1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:04,000 Speaker 1: Life Audio. 2 00:00:06,260 --> 00:00:09,100 Speaker 2: Welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm your host, Rachel Adams, 3 00:00:09,160 --> 00:00:11,860 Speaker 2: author of Everyday Prayers for Love, Learning to Love God, Others, 4 00:00:11,940 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 2: and Even Yourself. Each week we dive into meaningful conversations 5 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:17,660 Speaker 2: about how to live out the greatest commandment, loving God 6 00:00:17,700 --> 00:00:19,520 Speaker 2: with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and 7 00:00:19,570 --> 00:00:23,810 Speaker 2: loving our neighbors as ourselves. Whether through inspiring stories, practical wisdom, 8 00:00:23,890 --> 00:00:26,310 Speaker 2: or biblical truth, my hope is to encourage you to 9 00:00:26,430 --> 00:00:29,270 Speaker 2: love boldly, live faithfully, and reflect God's love in your 10 00:00:29,330 --> 00:00:32,529 Speaker 2: everyday life. Today, I'm honored to welcome Crystal Payne to 11 00:00:32,550 --> 00:00:36,030 Speaker 2: the show. Crystal is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, podcaster, 12 00:00:36,070 --> 00:00:40,339 Speaker 2: and founder of MoneySavingMom.com, where she encourages women to manage 13 00:00:40,360 --> 00:00:43,580 Speaker 2: their time and resources with greater purpose and confidence. In 14 00:00:43,620 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: her new book, The Seven Habits of Financially Healthy Women, 15 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:49,020 Speaker 2: How to Stop Stressing, Begin Where You Are, and Build 16 00:00:49,060 --> 00:00:52,950 Speaker 2: the Future You Want, Crystal offers practical, realistic guidance for 17 00:00:52,979 --> 00:00:57,070 Speaker 2: navigating money in uncertain times. She helps women overcome fear 18 00:00:57,210 --> 00:01:01,670 Speaker 2: and limiting beliefs, create personalized financial roadmaps, and establish simple 19 00:01:01,730 --> 00:01:05,369 Speaker 2: rhythms for saving, spending, and giving, all while enjoying life 20 00:01:05,430 --> 00:01:08,929 Speaker 2: and investing in what matters most. Well, hello, Crystal, and 21 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:11,350 Speaker 2: welcome to the Love Offering Podcast. I'm so happy to 22 00:01:11,390 --> 00:01:11,669 Speaker 2: have you. 23 00:01:12,610 --> 00:01:14,350 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. I'm so honored 24 00:01:14,390 --> 00:01:14,890 Speaker 1: to be here. 25 00:01:15,890 --> 00:01:19,110 Speaker 2: So people probably know you as the money-saving mom. So 26 00:01:19,130 --> 00:01:21,650 Speaker 2: would you just take us back to the time when 27 00:01:21,709 --> 00:01:23,750 Speaker 2: you first started trying to save money for your own 28 00:01:23,810 --> 00:01:27,270 Speaker 2: family and helping others save money for their family, too? 29 00:01:28,120 --> 00:01:30,530 Speaker 1: It's so funny that people call me the money-saving mom. 30 00:01:30,569 --> 00:01:33,009 Speaker 1: That was never what I set out to have as 31 00:01:33,050 --> 00:01:35,270 Speaker 1: my moniker. In fact, when I set up this site 32 00:01:35,310 --> 00:01:38,870 Speaker 1: called moneysavingmom.com, I was thinking of it being for everybody else. 33 00:01:39,090 --> 00:01:41,900 Speaker 1: And then people started calling me money-saving mom. And I 34 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,640 Speaker 1: was like, wait, what? Okay, I guess I'm just going 35 00:01:44,700 --> 00:01:46,539 Speaker 1: to own it. So my husband and I got married 36 00:01:46,600 --> 00:01:49,620 Speaker 1: almost 24 years ago. And we set this audacious goal 37 00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,460 Speaker 1: that he was going to go through law school and 38 00:01:51,500 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: we were going to stay out of debt. And I 39 00:01:53,160 --> 00:01:56,020 Speaker 1: really wanted to be a stay-at-home mom. And so... When 40 00:01:56,060 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: I found out that I was expecting, I'd been working 41 00:01:58,380 --> 00:02:02,560 Speaker 1: some part-time jobs and I got really sick in my pregnancy. 42 00:02:02,600 --> 00:02:05,380 Speaker 1: So I actually came home full-time and was like, I 43 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:08,200 Speaker 1: need to figure out how to earn money from home. 44 00:02:08,220 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: So I tried a lot of different things. This was 45 00:02:10,940 --> 00:02:15,510 Speaker 1: back in 2004, 2005. I fell into this thing called 46 00:02:15,590 --> 00:02:18,970 Speaker 1: blogging that was a brand new phenomenon at that time 47 00:02:19,190 --> 00:02:22,089 Speaker 1: and realized that I loved it and I learned so 48 00:02:22,150 --> 00:02:26,410 Speaker 1: much from quickly how to monetize it and started talking 49 00:02:26,450 --> 00:02:29,190 Speaker 1: about saving money because it was something that my husband 50 00:02:29,230 --> 00:02:31,510 Speaker 1: and I were doing a lot of and figuring out 51 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 1: how to live on a really tight budget. And I mentioned, 52 00:02:34,860 --> 00:02:37,579 Speaker 1: I think it was just an offhand comment about our 53 00:02:37,620 --> 00:02:40,620 Speaker 1: grocery budget and that it was $ 17 that week. And 54 00:02:40,700 --> 00:02:43,799 Speaker 1: people were just like, what? Excuse me, how are you 55 00:02:43,820 --> 00:02:47,260 Speaker 1: guys eating for $ 17? And so I just started sharing 56 00:02:47,320 --> 00:02:51,200 Speaker 1: more about our menu plans and grocery shopping and cooking. 57 00:02:51,220 --> 00:02:55,810 Speaker 1: And It just kind of grew out of there that 58 00:02:55,830 --> 00:02:58,750 Speaker 1: I realized there was so much interest. And so in 2007, 2008, 59 00:02:58,750 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: I started MoneySavingMom.com thinking that it was going to be 60 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:07,179 Speaker 1: this little side thing. And it turned into a full-time thing. 2014, 61 00:03:07,180 --> 00:03:09,820 Speaker 1: my husband came home a whole time. We now have 62 00:03:09,820 --> 00:03:11,820 Speaker 1: 15 people on our team that work for us. And 63 00:03:12,000 --> 00:03:15,230 Speaker 1: it's far beyond my wildest imaginations, but it is such 64 00:03:15,290 --> 00:03:18,990 Speaker 1: an honor to get to help literally millions of people 65 00:03:19,110 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: around the globe. With using their money more intentionally and 66 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:27,700 Speaker 1: really my heartbeat and passion is that people can get 67 00:03:27,760 --> 00:03:31,639 Speaker 1: their finances in order so that they can give generously 68 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:34,470 Speaker 1: because I believe that that is how we not only 69 00:03:34,669 --> 00:03:38,780 Speaker 1: change our communities, but we change the world. Oh, absolutely. 70 00:03:38,900 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 2: Well, I shared this with you before we hit record. 71 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,200 Speaker 2: The listeners may know this, but it's been a while 72 00:03:43,240 --> 00:03:45,520 Speaker 2: since I've shared the story. But the actual name of 73 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:48,260 Speaker 2: the Love Offering Podcast happened because I was sitting in 74 00:03:48,310 --> 00:03:50,290 Speaker 2: the church pew and saw a love offering envelope in 75 00:03:50,350 --> 00:03:52,970 Speaker 2: front of me. And typically those are for monetary giving. 76 00:03:53,030 --> 00:03:54,910 Speaker 2: But in that moment, I sensed the Lord saying, Rachel, 77 00:03:55,310 --> 00:03:57,589 Speaker 2: you are my love offering. I've given you my love. 78 00:03:57,630 --> 00:03:59,550 Speaker 2: How are you going to give my love to the 79 00:03:59,590 --> 00:04:01,660 Speaker 2: world around you? At that time, I thought, okay, it's 80 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:04,460 Speaker 2: more than just finances. It's in my time and my talents. 81 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 2: And resources and everything that you've given me, how am 82 00:04:07,500 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 2: I going to go and love others well, but it 83 00:04:09,580 --> 00:04:11,980 Speaker 2: is also our money. And that's something we have not 84 00:04:12,060 --> 00:04:15,280 Speaker 2: talked about very much on the podcast, I can think 85 00:04:15,300 --> 00:04:17,720 Speaker 2: of maybe one other time, and actually, I think it 86 00:04:17,740 --> 00:04:21,529 Speaker 2: was with you. So I'm excited about today's conversation. But 87 00:04:21,550 --> 00:04:23,230 Speaker 2: we're going to take a brief break to hear a 88 00:04:23,250 --> 00:04:26,150 Speaker 2: word from our sponsor. And when we come back, we 89 00:04:26,190 --> 00:04:29,390 Speaker 2: will talk about how we can overcome financial fear and 90 00:04:29,470 --> 00:04:30,669 Speaker 2: begin where we are. 91 00:04:33,550 --> 00:04:34,110 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 92 00:04:34,230 --> 00:04:36,270 Speaker 2: I am talking with Crystal Payne about her book, The 93 00:04:36,310 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 2: Seven Habits of Financially Healthy Women. Money has always been 94 00:04:39,820 --> 00:04:42,180 Speaker 2: an issue. You can look back in Bible times and 95 00:04:42,220 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 2: Jesus talked a lot about money. But right now, especially Crystal, 96 00:04:45,500 --> 00:04:48,740 Speaker 2: I just feel like everything is so expensive. You talked 97 00:04:48,779 --> 00:04:52,409 Speaker 2: about that $ 17 grocery bill. And no kidding, I don't 98 00:04:52,450 --> 00:04:54,430 Speaker 2: even want to say on air what I probably spend 99 00:04:54,570 --> 00:04:57,830 Speaker 2: every single week. It's in the hundreds and it's a lot. 100 00:04:58,300 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 2: And it keeps growing. And so I think so many 101 00:05:00,820 --> 00:05:03,390 Speaker 2: of us, we're feeling kind of this financial strain and 102 00:05:03,470 --> 00:05:04,330 Speaker 2: financial pressure. 