Unique Ways to Express Your Love This Valentine’s Day

Are you scrambling to find the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your spouse or the special someone in your life? Most people take the easy way out; they order flowers to be delivered, bring home a box of chocolates, and make a dinner reservation. In 2023, Valentine’s Day spending in the U.S. came to $185 per person. Yet, 34% of adults surveyed expressed disappointment in their partner’s expression of love on the holiday. Forty percent of women felt their partner fell short of adequately celebrating the occasion.  

The moral is that spending a lot does not necessarily make your loved one feel special. So, this year, instead of overspending and stressing your budget, you might consider giving gifts that take a bit of effort but cost little or nothing. Making the effort to create a gift or doing an act of kindness demonstrates your love for the recipient.   

Consider what type of action or gift is most meaningful to your spouse or partner. Gary Chapman identified five languages of love:  physical touch, words of affirmation, acts of service, quality time together, and physical gifts. He theorized that people have preferences and will appreciate and value the gift and you if you cater to them.

If your partner’s love language is touch, consider treating them to an in-home personal spa day.  

  • Prepare a warm bubble bath with a soft, fluffy towel nearby for drying off.
  • Give your partner a neck or back massage or a coupon for a massage once a month for a year.
  • A foot soak followed by a massage is an excellent “touch” gift.
  • If your partner is a lady, paint her toenails.
  • Make an effort to give frequent hugs and kisses throughout Valentine’s Day and every day.

For those who value words of affirmation, a handmade Valentine’s card or note will be significant.

  • Write a note or poem expressing the qualities that you love about your partner.
  • Hide messages of affirmation around the house and in lunchboxes and briefcases.
  • Take notice of the unique things they do for you and thank them for doing those things.
  • Print out the words of a song that describes your feelings and put them inside a handmade card.
  • Post Facebook messages telling all your friends how special they are to you.

Acts of service require a bit of effort, but you could demonstrate love to those with this love language in many ways.

  • Cook your loved one’s favorite meal rather than going out.
  • Bake their favorite cookies, cake, or pie. 
  • Do a chore for them, especially one you know they do not enjoy doing.
  • Complete one or more chores from the “honey do” list that your spouse has made for you.
  • Give your partner a book of coupons for services you will do throughout the year.

Spending quality time together requires little more than clearing your schedule and making the love of your life the focus of your day.

  • Plan a day of doing their favorite things, whether antiquing, hiking, visiting a museum or art gallery, or attending a sporting event.
  • Recreate your first date or a favorite date.
  • Turn off your cell phone and watch a romantic comedy or an action movie.
  • Cook your favorite meal together.
  • Participate in their favorite hobby—play pool, paint, go to a pottery class, or go fishing.

Select a meaningful gift if your loved one values a present over words and action.

  • Frame a favorite picture of the two of you or your family.
  • Buy a favorite dessert from a local bakery.
  • Rather than a box of inexpensive chocolates, select a few pieces of high-quality chocolates in a beautiful red or gold box.
  • Purchase a plant that will live long after a bouquet of roses has been discarded.
  • If your loved one is a collector, a new piece to add to their collection is a thoughtful gift that will not disappointment.

If God has blessed you with someone special to share your life, be grateful to Him. Take time this Valentine’s Day to thank Him for the gift of romantic love in your life. Remember that actions speak louder than words unless your partner values words of affirmation about other expressions of love. 

“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 (NIV)

6 Questions to Ask to Identify Your Perfect Job

“I hate my job,” a friend told me recently. Her feelings reached beyond a typical bad day scenario. She dislikes the work that she is doing and the people at work. A study by the Pew Research Center in the spring of last year revealed that half of workers are highly satisfied with their jobs. That means that the other half are not. And 19% of workers reported being miserable in their careers.  My friend fell into that 19% of people who are miserable in their jobs.

For many people, like my friend, their work is just a paycheck to provide for themselves. She can not articulate what she would enjoy doing, complicating her situation. She is not alone. 

If you do the work God has called you to do, you will not be miserable. Of course, you will have stressful days, but generally, you should feel fulfilled by your work. If you are miserable, you can take steps to figure out what God created you to do.

