Free Tax Filing Options

Did you know you may be eligible to file your taxes for free? Several free filing options are available, depending on your age, state of residency, and income. You can find a free tax filing option if your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is $79,000 or less.

In order to move forward, you will need to determine your AGI for 2023. This information will help us explore the best options available and make informed decisions. Let’s take a moment to calculate your AGI so we can confidently move ahead.

Step 1:  Calculate your total income by adding up all sources of income you receive. Typical forms of income may include:

  • Wages
  • Retirement income
    • IRA distributions
    • Dividends
  • Capital gains
  • business profits
  • interest earned
  • Investment income 
  • Social security
  • Tips
  • Rental income
  • Dependent care benefits
  • Employer-provided adoption benefits

  • Medicaid waiver payments

    Step 2:  Sum up the adjustments made to your income. These adjustments may include: 
  • Half of the self-employment taxes you paid
  • Self-employment health insurance premiums
  • Applicable donations to IRAs
  • Student loan interest
  • Unreimbursed educator expenses

Your AGI is your total income minus your total adjustments.

IRS File Free

The IRS has collaborated with several tax software providers to offer free access to those who meet the requirements. Each provider has its own set of criteria for eligibility. Please visit the provider’s website to determine if their free service is available in your state. Below is a list of the IRS’s trusted partners and a link to their websites.

1040 NOWAGI < $68,000Any agehttps://www.1040now.net
Drake$17k<AGI<$68kAny agehttps://www.1040.com/
EzTaxReturnAGI < $79,000Any agehttps://www.eztaxreturn.com/
FileYourTaxes$8.5k<AGI<$79k< 65https://www.fileyourtaxes.com/
On-Line TaxesAGI < $45,000Any agehttps://www.olt.com
Tax ActAGI < $79,00020 – 54https://www.taxact.com/
Tax HawkAGI < $45,000Any agehttps://www.taxhawk.com
Tax SlayerAGI < $44,000Any agehttps://www.taxslayer.com/
Comparison Free Tax Filing Options

The IRS has a tool to help you determine which of these trusted partners is right for you: https://apps.irs.gov/app/freeFile/general/

  1. Go to IRS.gov
  2. Click “File your taxes for free.”
  3. Select “Explore Free Guided Tax Software”
  4. If you are a first-time free tax filer, select “Find Your Trusted Partner(s)” to find the right preparer for your situation. Or you may browse all the IRS-trusted partners.
  5. Once you use IRS File Free, you will receive an email from the company you used with a link to file for free next year.

Check back next Tuesday for another tax tip to help you decide whether to itemize your deduction or take the standard deduction.

Itemizing Deductions vs. Standard Deduction

When doing your taxes this year, it’s essential to ask yourself whether you should itemize deductions or take the standard deduction. The standard deduction has significantly increased over the past few years, resulting in fewer taxpayers benefiting from itemizing.

If your deductions exceed the standard deduction, you will reduce your tax burden by itemizing. On the other hand, itemizing is a time-consuming process that you may only want to go through if you know it is to your advantage.

For 2023, the standard deduction is:

  • Single taxpayer:  $13,850
  • Head of Household:  $20,800
  • Married filing jointly:  $27,700

If you are 65 or older or blind, your standard deduction is increased by $1,850 for a single taxpayer or head of household and $1,500 per qualifying spouse for married filing jointly.

Questions to Ask Yourself

You can make a quick assessment as to whether it is worth your time and effort to deal with itemizing deductions by asking yourself these five questions:

  1. Did I spend a significant portion of my income on medical bills and prescriptions in 2023?
  2. Do I own a home with a mortgage?
  3. Do I live in an area with high income and property taxes?
  4. Do I give a large amount of money to tax-exempt charities?
  5. Have I experienced any uninsured losses from theft, natural disasters, or other casualty?

If the answer to two or more of these questions is Yes, then it is worth your time to do a quick calculation to estimate your deductible expenses. Your most significant deductions and the easiest to determine are (1) your mortgage interest, (2) your property taxes, and (3) regular charitable donations.  

Add these values. If the sum approaches your standard deduction, totaling all your deductions is most likely worth the effort. Otherwise, you are done, and you should take the standard deduction.