103 00:05:04,410 --> 00:05:05,350 Speaker 1: So how can we. 104 00:05:05,350 --> 00:05:10,679 Speaker 2: Acknowledge those realities of the rising prices, economic uncertainty, challenging 105 00:05:10,740 --> 00:05:13,479 Speaker 2: housing markets? How can we face that and acknowledge those 106 00:05:13,520 --> 00:05:16,700 Speaker 2: realities without allowing fear to control our decisions? 107 00:05:17,520 --> 00:05:19,400 Speaker 1: That's so good. And when I was writing this book, 108 00:05:19,420 --> 00:05:22,840 Speaker 1: I actually surveyed almost 4,000 women and just asked them 109 00:05:22,900 --> 00:05:25,400 Speaker 1: if they would share really honestly their fears and their 110 00:05:25,440 --> 00:05:28,700 Speaker 1: struggles with money. And it was really fascinating to me 111 00:05:28,760 --> 00:05:32,140 Speaker 1: because so many women, no matter whether they were doing 112 00:05:32,380 --> 00:05:36,279 Speaker 1: really well financially or really struggling financially, expressed that they 113 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,620 Speaker 1: have a lot of fear around money. And I think 114 00:05:38,660 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: we can get this perspective that, well, if you have 115 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:43,380 Speaker 1: a lot of money and if you're in a good 116 00:05:43,420 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 1: financial place, you're not going to have fear around money. 117 00:05:46,040 --> 00:05:50,339 Speaker 1: But I think we all can experience that. And I 118 00:05:50,380 --> 00:05:53,460 Speaker 1: just want to encourage anyone who feels that fear around 119 00:05:53,500 --> 00:05:57,950 Speaker 1: money that you're not alone. But also, I wrote this 120 00:05:57,990 --> 00:06:00,350 Speaker 1: book because I don't want you to live stuck in 121 00:06:00,390 --> 00:06:03,740 Speaker 1: that space of just constantly feeling the stress of and 122 00:06:03,760 --> 00:06:06,880 Speaker 1: this tension and shame. There's a lot of shame that 123 00:06:06,900 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people have around money and decisions that 124 00:06:09,260 --> 00:06:11,720 Speaker 1: they've made that have led them to where they are. 125 00:06:11,839 --> 00:06:15,020 Speaker 1: And so my encouragement to you, I start the book 126 00:06:15,140 --> 00:06:17,680 Speaker 1: out with habit number one is start where you are. 127 00:06:17,700 --> 00:06:21,029 Speaker 1: I think it's really important to recognize that if we 128 00:06:21,150 --> 00:06:24,270 Speaker 1: keep thinking that we need a better job, we need 129 00:06:24,310 --> 00:06:28,210 Speaker 1: to live in a different state or country, we need 130 00:06:28,250 --> 00:06:32,570 Speaker 1: to have a better retirement fund. When we get to 131 00:06:32,750 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: this thing, then we're going to feel less financial stress. 132 00:06:39,190 --> 00:06:43,140 Speaker 1: We're going to have made it. We're going to not 133 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:47,260 Speaker 1: have fear around money. But I really challenge everyone, start 134 00:06:47,440 --> 00:06:50,240 Speaker 1: where you are. And I actually have an assessment in 135 00:06:50,300 --> 00:06:53,000 Speaker 1: this first chapter of what do you have in your hand? 136 00:06:53,050 --> 00:06:55,690 Speaker 1: And I walk you through really paying attention to what 137 00:06:56,390 --> 00:06:59,849 Speaker 1: do you have? that you can tap into. I mentioned, 138 00:07:00,010 --> 00:07:01,390 Speaker 1: you know, my husband and I, we were living in 139 00:07:01,650 --> 00:07:03,950 Speaker 1: this little basement apartment when he was in law school 140 00:07:04,150 --> 00:07:06,110 Speaker 1: and we were on this beans and rice budget. That 141 00:07:06,150 --> 00:07:09,170 Speaker 1: was when we had sometimes only $ 17 to spend on groceries. 142 00:07:09,350 --> 00:07:13,060 Speaker 1: And I chose to view it as a game. How 143 00:07:13,180 --> 00:07:17,340 Speaker 1: well can I feed my family on how little? And 144 00:07:17,520 --> 00:07:22,500 Speaker 1: really approaching it with a can-do attitude versus I can't attitude. 145 00:07:22,980 --> 00:07:25,380 Speaker 1: And I see this so often as I'm sharing about 146 00:07:25,460 --> 00:07:28,500 Speaker 1: cutting your grocery bill or about saving money or about budgeting. 147 00:07:28,920 --> 00:07:30,420 Speaker 1: So many people will write in and be like, well, 148 00:07:30,540 --> 00:07:32,860 Speaker 1: I can't do that. And then they'll list off their reason. 149 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:36,100 Speaker 1: And if we always approach things with can't do, I 150 00:07:36,180 --> 00:07:38,490 Speaker 1: can't do that because of X, Y, and Z, we're 151 00:07:38,510 --> 00:07:40,810 Speaker 1: always going to stay stuck. But if we instead choose 152 00:07:40,850 --> 00:07:43,470 Speaker 1: to say, okay, maybe that won't work for me, but 153 00:07:43,650 --> 00:07:46,870 Speaker 1: what will work for me? What can I do with 154 00:07:47,010 --> 00:07:50,230 Speaker 1: what I have, where I am. It opens up this 155 00:07:50,270 --> 00:07:52,750 Speaker 1: whole world of possibility and we start to see things 156 00:07:52,850 --> 00:07:56,390 Speaker 1: in a fresh light. It reorients how we view life 157 00:07:56,830 --> 00:07:59,650 Speaker 1: and we're probably going to find that we're not stuck. 158 00:08:01,180 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 2: How do you define a financially healthy woman and why 159 00:08:05,420 --> 00:08:09,120 Speaker 2: does financial health involve more than how much money she earns, saves, 160 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:10,600 Speaker 2: or has in the bank? Hmm. 161 00:08:11,490 --> 00:08:13,590 Speaker 1: I think so often I talked about how we think 162 00:08:13,670 --> 00:08:16,230 Speaker 1: that it's about the money that we have or the 163 00:08:16,310 --> 00:08:19,130 Speaker 1: money that we're making or the assets that we have. 164 00:08:19,170 --> 00:08:22,660 Speaker 1: But really, you can have so much money in the 165 00:08:22,700 --> 00:08:25,520 Speaker 1: bank and still have stress in your life. I mean, 166 00:08:25,540 --> 00:08:28,440 Speaker 1: I always think like if money was the thing that 167 00:08:28,500 --> 00:08:31,140 Speaker 1: was going to make you happy, why are the people 168 00:08:31,200 --> 00:08:34,790 Speaker 1: who are the celebrities who are rolling in money oftentimes happy? 169 00:08:35,320 --> 00:08:39,210 Speaker 1: seeming to struggle so much and turning to drugs and 170 00:08:39,370 --> 00:08:42,370 Speaker 1: alcohol and things like that. And it's because money doesn't 171 00:08:42,429 --> 00:08:46,150 Speaker 1: buy happiness. And we know that, but we say that, 172 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:48,960 Speaker 1: but sometimes we live as if we think it will. 173 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 1: And so financial health to me is so much more 174 00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:55,860 Speaker 1: about what we feel in our hearts. It's about being 175 00:08:55,900 --> 00:09:00,030 Speaker 1: in this place of peace. It is about aligning our 176 00:09:00,150 --> 00:09:05,790 Speaker 1: spending with our priorities and then living that out with intention. 177 00:09:06,170 --> 00:09:08,050 Speaker 1: And so you can do that. I think of, you know, 178 00:09:08,170 --> 00:09:09,530 Speaker 1: when my husband and I were in those lean law 179 00:09:09,550 --> 00:09:12,580 Speaker 1: school years, we were in a financially healthy place, not 180 00:09:12,630 --> 00:09:16,020 Speaker 1: because we had a lot of money, because we didn't. 181 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:19,179 Speaker 1: Not because we had a good income, because we didn't. 182 00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:20,900 Speaker 1: Not because we had a lot of money in the bank, 183 00:09:20,960 --> 00:09:24,630 Speaker 1: because we didn't. But because we knew this is the 184 00:09:24,670 --> 00:09:27,390 Speaker 1: path that we're on, these are our priorities, and we're 185 00:09:27,429 --> 00:09:30,740 Speaker 1: going to carefully spend our money in line with those priorities. 186 00:09:30,890 --> 00:09:33,000 Speaker 1: And we had so much peace. And the thing that 187 00:09:33,020 --> 00:09:35,540 Speaker 1: I learned in that season when we didn't even have 188 00:09:35,679 --> 00:09:38,449 Speaker 1: money to be able to buy something at a garage 189 00:09:38,470 --> 00:09:40,350 Speaker 1: sale or a thrift store. I mean, when we found 190 00:09:40,370 --> 00:09:42,520 Speaker 1: out that we were pregnant with our first daughter, I 191 00:09:42,540 --> 00:09:44,160 Speaker 1: was like, I don't know how I'm going to pay 192 00:09:44,200 --> 00:09:46,939 Speaker 1: for maternity clothes because we don't have any extra money 193 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:50,140 Speaker 1: for that. And you know what? God provided. And a 194 00:09:50,280 --> 00:09:52,239 Speaker 1: friend who I didn't even know very well sent me 195 00:09:52,280 --> 00:09:55,550 Speaker 1: this whole box of maternity clothes. And then my parents 196 00:09:55,730 --> 00:09:57,429 Speaker 1: for my birthday were like, we want to take you 197 00:09:57,450 --> 00:10:01,050 Speaker 1: shopping for maternity clothes. And between those two things, I 198 00:10:01,130 --> 00:10:04,320 Speaker 1: had enough maternity clothes for my entire pregnancy. When we 199 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,890 Speaker 1: got to the end of the pregnancy and we were like, well, 200 00:10:06,910 --> 00:10:08,739 Speaker 1: we're going to need some baby things. What are we 201 00:10:08,760 --> 00:10:10,420 Speaker 1: going to do? We don't have money to pay for 202 00:10:10,460 --> 00:10:14,839 Speaker 1: baby things. And God provided. We had my husband, the 203 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:16,920 Speaker 1: place that he was working at part time, they had 204 00:10:16,940 --> 00:10:19,329 Speaker 1: a little shower for us. Our tiny little church had 205 00:10:19,370 --> 00:10:22,010 Speaker 1: a shower for us. Our church back home had a 206 00:10:22,050 --> 00:10:24,930 Speaker 1: shower for us. And between all of that, we literally 207 00:10:24,970 --> 00:10:28,790 Speaker 1: bought one blanket before our daughter was born. And she 208 00:10:28,890 --> 00:10:31,470 Speaker 1: only had six outfits for every size. But you know what? 209 00:10:31,630 --> 00:10:34,890 Speaker 1: You don't need more than six outfits. And the thing 210 00:10:34,929 --> 00:10:38,250 Speaker 1: that we learned during that season was, you know, when 211 00:10:38,340 --> 00:10:40,980 Speaker 1: you don't have that much, but you have a grateful 212 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 1: attitude and you recognize the blessings and the gifts and 213 00:10:44,740 --> 00:10:48,829 Speaker 1: the goodness around you, you don't need anything. that much. 214 00:10:49,150 --> 00:10:51,590 Speaker 1: And it just really taught us like what truly matters. 