God demonstrates through stories in the Bible that He has a plan for each of us. God created us with unique abilities, temperaments, interests, and talents. In Exodus 31, God instructed Moses to build the Tabernacle, and He provided the names of two specific artisans whom He had filled with the knowledge to do specific jobs. The craftsmen had different skills, and they could oversee all the specialized work together. When God set the Levites apart to be priests, He assigned different jobs to different Levite families. In the New Testament, Paul tells us that God created some people to be evangelists, some to be prophets, and some to be teachers, among other callings. 

God also created you to do specific work. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

To help my friend, I turned to “The Purpose Drive Life” by Rick Warren. He suggests several questions that a person should ask themselves to help them determine their purpose. I made a list of the questions from the book to help my friend consider other job options as she prays and seeks the Lord’s guidance.

Here are 6 questions Rick Warren suggests to help you determine your purpose:

  1. What were your favorite family experiences? Favorite memories?
  2. What were your favorite subjects in school?
  3. What jobs have you had that you enjoyed or found meaningful?
  4. What are the most memorable times you have had with God?
  5. What Christian service/ministries have you enjoyed?
  6. What have you learned from your life’s problems, challenges, hurts, and trials?

God wants you to get up excited to face each day. Your job should be more than a way to get a paycheck. It should give you joy and satisfaction knowing that you are where God intended you to be, doing the work He created you to do.

The path to finding your purpose is not an overnight journey. It would help if you took the time to answer the questions and also ask your closest friends and family to help you evaluate what you enjoy. Ultimately, it is for you to decide with God’s help. 

Now is an excellent time to begin searching for a new path. 

Trusting God in an Uncertain Economy

A few days ago, I was feeling pretty good about the economy. The stock market has climbed above 37,000, and gasoline prices in my area have fallen to around $3 a gallon. Then, a friend mentioned that she has been delivering groceries and meals after work to make ends meet. She has a secure job with an average salary. Her husband operates their family-owned business. Yet, they are struggling to make ends meet. 

As I reflected on my friend’s story, I realized that several people in my life are working full-time jobs and then making deliveries or doing other side jobs in the evenings and on weekends. Increased inflation weighs on many consumers, and Americans continue to struggle with higher prices on food, rent, and restaurant meals.

Will the economy improve over the next few months? Or are we in for a stock market crash? Economists study several indicators and make predictions. They often disagree because the reality is that no person knows what the future holds. The bottom line is only God knows the future. 

When we put our trust in Him rather than our jobs or wealth, we can relax and live in peace regardless of what is happening in the world. The privilege of calling Christ your Lord involves walking with the One who holds your future in His hand. “Command those who are rich in this age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Timothy 6:17

When you trust God with your finances, you will have peace even when bad economic news impacts you personally. My trust in God allowed me to have peace when my husband was laid off from his job during the Great Recession in 2009. I could face whatever was coming our way, confident that God would take care of us. We are His children, and God cares for His children.

It is easy for me to say, “Trust God.” But it may be difficult for you to do that in your current circumstances. If you are having trouble trusting God for your future and finances, I encourage you to read and meditate on Psalm 71. The psalm illustrates some steps you can take to increase your faith.

Remind yourself of God’s past faithfulness. The psalmist is in trouble and needs God’s help. He begins in verse 1 by saying, “In You, O Lord, I put my trust.” He reminds himself that God protected him in his mother’s womb and throughout his youth. He then asks God to preserve him when he is old, and his strength fails. He builds up his trust in God as he recalls God’s faithfulness throughout his life.

Praise God for His goodness and His love. The psalmist shares his troubles with God in verse 13, but in verse 14, he reminds himself to give praise to God, “But I hope continually, and I will praise You yet more.” (Psalm 71:14). And he promises to tell others of God’s faithfulness and righteousness.

Declare that God is faithful and is the answer to your needs. “You, who have shown me great and severe troubles, shall revive me again, and bring me up again from the depths of the earth. You shall increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.” Psalm 71:20-21. The psalmist tells himself and others that the God who has watched over him in the past will do so again. 

Thank God for what He has done and what He will do. “Also, with the lute, I will praise You— and Your faithfulness, O my God! To You, I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel. My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, and my soul, which You have redeemed. My tongue also shall talk of Your righteousness all the day long.” Psalm 71: 22 – 24

Whatever trials you are experiencing today, God is the answer. God does not promise to take all your troubles away. But He does promise to be faithful to care for you in your problems and to bring you safely through them.  

Please read some of my other blogs for more encouragement on trusting God with your finances. If you want to go deeper, my Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, is an excellent resource.

Are You Stressed about Your Finances?

Many Americans ended 2023 feeling more stressed about their finances than they did at the beginning of the year. Perhaps you are one of them.

According to a survey conducted in mid-December by Allianz Life Insurance Company, Americans cited concerns about rising interest rates, lingering inflation, and debt repayment such as student loans. They listed as their primary financial resolutions for 2024:

  • Creating an emergency fund
  • Paying down credit card debt
  • Increasing deposits to their retirement account

Many Americans reported receiving pay raises in 2023 that did not keep up with inflation. To combat the increased costs of living, one-fourth of all Americans took second jobs or sought other ways to bring in additional income. At the same time, one-third reported cutting their spending to keep financially afloat. For many people, cutting back on spending meant dining out less and doing more meal planning.

Tightening one’s budget and reducing dining out are appropriate responses to financial stress. Seeking additional sources of income is also an appropriate response. The resolutions listed above will not be an option for people in these situations. You can only create an emergency fund, pay down debt, and save for retirement if you can live below your means. If you are in the minority of Americans who feel you ended 2023 in a better financial situation than you began the year, you should prioritize these resolutions. However, if you feel stressed financially, you must take constructive steps to improve your situation.

Your first step should be to examine all your expenses to see what cuts you can make. Reduce all your costs as much as possible without compromising your family’s health and well-being.  Here are some ideas to consider:

  1. Cut gym memberships. Many gym memberships go unused. Even if you use your gym membership, you may want to take a break from it until your budget balances. 
  2. Examine subscriptions, including magazines, tv channels, streaming services, music subscriptions, and personal improvement programs. If they do not truly add value, permanently eliminate them. Otherwise, cut them off temporarily and re-evaluate when your finances improve.
  3. Reduce dining out. You can save significant money if you eat at home and pack lunches for school or work. Planning menus and shopping with a list are the best ways to discourage eating out for convenience. Many social media accounts walk you through plans and menus to help you organize. 
  4. Buy store brands rather than name brands. You may find that you prefer some store brands and stick with them.
  5. Put a moratorium on buying anything new unless it is essential. If you make a purchase, research the best deal and consider purchasing the item second-hand.
  6. Sell unneeded clothing and other items. Many apps allow you to dispose of unneeded items and get immediate cash.
  7. Eliminate unnecessary insurance coverages. Review your insurance policies to ensure you are not paying for coverages that no longer apply to your situation.
  8. Avoid paying others to do tasks that you can do yourself. Can you mow your lawn yourself? Can you drop off your garbage at a convenience site rather than paying for trash pickup? 
  9. Lower utilities bills. Reduce your electric bill by turning off lights in rooms you are not in and adjusting your thermostat so the heat or AC is not running as much. Cut your water bill by taking shorter showers and only running the dishwasher when it is full. Open curtains in the winter to warm up your space and close them in the summer to cool off your house.
  10. Reduce communication bills. Cell phones and the internet consume a significant portion of most families’ budgets. Examine your plans and determine if you are paying for more time and speed than you need. If you work from home and need higher service levels to do your job, ask your boss to cover some of those expenses.

Your second step is to find ways to increase your income. For many, this has meant taking on a second job or joining the gig economy. I know several people delivering groceries, meals, or products to make ends meet. Many opportunities are available through companies such as DoorDash, UberEats, Instacart, and Amazon Flex, allowing you to earn a bit of extra money in your free time.

Whatever steps you take to help put your family in a better financial position, remember that you need to create a budget, and everyone in your family needs to have input into developing your budget. Also, be sure to go to God with your problems. Ask God to help you make wise financial decisions to provide for your family. God cares for you and wants you to take care of your family. Jesus illustrated God’s care for you in the Sermon on the Mount. “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?’ Matthew 6: 25 – 27 

If you have other suggestions for reducing expenses, please share them in the comment section.

Please read my other blog posts for more ways to manage your money and reduce stress. My book, Honoring God with Your Money, is another valuable resource to help you manage your money.