Itemizing Your Deductions

Medical Expenses: Multiply your adjusted gross income by 7.5%. You can only deduct medical expenses over this amount. If you think your medical expenses exceed this value, you will want to total all deductible expenses. Keep in mind that you can only deduct your out-of-pocket costs. Eligible expenses include:

  • Health insurance, dental insurance, and long-term disability insurance premiums
  • Doctor visits and prescriptions
  • Medical tests, lab work, surgeries, and procedures
  • Hospitalization costs
  • Cost of eyeglasses, contact lenses, braces, dental appliances, crutches, wheelchairs, and guide dogs
  • Mileage for trips to the doctor’s office, hospitals, and pharmacies.

State and Local Taxes:

  • State income taxes paid. This includes taxes withheld from your paycheck and/or estimated taxes you paid in 2023. If your state does not have a state income tax or you elect not to deduct your state tax withheld, you can deduct state sales tax. This can be done using actual calculations of sales tax paid or by using the optional sales tax tables.
  • Real estate taxes paid. Include only real estate taxes you paid on property you own that was not used for business. Typically, this is your primary residence, but it can only include taxes on a vacation or second home.
  • Personal property taxes paid. These taxes are typically paid on cars, boats, motorcycles, and campers. You can only deduct the portion of taxes based on the value of the items.

Interest Paid: You can deduct mortgage interest and points on your primary home or second home.

  • These costs can be associated with a first or second mortgage, refinanced mortgage, or home equity loan.
  • For this purpose, your home can be a house, condominium, cooperative, mobile home, boat, or other property that provides sleeping space, toilet, and cooking facilities.
  • Generally speaking, the loan proceeds must have been used to purchase, build, or substantially improve your home.
  • Investment interest paid on money borrowed to purchase an investment property may also be deductible.

Gifts to Charity

Donations made to qualified charities can be cash, property, or out-of-pocket expenses for volunteer work done for the charity. Expenses include mileage, tolls, and parking fees incurred while volunteering.

  • Deduct the value of any benefit you received from your donation.
  • If you gave more than $250 to any one charity, you need a receipt from the charity to verify your gift.

Loss from Casualty or Theft

  • You must complete Form 4684 for each loss.
  • You may deduct only losses that were not recovered by insurance.
  • If you have a qualified loss and you have decided against itemizing, you may be able to claim the loss by increasing your standard deduction.

Please note that this list of deductions is not comprehensive; it only covers the most common deductions. If you decide to itemize, you will want to review IRS Schedule A thoroughly for other possible deductions or discuss with your tax preparer.

Check back next week for options for filing your taxes for free.

Gathering Your Tax Documents

You should have received all your tax documents by now. Whether you decide to file your taxes on your own or hire a professional, staying organized is crucial. I organize my necessary documents and group them together to make the process easier for my accountant.

Let’s start with what your preparer does NOT need:

  1. Utility bills
  2. Lunch receipts
  3. List of all your prescription medicines

It’s essential to include all crucial documents when filing taxes. Here are the documents you need to ensure the best tax return possible:

  1. All W-2s and 1099 statements. 1099s come in many varieties depending on whether the income is from retirement, interest, dividends, royalty payments, social security, cancellation of debt, or jury duty.
  2. Income earned from self-employment as documented by a balance sheet, income statement, and profit and loss statement. You must report self-employment of more than $400.
  3. Calculate the sum of all “Estimated Tax Payments” you made last year.
  4. Form 5498 showing contributions to IRAs
  5. Form 1098-E documenting interest paid on college loans
  6. Alimony and child support received
  7. Form W-2G documenting gambling winnings

If you plan to itemize deductions, you must provide additional documentation. They are:

  1. Summary of medical and dental expenses, if the total is more than 7.5% of adjusted gross income
  2. State and local income taxes paid
  3. State and local real estate and personal property taxes
  4. Form 1098 documenting mortgage interest and points paid
  5. Home mortgage interest and points paid to an individual. Include the individual’s name, address, and identification number.
  6. Summary of charitable donations. It is helpful to include a list, along with the organization’s address to which you donated.

After sorting your documents into categories, creating a summary of your tax information is helpful.

Here’s an example using a fictitious couple. John Doe is 66 and continues to work full-time. His wife Jane is 68 years old; she works part-time and draws social security. I have created a summary of the information that they should provide to their accountant.

