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Proverbs 18:15 reads, The mind of the prudent acquires knowledge, And the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.Faithful stewards of God’s resources have to know a few things about money. Fortunately, the Bible has more than 2300 verses on the subject. We can’t cover them all, but today on MoneyWise, we’ll give you a crash course. DON’T IGNORE THE BIG STUFF:Sure, a penny saved is a penny earned, but a thousand dollars saved is a ton more. People are quick to drive to the next gas station to save a few buck on a fill-up. But did you know that most people don’t shop around for their mortgage? The majority take the first offer they’re given. That could cost you tens of thousands of dollars over the term of the loan. So don’t ignore the big stuff. Always try to get 2 or 3 offers when financing a home. Proverbs 27:23 teaches, Know well the condition of your flocks, and pay attention to your herds. TOMORROW DOESN’T COUNT:The next item we’ll call, Tomorrow doesn’t count. This one is for procrastinators who think that saving or investing will be easier in the future, so they put it off. But the decision to delay your investing is based on a false assumption that you’ll have more money available in the years ahead. But often, your lifestyle or other expenses expand to consume any increase in income. So whatever challenges you see preventing you from investing now will probably get bigger in the future. For example, when someone gets a raise, they simply commit that extra money to some other immediate desire, like a new car. Proverbs 27:1 says, Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. Another reason why tomorrow doesn’t count is that money invested today has the benefit of time for compound earnings. Don’t let your present rob your future. PREPARE FOR THE INEVITABLE:The next item in our crash course on being a good steward is to Prepare for the inevitable. That means having an emergency fund of 3 to 6 months living expenses, which a lot of folks think is for unexpected expenses. That’s a myth. Emergencies like a medical condition or a job loss are bound to happen at some point. You can and should expect them. Proverbs 22:3 tells us, The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. DOING TOO MUCH TOO FAST:The next item we’ll call, Doing too much too fast. Sometimes people who’ve gotten a late start on investing, for example, feel they have to play catch up. That could lead to making risky investments. Develop a long term, diversified investing plan and stick to it. Proverbs 21:5 tells us, Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty. BUDGET:And speaking of plans, no crash course on stewardship would be complete without our next item the need for a spending plan. Yes, a budget! Proverbs 24:27 reads, Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house. That means doing the basics first. Without preparing a realistic budget and sticking to it, you’ll overspend and go into debt. Without doing up a budget, not much else you try to do with your finances is going to work. To meet all of your obligations, like housing, food, transportation, taxes and utilities, and then save for the future, you have to live on less than you earn. And you can’t do that unless you know what you’re spending each month. TRACK YOUR SPENDING:Many people are shocked to discover how quickly little things add up to a very big number. So it’s vital to keep track of your spending. It’s really part of the budget process. Start by tracking all of your spending for 2 or 3 months. With an accurate picture of where your money’s going, you can make wise decisions about where to cut. 1 Corinthians 4:2 teaches, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. And that starts with being honest with yourself about spending. LISTENER QUESTIONS On today’s program, Rob also answers listener questions: ●When is it wise to sell your current home to buy a fix-er-upper investment property? ●Is it wise to cash out stock given an uncertain future? ●Should a military veteran combine a TIAA cref and TSP account upon retirement? ●Is crypto currency a good investment? RESOURCES MENTIONED ●The Sound Mind Investing Handbook Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000 or email them toQuestions@MoneyWise.org. Also, visit our website atMoneyWise.orgwhere you can connect with a MoneyWise Coach, join the MoneyWise Community, and even download the free MoneyWise app. Like and Follow us on Facebook atMoneyWise Mediafor videos and the very latest discussion!Remember that it’s your prayerful and financial support that keeps MoneyWise on the air. Help us continue this outreach by clicking theDonate tab on our websiteor in our app. To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/1085/29