215 00:10:51,690 --> 00:10:53,890 Speaker 1: And there was so much joy. And I look back 216 00:10:53,929 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: in that season of life, there was just so much 217 00:10:55,740 --> 00:10:58,280 Speaker 1: joy and so much contentment. And we got to see 218 00:10:58,300 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: God be so faithful and provide for us when we 219 00:11:01,420 --> 00:11:04,130 Speaker 1: didn't have the resources. He was always faithful. And I 220 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:07,270 Speaker 1: think that that just really gave us this like foundation 221 00:11:07,450 --> 00:11:10,330 Speaker 1: of trust and contentment that we've taken into the rest 222 00:11:10,370 --> 00:11:10,950 Speaker 1: of our marriage. 223 00:11:12,420 --> 00:11:14,540 Speaker 2: Oh, I love those stories so much. God really does 224 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:17,660 Speaker 2: provide through the generosity of other people as well. And 225 00:11:17,679 --> 00:11:20,329 Speaker 2: I know that you have paid that forward in so 226 00:11:20,370 --> 00:11:23,370 Speaker 2: many ways. You know, I think many women believe that 227 00:11:23,470 --> 00:11:26,750 Speaker 2: they simply aren't good with money, that they lack discipline 228 00:11:26,890 --> 00:11:30,250 Speaker 2: or never follow through. So where do these limiting beliefs 229 00:11:30,350 --> 00:11:33,110 Speaker 2: come from and how can we start replacing them with 230 00:11:33,190 --> 00:11:35,850 Speaker 2: a healthier, more truthful perspective? 231 00:11:37,150 --> 00:11:38,710 Speaker 1: So one of the things I really wanted to talk 232 00:11:38,730 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: about in the book was going back. to your childhood, 233 00:11:42,850 --> 00:11:46,610 Speaker 1: your upbringing, and to recognize how much that impacts how 234 00:11:46,670 --> 00:11:49,490 Speaker 1: you view money today. And I share about my childhood. 235 00:11:49,550 --> 00:11:53,110 Speaker 1: I actually was so blessed to have really, really wise 236 00:11:53,510 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 1: financial examples. My parents were so wise in that. But 237 00:11:57,280 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: I know so many people don't have that. And I 238 00:11:59,500 --> 00:12:02,140 Speaker 1: think it's really important to go back so that we 239 00:12:02,179 --> 00:12:04,320 Speaker 1: can move forward. And I walk you through a process 240 00:12:04,340 --> 00:12:08,349 Speaker 1: of really asking yourself and journaling through what What were 241 00:12:08,410 --> 00:12:11,370 Speaker 1: your beliefs around money and how does that impact how 242 00:12:11,410 --> 00:12:14,750 Speaker 1: you view money today? And so I think that it's really, 243 00:12:14,790 --> 00:12:20,360 Speaker 1: really important that we understand that oftentimes the decisions we're 244 00:12:20,400 --> 00:12:24,400 Speaker 1: making today are because of something that happened years ago. 245 00:12:24,520 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 1: And so why we might feel like I can't spend 246 00:12:27,020 --> 00:12:29,170 Speaker 1: that money or I should spend that money or I 247 00:12:29,250 --> 00:12:31,680 Speaker 1: can't do that or I should do that. We're being 248 00:12:31,760 --> 00:12:34,610 Speaker 1: held back by stuff from years ago. And so once 249 00:12:34,630 --> 00:12:36,870 Speaker 1: we process through that, then it gives us the space 250 00:12:36,950 --> 00:12:40,569 Speaker 1: and the freedom to start saying, you know what? Maybe 251 00:12:40,710 --> 00:12:44,510 Speaker 1: I didn't have good models. Maybe I didn't have parents 252 00:12:44,620 --> 00:12:48,140 Speaker 1: who showed me how to use money. Maybe money was 253 00:12:48,340 --> 00:12:51,820 Speaker 1: used actually as a bargaining sort of thing. Maybe money 254 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,730 Speaker 1: was used talked about in a really stressful way. Maybe 255 00:12:54,770 --> 00:12:57,209 Speaker 1: there was always tension around money, but that doesn't have 256 00:12:57,250 --> 00:13:00,050 Speaker 1: to be my story going forward. And so I really 257 00:13:00,080 --> 00:13:03,100 Speaker 1: want to help you to process through those limiting beliefs. 258 00:13:03,179 --> 00:13:04,780 Speaker 1: And I think one of the things that's just really 259 00:13:04,840 --> 00:13:09,660 Speaker 1: important is when you're starting to feel stress around money, 260 00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:13,890 Speaker 1: to stop and ask why. Where is this coming from? 261 00:13:14,090 --> 00:13:17,070 Speaker 1: So often we will be triggered by something and we 262 00:13:17,110 --> 00:13:19,689 Speaker 1: don't even realize that we are because we just keep 263 00:13:19,730 --> 00:13:22,569 Speaker 1: charging through life. And this is good for every single thing. 264 00:13:22,590 --> 00:13:25,200 Speaker 1: But anytime when you feel that tension rising in your heart, 265 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:29,760 Speaker 1: instead of just freaking out, see it as a warning 266 00:13:29,900 --> 00:13:33,840 Speaker 1: sign that we need to stop and pay attention. Where's 267 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:37,090 Speaker 1: this coming from? What just happened? What am I feeling 268 00:13:37,190 --> 00:13:39,770 Speaker 1: in my body? Have I felt this before? Is there 269 00:13:39,840 --> 00:13:41,979 Speaker 1: something that maybe this is related to in the past? 270 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: And the more that we start doing that and have 271 00:13:43,880 --> 00:13:46,719 Speaker 1: that awareness, the more that we can uncover some of 272 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: those deep-seated beliefs. I had a negative belief. I talk 273 00:13:49,580 --> 00:13:52,459 Speaker 1: about this in the book that I'm not good at math. 274 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:56,420 Speaker 1: And so therefore, I believed that I couldn't talk about money. 275 00:13:57,370 --> 00:13:59,270 Speaker 1: And so for years and years, actually, even though I 276 00:13:59,309 --> 00:14:03,010 Speaker 1: had this site called MoneySavingMom.com, I wouldn't share a lot 277 00:14:03,030 --> 00:14:06,150 Speaker 1: of things around money because I felt like I'm not 278 00:14:06,170 --> 00:14:10,030 Speaker 1: good at math, which I struggled in math so much 279 00:14:10,490 --> 00:14:13,130 Speaker 1: when I was in my high school years. And I 280 00:14:13,210 --> 00:14:17,590 Speaker 1: just barely, barely passed algebra and geometry in order to graduate. 281 00:14:17,929 --> 00:14:20,110 Speaker 1: And so I always just felt like, you know, if 282 00:14:20,190 --> 00:14:23,010 Speaker 1: I talk about budgeting, if I talk about anything other 283 00:14:23,070 --> 00:14:25,800 Speaker 1: than like saving money at the grocery store, I don't 284 00:14:25,820 --> 00:14:27,500 Speaker 1: know what I'm talking about because I'm not good at math. 285 00:14:27,560 --> 00:14:30,440 Speaker 1: And I actually asked some mentors of mine. I said, 286 00:14:30,540 --> 00:14:32,140 Speaker 1: I feel like this is a lemony blade, but I 287 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:33,820 Speaker 1: feel like it's really holding me back. And I've been 288 00:14:33,860 --> 00:14:37,210 Speaker 1: telling myself this for so long that it's become the 289 00:14:37,250 --> 00:14:40,070 Speaker 1: soundtrack of my life, like John Acuff talks about. And 290 00:14:40,830 --> 00:14:43,110 Speaker 1: I asked him, I said, what am I supposed to do? Like, 291 00:14:43,330 --> 00:14:45,229 Speaker 1: I think I'm not good at math and therefore I 292 00:14:45,270 --> 00:14:48,170 Speaker 1: don't want to talk about money. And one of my friends, 293 00:14:48,210 --> 00:14:49,910 Speaker 1: she was so wise. She was like, you know what? 294 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,370 Speaker 1: When you think about it, budgeting isn't about math. It's 295 00:14:54,430 --> 00:14:59,210 Speaker 1: about prioritization. And when she was saying that, I was like, 296 00:14:59,810 --> 00:15:04,550 Speaker 1: you're right. And I'm actually really good at prioritization. I 297 00:15:04,590 --> 00:15:06,730 Speaker 1: can look at something, kind of figure out, okay, here's 298 00:15:06,750 --> 00:15:09,110 Speaker 1: what we need to prioritize. Here's what I want to prioritize. 299 00:15:09,290 --> 00:15:12,090 Speaker 1: And she's like, so you can share that with people 300 00:15:12,130 --> 00:15:15,150 Speaker 1: and you can help people understand what they should prioritize. 