The Case Against Frugality
As the recession of 2008 dragged on, frugality came into vogue, and many commentators believed a new and lasting way of life had begun. The savings rate went up, people held onto their cars longer, and second hand stores became all the rage. In 2010, 63 percent of people said the recession had “forever changed” […]
Profitable Ideas: Breaking Bad Spending Habits, Double Checking Your Homeowners Insurance, and More
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. Break your bad spending habits (Living Well Spending Less). How little bad habits turn into big bad habits, and how your can turn it all around. How ditching a car could save you thousands (Gen Y Planning). This […]
Three Ways To Be More Engaged In Your Work
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters. – Colossians 3:23 With Labor Day coming up, it’s an appropriate time to assess the state of your career. How are you feeling about your work? Does it give you an opportunity to put your skills […]
Profitable Ideas: Preparing for a Downturn, Giving Kids More Financial Freedom, and More
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. How to prepare for a possible economic recession (The Simple Dollar). No one can predict a recession or a bear market, but managing money well always involves playing a strong game of defense. This is why more expensive […]
Living an Open-Handed Life of Faith: One Couple’s Remarkable Journey of Letting Go
A few months ago, I asked readers of this blog to send me positive financial stories. The first note I received in response was from John, a friend with whom I had served in stewardship ministry more than 10 years ago. He wrote about his gratitude for how radically his life has been altered by […]
Profitable Ideas: Buy Slowly, Jesus’ ‘Terrible’ Financial Advice, and More
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. Reconsidering the merits of slow acquisition (Becoming Minimalist). They lived within their means and bought things when needed. Crazy, right? Teaching kids to save, not hoard (Ron Blue Insitute). The importance of moving beyond tactical teaching to uncover […]
How to Get Past the Worry
I still remember the first time we took our first child to the pediatrician. There was nothing wrong; it was just a normal first check-up. However, my face must have looked like I was carrying our newborn across Niagara Falls on a tightrope. The doctor took one look at me and said, “It’s okay, one […]
Profitable Ideas: The Profit of Decluttering, Preparing for the End (of the Bull Market), and More
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. How I made $2,145 last month by decluttering (SeedTime). What’s the value of all the unused stuff you have sitting around in your garage or basement? Preparing kids for financial responsibility in college (Ron Blue Institute). The importance […]
The Real Cost of Cars
Okay, so you’ve made all the right moves in planning your next car purchase. You’ve kept your current car at least 10 years—preferably 15. You’ve come up with two or three viable options of cars that don’t just look good, they also get good gas mileage and have good safety ratings. You’ve done some comparison-shopping […]
Profitable Ideas: Ruled By Technology, Avoiding a Debit Card Nightmare, and More
A weekly roundup of some of the more interesting and helpful personal finance articles I’ve read recently. The manipulative tricks tech companies use to capture your attention (TED). Technology rules our lives — probably more than we realize. Sitting near a high-performer can make you better at your job (CNBC). Choose your cubicle carefully. The […]