Honoring God with Your Money in 2024

The new year will arrive in two days. With a new year, comes a chance for new beginnings and fresh starts.  I encourage you to make a commitment in 2024 to follow the Lord’s leading in all that you do. Obeying the Lord in all things will result in spiritual growth, better mental and physical health, more joy, and less stress, including less financial stress.

Honoring God with Your Money

Plan now to reduce your financial stress in the coming year by honoring God with your money.  Here are some steps to help you.

  1. Acknowledge that all you have has been given to you by God. God gives you the ability to work and earn a living. ”And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth.” Deuteronomy 8:18
  2. Tithe. God asks each of us to return ten percent of what we earn for the work of the church. God promises to bless those who are obedient to tithe. “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.'”  Malachi 3:10
  3. Live below your means. Living below your means will allow you to pay off existing debt and put some money aside for emergencies.
  4. Make a budget and do your best to stick to it.  Include your spouse and children.  Everyone needs to be committed to the budget, or you will not be able to maintain it. Set reasonable amounts of money for entertainment and recreation.
  5. Start saving, even if is only a small amount. Develop a regular habit of putting aside a little bit from each paycheck. Make it automatic by having your savings directly deposited before you get your paycheck.
  6. Designate some money to help out those less fortunate than you.  Don’t try to outgive others, but give within your means as led by the Lord. He who has a generous eye will be blessed, for he gives of his bread to the poor.” Proverbs 22:9
  7. Trust in the Lord.  Those who put their trust in money, jobs, or the government will be disappointed. Only God can meet all your needs.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”  Proverbs 3: 5, 6
  8. Seek guidance from godly financial experts.  Completing my Bible study, Honoring God with Your Money, is a great way to start the year.  There are many other resources available from Crown Financial Ministries (crown.org) and Dave Ramsey (DaveRamsey.com).  Find tools that work for you and use them.

God’s Greatest Gift

My new novel, Revelations, continues the story of members of Riverside Christian Fellowship and focuses on Bill Clark and his daughter, Emily Clark Butler. Edna Clark, the family matriarch, is Emily’s last living grandparent. As her health fails, Bill and Emily uncover Edna’s darkest secrets. The latest book in the Restored Heart Series follows the family through an unsettling time and glimpses into their earnest efforts to convince Edna to open her heart to God before her time on Earth draws to an end. 

Cover of Revelations, Book 3 in the Restored Hearts series.

As Edna’s health is failing, she adamantly refuses to have anything to do with God despite the pleas and prayers of her family. When she is hospitalized and lapsing in and out of consciousness, they take turns sitting at her bedside while reading scriptures and praying out loud to her.

Forty years ago, my family went through a similar situation. My grandmother experienced a medical emergency. As they waited for the ambulance, my parents pleaded with my grandmother to accept Jesus as her Savior. She stubbornly refused. She survived surgery but then lapsed into a coma. My parents and sister read the Bible to her and prayed aloud for her to accept Jesus Christ as her Savior. She passed away without regaining consciousness, and we were left to wonder if she heard their prayers and received Jesus’s gift of salvation while in the coma.

Several years later, my sons attended a youth conference at which a speaker shared that he had come to salvation while in a coma. He said that he heard the prayers of his family, and he accepted Christ while comatose. This testimony gave me great hope that my grandmother may have given her heart to Christ similarly.  

My inspiration for this book, Revelations, originated from the speaker’s testimony at the youth conference. I wanted to encourage my readers with the hope that it is never too late to accept forgiveness of sins from Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. 

Many of you have prayed for loved ones to come to Christ for decades. Keep praying and believing. Hold onto hope while taking advantage of every opportunity to speak to your loved ones as the Holy Spirit leads. Pray that God will open their hearts and reveal Jesus Christ to them. Stand on God’s promise in Isaiah 55:11, “My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

The birth of Jesus Christ, His sinless life, His sacrificial death on the cross, and His victorious resurrection are the true reasons for Christmas. They are the basis for our hope of forgiveness of our sins and a future in Heaven with God. It is the greatest gift imaginable. For those who know the joy of salvation, it is hard to understand why many people reject this gift.

