We can only spend a dollar one time. But there are so many things we want to do with it! In our culture, we're not used to "either/or" - we want "both/and". And to get that, we make all kinds of unwise financial decisions.

When we realize that we have to make some adjustments, we tend to start with the assumption that our bills are all non-negotiables. But are they really? Some of our bills - even the fixed expenses - are actually discretionary; we can choose whether we want to continue them. And some of our variable expenses - like groceries and clothes - are not discretionary; we have to have them, though we might have opportunities for savings or even for postponement of some expenses in order to straighten out our cash flow.

Sometimes, making a spending plan work is a simple matter of a few minor adjustments. But some of us find ourselves in a position where small tweaks aren't going to get us where we need to be. Instead, we need major life changes - like a different job or a less expensive house or car.

Podcast host James Lenhoff helps us work through what kinds of changes we need to make in order to make life work financially. "Either/or" doesn't have to mean that we forgo all enjoyment. It means we make choices according to what we value most.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

People are in different situations financially. That's why one-size-fits all conversations or teachings about finance so often miss the mark. If you're struggling under a load of consumer debt, encouragement to save for retirement isn't going to mean much. On the other hand, if you're debt-free, then cajoling about getting out of debt won't apply.

As we consider the path toward financial freedom, we need to start with understanding where we are. And as we lead those who are on that path, we need to begin with an understanding of their current situation.

These different situations can be summed up broadly into three "lanes". People in the first lane are in trouble and they know it - they're having trouble making ends meet and are struggling under a load of debt. They need to get to a place of stability, but minor tweaks in spending may not get them there. Often, they'll need to make some significant life changes to get where they need to be financially.

People in the second lane are often also in trouble but they don't know it. They're getting their bills paid, making required payments on their credit cards, and are in a generally stable place. But not a growing place. They're not making progress toward financial freedom because they're not prioritizing building net worth. Often, their understanding of their financial picture is limited to monthly cash flow, so they're not prepared for the unexpected and they're certainly not prepared for the later years.

Podcast host James Lenhoff addresses people in both of these lanes - not with guilt or shaming, but with grace and hope. In this episode of The Faithful Steward, James helps set tone and direction for people who need stability and clarity in their financial picture.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.

As spring arrives, nature shakes off the slumber of winter. And it's a good time for us to shake off any unproductive habits we may have built up in our stewardship.

Spring is a great time for a deeper dive into our stewardship habits, goals, and progress. Enough time has elapsed since the beginning of the year that we have data to help us understand whether we're on track with the goals we set for the year. And enough time remains to make any course corrections we might need to make.

This is a time to ask some key questions, like:

• If we put holiday spending on credit cards, have we made the progress that we wanted to in paying that off?
• If we created some saving goals, are we on track to meet those goals? (If we're not a quarter of the way there, we need to update either our practices or our goals.)

And it's a great time to review and update our plans:

• If we get a tax refund, what will we do with that?
• If we've planned summer vacations, are we on track to have savings to pay for them?

Podcast host James Lenhoff helps us think through these and other key questions as part of a first-quarter review of our stewardship.

To learn more check out www.GoodSenseMovement.org

Contact James at: JamesLenhoff@GoodSenseMovement.org

You can see the full video of this podcast episode on our YouTube channel.