National Financial Freedom Day | JOY for Today

If money can't buy happiness, it certainly cannot bring JOY. We must set our eyes on things that last.

National Financial Freedom Day - July 1st Annually

JOY for Today Offerings:

• Did You Know... Five we didn't.
• Wolfe Stew Connects To financial freedom definitions.
• Bible Verses and Quotes Related to money.
• Activity Suggestions Money perspectives, habits, questions, and family challenge.

UPCOMING HOLIDAYS: 

• Independence Day (July 4th Annually)
• Give Something Away Day (July 15th Annually)
• National Ice Cream Day (July's Third Sunday)

Did You Know:

1. About 20% of Americans spend more money than they make? This percentage has held fairly consistent over the last 12 years. (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.)
2. Fewer people struggle to cover their expenses now than 12 years ago? In 2021, most people managed to cover their expenses without struggle, in 2009 only 36% experienced no struggle. (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.)
3. More of us are satisfied with our current financial condition than a decade ago? In 2021, one third of us are satisfied financially, in 2009, only 16% were.
4. Most of us have a rainy day savings account? In 2009, 35% of Americans had an emergency savings account that would cover three months worth of expenses. In 2021, 53% of us have one.  (Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.)
5. Pennies used to say, "Mind Your Business"? Instead of "E Pluribus Unum," which means "From many, one," pennies once reminded us to pay attention to our own affairs. Other facts about pennies: they currently cost more to make ($0.017) than they are worth and any coin you leave at TSA, they get to keep. In 2015, that amounted to $765,759.15. (Reader's Digest)

We'd Love to Know:   

Which fact surprised you most?

Wolfe Stew Connects

Financial freedom. 

What emotions do these words stir in you?

For me, when defined as debt-free, retirement-ready, and investment-savvy I feel panic, pressure, and shame.

However, when defined as complete reliance on God instead of money (Matthew 6:24), the phrase is freeing.

 

The way I want to think about financial freedom is not achieved by following someone else's financial formula, but rather by remembering that:

• All money belongs to God; I am to steward it well. (Haggai 2:8 and Luke 12:42-48)
• God will provide for all my needs. My job is to trust. (Psalm 23:1 and Isaiah 26:3-4)
• Money, in the end, is meaningless. My life is but vapor; it is eternity that matters. (Proverbs 23:5 and James 4:14)

In response:

1. Write your own list of money-related ideas that feel freeing to you. Consider one change you can make to reflect your own money beliefs. 
2. Join us as we grow to be caring by studying Proverbs 31:15 and 22. Currently, we are considering how coverings of tapestry and silk and purple clothes apply to our personal lives. Take a peek at our Wolfe Notes from last week where we reached a verdict on rising early and started thinking about clothing and coverings. Or engage in last year's growth opportunity and learn to SEE possibilities that include God.

Bible Verses and Quotes 

Bible Verses

• "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." Matthew 6:21 KJV
• "Whoever loves money will never have enough money. Whoever loves luxury will not be content with abundance. This also is pointless." Ecclesiastes 5:10 ISV
• "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 KJV 
• "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'" Hebrews 13:5 NIV
• Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, then go and sell all the things you own. Give the money to the poor. If you do this, you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me!" Matthew 19:21 ICB

Quotes

• "A good financial plan is a road map that shows us exactly how the choices we make today will affect our future." - Alexa Von Tobel
• "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor." - Seneca
• "Financial freedom doesn't mean to be free from money troubles. Financial freedom actually means freedom from obsession of dollar bills." - Abhijit Naskar
• "I've found that the less stuff I own, the less my stuff owns me." - Nathan W. Morris
• "When you understand that your self-worth is not determined by your net-worth, then you'll have financial freedom." - Suze Orman

We'd Love to Know:

Which verse or quote challenges your financial freedom goals?

Activity Suggestions

Develop a Healthy Money Perspective

• Learn contentment. With this "For the Love of Money" Bible lesson on I Timothy 6:6-10 from Ministry to Children.com. Covers Godliness, contentment, needs vs. wants, money troubles, and eternal vs. temporal desires.
• Memorize Bible verses. Steve Repak at Brenda Yoder suggests five memory verses that instruct on provision, stewardship, hard work, charity, and saving.
• Recognize that money can't buy happiness. Berkley describes seven negative effects of wealth including decreased empathy, shady morals, increased risk of addiction (including to money), increased childhood stressors, negative stereotypes, and higher depression rates. 

Establish Good Financial Habits

• Ramsey Solutions offers practical ways to teach kids at varying age levels about money like:
• Use a clear jar to save money. That way, they have a visual idea of how much they are saving. (Recommended PreK & K)
• Pay commissions, not allowances. Make them earn their money by doing chores. Then make them pay for impulse purchases with their commissioned money instead of your own. (Recommended Elementary and Middle School)
• Steer them away from borrowing money. Talk about ways to avoid student loans and how to use credit cards correctly while keeping a budget to monitor their spending. (Recommended High School)
• Parents.com offers additional options like:
• Setting up a play store or restaurant determining prices and paying for your products or services with fake money (Recommended PreK & K)
• Perform cost-benefit analyses.  First, compare the costs, then compare the products. Discuss when it's worth the extra price to buy the better product. (Recommended Elementary and Middle School)
• Choose a charitable organization to donate money to. Have them do the research and decide how much they want to donate. (Recommended High School)

Discuss "Would You Rather..." Questions

• Earn money for chores or for good grades?
• Spend money on a new book or candy?
• Give money to a friend or take your family out to dinner?

These questions are unique to this post. If you would like three "Would You Rather...?" questions for every June or July day, download these Wolfe Stew PowerPoints. 

Take on the Family Challenge

Talk about money. Share thoughts on when it's used well and when it's used poorly. Distribute an equal amount of money to each person and allow them to use it as they desire throughout the week. At week's end, discuss how each person used their money and how they feel about their decision. 

We'd Love to Know:

What you think every learner should know about money by the age of 12.

We’re excited to share one more day with you and wish you JOY for Today and HOPE for Tomorrow. 

Your Partners in JOY Finding,

Sample these related posts:

Does God really ask us to give all our money away?

What are some ways to encourage kids to save?
Is giving money the only way to be charitable?

How can I make money while staying home with my kids?

Can organizing help me save money?

Find even more JOY for Today in our monthly calendars, holiday, and seasonal posts.