301 00:15:15,390 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 1: And it's also about discipline, which I know a lot 302 00:15:18,580 --> 00:15:20,990 Speaker 1: of people are like, yeah, I like that word. But 303 00:15:21,030 --> 00:15:23,530 Speaker 1: that is something that also is a gifting of mine. 304 00:15:23,650 --> 00:15:26,190 Speaker 1: And that for years and years, we've stuck with the 305 00:15:26,230 --> 00:15:29,950 Speaker 1: budget because I am naturally wired to be a more 306 00:15:29,990 --> 00:15:33,990 Speaker 1: disciplined person. And so once I recognize that to be like, 307 00:15:34,250 --> 00:15:36,970 Speaker 1: I'm no longer going to be held back by that 308 00:15:37,010 --> 00:15:39,610 Speaker 1: belief of I'm not good at math. And I really 309 00:15:39,630 --> 00:15:43,190 Speaker 1: challenge people instead of saying, I'm not good at whatever 310 00:15:43,230 --> 00:15:45,650 Speaker 1: it is. I hear so often people are like, I'm 311 00:15:45,700 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: not good at budgeting or I'm not a disciplined person. Instead, 312 00:15:50,380 --> 00:15:53,420 Speaker 1: and this is Allie Worthington, my business coach, she says, 313 00:15:53,780 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: I am becoming a woman who is learning to be disciplined. 314 00:15:58,280 --> 00:16:01,860 Speaker 1: I'm becoming a woman who is learning to stick with 315 00:16:01,940 --> 00:16:05,580 Speaker 1: a budget. And I'm becoming a woman who is prioritizing 316 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,900 Speaker 1: my money in line with what matters most to me. 317 00:16:09,410 --> 00:16:13,550 Speaker 1: And the more that we start speaking those words over ourselves, 318 00:16:13,630 --> 00:16:17,240 Speaker 1: the more it really helps us to view life differently 319 00:16:17,280 --> 00:16:19,740 Speaker 1: and say, okay, if I'm becoming that sort of woman, 320 00:16:19,940 --> 00:16:22,900 Speaker 1: then how am I going to act? How would a 321 00:16:22,960 --> 00:16:26,270 Speaker 1: woman who is becoming more disciplined with money act? How 322 00:16:26,370 --> 00:16:29,230 Speaker 1: is a woman who is learning to align her priorities 323 00:16:29,310 --> 00:16:31,510 Speaker 1: and her spending, how would she act? What is the 324 00:16:31,610 --> 00:16:34,260 Speaker 1: next thing that she would do? And that's just really 325 00:16:34,320 --> 00:16:36,460 Speaker 1: helped me and giving me so much more confidence when 326 00:16:36,500 --> 00:16:38,540 Speaker 1: it comes to talking about money, because I'm like, I'm 327 00:16:38,580 --> 00:16:42,600 Speaker 1: becoming a woman who is learning how to share about budgeting. 328 00:16:42,640 --> 00:16:45,140 Speaker 1: And I actually then challenged myself for months and months 329 00:16:45,180 --> 00:16:47,490 Speaker 1: and months. I just started putting stuff out there on 330 00:16:47,530 --> 00:16:50,410 Speaker 1: the internet, talking about budgeting and talking about these money 331 00:16:50,470 --> 00:16:52,729 Speaker 1: things that I'd been so scared to talk about. And 332 00:16:52,750 --> 00:16:54,990 Speaker 1: the more I did it, I was like, I'm actually 333 00:16:55,010 --> 00:16:57,490 Speaker 1: pretty good at this. Okay. And that's, then I ended 334 00:16:57,530 --> 00:16:58,290 Speaker 1: up writing a book. 335 00:16:59,240 --> 00:17:01,420 Speaker 2: Well, I'm not good at geometry either. Both of my 336 00:17:01,460 --> 00:17:03,600 Speaker 2: kids are in that in high school right now. And 337 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:06,119 Speaker 2: I'm just like, good luck, guys. But I can use 338 00:17:06,160 --> 00:17:08,890 Speaker 2: a calculator and I can count money. Thank goodness for 339 00:17:08,950 --> 00:17:11,530 Speaker 2: all the tools now. I actually do accounts payable and 340 00:17:11,550 --> 00:17:14,550 Speaker 2: accounts receivable at our family business. And, you know, with 341 00:17:14,609 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 2: QuickBooks and all the tools that you have. now available 342 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,800 Speaker 2: to us. There's lots of help. And your book is 343 00:17:19,840 --> 00:17:22,280 Speaker 2: a lot of help for us. You know, I think 344 00:17:22,320 --> 00:17:26,280 Speaker 2: sometimes the financial advice can sometimes feel very rigid and 345 00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,720 Speaker 2: very unrealistic. So how can a woman create a personalized 346 00:17:29,859 --> 00:17:35,659 Speaker 2: roadmap that reflects her unique personalities, priorities, responsibilities, and God-given purpose? 347 00:17:35,720 --> 00:17:37,720 Speaker 2: Because not everybody's are the same, right? 348 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:41,929 Speaker 1: 100%. And that's why one of the habits is about 349 00:17:42,410 --> 00:17:45,540 Speaker 1: deciding your financial priorities. And I think that that's super, 350 00:17:45,580 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: super important. And it's actually habit number two, because habit 351 00:17:48,260 --> 00:17:50,520 Speaker 1: number one is start with what you have. Habit number 352 00:17:50,580 --> 00:17:53,620 Speaker 1: two is deciding your financial priorities and to recognize, like 353 00:17:53,660 --> 00:17:56,619 Speaker 1: you said, it's going to look different. for everyone. And 354 00:17:56,640 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 1: it's also going to look different in different seasons. And 355 00:17:58,740 --> 00:18:01,980 Speaker 1: I think that's something that's super important because at certain 356 00:18:02,020 --> 00:18:03,659 Speaker 1: seasons of our life, we were able to have a 357 00:18:03,720 --> 00:18:06,420 Speaker 1: really low grocery budget. And you talked about, you know, spending, 358 00:18:06,900 --> 00:18:09,399 Speaker 1: you know, hundreds at the grocery store. We spend hundreds 359 00:18:09,440 --> 00:18:11,790 Speaker 1: at the grocery store now because I have a lot 360 00:18:11,810 --> 00:18:13,610 Speaker 1: of kids and I have older kids and they do 361 00:18:13,790 --> 00:18:16,389 Speaker 1: athletics and they bring their friends over and there's a 362 00:18:16,470 --> 00:18:19,070 Speaker 1: lot of food that gets eaten at this house. And 363 00:18:19,430 --> 00:18:22,129 Speaker 1: so that's something that we've decided like this is in 364 00:18:22,190 --> 00:18:24,949 Speaker 1: this season of life, we're going to raise our grocery 365 00:18:24,970 --> 00:18:27,710 Speaker 1: budget because that's going to serve our family. And so 366 00:18:28,130 --> 00:18:30,919 Speaker 1: to not feel like you are stuck in, well, this 367 00:18:30,980 --> 00:18:33,420 Speaker 1: is what used to work, so it's always supposed to work. 368 00:18:33,580 --> 00:18:35,380 Speaker 1: Or this is what works for her, so it should 369 00:18:35,420 --> 00:18:38,639 Speaker 1: work for me. But really figuring out, okay, what are 370 00:18:38,780 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: your priorities? And for instance, for our family, one of 371 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:45,659 Speaker 1: our family priorities is adventure and traveling and making memories. 372 00:18:46,300 --> 00:18:48,940 Speaker 1: We don't spend a lot of money on things like 373 00:18:49,440 --> 00:18:52,610 Speaker 1: house furnishings and, you know, I mean, our house, there's 374 00:18:52,630 --> 00:18:53,850 Speaker 1: a lot of parts in our house that need to 375 00:18:53,890 --> 00:18:56,710 Speaker 1: be redone right now. And we just haven't prioritized it 376 00:18:56,790 --> 00:19:00,379 Speaker 1: because we've prioritized making memories. I just took my daughter 377 00:19:00,420 --> 00:19:03,320 Speaker 1: to New York City last weekend. She just graduated from 378 00:19:03,340 --> 00:19:05,580 Speaker 1: cosmetology school and we went on a little two-day trip 379 00:19:05,619 --> 00:19:07,130 Speaker 1: and we did it on a budget, but it was... 380 00:19:07,460 --> 00:19:10,410 Speaker 1: something that, you know, this is a priority to me 381 00:19:10,670 --> 00:19:14,110 Speaker 1: in this season. For other people, maybe having a home 382 00:19:14,410 --> 00:19:17,450 Speaker 1: that you can welcome and invite a lot of people in, 383 00:19:17,830 --> 00:19:21,119 Speaker 1: or maybe it's a priority that you're able to volunteer 384 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:23,540 Speaker 1: a lot and have a schedule for that. Maybe it's 385 00:19:23,560 --> 00:19:25,060 Speaker 1: that you have a lot of food at your house 386 00:19:25,119 --> 00:19:26,919 Speaker 1: so that you can be the one that all the 387 00:19:26,940 --> 00:19:29,540 Speaker 1: kids come to your house. Figuring out what is that? 388 00:19:29,600 --> 00:19:31,240 Speaker 1: What does that look like? I'm I was doing a 389 00:19:31,270 --> 00:19:33,470 Speaker 1: podcast earlier today with someone and she said like their 390 00:19:33,510 --> 00:19:37,250 Speaker 1: family prioritizing concerts. It's really important. And so figuring out 391 00:19:37,369 --> 00:19:40,909 Speaker 1: it's not when we come to budgeting, which that's what 392 00:19:40,930 --> 00:19:42,530 Speaker 1: it is. You can call it whatever you want. If 393 00:19:42,550 --> 00:19:44,270 Speaker 1: you want to call it a roadmap, a spending plan, 394 00:19:44,310 --> 00:19:46,130 Speaker 1: I give you lots of different words You can call 395 00:19:46,170 --> 00:19:50,700 Speaker 1: it in the book, but it's really you determining this 396 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,740 Speaker 1: is what is important for our family. And we're going 397 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:57,159 Speaker 1: to align our spending with that. And it's not about, 398 00:19:57,660 --> 00:20:01,359 Speaker 1: let's see how little we can spend and let's be miserable. 