment stores work well for big items.

2. Get creative. Does your family enjoy crafting? Online outlets like etsy.com and eBay make it easy and affordable to open an online craft shop.

3. Put the kids to work. Most neighborhoods have single or no-child households that need leaves raked, gutters cleaned and lawns mowed. Suggest your teens work for neighborhoods a couple of days a month to benefit the church. It’s a good lesson and they’ll be helping their neighbors, too.

4. Perform a service. Are you good with pets and have time at home during the day? Consider starting a dog walking service. Do your neighbors travel often for business? Offer to take in their mail and watch their house for a small fee. There are dozens of easy services that you can do from home in your spare time.

5. Start a blog. What was once a way to share thoughts and pictures with friends and family is now a great way to make money. Pick a topic you’re passionate about and a free platform like blogger.com. You can monetize even the simplest blog easily, using companies like Amazon.com, Commission Junction and/or Google Ad Sense. Plus, blogging is fun.

Debt consolidation is another way to free up some of your paycheck. If you’re paying multiple credit card companies or installment loans every month, consolidating your debt could help you get back on track and free up some extra cash each month, to tithe or use for other budget items. To find out more about debt consolidation, talk to one of our Christian debt counselors at 877-232-5109.

When it comes to debt relief programs and ensuring a debt-free future, you have four main options available. How do you know which one is right for you?

Here’s a quick summary to help you make the best decision.

Debt Relief Option #1 – Debt Consolidation

While a common consideration for those with high credit card debt, debt consolidation offers some fairly significant disadvantages.

1. Debt consolidation does not reduce the overall amount of your debt. With a debt consolidation loan you’ll still pay back 100% of your debt, plus interest. A debt consolidation loan basically transfers your credit card debt from one place to another.
2. Debt consolidation loans are usually “secured” loans that cannot be lowered or negotiated. This could put your home, car, or other personal assets at risk in the event of default.
3. Funds from the debt consolidation loan are used to pay off your credit card debt. For some people, having credit cards with zero or low balances is too much of a temptation. Before they know it, they’re back in the same position again with high credit card debt.

Do your research before you choose Debt Consolidation. It’s a decision you’ll be living with for many years to come.

Debt Relief Option #2 – Credit Counseling

Credit counseling organizations usually try to reduce the interest rates and fees associated with your debt. Like debt consolidation, though, credit counseling doesn’t actually reduce the amount you owe. You’re still responsible for 100% of your total balance.

Many people are also surprised to learn that credit counseling can actually cause your monthly payment to go up. If you’re looking for some immediate financial relief and want to have more money in your pocket for rent, food, tithing, and more, credit counseling may not be the best option for you.

Debt Relief Option #3 – Bankruptcy

Yes, bankruptcy will often eliminate all of your debts… but it also produces some significant negative consequences that you should be aware of.

• The bankruptcy will show on your credit report for at least seven years
• It will be much harder to obtain loans or other forms of credit in the future
• The higher interest rates you pay as a result of filing bankruptcy may offset any gains you received from eliminating your debt
• You’ll likely have unexpected attorney expenses due to laws that were recently enacted
• A credit counseling course will be required within six months of filing bankruptcy…even if you have already taken one
• Bankruptcy will stay on your court records for 20 years and could easily be uncovered when you apply for a job, a loan, or rent an apartment

In addition, bankruptcy has a social stigma that many people prefer to avoid. Think long and hard before choosing bankruptcy as a debt relief solution. In most cases, it should be your last choice.

Debt Relief Option #4 – Debt Settlement

The three previous debt relief solutions all have some fairly significant negative consequences to their use – from not reducing the overall amount of your debt to taking five years or more to get you out of debt to potentially increasing your monthly payments.

Debt settlement, though, offers some of the best features of the other methods and eliminates many of the negatives. That’s why we believe that debt settlement is a great choice for those looking to reduce or eliminate their debt.

With debt settlement you’ll:

• Immediately lower your monthly payment
• Reduce your credit card debt
• Become debt-free in as little as 24 months
• Pay no fees until your debt is reduced

Have more questions or want to learn more about the FaithWorks Financial debt settlement program? Visit our FAQ page or click here to receive a free consultation and quote from one of our friendly Christian Debt Advisors.

Finally…the hard work is done.

You’ve reviewed your debt relief options (including debt consolidation, credit counseling and bankruptcy) and have determined that debt settlement is the right choice for you.

Perhaps it was because you could get started for free. Or maybe you liked how quickly debt settlement could help you reduce your debt. In any event, it’s great to have the decision made.

Now what?

Well, you want to be sure to choose a debt settlement company that is right for your personal situation. Here are 7 quick tips for choosing a reputable debt settlement company.

1. Make sure you select a company that follows FTC regulations. Unfortunately, there are some unscrupulous companies out there. The FTC recently stepped in to help protect consumers. You can also protect yourself by choosing an FTC-compliant company.
2. Don’t pay any upfront fees. In fact, there should be no fees until your debt is reduced. FaithWorks Financial believes that you should ‘Get results first…pay fees later’. You’ll want to choose a company that has a similar philosophy.
3. Avoid debt settlement companies that don’t offer a free consultation. The consultation will give you a window into how the company works and help you gauge how responsive their debt advisors are. You deserve to work with experts who will quickly respond to your questions and who put your wants and needs at the top of their priority list.
4. During the free consultation make sure you ask the debt advisor if he or she is the person you will be working with throughout the debt settlement process. Many companies have sales teams that close the sale, leaving you to work with someone else for the duration of the program. At FaithWorks Financial we believe in developing a long-term partnership with our members. That is why we try to limit your communications to no more than two of our Advisors. You’re treated as an individual, not an account number. Your Christian Debt Advisor will take the time to learn about your unique circumstances and be with you through the entire process. This personalized approach can help you reduce your credit card debt even more and save you as much money as possible.
5. Get as much upfront information as possible on how long the debt settlement process will take and how much it will cost. FTC guidelines require that these details be communicated to you…so don’t let a company beat around the bush!
6. Make sure your funds are held at a third-party financial institution in an FDIC-insured escrow account. Avoid companies that ask you to send funds directly to them. It’s your money. You should have complete access and be able to make withdrawals at any time.
7. Consider a Christian Company. Faith-based companies often take a more ethical approach to business and may be more likely to look out for your best interests.

Have questions or want to know more? Click here to receive a free quote and consultation.