Yahweh’s Money®️: The Crossroads of Religion & Money

Goals with Purpose: Budgeting for a Brighter Year

• Crusaders for Change, LLC • Season 3 • Episode 73

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Discover how faith and finance can become your guiding light on the path to financial freedom. Join Shay Cook, alongside her insightful guest, Janessa Siegel from Crusaders for Change, as they unravel the profound impact of setting clear financial goals through a faith-based perspective. Together, they explore the transformative journey from financial stress to empowerment, emphasizing the critical role of stewardship and divine guidance in crafting a solid financial plan. Janessa's insights offer practical steps to financial planning, as personal stories illustrate the remarkable shift from mere dreaming to purposeful action.

The episode doesn't stop there; it digs into the heart of financial planning and goal-setting as essential tools for lasting stability. Budgeting emerges as a powerful ally, bringing clarity to spending habits and encouraging honest dialogues about what we all can truly afford. They reflect on the significance of maintaining an emergency fund, highlighting the role of faith and patience as you work towards financial abundance. By sharing personal experiences and biblical wisdom, we're reminded of the limitless possibilities that arise when dreams are nurtured with faith and diligent preparation. Tune in for an inspiring conversation that equips you with the tools to align your financial aspirations with your spiritual journey.

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Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!

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Shay:

Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money come up? You're not alone. Welcome to Yahweh's Money, the podcast where we tackle the crossroads of faith and finance. I'm Shay Cook, an Accredited Financial Counselor and the CEO and founder of Crusaders for Change LLC. Join us on our journey as we discuss topics like tithing, saving, and conquering debt through religious perspectives. Let's get started. Hey everyone. Welcome back to another episode of Yahweh's Money. I have a special guest here with us today, Ms. Janessa Siegel, one of our Crusaders for Change financial counselors. How are you today, Janessa?

Janessa:

I am doing well, can't complain, trying to stay warm.

Shay:

Amen, same here. I did not go outside today because I was in Annapolis. Yesterday it was nine degrees here in Maryland and my feet were frozen because I was not like everyone else had boots on. I put flats on so I could be comfortable, I know, and then my feet, as soon as I stepped out of the car, I was frozen. So but you know, it's all good, I'm here. So God is good. So it's a new year and a perfect time to take control of your finances. Today we're diving into the power of planning and how setting clear financial goals can make this your most successful year yet. So stick around as we explore how budgeting can transfer your financial stress into financial freedom. So in Proverbs 16: 9, it says "The heart of a man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps." So amen to that. I think this really shows us that planning is essential, but we have to remain open to God's guidance. I mean, what do you mean, Janessa? Really?

Janessa:

Right, yes, yes, yes, yes. Always be open to the guidance and the clarity on where to go and how to be a good steward of your money?

Shay:

Exactly, yeah, cause God owns all of this right. We're just stewards. And I remember when I was working for Walter Reed years ago and an army base former army base here and one of my colleagues at the time he kept using in our blogs and articles to the service members stewards and I don't know something about that word kind of drove me like crazy. I remember actually because I was his supervisor at the time and I was like we need to get rid of that, that's too churchy, right. But then as I got older I started to understand stewardship and how we're just managing things Like God is here, he's the author, he is the provider, he is where it comes from, he owns this. So I love that word. Steward had to add that in there?

Janessa:

Yes, indeed, I love it.

Shay:

So why does planning matter? So really, planning creates control in your life, right? I mean it helps you understand that discipline, that self-control I always say that sacrifice around the planning so you can really understand where things are going and how your money's coming in, how your money's going out. I mean planning is key.

Janessa:

Absolutely Without having some form of a plan, it's very easy for things to kind of get chaotic and to feel out of control, and so having a plan can help you one feel in control, of course, but also give you a clear picture of where you want to go and help you accomplish your goals, because it's hard to accomplish something when you don't know the steps to you know get there.

Shay:

So and how many people have you met that you're like, uh, I'm like I don't want to look a year beyond. I don't want to look beyond a year. I don't. What are you talking about? I just want to focus on today, you know, and I don't want to even think about year, two years, five years 10 years with planning.

