FINANCIAL GROWTH PLAN

Below are some steps & resources that can help you get your finances & life on track:

VIEW MONEY THROUGH GOD'S PERSPECTIVE

Money has a close connection to our hearts. It can mess us up when it's abused or leave us empty if we think it will bring joy. It's hard to fix our finances until we see money through God's eyes. God is the blesser who blesses us to be a blessing.

$1000 EMERGENCY FUND

Emergencies are going to happen. Don't go further into debt because life happens. A first steps needs to be a $1000 Emergency Fund.

ESTABLISH A BUDGET

The basic formula to fix your finances is to make sure your income is higher than your expenses. The best way to figure this out is a budget. No one likes doing a budget but they speak the truth. Here's a Basic Budget & Cash Flow Worksheet and here's a Faith & Financial Vision Worksheet.  

PAY OFF DEBTS & CREDIT CARDS

One by one start to elimate your debts. Dave Ramsey's Debt Snowball is a great approach. You can find it here: Debt Payoff Calcuator & Debt Snowball Worksheet.

DEVELOP A SAVINGS PLAN & ACCOUNT

Too many people live paycheck to paycheck. Create a plan to set aside money. Your budget can help you spend less to save more or as you pay off debt, save money that was once used to pay on your debts.

TAKE STEPS TO LIVE GENEROUSLY

You can't buy happiness. Live off less so you can give more. There's so much more joy & purpose in generosity. Take some steps in the Giving Process at church & in your life to find a deeper satisfication.

THINK LONG-TERM AND MAKE INVESTMENTS

Live like no one else now so you can live like no one else later. That thought from Dave Ramsey is all about sacrifice. Make investments for your future financially but also make eternal investments. 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

BOOKS & SERIES

You can find some helpful books here and you can use our filter on the Series page to find past Journey messages to help you in your finances. 

DAVE RAMSEY & FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY

We will offer this 9 week course that can transform your finances and your life. More than one million families have attended Financial Peace University with amazing results. On average, these families paid off $5,300 in debt and saved $2,700 in just the first 90 days! Stop worrying about money, and start your journey to Financial Peace. Check out the Journey Class options for when this course is offered next.

GIVE

If we build up debt, our money controls us. It ends up working against us instead of for us. Living just to make money might get you full pockets, but will leave you with an empty heart. When we give, money no longer controls us. We believe that God is the blessor and He blesses us to be a blessing. Giving brings joy, purpose and meaning. It also helps us take next steps to trust God & look beyond yourself. So you can give to The Journey or somewhere else if you want, but take your next step and bless others.

10% GIVING CHALLENGE

The Bible talks about a standard for giving called the tithe — tithe means 10%. We don't force anyone to do this or try to guilt people into giving. We don't even pass an offering plate at church, but we do want people to experience God's blessing & money plays a part in it. It's really about trusting God, not money. In fact, in Malachi 3, God issues a Bless Test. He issues a challenge to put His promise to the test by challenging our perspective on money, tithing & generosity. If we live with open hands, God will open the doors of His blessings on our life. So at The Journey, we offer a money-back guarentee 10% Giving Challenge. We've seen this challenge become a turning point for many people to experience the blessings of following Jesus and to find freedom for financial debt & worry. Considering the challenge? Click here for more details.