Voluntary Simplicity: Responsible Finances
- December 27 Sermon: “To Be Wealthy, Not Rich“
- Wednesday, January 20 Potluck Dinner at 6 p.m.
- Join the Spirit Study Facebook group to share how you’re doing with the challenge
- Challenge: take steps to improve your financial well being. What this might be is entirely up to you and depends on your financial situation. Some possibilities include:
- Tracking your spending
- Creating a budget to follow
- Paying down credit card debt
- Meeting with a financial planner
- Meeting with an estate attorney
- Updating your will
- Buying life insurance
- Making sure all your accounts have primary and secondary beneficiaries listed
Resources
It is harder than usual for me to provide resources because I don’t want to provide anything that could be considered financial advice. At the same time, there is such an abundance of information (and misinformation!) available in books and online, it can feel overwhelming to know where to begin.
These are some resources that have been helpful to me at various times in my life:
- Book (a voluntary simplicity classic): Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez (1992, 1998, 2008)
- Book (a voluntary simplicity classic—embrace the tightwaddery!): The Complete Tightwad Gazette by Amy Dacyczyn (1998)
- Book: The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom: Practical and Spiritual Steps So You Can Stop Worrying by Suze Orman (2006)
- Website: America Saves is a campaign coordinated by the nonprofit Consumer Federation of America (CFA) and is dedicated to helping individuals save money, reduce debt, and build wealth
- Website: The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) is the country’s leading professional association of fee-only financial advisors
- Website (rates and calculators): Bankrate.com
- Class: Estate Planning 101 is a four session class we hope to offer at Chalice in May 2016