As we look forward to Christmas in a few weeks, we focus on finding the perfect gifts for those closest to us. Yet, the best gift is always available to us and is free. During this season, pray that God provides you with opportunities to share His love with others and that He will reveal Jesus Christ to many. 

“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” 1 John 1:2

May your Christmas season be blessed with the knowledge that the greatest gift the world has ever known is yours for free if you will only accept it.

Revelations and the other books in the Restored Hearts series, Restorations and Reconciliations, are available for purchase on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Susan-Elizabeth-Ball/author/B0047P60V2?ref=ap_rdr&store_ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

Make Holidays Memorable Without Breaking Your Budget

Have you noticed that celebrating the holidays is expensive? Presents consume a significant portion of most families’ budgets. We go all out on fancy food for the Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts. Then there are decorations, Christmas cards, postage, and holiday attire. It is easy to get caught up in the spending frenzy. Over half of all Americans (52%) began 2023 with debts from their Christmas spending last year. As recently as the end of September, one-third reported they were still paying off their credit card balances.

Hopefully, you have planned for your spending for 2023. If you have been reading my blog all year, you may have established a spending budget early in the year and are in good financial shape for this Christmas. If not, starting a budget now for next year is never too early. I hope you have a blessed Christmas and can celebrate the birth of our Savior without creating financial stress for yourself in the coming year.

With that in mind, my purpose today is to suggest that there are many activities that you can do with your spouse, children, grandchildren, and friends that will create beautiful memories without breaking your budget. Here’s a list of the ones I have thought of to get you started.

1. Bake cookies with your friends and family or for your friends and family. You can make several batches of cookies while drinking cocoa and catching up.

2. Host a cookie exchange party. The women’s ministries group at my church does this each year. Every woman brings three dozen cookies of one kind and goes home with a mixture of three dozen cookies made by the other women. It’s fun to get new recipes and taste everyone’s favorites.

3. Decorate Christmas cookies. If you do not enjoy baking sugar cookies, you can purchase them at the supermarket and decorate them with the younger family members. My grandchildren love to frost cookies and sprinkle them with sugar crystals. It’s a bit of a mess, and it creates wonderful memories.

4. Decorate your tree and home. I have always enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree; however, it is much more fun now that I have grandchildren. They also like to help Gramma decorate the house. Their ideas will differ from mine, and sometimes they are much better.

5. Drive around and look at the holiday lights. It helps to plan and know what neighborhoods have many decorated houses. Community Facebook pages are a good source of information on where to find the best lights.

6. Attend nativity programs at your church and others in your town. You will likely be surprised by the variety of methods of telling the Christmas story. Some churches put on outdoor living nativities, while other productions are more traditional.

7. Go to the Christmas parade. Children especially love Christmas parades, and in our community, we have several hosted by different localities within a thirty-minute drive of our house.

8. Go Christmas caroling. This has long been one of my favorite activities. For many years, our girls’ program at church has visited a local assisted living center and sang for the residents. The residents love it and join in the fun. One year, a 94-year-old resident accompanied us on the piano. We hand out some gifts that help the children interact with the older people. I always leave feeling happy and blessed.

9. Donate some canned goods to your local food pantry. Food pantries rely on donations year-round. The needs are even greater during the holidays, as many families seek extra help to enjoy their holiday feasts. Check with your local pantry to find out their biggest needs, and pick up a few items while shopping. You don’t have to spend a lot—look for items on sale. This is one instance in which many small donations can add up to a large amount of food to be distributed to others in your community.

10. Make simple homemade gifts. If your budget will not allow you to purchase gifts for everyone on your list, roll up your sleeves and make some inexpensive gifts. Pinterest is full of ideas and patterns, which you can download for free. The recipients will likely appreciate your homemade gift more than a store-bought one and will cherish it much longer.

11. Make homemade decorations. Rather than spending a lot of money on new decorations, reuse your old ones and make some new ones to give your tree and home a fresh look. Again, Pinterest is my go-to resource for creating inexpensive and fun decorations. You will have more fun and memories if you recruit friends or family to help make decorations.

12. Watch holiday movies. Pop a large bowl of popcorn or make your favorite holiday treat and settle in with loved ones to watch your favorite holiday movies. We have many beloved Christmas movies that we watch each year with our grandkids or extended family. My mother’s favorite was Those Calloways. I have many fond memories of the family watching it on Christmas night after we unwrapped all the presents, ate the Christmas meal, and cleaned up. We often ate turkey sandwiches while we watched.

