Thanks for the invite to post a little something to your blog every once in a while. I think it’s a great idea to put up a blog on finances, sharing a group dynamic to take from each other’s ideas on what works best for them. While I am not claiming to be a financial wizard by any means, I can write on something that I KNOW works.
I’m not going to turn this into a Sunday School lesson, but I can speak to the fact that paying a tithe of 10% of my income serves as the best investment I could make, the best insurance policy I could take out, and the best savings plan I have found. Faith based teachings aside, I can attest to the fact that it makes you a better steward of your money. I am more aware of what I’m spending my money on, how much I’m saving, and where my money goes when I consider my tithing first. I know
Dave Ramsey, one of the foremost financial authorities out there is one of the biggest advocates on paying your tithing first. That guy knows a thing or two about financial security. Eliminating debt, staying out of debt, and becoming financially independent, and it all starts with the first action after ever pay check and that’s the first 10%.
Tithing is something that I have always had a firm belief in. Since I was a little kid I actually used to throw extra money in my tithing jar thinking that doubling down on my tithing would help me get that bike or that cool new toy faster or make it a sure bet on Christmas. I never told my parents I was doing it, I just knew that “greasing the skids” would help me ensure the blessings I was looking for. Well, I’m not sure that helped or not, but I always got whatever I was “investing for” and I always seemed to have more money than the rest of the kids my age, even after plunking down extra into tithing. Since then I gained a better understanding and a new respect for what it’s there for. It’s not a wishing fountain. The more pennies you throw in there isn’t for wishes or bettering your luck. It’s also not that God needs my money. He could do whatever he wants, whenever he wants with or without my financial assistance. It’s for me! It’s to help me learn sacrifice, charity, and to be a better steward of what I’ve been blessed with.
I think in this new day of economic fears, unemployment at highs not seen in decades, and stock markets sitting stagnant, it’s easy to let charitable giving be the first thing to go, especially tithing. But speaking from experience, it’s never more important to keep that as the first thing you write into that budget every month. It takes a leap of faith if you are on hard times currently to put that 10%, right off the bat toward tithing. However, when you look at it as the sure bet insurance policy as I see it, the best ROI money can buy, or consider it a retirement savings account that will pay dividends you can’t fathom when it finally matures, it’s really easy to write that check!
I'll check back in occasionally with a thought or two. like I said, I'm certainly no financial guru, but I think this blog you have started is an awesome idea, so I'd love to be part of it. Looking forward to hearing some great financial advice from your other readers!
Travis Alexander
Field Human Resource Generalist, Office Max
Salt Lake City, Utah
Fantastic Idea Patti and Dave! The most important information I can give anyone is to store food and fuel for one year. This will assure you can still take care of yourself and family if you lose a job or are financially hurt in anyway. We have a piece of mind knowing that we can feed our family if anything happens whether it is financial (The recession we are all experiencing) or natural disaster (such as earthquake, extreme winter weather, flood, tornado, landslide, etc.). Dennis and I have started a neighborhood network that focuses on emergency preparedness and embraces Homeland Security’s CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). We have turned our neighborhood program into a non-profit organization, Hidden Village Partners in Preparedness, Inc., that will focus on getting every neighborhood in Cache County ready for any disaster which does include a financial disaster. Emergency preparedness handbook is available.
