Utah's Hope

How do you feel when you have to make major life decisions? You don't have to make these decisions alone—God wants to give you clear direction. Dr. Stanley shares the principles necessary to making right decisions.

Donate: https://store.intouch.org/donate/general

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Staying on budget doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes, all it takes is five intentional minutes each week. A budget isn’t a “set it and forget it” tool; it’s something we revisit so our spending lines up with our values. On the next Faith & Finance Live, Crystal Paine joins Rob West to share a simple weekly rhythm that can help you stay on track. Then, it’s on to your calls. That’s Faith and Finance Live . . . biblical wisdom for your financial decisions. That’s weekdays at 4pm Eastern/3pm Central on Moody Radio.

Faith & Finance Live is a listener supported program on Moody Radio.  To join our team of supporters, click here.

To support the ministry of FaithFi, click here.

To learn more about Rob West, click here.

To learn more about Faith & Finance Live, click here.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brant and Sherri discuss his recent complex family events. This discussion is about grief, guilt, forgiveness, and acceptance.

DISCLAIMER: This episode also contains references to domestic abuse and childhood trauma. Please be advised. 

Staying on budget doesn’t have to be complicated—or exhausting. A growing number of families are discovering that a simple, five-minute weekly check-in can make the difference between feeling reactive and feeling in control. 

On today’s episode of Faith and Finance, Crystal Payne joins us to offer a practical rhythm for keeping your spending aligned with your priorities. Crystal is the founder of MoneySavingMom.com and the author of several bestselling books on frugal living and family budgeting. She writes extensively on financial stewardship in the latest issue of Faithful Steward magazine.

Crystal’s approach centers on six weekly questions—each one designed to build awareness, reduce stress, and encourage intentionality rather than guilt or perfectionism.

1. What worked this week? Begin with the wins. Identifying progress reinforces good habits and motivates continued change.

2. What didn’t work this week? Honesty about drift or weak spots brings clarity. Patterns often emerge in categories such as dining out or impulse purchases. The goal isn’t shame—it’s information.

3. What do I want to change? Awareness should lead to one small, actionable adjustment for the week ahead—rebalancing a category, revising expectations, or improving tracking.

4. What surprised me? Looking for unexpected expenses, higher bills, or forgotten credits helps reduce future anxiety and highlights planning opportunities.

5. Was I over budget anywhere? Overages aren’t failures; they show where reality differs from assumptions. This is where Crystal recommends treating your budget like a GPS—when life takes a detour, simply recalculate.

6. Any “aha” moments? These reflect where money, values, and emotions intersect. Many people recognize that a bit of planning reduces tension, that habits shape outcomes, or that spending aligns—or doesn’t—with their priorities.

At the heart of this rhythm is intentionality. Crystal notes that a budget isn’t meant to sit in the background until there’s a problem. When revisited consistently, it becomes a tool that works for you rather than a set of rules you feel pressured to obey.

For married couples, Crystal suggests reviewing the budget together, approaching the conversation with curiosity rather than criticism. Shared visibility promotes unity and helps both spouses move their priorities forward without resentment or misunderstanding.

A five-minute weekly review may sound small, but over time it transforms budgeting from crisis-management into stewardship. It helps families spend purposefully, adjust gracefully, and ensure their financial decisions reflect what they truly value.

• My husband and I are trying to decide how to handle our son’s $6,500 student loan. He’s in the military and hasn’t made payments since 2015. Should we pay it off in full from our retirement or savings, or just pay the minimum $75 per month and put that amount into an emergency fund for him and his wife? Also, would paying monthly affect his credit score?
• I’m 36 and have a 401(k), but I contribute about $25 every two weeks. I’d like to invest more, but I don’t fully understand the differences among NASDAQ, S&P, index funds, and other investment options. What’s the best strategy for someone my age who can take some risk?
• I retired at 66 and have never touched my employer retirement account or my IRA. I just turned 73, so I have to start taking RMDs. How are RMDs calculated, and how can I use them in a way that still allows me to tithe, give, and leave money to my children?

Many parents have an adult child who has moved back in. Jim Daly and Dr. Gary Chapman offer some constructive thoughts for parents in that situation. You'll also hear from John and Danny on how a parent can set healthy parameters for an adult child who's living at home

Find us online at focusonthefamily.com/parentingpodcast. Or call 1-800-A-FAMILY.

Receive the book Your New Life with Adult Children an Adult Child for your donation of any amount!

Take the 7 Traits of Effective Parenting Assessment

How to Positively Influence Your Adult Child  

Contact our Counseling Team

Bounce Back Kids: Navigating Living With An Adult Child

Support This Show!

If you enjoyed listening to the Focus on Parenting Podcast, please give us your feedback.

When a pilot’s in a bad mood, is he allowed to re-route all his Toronto-bound passengers to Hawaii, just for kicks? No. If a firefighter is feeling a little down, is he allowed to take his sweet time responding to a fire? No. We do the right thing no matter how we feel. Today on A NEW BEGINNING, from the story of Jonah, Pastor Greg Laurie shows us how to look beyond our feelings to the faithfulness of God. We’ll find hope in hopeless situations.

—

Become a Harvest Partner today and join us in knowing God and making Him known through media and large-scale evangelism, our mission of over 30 years.

Explore more resources from Pastor Greg Laurie, including daily devotionals and blogs, designed to answer your spiritual questions and equip you to walk closely with Christ.

Support the show: https://bit.ly/anbsupport

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Authors Howard and Danielle Taylor intentionally invested in each other, founded a marriage ministry—and then tragedy dealt a gut-wrenching blow. They reveal how their marriage survived, and how a relationship can pull through the worst of times.

Show Notes and Resources

• Head to weekendtoremember.com to save 50% on all getaways through January 26, 2026.

• Find resources from this podcast at shop.familylife.com.
• See resources from our past podcasts.
• Find more content and resources on the FamilyLife's app!
• Help others find FamilyLife. Leave a review on Apple Podcast or Spotify.
• Check out all the FamilyLife's podcasts on the FamilyLife Podcast Network

See cru.org/us/en/about/privacy FamilyLife’s Privacy Policy

When it comes to instilling character in our kids, the most important aspect we can teach and model for them is resilience. On this two-day Focus on the Family broadcast, Dr. Kathy Koch explores ways you can help your child face challenges with courage, confidence, and conviction. You’ll get a solid idea of what it looks like to bounce back from struggles and difficulties, as well as some tools to help you develop and nurture a spirit of resilience in your home.

Receive the book Resilient Kids plus an audio download of the broadcast "Helping Your Child Develop Resilience" for your donation of any amount! Plus, receive member-exclusive benefits when you make a recurring gift today. Your monthly support helps families thrive.

Get More Episode Resources 

If you enjoyed listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, please give us your feedback.