13. Hang the stockings. Hand-knit Christmas stockings are a tradition handed down to me by my grandmother. My grandchildren love to help hang the stockings on the railing of our staircase. They love to come up with different arrangements each year. A few years ago, one of them decided we should hang fairy lights between the stockings. It was a beautiful way to highlight the stockings. They also take turns helping Gramma to stuff the stockings. The two eight-year-olds will have their turns this year and are already excited about it.

14. Read the nativity story to the younger members of the family. Plan a quiet time, perhaps after decorating the tree, to read Christ’s birth story. Have cocoa and Christmas cookies while reading or after reading.

15. Attend the church Christmas dinner. Our church family gathers together in early December for the annual Christmas dinner. It is always a great time of fellowship; everyone brings a dish or two to share. This is another excellent way to create memories and share family favorite recipes with your friends.

I am sure you have other activities for your family’s Christmas celebration. Please comment and share your ideas.

Thankful for God’s Blessings

I hope you have much to be thankful for as we celebrate Thanksgiving this year. We typically host our children and grandchildren. Our celebrations are usually loud and energetic, with three sons, two daughters-in-law, and eight grandchildren. This year’s Thanksgiving will be much different since my husband is recovering from his second surgery within six months. We will celebrate quietly by ourselves and focus on thanking God for the many blessings He has poured out of us.

Our greatest blessing is that God has called us to be His children. I am very grateful that God opened our hearts many years ago to receive Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We live by God’s word, which provides a solid foundation for us when we encounter difficulties in life. We all endure challenges,  but we know God walks with us no matter what we face. 

We are thankful for the wonderful family God has blessed us with. We have close relationships with all of our sons, and we are very grateful that they live near us. We get to spend time regularly with our grandchildren, and they are the delight of our lives.

I genuinely enjoy my job and feel blessed to work there. God placed me in a position that provides excellent job satisfaction and allows me to contribute to the success of small businesses in our region. I can contribute financially to our family and provide the blessings of excellent health insurance.

I am thankful for a wonderful church family filled with prayer warriors. We commit to praying for one another’s needs, knowing the Lord answers our prayers.  

I am thankful for a large extended family and the opportunities I have had to spend time with most of them this year.

I am particularly thankful for doctors, nurses, and all those in the healthcare industry. While surgery is no fun, my husband’s two surgeries corrected problems that were diagnosed early. He will fully recover, and I am very, very grateful.

As we have officially entered the ranks of senior citizens, I am grateful for social security and retirement plans. I am thankful that God has given us the wisdom to manage our money for our retirement years.

I am grateful for God’s word and the wisdom it imparts to those who read it prayerfully.  

I am thankful for the opportunities that God provides for us to give to the building of His kingdom through tithes and offerings. As we give, we are building true wealth in Heaven and are helping to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others. No gift can compare with the promise of salvation and eternal life. 

Psalm 95: 1, 2, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.” 

Reduce Stress By Planning Your Holiday Spending

Researchers estimate that 80% of consumers have started shopping for the holiday season. I shop for eight grandchildren, and I like to spread my spending over several months, so I am part of the 80%. Many people are shopping early to take advantage of promotions. Others are spreading out their spending to avoid hefty credit card balances in the coming year.

Economic forecasters predict that 95% of Americans will celebrate the holidays. The average consumer will spend $1,652 on gifts, food, decorations, clothing, and furnishings. This number is 14% more than last year, even though incomes increased by only about 5%.  

As parents and grandparents, we desire to make the holidays special for our children. We encourage them to make lists, and we try our best to fill their lists. But sometimes our budgets do not allow us to indulge our children as we would like. It’s easy to get caught up in the frenzy and spend more than we can afford. 

Before you overspend on Christmas purchases, take a hard look at your income and regular bills. Plan a time to sit down and calculate how much you can afford. Find a quiet space and clear your mind from the running to-do list constantly filling your head. Commit to not spending more than you can afford. The following ideas can help you to stay within your budget.