399 00:20:02,180 --> 00:20:06,430 Speaker 1: Let's the side that these things are important. And so 400 00:20:06,490 --> 00:20:09,230 Speaker 1: then when we spend the money on them, we don't 401 00:20:09,270 --> 00:20:11,350 Speaker 1: have to feel guilt. We don't have to feel stress 402 00:20:11,430 --> 00:20:15,639 Speaker 1: because we've already decided this is what is important for us. 403 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:19,320 Speaker 1: And so we can then just enjoy and celebrate the 404 00:20:19,460 --> 00:20:22,200 Speaker 1: gift of this thing and not feel stress around it. 405 00:20:22,950 --> 00:20:25,230 Speaker 2: Well, I can't wait to continue today's conversation, but we're 406 00:20:25,250 --> 00:20:26,830 Speaker 2: going to take another brief break to hear a word 407 00:20:26,850 --> 00:20:28,570 Speaker 2: from our sponsor. And when we come back, we'll talk 408 00:20:28,609 --> 00:20:32,830 Speaker 2: about developing practical financial rhythms, staying accountable, and building a 409 00:20:32,890 --> 00:20:35,330 Speaker 2: hopeful future one small habit at a time. 410 00:20:37,970 --> 00:20:38,609 Speaker 1: Welcome back. 411 00:20:38,760 --> 00:20:41,380 Speaker 2: I am talking with Crystal Payne about her book, The 412 00:20:41,420 --> 00:20:45,570 Speaker 2: Seven Habits of Financially Healthy Women. So what simple rhythms 413 00:20:45,650 --> 00:20:48,330 Speaker 2: can help us become more intentional about saving, spending, and 414 00:20:48,510 --> 00:20:51,379 Speaker 2: giving without feeling as though money is consuming our thoughts 415 00:20:51,450 --> 00:20:52,820 Speaker 2: or controlling our lives? 416 00:20:54,060 --> 00:20:57,959 Speaker 1: I really wanted this book to be very, very accessible. 417 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:00,020 Speaker 1: And no matter where you are in life, whether you 418 00:21:00,080 --> 00:21:03,160 Speaker 1: are single, whether you are married, whether you have kids, 419 00:21:03,260 --> 00:21:07,100 Speaker 1: no kids, whether you're a grandma, empty nester, whatever season 420 00:21:07,119 --> 00:21:10,010 Speaker 1: of life you're in, that it's very simple and it 421 00:21:10,090 --> 00:21:13,790 Speaker 1: is very doable for your life. And so I The 422 00:21:13,850 --> 00:21:17,570 Speaker 1: habits build on one another. And we've already talked about, 423 00:21:17,910 --> 00:21:20,190 Speaker 1: you know, start with what you have. And then we've 424 00:21:20,210 --> 00:21:23,730 Speaker 1: talked about deciding your financial priorities and predetermine your spending. 425 00:21:23,950 --> 00:21:26,899 Speaker 1: And one of the habits that is so important that 426 00:21:26,940 --> 00:21:31,140 Speaker 1: is a little bit polarizing is use cash for everything. 427 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:33,560 Speaker 1: And one of the things that I challenge people in 428 00:21:33,619 --> 00:21:37,480 Speaker 1: that chapter is to take a 30 day break. cash 429 00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:41,619 Speaker 1: only challenge and not cash for everything. But for groceries, 430 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:45,030 Speaker 1: you know, you kind of pick the pick what areas 431 00:21:45,090 --> 00:21:46,990 Speaker 1: of your budget you want to have cash only. But 432 00:21:47,320 --> 00:21:50,580 Speaker 1: There's something about that, that it is just a simple 433 00:21:50,880 --> 00:21:54,400 Speaker 1: rhythm that can actually really transform the way you view money. 434 00:21:54,820 --> 00:21:56,619 Speaker 1: And I think it's really important if you have kids 435 00:21:56,700 --> 00:21:58,649 Speaker 1: for them to see that you're not just swiping a 436 00:21:58,690 --> 00:22:02,050 Speaker 1: card for them to understand that the card is connected 437 00:22:02,090 --> 00:22:04,949 Speaker 1: to the bank and you put money in and the 438 00:22:04,990 --> 00:22:07,150 Speaker 1: way you get money is that you work. And so 439 00:22:07,290 --> 00:22:09,990 Speaker 1: I am a really big fan of just setting up 440 00:22:10,390 --> 00:22:13,490 Speaker 1: some simple things like I talk about in Habit. Number five, 441 00:22:13,510 --> 00:22:16,889 Speaker 1: and that is creating irresistible accountability. And I think that 442 00:22:16,970 --> 00:22:19,169 Speaker 1: that is also a rhythm that can be so helpful. 443 00:22:19,210 --> 00:22:21,350 Speaker 1: And one of the things that I encourage you to 444 00:22:21,390 --> 00:22:25,109 Speaker 1: do if you are married is to have a money 445 00:22:25,210 --> 00:22:28,450 Speaker 1: meeting with your spouse on a regular basis. And that 446 00:22:28,490 --> 00:22:30,850 Speaker 1: might feel really scary. It doesn't have to be. It 447 00:22:30,869 --> 00:22:32,490 Speaker 1: can be very, very simple. I walk you through what 448 00:22:32,510 --> 00:22:34,930 Speaker 1: that can look like. But just that you're sitting down 449 00:22:35,030 --> 00:22:39,100 Speaker 1: and you're reviewing your spending and you're reviewing your you know, 450 00:22:39,200 --> 00:22:41,720 Speaker 1: your next few weeks or you can meet weekly. It 451 00:22:41,760 --> 00:22:44,720 Speaker 1: can be 10 or 15 minutes, just a simple check-in. 452 00:22:45,180 --> 00:22:48,659 Speaker 1: But it's that it's keeping you on track because it's 453 00:22:48,880 --> 00:22:53,720 Speaker 1: oftentimes those tiny, tiny little, you know, you just veer 454 00:22:53,810 --> 00:22:56,030 Speaker 1: off a little bit, a little bit, and pretty soon 455 00:22:56,070 --> 00:22:58,950 Speaker 1: you find that you are way off track. But if 456 00:22:58,990 --> 00:23:02,229 Speaker 1: you are regularly checking in and making sure you're on 457 00:23:02,310 --> 00:23:05,390 Speaker 1: track and then you don't have to worry about that happening. 458 00:23:05,470 --> 00:23:07,070 Speaker 1: And I find that when my husband and I do 459 00:23:07,109 --> 00:23:09,879 Speaker 1: that regularly, I just have so much more peace because 460 00:23:09,910 --> 00:23:12,719 Speaker 1: it's like, I know what we're spending. I know what 461 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: we're saving. I know what we have and I know 462 00:23:15,280 --> 00:23:17,740 Speaker 1: what the plan is and we just work the plan. 463 00:23:18,180 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: And so I really encourage people, even if you're not married, 464 00:23:21,320 --> 00:23:24,570 Speaker 1: it's a great practice to do personally, or you can 465 00:23:24,609 --> 00:23:26,610 Speaker 1: invite a friend and you and your friend can once 466 00:23:26,650 --> 00:23:28,890 Speaker 1: a week check in together. And I think that that 467 00:23:28,930 --> 00:23:31,210 Speaker 1: can be so helpful to, for you to have that 468 00:23:31,250 --> 00:23:34,850 Speaker 1: accountability and just doing it and keeping each other like 469 00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:38,310 Speaker 1: you're cheerleading each other on in this. And it's amazing 470 00:23:38,369 --> 00:23:41,960 Speaker 1: the difference that those simple check-ins like that can really make. 471 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,800 Speaker 2: You also encourage women to create flexible daily and weekly 472 00:23:46,859 --> 00:23:49,260 Speaker 2: plans that help them reach their financial goals while still 473 00:23:49,359 --> 00:23:51,879 Speaker 2: enjoying life. So how can we prepare for the future 474 00:23:51,900 --> 00:23:55,050 Speaker 2: without becoming so focused on saving that we miss opportunities 475 00:23:55,109 --> 00:23:58,410 Speaker 2: to enjoy and generously invest in what matters today? 476 00:23:59,470 --> 00:24:01,780 Speaker 1: I love that question so much because I think so 477 00:24:01,880 --> 00:24:06,100 Speaker 1: often people can almost become obsessed with, you know, you 478 00:24:06,140 --> 00:24:08,699 Speaker 1: can get into budgeting and then it's like, you are 479 00:24:08,800 --> 00:24:11,919 Speaker 1: so concerned about every single penny, but that's not what 480 00:24:11,940 --> 00:24:14,460 Speaker 1: this is about. This is about the freedom that comes 481 00:24:14,570 --> 00:24:17,369 Speaker 1: within boundaries. And so one of the things that I 482 00:24:17,390 --> 00:24:20,570 Speaker 1: encourage people to do is you're going to budget for 483 00:24:20,609 --> 00:24:23,770 Speaker 1: the fun things. You're going to set money aside for 484 00:24:23,810 --> 00:24:27,070 Speaker 1: the vacation. You're going to set money aside for what 485 00:24:27,230 --> 00:24:28,990 Speaker 1: my husband and I, we have a blow category is 486 00:24:29,010 --> 00:24:30,710 Speaker 1: what we call it. And it is money that can 487 00:24:30,730 --> 00:24:34,540 Speaker 1: be spent on anything that for any reason at any 488 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 1: time without needing to consult the other. And especially if 489 00:24:38,180 --> 00:24:40,899 Speaker 1: you are someone who is a spender or you're married 490 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:43,540 Speaker 1: to a spender, there's just a gift in that of 491 00:24:44,030 --> 00:24:46,470 Speaker 1: them knowing that they have this money. Like for instance, 492 00:24:46,710 --> 00:24:48,990 Speaker 1: my daughter bought me a coffee this morning and I 493 00:24:49,030 --> 00:24:51,790 Speaker 1: reimbursed her from my blow category. And it's just like 494 00:24:52,230 --> 00:24:55,540 Speaker 1: doing fun little things like that that you don't have to, 495 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:59,010 Speaker 1: there's not, this is not a stressful thing. This is 496 00:24:59,220 --> 00:25:01,290 Speaker 1: a gift. And I think if you go to the 497 00:25:01,369 --> 00:25:04,719 Speaker 1: bowling alley, and I know some people are like, Do 498 00:25:04,740 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 1: people go to bowling hours anymore? Well, I have young kids. 499 00:25:06,930 --> 00:25:09,389 Speaker 1: We still do this. But how when they put up 500 00:25:09,430 --> 00:25:11,649 Speaker 1: the guardrails, if you have young kids, they put up 501 00:25:11,670 --> 00:25:15,770 Speaker 1: the guardrails so that the ball goes pretty much straight down. 502 00:25:15,810 --> 00:25:18,310 Speaker 1: It's not going to go into the gutters. And you 503 00:25:18,330 --> 00:25:21,310 Speaker 1: think of this is what your budget is. It is 504 00:25:21,369 --> 00:25:24,990 Speaker 1: a gift so that you can actually be throwing strikes 505 00:25:25,310 --> 00:25:28,889 Speaker 1: and hitting the target versus if you don't have those guardrails, 506 00:25:29,510 --> 00:25:31,129 Speaker 1: your money is just going to be going into the 507 00:25:31,170 --> 00:25:33,700 Speaker 1: gutter and just like, you're just all of a sudden like, 508 00:25:33,900 --> 00:25:36,120 Speaker 1: I don't know. I don't know where the money went. 509 00:25:36,160 --> 00:25:38,240 Speaker 1: We had a lot come through here, but I don't 510 00:25:38,320 --> 00:25:41,540 Speaker 1: have any accounting for it. And so a budget just 511 00:25:41,660 --> 00:25:45,440 Speaker 1: gives you that ability to feel like I know the 512 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,980 Speaker 1: plan I've, prioritized, predetermined my spending, and then I just 513 00:25:50,040 --> 00:25:52,280 Speaker 1: spend in line with that. And then I just have 514 00:25:52,320 --> 00:25:55,750 Speaker 1: this freedom because we budget for things like being able 515 00:25:55,810 --> 00:25:59,770 Speaker 1: to give generously. And so when we don't have it allocated, 516 00:25:59,810 --> 00:26:02,369 Speaker 1: we have just a giving section of our budget. We 517 00:26:02,390 --> 00:26:04,399 Speaker 1: don't have it allocated for a specific thing. We have 518 00:26:04,420 --> 00:26:06,080 Speaker 1: our tithe and then we have our giving. And so 519 00:26:06,990 --> 00:26:09,350 Speaker 1: my husband will just be like, hey, I saw this 520 00:26:09,390 --> 00:26:13,149 Speaker 1: family is struggling with this or whatever. Can we do this? Yes, absolutely. 