By Seth Busetti Is wealth the same thing as having money? There are many families who live so modestly that money brings them no joy and offers little reward. For them money is utilitarian, it simply pays the bills and that’s it. On the other hand, there are many people in America with ample cash … Continue reading 10 Ways to Create a Faith Based Wealth Mindset
Making Monthly Finances Easy – Why We are Going Back to the Cash Envelope System
By Seth Busetti We used the cash envelope system for most of our marriage. Then a few years ago we switched over to a virtual budget management approach. It was a trial in modernizing our finances. In this post I will summarize why we moved away from the cash envelope system, and why after running … Continue reading Making Monthly Finances Easy – Why We are Going Back to the Cash Envelope System
7 Ways Being Frugal Can Be a Financial Roadblock
By Seth Busetti Learning the discipline of frugality is one of the most important steps to getting out of debt and living within your means. Unchecked spending is like a leaking hole in a row boat. You can paddle as hard as you want, but if the ship goes underwater what’s the point? But to … Continue reading 7 Ways Being Frugal Can Be a Financial Roadblock
5 Steps to Start Charitable Giving on a Tight Budget
By Seth Busetti Giving doesn’t come easy to everyone. The feeling that we want to give or should somehow give to our local church, missions work, humanitarian causes, or to a homeless person on the street corner is probably universal. But for many people there are a dozen reasons justifying why we don’t follow through … Continue reading 5 Steps to Start Charitable Giving on a Tight Budget
Are Kids Holding You Back Financially?
By Seth Busetti Pregnancy checkups. Awkward birthing classes. Maternity leave. Medical bills. Diapers. Food. Child care. School fees. Clothing. Sports equipment. Bikes with no training wheels. Emergency room visit. Swimming lessons. Braces. Car insurance. Collision repair. Prescription acne cream. Prom dress. Kayaking trip. College recruiting trips. College tuition. Wedding. What else? Did we cover it … Continue reading Are Kids Holding You Back Financially?
3 Saving Mistakes Everybody Makes
By Seth Busetti In 2014 Alexis and I learned a frustrating lesson about saving while we were upgrading to a bigger house. We had faithfully saved and invested, and we were on track with all of our goals, but then life happened. Our single-story three bedroom house that once seemed so permanent started to get … Continue reading 3 Saving Mistakes Everybody Makes
Overcoming White Privilege and the Cultural Placebo
By Seth Busetti In the fall of 1997 I experienced a cultural wakeup call, which I promptly muted. That was my first semester at college, and it offered a chance to break free of the only mold I knew, which was my 99% white, rural community. College promised the opportunity to experience new people, different … Continue reading Overcoming White Privilege and the Cultural Placebo
Who Said Filthy Lucre?
By Seth Busetti Some things are just lost in the translation. Here’s a fun game I saw on a YouTube video from this guitar-whiz guy named Steve Terreberry. Go into Google Translate. Enter your favorite song lyrics in English, and translate them to some other language, like Japanese. Then, copy the translation and translate it … Continue reading Who Said Filthy Lucre?
5 Ways to Tithe When You’re Between Churches
By Seth Busetti When Alexis and I got married, we came from two very different tithing backgrounds. Growing up, my family spent a lot of time bouncing between churches, never really finding a home for more than a few years at time. I remember my parents putting money in the collection plate, but don’t recall … Continue reading 5 Ways to Tithe When You’re Between Churches
You Got This! 6 Tips from Coaching Greats to Activate You and Your Money Plan
By Seth Busetti Why do we respond so well to pre-game pep talks? Something in our spirits needs to be encouraged that we DO have what it takes, we ARE good enough. The pre-game pep talk isn’t about X’s and O’s; that’s done in the previous practices. The greatest coaches use this time to provide … Continue reading You Got This! 6 Tips from Coaching Greats to Activate You and Your Money Plan
Beyond Debt Free
By Seth Busetti I love that there is an entire community of people sharing their debt free journey on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook, or in small groups at their churches. Some people are overcoming oppressive mountains of student loans. Others are unshackling themselves from debilitating consumer debt. You name your social media profiles accordingly. You … Continue reading Beyond Debt Free
Balancing Less and More
by Seth Busetti We have all felt the pressure when certain aspects of our lives start to expand and encroach on other areas. Some things are hard to avoid. For example, life seems to be going pretty smoothly, and then a few trips out of town for work come up. You’re going to be gone … Continue reading Balancing Less and More
Change Comes When It Hurts
Post by Seth Busetti Perhaps I am more stubborn than most of you. When I look back at my life, I realize the times I really embraced change came when I was pushed to my limit. Sometimes it was change from good to better, like a job change, or when we decided that I should … Continue reading Change Comes When It Hurts
10 Tips for the Debt Repayment Grocery Budget
Post by Seth Busetti One thing that will always be on your family budget is groceries. Whether you own a private island or are pinching pennies while climbing your way out of debt, you will need to eat. Food for your family is definitely a need, but certain food behaviors are a want. We have … Continue reading 10 Tips for the Debt Repayment Grocery Budget
The Facade of Wealth
By Seth Busetti We’ve all heard it or even said it before…"Oh, they’re really making it, big city jobs and designer clothing!” “They’ve done well for themselves, Jack drives a BMW and Meg has her own jewelry company.” “Jeff is clearly good with money, he even has a house with a pool.” “Sue’s parents are … Continue reading The Facade of Wealth
5 Ideas For a Cheap Date Night
This Post by Seth Busetti If you are like us, you probably value a good date night. Truthfully, I’m not terribly romantic, but I do love spending time with my wife. We love nice dinners, vacations, fancy hotels, and most of all, live concerts! Recently we saw guitar virtuoso Greg Howe at a small Houston … Continue reading 5 Ideas For a Cheap Date Night
Are You Free to Realize Your Dreams?
This post written by Seth Busetti. At the crossroads of every major life decision we check our personal compass and whether external and deliberate, or internalized but no less felt, we ask “is this going to take me closer to my dream?” Maybe that dream is specific like starting a family or buying that dream … Continue reading Are You Free to Realize Your Dreams?
Could Your Finances Survive a Layoff?
This post written by Seth Busetti. The last few years has been particularly tough for a lot of people I know in the energy sector, such as those working oil and gas exploration and production like me, but also for those in offshore equipment contracting business, or parts and equipment sales, or technical consulting. My … Continue reading Could Your Finances Survive a Layoff?
So We Finally Cut Up the Credit Card
This post written by Seth Busetti. This was years in the making, and we knew it was inevitable, given our trajectory towards being financially independent and willingness to be counter-culture. But we finally did it. And I got the privilege of cutting up our family credit card! Closing the credit card account and cutting up … Continue reading So We Finally Cut Up the Credit Card