Stewardship

Suggestions for Getting Out of Debt

1. Pray
Ask for the Lord's help and guidance in your journey to Debtless Day.

2. Establish a Written Budget/Spending Plan.

3. List your Assets.
Sometimes there are things that can be sold to pay off debt.

4. List your Liabilities.
Listing debts will help to prioritize and establish your debt repayment schedule and plan. Debt is slavery.
"The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender."  -  Proverbs 22:7

5. Establish a Debt Repayment Schedule for each creditor.
"The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the rightous give generously."  -  Psalms 37:21

6. Consider earning additional income.
Weigh ALL the costs before taking a second job (i.e. time away from family, costs associated with having another job, etc.). And, make a commitment to use the additional income to pay off debt.

7. Accumulate no new debt.
Perform "Plastic Surgery".

8. Be content with what you have.
Cut back on watching TV, reading magazines and going to the mall.

9. Consider a radical change in your lifestyle.
It may mean "SELL THE CAR".

10. Don't give up! Don't give up! Don't give up!

Source: Your Money Counts, by Howard Dayton; Additional comments provided by Mike Arbise.

Environmental Stewardship

Cut Energy Costs

Ameren
Tips on how to save energy and cut spending.
http://www.ameren.com/Residential/ADC_SavingsTips.asp

Start Making A Difference In Your Community Today

Springfield Green
Springfield, IL
Dedicated to the Beautification of the Capital City area.
http://www.springfield.il.us/Green

Environmental Defense
Tips on what you can do to reduce your impact on Global Warming.
http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/page.cfm?tagID=135

What Others Are Doing

Let's Tend the Garden
Vineyard Christian Fellowship
Boise, ID
http://www.letstendthegarden.org

Some Helpful Resources

Crown Financial Ministries
Many wonderful resources on how to handle money God's way.
http://www.crown.org

Your Money Counts
By Howard Dayton
This book is a biblical guide to earning, spending, saving, investing, giving, and getting out of debt. Topics include: God's Part/Our Part, Debt, Counsel, Honesty, Giving, Work, Investing, Children, Budget, Standard of Living, and more.

The Eternity Portfolio
By Alan Gotthardt
Josh McDowell had this to say about the book, "Alan has delivered a compelling vision for investing in eternity that will reshape the way you think about your financial future. The Eternity Portfolio delivers fundamental truth that is powerful yet practical. I believe these principles will make a tremendous difference for all eternity as we focus our investing in God's strategic Kingdom work."

Splitting Heirs
By Ron Blue
Provides principles that answer the challenge of passing along an inheritance. Within the next decade, over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS will change hands from one generation to the next. Individuals with adult children will need to transfer that wealth without ruining their heirs' lives. Ron Blue shows you how you can benefit from the relational and spiritual dimension of wealth transfer, rather than solely on the legal, financial or technical aspects. This is a must have resource whether you're a parent or a child. Splitting Heirs addresses many issues that you'll face in the transfer and management of your family's estate. Ron coaches you in how to build a wealth of financial wisdom and strong family relationships in a way that honors God and blesses your family.

Business by the Book
By Larry Burkett
What would happen if you made your business decisions by the BOOK? This updated version of the bestselling Business by the Book offers radical principles of business Management that go beyond the Ten Commandments and other biblical maxims. Business by the Book is a step-by-step presentation of how businesses should be run according to the Creator of all management rules. Find out what God's Word says on topics such as: hiring and firing decisions, pay increases and promotions, management selection, employee pay decisions, borrowing and/or lending decisions, discounting policies, forming corporations and partnerships, and business tithing requirements.

The Total Money Makeover
By Dave Ramsey
Dave is a gifted motivational speaker. He is colorful, entertaining and not boring. His favorite recommendation to someone having financial problems is "SELL THE CAR". This book is easy to read and filled with plenty of personal testimonies of those who've used Dave's plan and recovered from large amounts of debt. This book includes Dave's "Baby Steps".

The Dave Ramsey Show
Dave is a radio talk show host who gives counsel to callers about how to handle money, get out of debt, etc.
http://www.daveramsey.com

The Clark Howard Show
Clark Howard is a Consumer Advocate. His web site is a great resource for learning more about good buys, selecting college 529 Plans, Roth IRA's, etc.
http://www.clarkhoward.com

Bank Rate.com
Great site for finding mortgage rates, cd rates and mutual funds.
http://www.bankrate.com

Cheapskate Monthly
Mary Hunt provides valuable information that will help you creatively save money and get out of debt.
http://www.cheapskatemonthly.com