Living Wi$ely

In a culture that teaches our net-worth is equal to our self-worth and that more stuff is the key to happiness, what in the world are we supposed to do in a recession?  One place to start is to change our thinking...

The Living Wi$ely Budget Course is for everyone - regardless of your financial situation - because it is a course about exploring our relationship with money as well as developing practical tools to help us control our finances, rather than allowing our finances to control us.

In this course, you’ll get practical help and guidance to:

  • Remove money as a barrier to spiritual growth
  • Prioritize financial goals
  • