BUILDING YOUR EMERGENCY FUND (Because Life Happens!)

Ever had one of those weeks where your car breaks down, your Wi-Fi goes on strike, and your fridge dies? 😱 Yup, life loves to throw curveballs when you least expect it! That’s why an emergency fund is your financial shield. 🛡️

💡 What’s an Emergency Fund? It’s your “I’m not stressed, I’m financially prepared” fund. 💪 Think of it as your money’s equivalent of a superhero cape (no, it won’t fly, but it will save the day). 🦸‍♀️

If you are working to pay off debt, your goal is to have $1,000 set aside in an emergency fund.

If you are debt free - with exception of mortgage - your goal is to save 3 - 6 months of expenses for an emergency fund.

It is always wise to have savings for a rainy day.
Proverbs 21:20 says, “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”

🛠️ How to Build Your Fund:

Start small – You don’t need to save for a yacht. Aim for $25/week and work your way up. 🚤

Set up automatic transfers – Make saving as easy as hitting “next episode” on Netflix. 🍿

Keep it separate – If it’s in your regular account, it might just vanish faster than your leftovers. 🍕

Track your progress – Celebrate the small wins. You’re one step closer to not stressing when the fridge decides to take a nap. 🥳

🔑 The moral of the story: Life will definitely throw some surprises your way. But with an emergency fund, you can face them like a pro. Or at least with a little less panic. 😂

❓What’s the craziest “emergency” you’ve had to deal with? Share your stories in the comments!

AVOIDING BROKE-NESS: A Biblical Guide

Let’s be real—nobody wants to be broke. The good news? The Bible is packed with financial wisdom that can help us avoid empty wallets and stressful bank statements. 

From avoiding debt to saving wisely and giving generously, God’s Word offers timeless principles for handling money the right way. So before you make another impulse purchase (yes, even that “must-have” Amazon deal), let’s dive into some Biblical truths that can keep you financially faithful and financially stable!

💼 Work Diligently – “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” (Proverbs 21:5)
Translation: Get-rich-quick schemes are usually get-broke-quicker schemes.

💳 Live Within Your Means – “The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.” (Proverbs 22:7)
If you’ve ever felt like your credit card owns you… well, the Bible warned us!

🐿️ Save for the Future – “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” (Proverbs 21:20)
Aka: Don’t spend your entire paycheck on DoorDash. Future-you will thank you!

💝 Give Generously – “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops.” (Proverbs 3:9)
Even if your "crops" are just your paycheck, giving blesses both the giver and receiver (and no, eating at Chick-fil-A doesn’t count as tithing, even if you say 'My pleasure').

💰 Trust God, Not Money – “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have…” (Hebrews 13:5)
Money can buy coffee, but it can’t buy peace… unless that peace comes from not checking your bank balance every five minutes.

At the end of the day, handling money God’s way isn’t about hoarding riches or stressing over every dollar—it’s about stewarding well, blessing others, and trusting Him to provide. So, whether you’re budgeting like Joseph in Egypt or trying not to be the prodigal spender, Biblical financial wisdom can keep you from the land of broke-ness. 

So, what’s one money habit you’re working on this year? Drop it in the comments—we’re all in this together! 💰🙌 

MONEY MINDSET #FinanceFriday

Can you believe I looked forward to splitting another Chipotle bowl with Amanda? It's all about your mindset...

WHY AM I DOING THIS?

 

MORE MONTH THAN MONEY

My budget loves February because it is a short month! Those longer months can be a struggle when you end up having too much month left at the end of the money. But the good news is you don’t have to stay seated on this struggle bus each month. You can build margin with your money! 

1 -Make a budget.
If you don’t have a plan for your money, you need one now. Having a budget doesn’t limit your money, it helps you make the most of your money. This monthly plan helps you decide ahead of time where you will put every dollar to work. Knowing where your money is going helps you spend less and save more.  

2 - Build an emergency fund.
An emergency fund is money you put back to cover any of life’s unexpected expenses. We all know life is going to happen… a car breaks down, a kid needs to go to the doctor, or your job cuts your hours. This emergency fund helps you handle the surprises life throws your way. 

If you are working to pay off debt, we recommend a $1,000 starter emergency fund.
If you are debt free, we recommend having 3-6 months of expenses in your emergency fund.

Your grandmother probably called her emergency fund a rainy day fund, and with good reason! It’s going to rain. And sometimes, it’ll flood. With an emergency fund, you’ll be ready. 

3 - Cut out unnecessary expenses.
Having a plan helps you determine your wants vs. your needs. Getting your morning coffee in the drive-thru may seem like a need, but there is a cheaper way to start your morning off right. Having Netflix may be convenient, but there are moves you can check out of your local library for free. 

I know going to games and watching movies and eating out is good and fun to do, but they’re not necessary. Get rid of those unnecessary subscriptions. Amanda and I just cut a bunch of our unnecessary expenses last month and saved ourselves over $800 for the year!

These are 3 ways to have more money than month. Contact me to get more help on reaching your financial goals. 

INVEST LIKE THE BEST

What do the best investors do that the rest of us don’t? Investment manager Gary Mishuris answered that question in a Substack post. According to Mishuris, when it comes to the best investors, they... 

1. The best investors have a calm temperament that keeps them from allowing their emotions to control them when the stock market goes on a roller coaster ride. 

2. They have the ability to “do nothing most of the time.” They make investments and then wait for those investments to grow.

3. They “focus on process over outcome.” Outcomes are important, but we can’t control them. We can control the process by making a plan (like Dollar Cost Averaging) to regularly and consistently invest over the course of our life. 

4. The best investors are humble. They know they’re not perfect, and that keeps them from making bigger mistakes caused by being over confident. 

As a follower of Jesus, my trust doesn’t get shaken based on how the stock market is doing because I trust that everything I need will come from the Lord. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (NIV) 

Whether we endure a bear market (bad times) or enjoy life in a bull market (good times), we can have peace knowing our God is with us and will provide everything we need to serve Him. 

If you are looking for a reliable investment strategy, try taking a dollar cost averaging approach where you systematically invest your money each month. Contact me to learn more!  

Email Wade: wadeallen.coach@gmail.com

SUPER SAVINGS!

There are 3 reasons why you should save money:

1) For Emergencies. 

(Because we all have that friend named Murphy.) 

2) For Purchases. 

(Because we all like to eat and drive places.) 

3) For Retirement. 

(Because we all want to stop working at some point.) 

Purchases and retirement are fun! But we cannot do any of that until we cover the basics. This is why you need an emergency fund - savings that you never use except in an emergency. 

(And going to Taco Bell is not an emergency... most of the time. It's usually after eating at Taco Bell that you have an emergency. But that's a totally different discussion.) 

If you would like to save more money, here are some ways you can be a SUPER SAVER… 

1 - Set up automatic savings through your bank.
Have whatever amount you can afford transferred automatically to your savings account. Out of sight, out of mind. 

2 - Pay yourself first.
Pretend your savings is a monthly bill with the same importance as your mortgage. Make that “payment” to yourself no matter what.

3 - Stop giving Uncle Sam an interest free loan every year.
I know we love to get that tax refund check, but if you would withhold less on your taxes, you can put the difference in your savings.

4 - Put half of any pay raise in the bank.
You won’t miss that amount because your paycheck will still increase. Score! 

I saw a report that said 1 in 5 Americans have no retirement savings. Please DO NOT be one of them. I love being able to help my friends set and meet their savings goals. I believe with God’s guidance and wisdom, we can all be SUPER SAVERS!  

“The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.”

(Proverbs 21:20 NIV)