Shay:

Do you deal with those kind of clients?

Janessa:

Oh, all the time, all the time. It is pretty interesting how much um many people want to avoid planning, because I think it becomes overwhelming sometimes. And I, what I try to tell people is like well, planning allows you to um, have a clear picture of what you want to do and put it into reality. Because we have Ms., we want to do something, we want to accomplish things, but without an actual, clear path, it's going to be very difficult to accomplish that. And there's just a lot of people who want to dream, but to make the dream a reality, they're like oh, I don't know, I don't want to look at this, I don't want to check this, or this Ms. like too much and I'm like it doesn't have to be.

Shay:

It doesn't have to be.

Janessa:

Yeah, let's see where we want to go. Let's make a plan and then take it step by step.

Shay:

I remember, when I was in my twenties, my mom and dad actually it was my mom and husband, boyfriend, I think at a time we were sitting at our table at my parents' house and they're like she's such a dreamer. I remember coming back years later like I was dreaming. But look at all them things I accomplished, because not only was I a dreamer, I had a plan, I had goals and I was working towards it. I always seem to surpass all of my goals within a time that I, you know, I'd be like oh, I'm going to accomplish this in five years. I accomplished it in two years, thank God, you know. But I always had a plan. So I used to hate on me being a dreamer, but I was not only a dreamer, I was a doer, right? So I would get things done and a lot of people are stuck in the dream state and not moving into the doer state people are stuck in the dream state and not moving into the doer state.

Janessa:

Absolutely, absolutely.

Shay:

And I think a lot of people don't know where to start with the planning either.

Janessa:

It's like, okay, I want to do this, but what do I do next? Like how do I even write down the steps? Where do I look? Where do I go.

Janessa:

So yeah, being a dreamer is great.

Shay:

It is, but you know. But planning helps reduce stress and freeze that mental energy from other priorities, you know yeah, you're sitting there and I love the right. You know I like to brainstorm and dream, but you've got to put those clear, concrete goals down. Smart goals, smart what is it? Specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely. They have all these different Ms. for goal planning, but just making it to bite-sized pieces, right. Where you can accomplish those.

Janessa:

I think it's exciting. Actually, I'm someone who gets excited when I see the details, because once you finish and you see where you started and where you came from seeing those little bitty details, it's just like wow, I really did that. At this point.

Janessa:

I did this.

Janessa:

It gives you milestones to come back to. I really did that. Yeah, at this point, I did this. It gives you like milestones to come back to, like I really accomplished something that was really big.

Shay:

It's that statement of the elephant, you know, and only the way to eat an elephant is one, one bite at a time. I have a colleague that constantly says that to me at meetings, at the chambers. She's like how do we eat elephant shay?

Shay:

I'm like, oh yeah one bite at a time.

Janessa:

I was talking to somebody about that metaphor and I was like I would love for us to use less violent metaphors on animals. Like there's more than one way to skin a cat, I'm like.

Shay:

So you're so right. There's so many like why are we attacking the animals? Man, that's crazy.

Janessa:

Yes but yes, you can. You, you can build the pyramids one brick at a time. There you go.

Shay:

And it takes a lot of hands to help with that too.

Janessa:

It ain't just yourself right.

Shay:

You have to reach out to those people in your circle that really can help you as well. You shouldn't be doing this. All you can't do life alone.

Janessa:

No, no, not at all.

Janessa:

Can't do life alone? No, no, not at all. That also, I think, leads me to think about why it's important to with the planning and incorporating, like stewardship and financial wellness and financial literacy, like planning, going into budgeting, and why that's important is something that I think needs to be talked about more, because when an individual is at the point of wanting to like change their lives, oftentimes, especially in now times, money is a big factor, and so when you're looking at what you're wanting to accomplish, what you're wanting to change or shift, and you incorporate money into that, of course, the biggest plan with money would be your budget, and if you're someone who doesn't know where to start, having that help, having someone to possibly bounce ideas off of and thinking of strategies with, is very important so that you can understand, from a budget standpoint, what makes sense for what you're trying to do and for what you currently have, exactly Because that budget is really just a roadmap to you achieving your goals and helps you handle life's surprises right, especially when you have those unexpected expenses right.

Shay:

And a lot of the clients that I help, that we help, they have those unexpected expenses. They're like how am I going to pay for this broken refrigerator? I mean, how am I going to pay for these tires this month? All this stuff I wasn't planning for unexpected and that's why we got to get into the budgeting emergency savings and stuff which we'll talk about in a minute. But it really is a roadmap. It really is.

Janessa:

You're literally telling the money where to go Exactly. You're like this is specifically what it's for, this is where you need to go, this is what you need to do, and it creates a very strong foundation. I think, because I'm surprised how many people don't know how much money they bring home.

Shay:

That part.

Janessa:

And how much money their bills and expenses add up to being Like we pay it every month we bring home. Well, for the most part, a lot of people bring home similar amounts every month but because they don't sit down and look at the numbers, things can really feel overwhelming. They can feel like I don't sit down and look at the numbers. Things can really feel overwhelming. They can feel like I don't make enough money. But honestly, if you're able to just sit down and look at it, maybe you do make enough money. It's just you buy a door, dash a lot, or maybe majority of your bills come out of the second check and not a lot come out your first check.

Janessa:

And so it feels like you don't make enough, and so having that roadmap, having that foundation of where everything is going, can really help get an idea of what could change or should change, but also give you a, like, long term stability.

Shay:

Exactly, and that's what God wants us. He wants us to be responsible for what he gives us, and so we can't be out here willy nilly and like he's giving you all these blessings and you're just overspending or you're not planning or whatever. You're mismanaging, being irresponsible. That's not what he wants from us. He gives us, our children, his children, what we need, and then we're out here acting crazy and he's like you know, and at him, can you give us more? He's like I'm giving you enough, but you don't know how to use it. So what's wrong with you? Ain't nothing wrong with me, so you know people are like lord.

Shay:

Help me, lord, like I'm helping you. You need to help yourself. I love that.

Janessa:

I mean it's real though it is it really is like. I think it also reminds me of like a story of someone who wanted to be saved and they're like God, save me. And then there was a plane sent and they're like no, I'm waiting for God. And a boat was sent. No, I'm waiting for God. And then they went on to glory and then they saw God and was like why didn't you send anything? God was like I sent you a boat, I sent you a whale, I sent you a plane.

Shay:

I use that parable all the time, Janessa. My daddy uses that too. He'd be like I sent you everything you need and you're in heaven now, hopefully, and you're like why you didn't save me, like come yes, absolutely so.

Janessa:

It's also recognizing when resources are given and when opportunities are given, use them like widen your horizons in Ms. of receiving the help that you need to get to where you need to be, and with budgeting, who knows? You may get some budgeting advice from the least expected person, but it could be something that could help you a lot. Or working with someone who you might not have expected would have been a great resource, but they actually was a phenomenal resource. So it's using the resources available to help you be most successful.

Shay:

Exactly, so why? Does budgeting matter. Let's talk about that.

Janessa:

Yes, I mean budgeting. I think it matters a lot because it gives you a visual representation of what's important to you, but it also gives you a visual representation of where your money needs to go and where it has been going and what needs to change. It allows us to focus on something that is very important, which is our resources, our income, and gives us more control over it. Especially in a society like today, a lot of stuff feels out of control and it may feel overwhelming at times, and so having a budget does give you that opportunity to control your spending and also see if there is lag somewhere or if you know your life changes and you need to adjust your spending. Your budget can help you a lot with that.

Shay:

Yeah, exactly.

Shay:

I mean and, like you said, it provides that clarity, and I know a lot of people just out here they have no clue. I mean, the money in is that that you know just your income and people not knowing that. That throws me like how do you not know how much you're getting paid? I'm not trying to have no shame or judgment, but it's like you at least should know that, right. But then, but you're right, and you mentioned earlier the doordash and uber eats, the grub hub, like all of that man, that food budget right, especially during the pandemic, and now after, like people seem to can't get that back under control and maybe they never had it in control, but that food is out of, and entertainment, alcohol, marijuana.