Prioritize. If you are a parent, buying gifts for your children should be first on your holiday shopping list. Beyond the children, you will want to purchase gifts for your spouse, parents, and spouse’s parents. Extended family, co-workers, and friends should be further down the list and may require you to cut if your budget does not allow them. 

Set Expectations. If you plan to spend less than usual this year, let your children know they may not find as many gifts under the tree. Be upfront with friends and colleagues with whom you will not be able to exchange gifts this year; they will appreciate your honesty and may be relieved to be purchasing fewer gifts themselves.

Ask for help. If your child has his heart set on a gift that does not fit your budget, ask the grandparents to chip in. They will likely be happy to contribute for the pleasure of knowing their grandchild is getting this special gift.

Start early. Research now for the best prices for the gifts you want to buy. Be alert for sales and promotions. Place online orders early enough not to have to pay for express shipping.

Cut back. Carefully consider all of your spending for your typical holiday celebration. Decide which purchases you can cut out without diminishing your celebration. Reuse gift bags and decorations rather than buying new ones. Design and send e-cards rather than spending money and postage on store-bought cards. Give some homemade gifts. Make most of your desserts and side dishes from scratch.

The spirit of Christmas is giving. As God gave His Son to redeem mankind, we give gifts to those we love. Remember that the amount of money you spend does not reflect your love for someone. Instead, it is the thoughtfulness of the gifts that demonstrates your love to your family members. It is more loving and thoughtful to stay within your budget on holiday spending than to go overboard and deal with financial stress in the new year.

For more information on reducing your financial stress, please read my other blogs on financial management and stewardship. My book Honoring God with Your Money is another excellent resource. You may also want to sign up for my free quarterly newsletter.

Buying A Car in 2023: Read This First 

When I bought my car 12 years ago, it was a gently used vehicle with about 18,000 miles. My commute to work is short, and I only put about 6,000 miles on it a year. It has low mileage and is in excellent condition for its age, and I may hold onto my car for another year or two. Yet, car shopping has been on my mind lately.

Car shopping has always been challenging. It is even more so in the current economy. Let’s examine what a buyer in today’s economy is facing. The inventory of car dealerships is lower than usual, interest rates are high, and the prices of new and used cars are higher than before the pandemic. According to Experian, the average cost for a new car is $48,000, and the average monthly payment for a new car is currently $729. If you are considering a low-mileage used car, the average price is $27,000, and the average monthly payment is $528. Car ownership costs are estimated at $300 per month, based on current gasoline prices and driving an estimated 15,000 miles per year.

Before starting the search for a new car, it is crucial to plan ahead.

First, you must review your budget and determine how much you can afford to pay for your next car. Include the total costs of owning your car in your budget, including insurance, property taxes, fuel, and repairs. Edmunds Car Affordability Calculator is a great tool to help you determine the price of the vehicle within your budget based on the payment you can afford.   Generally, your car payment and insurance should consume no more than 10% of your gross income, and your total car costs should be no more than 12%.  

Once you know how much you can afford to pay for your next car, you can use these steps to help you find the right one.

  • Research affordable options before you leave your house. Have a good idea of the models of vehicles you can afford and plan to test drive.
  • Cast a wide net. Check with multiple dealers, as well as online. Be willing to spend more time than you usually would to search for the right vehicle.
  • Buy a reliable vehicle. Take any used vehicle to your mechanic to be inspected before purchasing.
  • Be willing to compromise on features that you might like but are unnecessary. Know which features are essential and which you can live without to stay within your budget.
  • Minimize your monthly payment by saving up to make a significant down payment.
  • Pre-arrange financing with your bank or credit union.  Check with your lending institute to determine the best rate they will offer you. Knowing the interest rate will allow you to accurately calculate your expected payment based on the price of the car you seek. When you invest the time and research in advance, you can confidently accept or reject the dealer’s rate.

A crucial element in making sound financial decisions is to plan. If your car is older, now is the time to set aside money for a future down payment. You will lower your monthly payments with this one step. When your car leaves you stranded, and the repair price is overwhelming, you will feel pressured to buy a car. The temptation to quickly buy a car without researching can lead to regret.

Making wise financial decisions helps you live within your budget and reduce stress. My book Honoring God with Your Money is a great resource to help you better manage your money. Sign up for my quarterly newsletter for even more tips.