521 00:26:13,210 --> 00:26:16,210 Speaker 1: And what a gift to be able to do that. 522 00:26:16,270 --> 00:26:18,770 Speaker 1: And I think that so often people, especially if you're 523 00:26:18,790 --> 00:26:21,280 Speaker 1: in a pretty good financial state, I hear from people, 524 00:26:21,390 --> 00:26:23,139 Speaker 1: they're like, we don't really need a budget. And I 525 00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,939 Speaker 1: always say, well, if you had a budget, would you 526 00:26:25,980 --> 00:26:30,020 Speaker 1: be able to save and give more generously? And there 527 00:26:30,040 --> 00:26:33,250 Speaker 1: is the gift for me in that because then you 528 00:26:33,390 --> 00:26:37,570 Speaker 1: are being more intentional with your finances so that you 529 00:26:37,630 --> 00:26:40,689 Speaker 1: can give more generously and save more aggressively. 530 00:26:42,230 --> 00:26:45,540 Speaker 2: I am a mom of two, and now one is 531 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:49,540 Speaker 2: a driver, the other has got a driver's permit. And 532 00:26:49,560 --> 00:26:53,680 Speaker 2: we are struggling with one can have a job, one can't. 533 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:57,020 Speaker 2: And so I'm interested in knowing from a mother's standpoint 534 00:26:57,040 --> 00:26:59,609 Speaker 2: with the kids that I have, how have you handled that? 535 00:27:00,320 --> 00:27:03,590 Speaker 2: teaching your kids about money. And because you were talking 536 00:27:03,670 --> 00:27:06,830 Speaker 2: about some of the limiting beliefs that we have, according 537 00:27:06,869 --> 00:27:08,770 Speaker 2: to how we were raised. And so we don't want 538 00:27:08,790 --> 00:27:10,850 Speaker 2: to make that same mistake with our kids, right? 539 00:27:11,700 --> 00:27:13,179 Speaker 1: One of the things that we've done is from the 540 00:27:13,200 --> 00:27:16,419 Speaker 1: time that our kids can basically walk, sit up, walk, talk, 541 00:27:16,619 --> 00:27:19,620 Speaker 1: we just start talking about money. We just have these 542 00:27:19,700 --> 00:27:23,380 Speaker 1: conversations about money. Like, where do you get money from? 543 00:27:23,760 --> 00:27:25,920 Speaker 1: What does money do? So when we're at the store 544 00:27:26,180 --> 00:27:28,990 Speaker 1: with our little kids, you know, they want to buy something. 545 00:27:29,010 --> 00:27:32,050 Speaker 1: I'm like, oh, well, that costs money. And then that 546 00:27:32,109 --> 00:27:33,490 Speaker 1: opens up the door to be like, well, where do 547 00:27:33,530 --> 00:27:35,609 Speaker 1: you get money? And then we talk about, well, you 548 00:27:35,650 --> 00:27:37,990 Speaker 1: have to work in order to get money. And so 549 00:27:38,210 --> 00:27:40,350 Speaker 1: then we have a thing at our house where you 550 00:27:40,390 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: have There's paid chores and non-paid chores. The non-paid chores 551 00:27:43,760 --> 00:27:45,460 Speaker 1: are things that you do just because you're part of 552 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:47,670 Speaker 1: our family. And when you're an adult, you have a 553 00:27:47,710 --> 00:27:50,050 Speaker 1: lot of non-paid chores that you have to do. But 554 00:27:50,109 --> 00:27:53,190 Speaker 1: then you can elect to do paid chores if you've 555 00:27:53,210 --> 00:27:56,169 Speaker 1: done your non-paid chores. And those are just things that 556 00:27:56,210 --> 00:27:58,820 Speaker 1: would be extra things like maybe vacuuming out the car, 557 00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:01,500 Speaker 1: some more deep cleaning type of project that we'll give 558 00:28:01,540 --> 00:28:04,240 Speaker 1: our kids. And From the time they're three, four, five, 559 00:28:04,300 --> 00:28:06,990 Speaker 1: they can start doing these things. And especially then as 560 00:28:07,030 --> 00:28:08,570 Speaker 1: they get older, they can do a lot more of 561 00:28:08,609 --> 00:28:11,010 Speaker 1: those types of things. And it is a gift to 562 00:28:11,070 --> 00:28:14,120 Speaker 1: them to be able to then handle money. So then 563 00:28:14,180 --> 00:28:16,500 Speaker 1: when we're at the store and my daughter's like, hey, 564 00:28:16,540 --> 00:28:18,439 Speaker 1: I want that. And I'll be like, do you have 565 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,810 Speaker 1: your money? It kind of takes this stress out of 566 00:28:20,830 --> 00:28:24,230 Speaker 1: the equation of me saying no, because I'm not saying no. 567 00:28:24,250 --> 00:28:26,270 Speaker 1: I'm like, do you have your money? And so the 568 00:28:26,310 --> 00:28:29,330 Speaker 1: other day, my six-year-old, she found something that she really 569 00:28:29,350 --> 00:28:31,450 Speaker 1: wanted to buy and it was $ 27. And she's like, 570 00:28:31,650 --> 00:28:35,030 Speaker 1: I have to do 27 chores to earn that thing. 571 00:28:35,170 --> 00:28:37,540 Speaker 1: And it made me so happy for her to recognize 572 00:28:37,560 --> 00:28:43,970 Speaker 1: that This item that costs $ 27 is going to require 573 00:28:43,990 --> 00:28:46,810 Speaker 1: a lot of work in order to purchase. And so 574 00:28:46,850 --> 00:28:49,490 Speaker 1: starting those conversations from the time your kids are young, 575 00:28:49,510 --> 00:28:52,530 Speaker 1: you know, that is what I highly recommend. But if 576 00:28:52,550 --> 00:28:55,490 Speaker 1: you have older children, I think just setting them down 577 00:28:55,670 --> 00:28:57,560 Speaker 1: and being honest with them if you haven't had those 578 00:28:57,600 --> 00:29:00,000 Speaker 1: conversations and just being like, you know what? I want 579 00:29:00,020 --> 00:29:04,160 Speaker 1: to apologize because we... haven't had money conversations with you 580 00:29:04,380 --> 00:29:05,880 Speaker 1: and we want to do a better job of that. 581 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,480 Speaker 1: And what questions do you have? And just ask them. 582 00:29:08,720 --> 00:29:12,930 Speaker 1: And then just start inviting them in to your conversations 583 00:29:13,370 --> 00:29:15,330 Speaker 1: around money. Obviously, you're not going to show them your 584 00:29:15,370 --> 00:29:18,270 Speaker 1: full budget or anything like that, but you can invite 585 00:29:18,370 --> 00:29:21,870 Speaker 1: them into if you are considering, you know, let's say 586 00:29:21,910 --> 00:29:24,190 Speaker 1: you want to go on a vacation and, you know, 587 00:29:24,290 --> 00:29:27,040 Speaker 1: you can say, hey, it's going to cost $ 850 for 588 00:29:27,060 --> 00:29:30,560 Speaker 1: this vacation. And so you're We're trying to figure out 589 00:29:30,620 --> 00:29:34,200 Speaker 1: how we can make that happen. Do you guys have ideas? 590 00:29:34,440 --> 00:29:36,460 Speaker 1: And then everybody can kind of put their heads together. 591 00:29:36,550 --> 00:29:38,290 Speaker 1: Maybe there's some things that you can change in your 592 00:29:38,310 --> 00:29:40,280 Speaker 1: budget for a season in order to make that happen. 593 00:29:40,500 --> 00:29:42,860 Speaker 1: We've had a lot of those conversations with our kids 594 00:29:43,100 --> 00:29:46,240 Speaker 1: and making it more as like a creative fun game 595 00:29:46,360 --> 00:29:49,400 Speaker 1: and a problem solving thing versus this is a stressful thing. 596 00:29:49,640 --> 00:29:53,030 Speaker 1: And them seeing money as something that is a tool, 597 00:29:53,770 --> 00:29:59,060 Speaker 1: not something that is this constant tension and stress. And 598 00:29:59,080 --> 00:30:01,470 Speaker 1: then I think as your kids get older, one of 599 00:30:01,490 --> 00:30:04,490 Speaker 1: the things that we encourage our kids to do is 600 00:30:04,550 --> 00:30:06,150 Speaker 1: that by the time you said you have a child 601 00:30:06,170 --> 00:30:09,430 Speaker 1: that's driving, and so by the time they're 14, 15, 16, 602 00:30:09,430 --> 00:30:12,200 Speaker 1: that they have a job, that they go to the bank, 603 00:30:12,340 --> 00:30:14,400 Speaker 1: that we open up bank accounts for them, and then 604 00:30:14,500 --> 00:30:18,540 Speaker 1: they are responsible for taking care of making sure there's 605 00:30:18,580 --> 00:30:20,140 Speaker 1: money in their bank account. And then if they want 606 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:21,860 Speaker 1: to buy something, there needs to be money in their 607 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:23,460 Speaker 1: bank account. We have one who is more of a 608 00:30:23,500 --> 00:30:26,160 Speaker 1: spender and has overdrafted their bank account. So then we 609 00:30:26,180 --> 00:30:30,300 Speaker 1: have conversations about, okay, here's what happens. And really giving 610 00:30:30,380 --> 00:30:35,690 Speaker 1: them opportunities to make mistakes at a smaller level when 611 00:30:35,730 --> 00:30:39,250 Speaker 1: they're young to hopefully save them the much bigger mistakes 612 00:30:39,790 --> 00:30:43,090 Speaker 1: when they're older. And so I think just constantly thinking 613 00:30:43,250 --> 00:30:46,610 Speaker 1: of I'm raising adults. And so how can I be 614 00:30:46,850 --> 00:30:49,650 Speaker 1: giving them opportunities now that are going to be teaching 615 00:30:49,670 --> 00:30:52,400 Speaker 1: them the skills that they need to know when they're 616 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: older so that I can set them up for success? Crystal, 617 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:56,960 Speaker 1: that's good. 618 00:30:57,180 --> 00:31:00,620 Speaker 2: Well, so this season, I've been asking all of my guests, 619 00:31:00,700 --> 00:31:03,490 Speaker 2: is there a biblical concept of love that you think 620 00:31:03,590 --> 00:31:05,050 Speaker 2: applies to this topic today? 