Janessa:

Now everything's free out there and everything you know, and it's the stuff that used to be cheaper. It's not like people think, if you get fast food all the time, you're not spending a lot of money, but now, like, average fast food meals are between five to ten dollars, or what?

Shay:

maybe down where you're at it's like, it's like 10 to 20 here. I remember when a big bag was like two, three dollars. Now it's like I went to mcdonald's months ago or whatever, and it was like, oh my god, it was like 15 for a meal. I remember back in the day it'd be like six or seven. Right, that's panera prices, and Panera is thirty dollars exactly exactly it's like it's not cheap anymore not cheap anymore.

Janessa:

I'm always the type of person that likes to um, know my options, know what I'm getting into and, um, when it comes to your budget, I feel like a budget can show you your options. So we're talking about, like a strong financial foundation and long-term stability.

Janessa:

Something as simple as knowing how much you can afford in an apartment or in rent before you sign the lease is so important, like how many people have you worked with, moved into a new facility and was like, well, we bought a house or we just moved into a new apartment, and now it just Ms. like we can't afford this and that and it's just like, well, your housing is a whole paycheck.

Janessa:

Yeah, exactly that wasn't looked at before you know, signing the lease or buying the house. But unfortunately, when people are at the point of their needing to move or they're rushing or they're excited sitting down and looking at those things they don't really think about as much. So, already having a budget established beforehand, you don't have to start from scratch and making a decision, then you already see what you have available.

Shay:

And I would apply that same concept to loans for school If you can't afford the school. We need to have a real conversation with our kids with ourselves, cars, all those big purchases where I see so many people like well, I want to go to the Ivy League, well, I want to go to this school, I want to go to school. You might only can afford a community college or you might have to work full time and go to school.

Shay:

We need to be having these real conversations. Yeah, school is out of control. The pricing of school is crazy. I'm sure Lord doesn't want it to be like that. The government, all of that stuff is all jacked up right now. But what we can control is how much we're putting out at these schools. And if you can't afford that $60,000 a year school which my daughter was looking at one it was NYU and Duke and we're here in Maryland and I was like girl girl.

Shay:

And then she was looking at Howard and that was like $45,000. She got in, got a scholarship. We were really happy about that and we were actually like, all right, we're going to try to make this work. But then she chose UMBC, university of Maryland, baltimore County. That was $20,000-some-thousand a year and I was like, thank you, jason. Even though I wanted her to go to Howard and represent for the HBCUs, I was like, girl, that's expensive, like that was $20,000 more a year and so, yeah, it's like really sitting her down. I was like, what can you afford Like I know you're looking at unless you're going to get a scholarship which they don't give out, like they used to. Man, it's expensive.

Shay:

And so we need to have those conversations about our budgets around these long-term expenses or these bigger expenses.

Janessa:

Yes, what can you afford is such a major question to ask that not a lot of people want to ask, or they ask but they're not actually doing the calculations. And the unfortunate part is when you do live in a society where a lot of material things are important to people, having to ask what can you afford can give you a sense of shame, possibly because it's like I should be able to afford whatever I want, but you might not be able to, and that is okay. Most of the time you can't.

Shay:

Yes, it is okay, it is okay, absolutely. Get off that social media thinking you know all about these, these man, let me go down that road. Social media be informing people to think I'm going to get that big old house in. Everybody's got to take a vacation on the water with the big old Airbnb. Like really that's the key word Airbnb. People don't own these homes. They don't own these cars. They don't own this jewelry Like it's real out here.

Janessa:

Yeah, it's expensive how would you suggest that someone actually starts their budget?

Shay:

Exactly like we were talking earlier those goals, defining what you want to achieve, right, setting those goals. I love a good goal session. Actually, one of our classes do crusades for changes. Money goals matter is trademarked because we really sit down and go into like, money goals matter. Let's sit down and talk about these goals short term, long term, middle term, all in midterm in between there and see, like, and just really open up your mind and dream.

