Bountiful: The Heart of Money Management

It’s really nice when things are easy and effortless. Things like convenience stores, food delivery, concession stands, and even vending machines make getting some of our basic needs a little easier to get. But, there’s a paradox to convenience: they tend to enhance one aspect of our life but take away from another aspect of our life. So, how do we determine whether the convenient option is the way to go? In this episode, Gary and Christy talk about the inconvenience of conveniences, examples of this paradox, and questions to ask ourselves to figure out if conveniences are worth it.

Episode Resources

• https://talkingcents.consumercredit.com/2018/02/05/the-cost-of-convenience/
• https://20somethingfinance.com/the-real-cost-of-convenience/
• https://www.treehugger.com/whats-real-cost-convenience-4855555

For many people there’s a stigma regarding talking about money, so much so that it’s a topic that’s rarely discussed. Unfortunately, avoiding this topic doesn’t make it go away nor does it mean that our finances will be in good shape.

Why should we talk about it? To whom should we talk about money? What should we talk about regarding finances? Gary and Christy discuss these and other related questions on this episode.

Episode Resources

• Link to see and purchase the book The Repossession of Riley the Puppy – https://www.amazon.com/Repossession-Riley-Puppy-Edward-Burrell/dp/1937550028

Wealth discrimination involves deciding how you treat someone based on how much money they have & what you think they do with it. We can discriminate against the poor or the rich or the middle class simply because of their financial situation (or their perceived financial situation). In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about this topic and discuss what wealth discrimination looks like, whether it’s just a political issue or truly an ethical issue, and how to make sure we don’t discriminate against someone based on their financial situation.

Being a good steward of our blessings includes being a good steward of our jobs. The Bible instructs us to work heartily, as for the Lord, because while our employers reward us monetarily, the Lord rewards us eternally.

Our first job is usually not our last. Many of us will work for more than one company, but how do we know whether it’s time for us to make a change like that?

How do you know whether it’s time to get another job? We usually see indications that signal whether we’re employed in a good spot or not, but how do we tell the difference between a sign that reads “It’s Time To Go” and another that reads “You Can Push Through It”?

Is it time to move on when your favorite colleague leaves? What about if the economy changes? What if you’re just not feeling it? These are a few of the questions Christy & Gary will address in this episode.

Episode Resources

• https://www.moneytalksnews.com/slideshows/signs-that-its-time-to-find-a-new-job/
• https://www.thebalancecareers.com/top-good-reasons-to-quit-your-job-2061010
• https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-can-i-tell-it-is-time-to-move-on-to-a-new-job-2386338
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2020/01/23/the-bad-outweighs-the-good-when-its-time-for-a-new-job/#4610669cad16

When Jesus says, “You cannot serve God and money,” that can come across as an overly obvious statement. Who would even try to serve God & money? Nevertheless, money can deceive us, drawing us away from our Maker, and we could change our allegiance without realizing what we’re doing. In this episode, we discuss this idea of trying to serve God and money, and we talk about some reminders to help us keep our devotion to the Creator.

Have you ever received a message notifying you that your personal information has been compromised? Have you ever had your credit card number stolen? These are just a couple of examples of how identity theft works, and Gary & Christy talk about that in this episode. They discuss what identity theft is, who is at risk, how to protect yourself, and what to do if you are a victim of this crime. Just like we safeguard our houses by locking doors and windows, we safeguard our personal finances through good stewardship.

Episode Resources
https://identitytheft.gov

• https://www.ftc.gov
• https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action
• Here are the major nationwide credit reporting agencies:
  • https://www.transunion.com
  • https://www.equifax.com/personal/
  • https://www.experian.com
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/02/20/10-steps-to-protect-against-identity-theft/#4954a4ca64d7
• https://www.moneyunder30.com/seven-signs-risk-identity-theft
• https://wps.fidelity.com/Security/protectIdentity_preLogin.html?=

Gary and Christy talk about how we can use our material blessings & share with others. The Bible has a lot to say about sharing, particularly in 1 Timothy 6:18-19 – (The rich in this present age) are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share…

Other passage include:

• Hebrews 13:16 – Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
• Proverbs 14:31 – Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors Him.
• Romans 12:13 – Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Episode Resources

• Link to House to House Evangelism Page: https://housetohouse.com/category/evangelism/

In this episode, Gary and Christy talk about the importance of being on time with our finances, specifically as it relates to our personal obligations, our jobs, our bills, and our savings. They discuss potential pitfalls to avoid and ways to make sure we can make the best use of our time (Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5).

Episode Resources

• https://www.thesimpledollar.com/financial-wellness/feeling-overwhelmed-by-big-financial-goals/
• https://medium.com/swlh/how-to-get-started-when-you-are-feeling-overwhelmed-32f7b6f424b1
• https://ballastplan.com/the-hidden-benefits-of-saving-early-in-life/
• https://www.cydcor.com/blog/2017/04/7-reasons-being-on-time-matters/
• https://www.inc.com/marla-tabaka/chronically-late-people-are-not-trying-to-annoy-or-disrespect-you-in-fact-it-has-nothing-to-do-with-you.html

Have you experienced the frustration when a former colleague left something undone, and you had to pick up the pieces? Have you had to clean up someone’s else’s mess? Has anyone returned a borrowed item to you in worse condition than when you lent it? Have you picked up someone else’s trash? Have you ever asked, “Why don’t people pick up after themselves?” In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about these situations and others like them, looking into the idea of making things better than we found them. Does the Bible support this idea? If so, what can we do to make sure our actions aren’t a source of frustration for others? How can we make sure we take care of things that matter to others even if those things don’t matter to us?

2 Corinthians 8:21 – for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.

Episode Resources

• http://thepositivitysolution.com/better-than-you-found-it/

How do you react when your day doesn’t go as planned? How do you handle it when someone doesn’t come through like you thought they would? What do you do when you’re not offered a promotion or not given a raise? How do you handle expectations when they don’t come to fruition? In this episode, Gary & Christy discuss some tips to keep in mind when dealing with unmet expectations, whether they’re related to your finances, your career, your health, or your relationships.

Episode Resources

• https://medium.com/swlh/being-a-victim-of-unmet-expectations-9a01fc6512a9
• Link to purchase “The Domino Effect” by Tim Lewis – https://www.christianstore.fhu.edu/college/the-domino-effect
• https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/111813/five-rules-improve-your-financial-health.asp
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/travisbradberry/2016/08/02/8-unrealistic-expectations-that-will-ruin-you/#6c13c13319f0
• https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/14/your-money/the-importance-of-setting-expectations-whether-high-or-low.html