Who is Your Foxhole Friend?

If battling debt is like war, who is your foxhole friend?

I’m talking about the one person who’s got your back in the fight for financial freedom. The person who will encourage you, hold you accountable, and tell you what you need to hear…not just what you want to hear.

A New Application To A Common Idea

It’s common to have accountability partners when it comes to diet, exercise and even prayer. But it seems financial accountability often falls by the wayside. After all, we live in a culture where it’s awkward or even taboo to talk about personal finances, especially debt. So we strain and struggle on our own, leaving ourselves open to temptation.

What’s one little credit card purchase, anyway? No one will know.

When you have an accountability partner, someone does know when you step out of line. And that can make all the difference in the world.

What Are Foxhole Friends?

I heard about “foxhole friends” for the first time during a recent message at church. The speaker, Stuart Hall, wasn’t specifically talking about money; he was talking about spiritual warfare and how Satan isn’t one to loudly announce his attacks. He’s much more likely to sneak up from behind, and that’s when we need a foxhole friend—someone who can watch our backs, protect our blind spots and keep us on track when we start to go astray.

I started thinking about the foxhole friends in my life—the people I know I can count on when the heat is on and the battle is raging. One friend keeps me accountable when it comes to my health. She’ll set me straight when I’m slacking off in my workouts or trading too many salads for doughnuts. Another friend is great when it comes to career and work issues. And my husband and I have several couples we can count on to help us keep our marriage strong. But when it comes to financial accountability…well, we pretty much hear crickets.

That needs to change. Even though my husband and I are a team committed to beating debt, it’s still far too easy to make emotional decisions that can set us back financially. Whether it’s a vacation, a new piece of furniture or just an extra dinner out, it’s hard to say no to each other when we both want something. But a friend who’s on the outside looking in can offer a different perspective. She can see a blind spot we may have missed, offer up timely wisdom and watch our backs. She’s also not emotionally invested in that potential purchase, and that’s really important.

Backed By The Book

Need some evidence that foxhole friends are essential? Look no further than the book of Proverbs.

He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Proverbs 13:20

A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. Proverbs 18:24

Better is open rebuke than hidden love. Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses. Proverbs 27:5-6

It may not be easy. It may not be comfortable. In fact, it may be downright awkward. But I think the benefits of having a financial foxhole friend outweigh the negatives. In the long run, I’d rather be rebuked by a friend than ruined by my own pride.

So, who’s your foxhole friend?