Shay:

Right, because I feel like we were talking about earlier with dreaming it's important to dream, but then we can put it on paper and actually set those real, realistic goals, whether it's like in the next 12 months, I want to pay off some debt, I want to save $500 or a thousand towards emergency funds, I want to go on a small vacation, or the next year to five years, I want to go back to Hawaii. I want to go to Australia, africa, I want to buy another house, another car I don't know, there's so many big goals there. Or a long-term goal I want to retire before I'm 60. Right, or you know. Or I want to go rent. I want to rent a personal plane. Yeah, okay, that's really big, right.

Shay:

I was at a meeting with some guys the other day and it was like, yeah, I'm going to take a you know my private plane somewhere. And I was like, yeah, that's like $25,000 for just one trip, right? So? But hey, I ain't knocking your Ms.. You got a dream, but you got to set clear goals and realistic, because not everybody can afford to fly private and actually it's not really great for the earth. I'm just saying, but yeah, so I would definitely start with setting clear goals.

Janessa:

Absolutely, and I also think with after you're setting the clear goals, how you're saying, um working toward those major purchases like emergency fund or a private jet, like those types of things are absolutely a reality, but until you're able to actualize the cost, you know it can be difficult and and you had mentioned something in Ms. of building towards the emergency fund I think that part, from my perspective, is probably one of the biggest, most important things that a person should initially work toward, and that is because oftentimes those one-off emergencies, that's what causes us to accrue a lot of debt. We have to use credit cards because we don't have enough money to cover things. Covid really showed us what happens if you only have one stream of income and if that thing is taken away, what do you do Exactly? So building towards something like that can already start that financial stability that many individuals want but have such a difficult time to work toward.

Janessa:

And it's almost like you know how, at the beginning of the year, a lot of people have vision board parties and stuff, because many of us are realizing, you know, write the vision, make it plain. When you're able to see it and you write it down, you can accomplish it. Your budget is kind of like a vision board for your money. It's telling you where it can go, it's showing you your possibilities and it's also showing you what if you're wanting something different. It is showing you where that lack could potentially be, so that you can put things into action to change it. So there's so many things that it can help show, and starting out with setting those clear goals, showing where you clearly want to go that makes the hugest difference.

Shay:

Yeah, cause seeing is believing, right. So if you can write it down, you can see how much money you got coming in. You might not, you might have a deficit, so then we might have to cut back expenses Was one of the first things we learned as Accredited Financial Counselor. You might have to make more, you might spend less, right. It's kind of the same thing that going on and I've been doing this for a very long time and I have to sit down and tell people either you're going to have to cut back on something or we might have to find another stream of income. So hoping to see all right, do I have a surplus, do I have a deficit, or is it zero-based budget, which is ultimately the goal, is really helpful for a lot of people.

Shay:

You were saying with their emergency fund after the pandemic, or actually during the pandemic, I was telling a lot of people you know, three to six months is a great goal, but at this point, six to nine months, because you don't know how long you might be, or longer, you know. Of course you want to start small. I know when I was working with the military, even now, it's like start with the $500, six month thousand but then start to grow as you can, because you never know, if you don't have that long-term insurance or the small, what is it? The short-term insurance to cover your income when something happens, unfortunately, you're sick, oh man, you're a world of hurt unless you have family to help out and stuff, and a lot of us don't have that. It's just us. Yes.

Janessa:

And I think, with saving three to six months, six to nine months, a lot of people can get very intimidated from those large amounts and so I love how you're saying just start at 500, like start somewhere, start small, yeah, give yourself like milestone amounts to save toward and eventually you're going to save the full amount and eventually you're going to save the full amount. I'd also say, with looking at those goals and setting goals, and 30, 40, 50, $100,000. And they're just like I don't know if I can do that. That's a lot of money. But no, you can, it's absolutely possible. I don't believe that we were put on this earth to live extremely struggling lives and I do believe the abundance that God has given us. God wants us to experience that. But also there's a certain form of abundance that we won't be able to experience until we can appreciate it and know how to not take it for granted, if that makes sense.

Janessa:

Yeah, it does not take it for granted, if that makes sense, yeah, and so when I think of abundance, when I see dollars, I recognize like one money doesn't make me or you, or it doesn't. It's an inanimate object, so it doesn't really make anybody, it's a resource, but it's also recognizing, like I, I know who supports me.

Janessa:

I know that I have the ability to save up to this or build up to this. While this may be a large number, it is still possible. So also recognize when you're setting goals. You can absolutely set large goals. Just like Shay said, make them realistic. So if you want to buy a house.

Janessa:

That's a half a million dollars you may not be able to buy it next year exactly, but that could be a house you work towards down the line and that's okay. Everything isn't going to happen instantly exactly so so, yeah, I would say, like with those goals, to try not to let um the fear of certain numbers being too large stop you from working toward those goals too.

Shay:

And I would add, god don't want us putting limitations on him so you know what? If he puts it in your mind, it's there for a reason for real. this ain't man I. I serve an amazing God. So he's putting something in my mind. It's because he's putting something in my mind. It ain't me, it's him. He's like I and I will provide. And so if you really trust and believe and remove that fear which I know is hard, guys, I really know I deal with it but you remove that fear and you really believe, I'm telling you. I mean, I saved for 10 years for Hawaii. That was the best trip I ever had. Like I saved for a long time and it wasn't about no instant gratification. When I went to Hawaii I was living my best life 10 years. And guess what? There is something about that Like waiting, waiting on the Lord, waiting for the money to save up. I mean all of that, the weight is worth it.

Shay:

God, he provides and he allowed me to enjoy that and be so grateful.

Janessa:

And, man, I'm telling you so much happens during that weight that when you look back you're like whoa and when you honestly accomplish it. The accomplishment is the prize, but also recognizing what you learned and grew through and grew through and experienced through that way.

Shay:

Cause there's some great things that happened through that during that weight too. Oh, the journey. Yes, I appreciate every step in that journey. It's not always about the end.

Janessa:

Yeah, it's not always a very sad wilderness in the weight we were often told of the wilderness, but sometimes the weight isn't a devastating weight. You can wait in a spa and enjoy every moment, amen, amen.

Shay:

And Proverbs 24: 27 says "Prepare your work outside, get everything ready for yourself in the field and after that build your house." So it kind of goes back to what we're saying like get out in that field, work it out, enjoy the journey of plowing and plucking and just getting your, your field together, and then God was going to be there to help you build that house. So I mean, wow, any last words?

Janessa:

yeah, I would just say um, allow yourself to dream and allow yourself to believe that the steps you're putting forth to accomplish those Ms. are going to happen, like, like you said, god. God is a limitless God, and when you have someone that is backing you, like that, all you got to do write the vision, make it plain and take your steps step by step, and that's all you need to do. But write it. That's the first step.

Janessa:

Write the vision and make it plain with that budget, so that you can have a clear path to go, that you can have a clear path to go because, um, you're not going to be trusted with something very valuable if the person doesn't believe, you understand the value.

Shay:

So make it plain and keep going and believe right. Keep the faith and sometimes you gotta. Faith it till you make it. Okay, you ain't gotta fake, you can fake it. Faith it till you make it and you will make it. Okay, you ain't got to fake, you can fake it till you make it and you will make it.

Janessa:

Yes, yes, yes.

Janessa:

Yes.

Shay:

All right everyone. Thank you for joining us today and we hope all is well. A big thank you for listening to this episode. We hope you found today's chat about the intersection of religion and money insightful. We would love to hear your feedback. Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and please feel free to leave us a review. For the latest Yahweh's Money content, visit us at www. crusaders4change. org or find us anywhere you listen to podcasts. Until next time, stay financially fit and spiritually inspired and remember it's always better Yahweh's way.

People on this episode

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Shay Cook

Host
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Janessa Siegel

Guest