Skip to content
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
DONATE
Intentional Life
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate
  • Listen
  • Watch
  • Read
  • Attend
  • About
    • Stay Connected
    • Membership
    • Contact
    • Share your Story
    • Who Is Jesus?
    • Found on Family Life Radio
    • Free Resources
  • Donate

Tips for Being Good with Your Money

  • September 10, 2013
Picture of Dr. Randy Carlson

Dr. Randy Carlson

If you have financial skills, you can help friends and family with money management. Most of the time, people are looking for advice, which is free to give and easier to understand coming from you.

If your friend keeps overdrawing his checking account by $1, costing him $35 in overdraft fees, it might be time help explain the ABCs of personal banking.

If your friend is paying 21% on a credit card, chances are he does not understand credit ratings, refinancing and the different products out there.

Offering help can be a slippery slope. Try to remain detached if it’s a friend, and offer money only if you have a contract and you know you’ll be paid back.

Friends and family who make financial blunders are often unreceptive to help. But if you do help, make it clear you are not there to bail them out but to offer support and education. Recommend they talk with professional financial advisors if you can’t help.

Some of the toughest obstacles to financial success include:

  • Being greedy, always wanting more
  • Hoarding
  • Possessing and not sharing with those in need
  • Disagreeing as a couple, if you’re married, about how to manage money
  • Failing to develop a budget or follow through on a spending plan
  • Neglecting your tithe or failing to save for the future

Intentionally serving others does not always mean charity work. Sometimes, sharing what you’ve learned is very helpful.

https://vimeo.com/27872242

Dr. Randy Carlson discusses the 10/10/80 principle of finances

Teach your friends to live within their means and to be smart with their finances. You can help them even if you do not lend money.

  • Listening is important: Sometimes, your friend might just want to talk, yell or cry. They might need a shoulder to cry on or someone to listen to options.
  • Connect to the community: If your friend’s embarrassed about being financially strapped, he or she might withdraw from social events. Their children might have to stop participating in local activities because of the money. If you can, invite your friend and family to community events with you. Try to find free or inexpensive events. For dinner, try a potluck to reduce the costs.
  • Small deeds: Chat with your friend regularly, either in person or on the phone. Be there in spirit and in the Lord.

Good financial habits can make a lifetime of impact. You’ll see the momentum in your friend’s life.

30-Day Challenge

If you could do ONE THING and know that it would make a significant, lasting, possibly life-changing difference in your life, would you do it? Dr. Carlson shares the power of ONE THING and why you should get started doing your ONE THING today.

Tell Us

How do you keep your financial house in order? What’s your most effective financial secret? We’d love to hear your success stories. Post your comments below.

Popular Posts

Everyday Forgiveness

Good friends are good for the soul, providing positive experiences, motivation and inspiration for life

Read More »

Challenge Your Assumptions

Many things in our lives today are completely out of our control, so we give

Read More »

inTENtionals for When to Fix or Finish a Friendship

Wise choices will watch over you. Understanding will keep you safe. (Proverbs 2:11 NLT) Friendship

Read More »

inTENtionals for Marriages That Last

  Top Ten List of What You Can Do to Build a Marriage that Lasts

Read More »

How Thankful Are You?

As we move into Thanksgiving and Christmas, a question arises: How thankful are you? Are

Read More »
Previous Next

Related Articles

Clearing Space for Peace

The Rest We Refuse

The “What,” “How,” “Where” and “When”

How to Have More Ah-Ha Moments

Site Links

  • About
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules
  • About
  • Statement of Faith
  • Ways to listen
  • Donation Info
  • Financial Statements
  • Prayer Wall
  • Who Is Jesus?
  • Share Your Story
  • Free Resources
  • Contest Rules

About

Intentional Living National Ministry Headquarters | PO Box 35300 – Tucson, AZ 85740 | (800) 776-1070 EFCA Tax ID #38-1812892 Charity Navigator

Latest Episodes

Clarity of Purpose – Part 2

June 20, 2025

Physicist Steven Hawking wrote: “Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.” But… what if there is more to life than

Read More »

Clarity of Purpose

June 19, 2025

Physicist Steven Hawking wrote: “Work gives you meaning and purpose and life is empty without it.” But… what if there is more to life than

Read More »

Subscribe to our weekly broadcast and updates

Support Intentional Living

Your donation makes a difference!

DONATE!

Social

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Youtube
© 2025 Copyright A Ministry of Intentional Life Media. All rights reserved.    Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website.

decline
Accept & Close