Bountiful: The Heart of Money Management

Going on vacation with family can be a great experience. It gives families a chance to make memories and enjoy time together. In an effort to help, Gary and Christy share some tips on how to prepare for travel, from lodging to food to sightseeing. Episode Resources https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-time-to-book-a-flight/ https://ordinarytraveler.com/best-travel-tips https://www.nationwide.com/lc...

We are created with emotions. Solomon wrote there is a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance (Eccl 3:4). In other words, we have a spectrum of feelings within our hearts that we’ll likely experience throughout our lives. Simultaneously, we make financial decisions every day. That means our emotions will cross paths with our personal finances, and preparing for that...

Being credit worthy has its advantages, especially if you’re applying for a mortgage, taking out an automobile loan, wanting to rent a place to live, or even applying for a job. In this episode, Gary & Christy will cover some basics about financial credit. Then they’ll discuss how to build good credit, improve your credit score, and how to keep it exceptional. Episode Resources https://theligh...

Financial security involves having enough money to live on, cover emergencies, and save for retirement without concern of running out. In this episode, we talk about finding our financial security, even during times when it seems like there isn’t any. Gary and Christy discuss where we try to find security versus where we should find security.   Proverbs 3:25-26: Do not be afraid of sudden terror o...

In this podcast, we try to discuss various topics that would help us be better stewards of the Lord’s material blessings. Budgeting, setting goals, validating transactions, communicating, giving, expressing gratitude, and prioritizing are just a few things we can examine within ourselves to test our stewardship. When our financial situation is going well or better than expected, it feels easier to...

The concept of “Money Management” is a big one, so we’re breaking it down into six tips to help you improve some areas of your personal finance. Know your financial situation. It’s important to know, based on actual numbers, how we stand financially. How much interest is our debt accruing? How are our investments growing? Set goals. Create a financial plan with dollar amounts, a time-frame, and st...

Working from home has been more available for employees, especially over the past couple of years. Some employers have recently requested people to return from WFH to the office, but they’re meeting some resistance. In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about what our response should be to the Working From Home Stand-off? Episode Resources https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/8156-future-of-remote...

Even in a digital age, keeping our personal financial records organized is very important. There will be times when you’ll need to access your personal files, and it is nice to be able to immediately locate them and find exactly what you need. In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about filing personal documents, including tax returns, identification, and other pieces of evidence about major fi...

Healthy money habits and situations are likely what we all want for ourselves and our families. When we’re financially healthy, we tend to have less stress, make better choices with the money God provides us, and resist the temptation to take unnecessary risks with our money. On the other hand, if we’re financially unhealthy, we could be poorly equipped to deal with unexpected expenses, and we’ll...

In this episode, we’re talking about a hot topic – inflation. Gary & Christy break down some of the details around what inflation is and how it impacts many of us. Then, they go through some ways we could mitigate the effects of inflation, including decreasing spending, increasing income, and wise investments.   Inflation has been around since the time of Solomon (1 Kings 10:21). The God who b...

Borrowing money from a bank or lender to purchase a car or house has a lot of science behind it. There are procedures to follow, formulas to calculate, and forms to complete. On the other hand, borrowing items, even money, from friends or neighbors is mostly an art form. Situations vary from person to person making it difficult to define strict rules around borrowing from friends. In this episode,...

In this marriage-centered episode, Gary & Christy talk about communicating and working together on personal finances. Through sharing your financial knowledge and viewpoints & strategizing on what you want to achieve, there’s a good chance success will come. Enjoy the financial journey your family is on, and celebrate successes along the way! Episode Resources https://www.thebalance.com/ho...

When a group of people want something, some may want it because they actually need it, some want it to prevent other people from having it first, while others want it to fill a void that’s missing in their lives. In this episode, Gary and Christy discuss each of these points of view to provide perspective to help you understand the personal motivation behind wanting something. Episode Resources Pr...

Many people believe in the dignity of hard work. A lot of us strive at our jobs, work for our marriages, do our best as parents, and even play hard at our hobbies. However, there is a point when we can work too hard, mutating a virtue like diligence into something much worse, including being a workaholic. In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about the similarities and differences of working ha...

In this episode, we’re talking about “money safety”. How can we handle the tools of material blessings & wealth in a way that is not harmful to us? Listen to Gary & Christy discuss this topic, highlighting the importance of using our blessings where they’re most needed and living below our means. ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

Money is a tremendous resource. If we learn how to control it and use it wisely, we will be able to use it for the most benefit in the Lord’s kingdom. In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about the “origin story” of wealth and why it’s important to remember our blessings have a purpose. Episode Resources https://www.getrichslowly.org/the-guilt-of-wealth/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/time-man...

The Bible encourages us to help each other as we have opportunity, to be rich in good works, and to be generous. Such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Sometimes you are able to give help, and other times you need to receive help. In this episode, Gary and Christy focus on how to ask for help, specifically when we need financial help. There are some barriers to asking for help. It can be difficult t...

Surviving a personal financial crisis, like losing a job or facing an unexpected expense, has some similarities to surviving stormy weather. In this episode, Gary & Christy compare these two types of storms, and they discuss how prayer, protection, prevention, and a plan can help you survive financial storms that may appear in your life. Episode Resources Related Bountiful episodes: Overcoming...

In Genesis 39 we read an example of good stewardship in the life of Joseph. He exemplifies good stewardship by gaining approval from his master, having responsibility for his master’s household, and understanding that his master was the owner and Joseph was the steward. If we model our stewardship of God’s blessings after Joseph’s example, the Lord will bless us in our efforts. ★ Support this podc...

According to some, Americans are grumpy! Of course, there are a lot of stress factors impacting that, many of which we feel personally, emotionally, and even financially. However, Philippians 4:11 encourages us to not allow our physical circumstances to adversely impact us spiritually. In this episode, we discuss contentment, its importance, and the consequences of not having it.   “Now and then,...

While giving money to the church or to charitable organizations is certainly needed and very helpful, it isn’t the only avenue we have to give. There are non-monetary ways we can give, too. In this episode, we talk about a few of those alternatives. The point is not to make anyone feel guilty of what they are NOT doing, but it’s to help give ideas of what we COULD do to evolve our work for the Lor...

Minimalism is a strategy to manage our material possessions. It’s not the only strategy, nor is it necessarily the best, but it is a way we can fulfill our duties as stewards of what God blesses us with. However, this approach is a little bit misunderstood at times. In this episode, we’ll discuss four myths around minimalism: I might need (this thing) later I’ve already spent too much money on (th...

We (should) all have financial goals, whether they’re about home ownership, debt freedom, retirement planning, traveling, or enjoying hobbies. A Certified Financial Planner is a professional who helps people set financial goals & guides their clients toward reaching them. But, is such a professional necessary for your life? In this episode, we discuss the costs and benefits of a CFP. Episode R...

Wealth and income are topics that are discussed a lot, but are they understood? In this episode, we talk about their similarities and differences, and then we highlight some Biblical principles regarding wealth, income, and all of our material blessings. Episode Resources Related Bountiful episodes: “The Wealth Gap” https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls7e8/ “Net Worth Is Not the Basis for Self-Wor...

Our finances can impact our mental health, and our mental health can impact our finances. In this episode, we discuss this topic with a goal to discuss some ways we can stay mentally healthy regarding our money & personal finances. Episode Resources https://www.mentalhealth.gov/basics/what-is-mental-health https://www.moneyaftergraduation.com/mental-health-money/ https://www.moneyunder30.com/d...