Tax Payers:  John and Jane Doe
2023 Tax Summary
Income Summary:
John’s W-2 income$52,714
Jane’s W-2 income$18,000
Jane’s social security$22,177
Jane’s retirement income$25,434
Bank account interest $47
2022 state tax refund $916
Total income$119,288
Adjustments to Income:
John’s IRA contribution$23,000
Total adjustments to income$23,000
Deductible Expenses:
Mortgage interest paid$15,093
Property taxes on home$2,843
Taxes on personal property$1,794
Total taxes and interest$19,730
Charitable Donations:
Church$12,000Address
Food pantry $2,400Address
Christmas toy drive $500 Address
College alumni association $600Address
Total charitable donations$15,500
Total itemized deductions$35,230
Tax Summary Spreadsheet

If you would like a copy of my tax summary spreadsheet, please comment “Spreadsheet” or email me at susan.ball5@aol.com, and I will send it to you.

Make sure to tune in next week for my next blog post on determining whether it’s worthwhile for you to itemize your deductions. I will help you make informed decisions and potentially save you money. Take advantage of this valuable information – sign up for an email subscription and be notified when my next blog is posted.  

Control Spending for Those You Love

Your health and relationships can be affected by your spending and budgeting habits. For the sake of those you love, you should prioritize managing your budget and living within your means. Buying your loved one the perfect gift on Valentine’s Day is a way to express love and provides a great sense of satisfaction unless you cannot afford the gift. 

When the credit card bill arrives, and you do not have the money in your checking account to pay it, it leads to debt and stress. If you have planned and set some money aside, you may be able to take the money out of your savings. Otherwise, you pay a portion of the bill and carry a balance forward.

If spending beyond your means is rare, you likely can recover with a few months of cutting back on “extras.”  However, if it is a regular occurrence, your balance will increase each month due to accumulated interest and new purchases.

In America, credit card balances currently top more than $1.13 trillion. Transunion estimates that the average American has credit card balances of $6,088, and Money magazine estimates the average non-mortgage debt at nearly $21,800. Many Americans are stressed about their finances. This stress is harming their health and their relationships.  

Financial stress leads to physical challenges, including anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, migraines, aches and pains, and difficulty sleeping. These physical ailments can make you irritable and have wild mood swings. All of which is hard on those you love. You and your spouse may fight about money. You may find yourself avoiding the company of others and become more and more withdrawn from social life. This is not a healthy way to live.

It is essential to recognize that debt is a form of bondage. The Bible says, “The rich rule over the poor, but the borrower is servant to the lender.”  Proverbs 22:7

The antidote to debt and stress is to take control of your finances. If you need a place to start, try working through the following suggestions to climb out of debt. Write them down and put them on the frig. Keep it in a prominent place in the house where you will see it and be reminded and encouraged each day. 

  • Immediately forego all unnecessary expenditures.
  • Work with your spouse to create a budget you can both live with.
  • Designate a sum of money to pay toward existing credit card balances.
  • Track your spending so you are aware of where your money is going.
  • Include some “fun” spending in your budget. If your budget is too strict, you will feel punished, and it will be challenging to stick with it.
  • When you need to make a significant purchase, research the item for the best price.
  • Employ the “24-hour rule” for non-essential purchases. If an item in the store tempts you, wait 24 hours. Ask yourself if you need the item and what you will give up in order to afford the item.

Here are some suggestions on how to plan to avoid temptations to spend beyond your budget.

  • Make a grocery shopping list and stick to it. Determine how much you can spend and don’t exceed your limit. Some people use cash and only take the budgeted amount to prevent overspending.
  • Pack lunches and snacks for work. Brew coffee, take it with you, or buy coffee pods and make coffee at work.
  • Invite friends over for home-cooked meals and game or movie nights rather than going to expensive restaurants and expensive activities.
  • Avoid surfing Internet shopping sites that might tempt you to buy things you do not need.
  • Tape television shows and fast forward through commercials to further avoid the enticement of slick advertisers.

This Valentine’s Day show your true love for your spouse and family members by committing to reduce your debt and lower your financial stress. Your physical health and relationships will improve if you do.

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