621 00:31:05,860 --> 00:31:08,180 Speaker 1: So for us, when my husband and I were first 622 00:31:08,220 --> 00:31:11,280 Speaker 1: married and we set this audacious goal that he was 623 00:31:11,300 --> 00:31:12,480 Speaker 1: going to go through law school, we were going to 624 00:31:12,500 --> 00:31:14,680 Speaker 1: stay out of debt. We really just did it because 625 00:31:14,740 --> 00:31:19,240 Speaker 1: we saw our parents and we saw the freedom and 626 00:31:19,290 --> 00:31:21,830 Speaker 1: the joy and the ability to be givers that they 627 00:31:21,850 --> 00:31:24,910 Speaker 1: had because of the financial decisions that they made. So 628 00:31:24,950 --> 00:31:28,820 Speaker 1: that was really our hope. And so my husband graduated 629 00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:31,229 Speaker 1: from law school. And then we set this second audacious 630 00:31:31,290 --> 00:31:32,770 Speaker 1: goal that we were going to pay cash for our 631 00:31:32,810 --> 00:31:35,310 Speaker 1: first house. And I share the whole story in the book. 632 00:31:35,490 --> 00:31:37,209 Speaker 1: People are like, wait, how did you do that? I 633 00:31:37,230 --> 00:31:38,860 Speaker 1: share all about that. And there are a lot of 634 00:31:38,880 --> 00:31:43,600 Speaker 1: creative ways. And so really, again... our heart was just, 635 00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:45,770 Speaker 1: we want to be able to have the freedom to 636 00:31:45,810 --> 00:31:48,830 Speaker 1: be able to give generously. And we didn't know what 637 00:31:48,870 --> 00:31:52,510 Speaker 1: God was preparing us for. And so fast forward a 638 00:31:52,630 --> 00:31:55,630 Speaker 1: number of years, and we were able to then buy 639 00:31:55,690 --> 00:31:58,970 Speaker 1: a larger house, debt-free, and we had wanted to have 640 00:31:58,990 --> 00:32:01,300 Speaker 1: a large family. We had three children, and we had 641 00:32:01,300 --> 00:32:05,110 Speaker 1: 10 years of secondary infertility. And we were just like, God, 642 00:32:05,150 --> 00:32:07,710 Speaker 1: why did you give us this house and this heart 643 00:32:07,830 --> 00:32:10,810 Speaker 1: for having more kids and yet I'm not getting pregnant? 644 00:32:11,490 --> 00:32:13,850 Speaker 1: And we went through all the testing and they said 645 00:32:13,870 --> 00:32:16,290 Speaker 1: we weren't even candidates for IVF. And so we just 646 00:32:16,350 --> 00:32:18,590 Speaker 1: really had to grieve that loss of what we had 647 00:32:18,610 --> 00:32:21,410 Speaker 1: envisioned our life would be. And then some friends started 648 00:32:21,490 --> 00:32:25,090 Speaker 1: fostering and we were walking with them through the process 649 00:32:25,170 --> 00:32:29,390 Speaker 1: of that. And we started being like, wait, There are 650 00:32:29,490 --> 00:32:33,050 Speaker 1: children in our county who are sleeping in the DCS 651 00:32:33,210 --> 00:32:36,590 Speaker 1: office because they don't have a home to go to. 652 00:32:36,610 --> 00:32:38,610 Speaker 1: We have this house and we have this space and 653 00:32:38,650 --> 00:32:43,110 Speaker 1: we have this heart for children. And so we started 654 00:32:43,150 --> 00:32:48,760 Speaker 1: in the process of getting licensed to foster. Very last 655 00:32:49,160 --> 00:32:51,570 Speaker 1: week of our home study process, I actually found out 656 00:32:51,610 --> 00:32:54,490 Speaker 1: that I was expecting, which was crazy. But we just 657 00:32:54,530 --> 00:32:56,250 Speaker 1: felt like, okay, God, you've called us to this. And 658 00:32:56,270 --> 00:32:57,770 Speaker 1: so we're going to keep going. And so we got 659 00:32:57,810 --> 00:33:00,410 Speaker 1: to say yes to a sweet little baby boy from 660 00:33:00,450 --> 00:33:02,290 Speaker 1: the NICU. And he was in our home for eight 661 00:33:02,310 --> 00:33:05,270 Speaker 1: and a half months. He came to us, I think 662 00:33:05,290 --> 00:33:07,880 Speaker 1: it was five weeks before our biological daughter was born. 663 00:33:07,890 --> 00:33:10,810 Speaker 1: So we had two newborns in 2020. And then he 664 00:33:11,010 --> 00:33:14,610 Speaker 1: reunified with his mom, and we grieved that loss. And 665 00:33:14,690 --> 00:33:16,810 Speaker 1: it was a deep loss for us, but also we 666 00:33:16,850 --> 00:33:18,930 Speaker 1: got to continue to be involved in his life. And 667 00:33:19,130 --> 00:33:21,680 Speaker 1: three months after he went back with his mom, we 668 00:33:21,700 --> 00:33:24,180 Speaker 1: got this call in the middle of the night for 669 00:33:24,200 --> 00:33:28,120 Speaker 1: a little baby boy named David who had Down syndrome 670 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:30,960 Speaker 1: and a cleft lip and palate. And we said yes 671 00:33:31,200 --> 00:33:35,330 Speaker 1: and didn't know what God had for us. never envisioned 672 00:33:35,550 --> 00:33:37,270 Speaker 1: that this little baby boy was going to turn our 673 00:33:37,310 --> 00:33:40,830 Speaker 1: world upside down. And we got the privilege of adopting him. 674 00:33:40,970 --> 00:33:43,790 Speaker 1: He is six years old now. He's actually in kindergarten. 675 00:33:43,850 --> 00:33:47,650 Speaker 1: He is thriving. He has very, very significant disabilities. But 676 00:33:47,670 --> 00:33:50,530 Speaker 1: I share all this because we look back and we 677 00:33:50,570 --> 00:33:54,110 Speaker 1: realize that those financial decisions that we made early on 678 00:33:54,150 --> 00:33:59,170 Speaker 1: in our marriage were building blocks that allowed us to 679 00:33:59,210 --> 00:34:02,020 Speaker 1: be in the financial space we are now. to be 680 00:34:02,040 --> 00:34:04,620 Speaker 1: able to open up our home to a little boy 681 00:34:04,720 --> 00:34:07,880 Speaker 1: who needs a lot of extra care and to have 682 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:12,910 Speaker 1: the flexibility job-wise and to have the ability financially that 683 00:34:12,969 --> 00:34:17,810 Speaker 1: we can provide that for him. And yet he has 684 00:34:17,830 --> 00:34:22,130 Speaker 1: wrecked our world in the most beautiful of ways. Just yesterday, 685 00:34:22,170 --> 00:34:23,820 Speaker 1: I was getting him dressed and I was just kissing 686 00:34:23,860 --> 00:34:25,800 Speaker 1: him and I was like, you are such a gift. 687 00:34:26,239 --> 00:34:29,299 Speaker 1: to so many people and just the gift that I 688 00:34:29,360 --> 00:34:33,550 Speaker 1: get to be his mom. Like what an incredible, incredible gift. 689 00:34:33,590 --> 00:34:36,410 Speaker 1: And so as I think of like how love is 690 00:34:36,489 --> 00:34:39,950 Speaker 1: related to when it comes to finances and just, you know, 691 00:34:40,010 --> 00:34:42,489 Speaker 1: the love offering of, you know, saying, God, we just 692 00:34:42,530 --> 00:34:45,290 Speaker 1: want to be conduits. We want to use our finances 693 00:34:45,770 --> 00:34:48,290 Speaker 1: in a way that glorifies you so that we can 694 00:34:48,370 --> 00:34:52,270 Speaker 1: be generous givers and that we get the opportunity to 695 00:34:52,730 --> 00:34:54,910 Speaker 1: give to this sweet little boy who has been given 696 00:34:54,950 --> 00:34:58,640 Speaker 1: back so much. to our family and changed so much 697 00:34:58,700 --> 00:35:02,500 Speaker 1: and changed our whole community. This little boy has changed 698 00:35:02,719 --> 00:35:05,910 Speaker 1: because of who he is and what he's taught us all. 699 00:35:06,030 --> 00:35:08,250 Speaker 1: And I'm just so incredibly grateful. 700 00:35:09,270 --> 00:35:11,870 Speaker 2: I love that story so much. Everything about it, but 701 00:35:11,910 --> 00:35:15,870 Speaker 2: the fact that every small obedience step that you took 702 00:35:16,110 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 2: prepared you for a future you didn't even know that 703 00:35:18,920 --> 00:35:21,790 Speaker 2: is now such a blessing. That's so encouraging. Well, I 704 00:35:21,810 --> 00:35:24,350 Speaker 2: would also like to know what is something else that 705 00:35:24,370 --> 00:35:26,910 Speaker 2: you are loving right now? You love this season of life, 706 00:35:26,989 --> 00:35:28,810 Speaker 2: it sounds like for sure. Is there anything else that 707 00:35:28,830 --> 00:35:29,390 Speaker 2: comes to mind? 708 00:35:30,350 --> 00:35:32,509 Speaker 1: Yes. Okay. You told me before and that you were 709 00:35:32,530 --> 00:35:34,660 Speaker 1: going to ask this and the thing that came to mind, 710 00:35:34,880 --> 00:35:36,900 Speaker 1: which I never would have expected that I would be 711 00:35:36,920 --> 00:35:40,460 Speaker 1: sharing maybe two months ago is, so I went off 712 00:35:40,520 --> 00:35:44,339 Speaker 1: of all refined sugar and white flour. It was like 713 00:35:44,380 --> 00:35:47,069 Speaker 1: an experiment because I was having a lot of allergy 714 00:35:47,140 --> 00:35:50,210 Speaker 1: issues and I have been shocked. I think I'm on 715 00:35:50,270 --> 00:35:53,629 Speaker 1: week eight now. I have been shocked at how much 716 00:35:53,770 --> 00:35:56,950 Speaker 1: better I've been feeling as a result of it and 717 00:35:57,050 --> 00:36:00,420 Speaker 1: also how easy it has been. And I'm like, I 718 00:36:00,460 --> 00:36:02,299 Speaker 1: thought this was going to be crazy hard and this 719 00:36:02,340 --> 00:36:04,980 Speaker 1: has not been hard at all. And it's been so good. 720 00:36:05,200 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 1: And I don't know how long I'm going to do 721 00:36:07,080 --> 00:36:09,879 Speaker 1: it for, but that's just been something that's been like 722 00:36:10,020 --> 00:36:15,010 Speaker 1: such an unexpected blessing to just feel so much better 723 00:36:15,030 --> 00:36:17,800 Speaker 1: about but then also for it to not be something 724 00:36:17,840 --> 00:36:21,440 Speaker 1: that feels challenging at all. Well, okay. 725 00:36:21,700 --> 00:36:23,500 Speaker 2: So maybe we're going to have to sidebar about this 726 00:36:23,600 --> 00:36:25,960 Speaker 2: because I have a lot of migraines and I was 727 00:36:26,080 --> 00:36:29,330 Speaker 2: just talking to, she was like a personal trainer type person, 728 00:36:29,390 --> 00:36:31,230 Speaker 2: not mine, but we just happened. I feel like it 729 00:36:31,270 --> 00:36:33,290 Speaker 2: was a God thing that she was, we were even 730 00:36:33,330 --> 00:36:35,910 Speaker 2: having this conversation that she was telling me that she 731 00:36:35,989 --> 00:36:38,810 Speaker 2: used to suffer from migraines and she cut out gluten 732 00:36:39,010 --> 00:36:42,410 Speaker 2: and sugar and dairy and and caffeine, all these things. 733 00:36:42,660 --> 00:36:45,450 Speaker 2: And she said she doesn't have migraines anymore. And so 734 00:36:45,469 --> 00:36:47,529 Speaker 2: just yesterday I thought, okay, I'm going to have to 735 00:36:47,570 --> 00:36:49,989 Speaker 2: start slowly cutting out things and just see if I 736 00:36:50,010 --> 00:36:52,970 Speaker 2: feel better. I can have the discipline to do this. 737 00:36:53,070 --> 00:36:56,010 Speaker 2: And then now hearing you today share about it, I'm like, okay, God, 738 00:36:56,070 --> 00:36:59,209 Speaker 2: I'm listening. I need to maybe start to take care 739 00:36:59,230 --> 00:37:01,589 Speaker 2: of myself a little bit better with my nutrition. So 740 00:37:01,710 --> 00:37:05,910 Speaker 2: all the things, all the healthy things, finances, our body, heart, mind, soul, 741 00:37:06,050 --> 00:37:08,160 Speaker 2: it's all tied so closely together, isn't it? 742 00:37:09,190 --> 00:37:10,500 Speaker 1: Yes, it absolutely is. 743 00:37:11,260 --> 00:37:13,489 Speaker 2: Yeah, well, I know I want to stay connected with you. 744 00:37:13,510 --> 00:37:15,210 Speaker 2: I'm sure listeners are going to want to. They're going 745 00:37:15,230 --> 00:37:16,589 Speaker 2: to want to grab a copy of your new book. 746 00:37:16,630 --> 00:37:17,670 Speaker 2: So tell us how we can do that. 747 00:37:19,110 --> 00:37:23,239 Speaker 1: Yes, well, I would love for you to go on MoneySavingMom.com. 748 00:37:23,280 --> 00:37:26,860 Speaker 1: We actually have a free five-day budget makeover there and 749 00:37:26,910 --> 00:37:29,330 Speaker 1: also some free budget worksheets. So if people are like, 750 00:37:29,930 --> 00:37:31,750 Speaker 1: I don't know where to get started. I'm not sure 751 00:37:31,770 --> 00:37:34,259 Speaker 1: if I'm ready for your book. This is just a really, 752 00:37:34,340 --> 00:37:37,920 Speaker 1: really easy, simple way. If you've never tried budgeting, if 753 00:37:38,020 --> 00:37:40,140 Speaker 1: you have tried it before and you've been like, I'm 754 00:37:40,180 --> 00:37:42,120 Speaker 1: not good at this. I don't know what I'm doing 755 00:37:42,180 --> 00:37:44,899 Speaker 1: or this will never work for me. It's just step 756 00:37:44,920 --> 00:37:47,070 Speaker 1: by step by step helping you to set up a 757 00:37:47,110 --> 00:37:49,250 Speaker 1: budget that is realistic and doable for you. So I 758 00:37:49,290 --> 00:37:50,670 Speaker 1: will send the link to you so you can put 759 00:37:50,690 --> 00:37:53,709 Speaker 1: that in the show notes. And MoneySavingMom.com, we share lots 760 00:37:53,770 --> 00:37:56,910 Speaker 1: and lots of great deals and just encouragement for you 761 00:37:57,050 --> 00:38:00,970 Speaker 1: to live, financially healthy. I also love people to encourage 762 00:38:00,989 --> 00:38:04,090 Speaker 1: people to follow me on Instagram. I'm TheMoneySavingMom on Instagram, 763 00:38:04,130 --> 00:38:06,259 Speaker 1: and I love just sharing behind the scenes of our 764 00:38:06,300 --> 00:38:08,550 Speaker 1: real life of six kids. Plus we have a little 765 00:38:08,570 --> 00:38:11,109 Speaker 1: bonus baby girl who we watch three days a week. 766 00:38:11,180 --> 00:38:14,420 Speaker 1: She's in foster care. And then also I have a 767 00:38:14,440 --> 00:38:16,560 Speaker 1: podcast called The Crystal Pain Show that I'd love for 768 00:38:16,620 --> 00:38:18,940 Speaker 1: you to subscribe to. Awesome. 769 00:38:19,160 --> 00:38:21,040 Speaker 2: Well, we will include all that in the show notes, 770 00:38:21,100 --> 00:38:24,299 Speaker 2: but would you pray for us as we close today? Absolutely. 771 00:38:25,660 --> 00:38:28,380 Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, I just thank you for every single woman 772 00:38:28,440 --> 00:38:31,410 Speaker 1: who is listening right now. And I just thank you 773 00:38:31,550 --> 00:38:35,930 Speaker 1: for the opportunity that she has to change the trajectory 774 00:38:36,030 --> 00:38:39,610 Speaker 1: of her life and her family and her community and 775 00:38:39,670 --> 00:38:43,950 Speaker 1: her legacy by the simple decisions that she makes every 776 00:38:44,010 --> 00:38:46,390 Speaker 1: single day. And I think back to years and years 777 00:38:46,450 --> 00:38:48,950 Speaker 1: ago when my husband and I were, it was hard 778 00:38:49,180 --> 00:38:52,080 Speaker 1: and we were making these countercultural decisions and we never 779 00:38:52,219 --> 00:38:55,160 Speaker 1: knew what you were preparing us for years and years later. 780 00:38:55,480 --> 00:38:57,899 Speaker 1: down the road later to have this sweet little boy 781 00:38:57,940 --> 00:39:00,399 Speaker 1: in our home who has changed our lives in such 782 00:39:00,500 --> 00:39:03,020 Speaker 1: profound ways. And I just pray that you would be 783 00:39:03,100 --> 00:39:06,029 Speaker 1: with each woman who is listening, that you would give 784 00:39:06,070 --> 00:39:09,890 Speaker 1: her the courage and the confidence to process through limiting 785 00:39:09,910 --> 00:39:13,430 Speaker 1: beliefs that she might have, beliefs that are maybe lies 786 00:39:13,650 --> 00:39:17,310 Speaker 1: that are holding her back from stepping into what you 787 00:39:17,350 --> 00:39:20,750 Speaker 1: have called her to and what you have for her. 788 00:39:20,770 --> 00:39:25,440 Speaker 1: And I pray that you would help each woman to 789 00:39:25,480 --> 00:39:28,390 Speaker 1: have the courage to say, I'm not going to live 790 00:39:28,430 --> 00:39:30,370 Speaker 1: under those lies anymore and I'm going to walk in 791 00:39:30,390 --> 00:39:33,650 Speaker 1: the truth and I'm going to find freedom in really 792 00:39:33,870 --> 00:39:37,290 Speaker 1: seeking to use my money in a way that glorifies 793 00:39:37,350 --> 00:39:41,090 Speaker 1: you and honors you so that I can give generously 794 00:39:41,430 --> 00:39:44,259 Speaker 1: to others and then I can live with more peace 795 00:39:44,590 --> 00:39:47,020 Speaker 1: in my heart. And I just thank you for this opportunity. 796 00:39:47,120 --> 00:39:49,870 Speaker 1: I pray that you would Bless Rachel, and I pray 797 00:39:49,890 --> 00:39:52,629 Speaker 1: that you would bless her family. And I thank you 798 00:39:52,690 --> 00:39:55,480 Speaker 1: for all that she gives out as a love offering. 799 00:39:55,640 --> 00:39:57,919 Speaker 1: And I just pray that you would pour back so 800 00:39:57,980 --> 00:40:00,920 Speaker 1: much into her and that you continue to bless and 801 00:40:00,960 --> 00:40:03,500 Speaker 1: prosper the ministry that you have given her. In Jesus' 802 00:40:03,520 --> 00:40:04,360 Speaker 1: name I pray. Amen. 803 00:40:05,280 --> 00:40:05,620 Speaker 2: Amen. 804 00:40:05,800 --> 00:40:06,690 Speaker 1: Crystal, thank you. 805 00:40:06,810 --> 00:40:09,390 Speaker 2: You've been such an encouragement in every way, but I 806 00:40:09,430 --> 00:40:12,169 Speaker 2: appreciate your time and for helping us to become more 807 00:40:12,410 --> 00:40:13,910 Speaker 2: financially healthy women. 808 00:40:15,050 --> 00:40:16,110 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having me. 809 00:40:17,489 --> 00:40:41,339 Speaker 2: Thank you so much. your resources with your priorities and purpose. Small, 810 00:40:41,390 --> 00:40:44,589 Speaker 2: consistent choices can help you save wisely, spend intentionally, give 811 00:40:44,630 --> 00:40:48,069 Speaker 2: generously and face the future with greater confidence and hope. 812 00:40:48,350 --> 00:40:50,170 Speaker 2: If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a 813 00:40:50,210 --> 00:40:52,009 Speaker 2: friend and leave a review. It helps others find the 814 00:40:52,050 --> 00:40:54,830 Speaker 2: show and spreads the message of love even further. To 815 00:40:54,870 --> 00:40:57,510 Speaker 2: connect with me, visit me on my website at rachelkadams.com 816 00:40:57,530 --> 00:41:00,540 Speaker 2: where you can download the Love Always devotional, a free 817 00:41:00,560 --> 00:41:03,379 Speaker 2: resource to help you realize how beloved you already are. 818 00:41:03,500 --> 00:41:06,020 Speaker 2: Be sure to check out The 7 Habits of Financially 819 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:08,759 Speaker 2: Healthy Women, How to Stop Stressing, Begin Where You Are, 820 00:41:08,880 --> 00:41:11,620 Speaker 2: and Build the Future You Want by Crystal Payne. A 821 00:41:11,640 --> 00:41:14,420 Speaker 2: special thank you to Life Audio for supporting this podcast 822 00:41:14,500 --> 00:41:18,640 Speaker 2: and making it possible. To find more great podcasts, visit lifeaudio.com. 823 00:41:19,100 --> 00:41:22,460 Speaker 2: Until next time, let's make our lives an offering of love.