Bountiful: The Heart of Money Management

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. J...

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 plea...

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...

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...

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...

As various areas are reopening after the pandemic, some people are talking about “returning to normal.” In this episode, Gary and Christy discuss this topic in general as well as in the context of personal finance. There’s the irresistibility of returning to normal. Even if “normal” isn’t very good, because it’s familiar, it can seem very appealing to return to. The Israelites, during their Exodus...

Burnout is stress-induced exhaustion. It can come from demanding jobs, overwhelming financial goals, or even close relationships. Burnout can impact us physically, mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. It’s one of those things that we may be better able to see in other people than in ourselves. We can see the stress & frustration someone else feels, but we might call it “pushing through” when...

Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, CEO’s, athletes, and other individuals have been wealthy, but it’s times like this that the conversation tends to turn against those who are very wealthy. On the other hand, when the government steps in to help those who are suffering financially, the conversation can turn against those who are poor. So, what should our response, as Christians, be? In this episod...

During a time of pandemic, you may have asked, “What do I do now?” From a personal finance perspective, we have a few suggestions: Don’t panic – retirement accounts lose value and gain value in moments of time, but, in the long run, they provide a good return to investors. Experts say that time in the market is more important than timing the market, so, especially if you don’t need the money now,...

This episode is being released in a time of worldwide turmoil. Middle Tennessee is still recovering from tornadoes that damaged property and claimed lives. The World Health Organization recently declared the coronavirus, which has spread around the world, a pandemic. In response, the stock market in the United States has receded significantly. When things like our property, our health, or our live...

This title comes from a book by Marie Kondo who has trademarked a method of decluttering and reorganization called The KonMari Method. In this episode, Gary and Christy discuss this method and how it can help us gain a clearer spiritual perspective on all our material blessings. Episode Resources https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/organizing/a25846191/what-is-the-konmari-method/ https://konmari...

Bountiful 101 is part of a series where we take a subject, like buying an automobile, and break it down into rudimentary parts in order to remind us of some money basics and perhaps teach us some things, too. The goal for episodes like this is to combine our Christian attitude with a little bit of knowledge in order that God may bless us to make wise decisions with our money. On average, Americans...

The term “self-made” is one many of us have heard and, perhaps, used. In history, many people consider people like Benjamin Franklin and Frederick Douglass as self-made because they achieved success in spite of difficult circumstances. In this sense, “self-made” is an accommodative term to describe someone who, through hard work and integrity, achieved greatness. Yet, no one is truly self-made, an...

This episode digs into some of the basics around retirement – the what, why, when, and how. What is retirement, and is it something Christians should pursue? Why retire? When is a good time to retire? And how do we prepare for retirement? These questions are what Gary and Christy talk about in this episode. Episode Resources Bountiful episode about retirement planning: https://thelightnetwork.tv/b...

For the first episode of 2020, we’re talking about what a lot of people talk about in early January – resolutions. How will the new year help you be a new you? Common resolutions involve health, relationships, time management, and, of course, money. In this episode, Gary and Christy highlight THE most important money move to make this year. Is it reducing debt, setting a budget, investing more for...

While this topic may not seem related to personal finance, keeping a level head, especially during busy times, can help prevent us from overspending or stressing out while we’re shopping or traveling. Otherwise, we can get so caught up in the chaos around us that we forget to keep the right perspective on our blessings. In this episode, Gary and Christy will talk about four things we can do to sta...

Gary and Christy walk through some resources that can help us in our personal finances, no matter if we’re living paycheck-to-paycheck, have a lot of debt, or things are going well money-wise. Resources like these can help us with budgeting, buying a house, determining how much to save, better understand our insurance options, and a lot of other things. But the Bible is the best resource we have w...

Gary and Christy discuss a topic from a book that helps provide a Biblical perspective on our material blessings. Episode Resources Introduction to Death Cleaning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXj3iy1Sgc4 Article about websites where you can sell your clutter: https://www.moneytalksnews.com/websites-for-selling-your-clutter/?utm_campaign=things-you-should-never-buy-and-what-to-buy-instead&u...

This episode is about how to decide what to eat before it’s time to eat. Why discuss meal planning on this podcast? Because it can help us be less wasteful with food, better manage where our money is going, and be less spontaneous when spending money on food. Gary and Christy start out by talking through some obstacles to meal planning. Things like preconceived notions or the number of options we...

In this episode, Gary & Christy talk about some myths regarding money, including:   Is it good for my credit score to keep a balance on my credit card?   Should I buy as much house as I can afford?   If my spouse handles the finances, do I need to be concerned with money?   Is a bachelor’s degree necessary to get a good job? Can I be too young to start saving money?  Episode Resources Check Ou...

We talk with Julie Glasshof, a legal recruiter for a staffing agency, about how to succeed as a candidate in a job interview. What do companies look for in a candidate? What does it take to succeed in a phone screening? How important is a resume? Julie talks with us about these questions and more in this episode. Episode Resources Here are the interview tips Julie sends to candidates: Dress for su...

If you are married, how do you decide which spouse has responsibility over the family finances? Is it all delegated to one spouse or should both spouses get involved? These are a couple of the questions Gary and Christy will talk about in this episode. Episode Resources Related Bountiful episodes: Listen to How To Team Up In Finances (S3E05) here: https://thelightnetwork.tv/bountifuls3e5/ Listen t...

This episode is about working in your house for an organization that’s primarily outside of your house (aka telecommuting). Working from home (WFH) is a benefit some employers provide to help their employees avoid rush hour traffic, make personal errands easier to run, and be more productive. However, it takes some preparation to succeed at telecommuting whether it’s sporadic, temporary, or perman...

There’s a lot of focus on providing money lessons to teenagers and young people starting on their own, but there are still some lessons about money that are good to be reminded of as we get older, too. In this episode, Gary and Christy talk with Dale Hubbert, a certified financial planner, on some things older couples as well as widows & widowers can do regarding their personal finances. We al...

Some people might think teenagers too young to learn about personal finances. The problem is that when they turn 18 and become adults, they aren’t suddenly given some magical knowledge of financial concepts. Many adults have had to learn the hard way that, when it comes to money matters, ignorance is never bliss. In this episode, Gary and Christy want to prepare young people so that they’re more c...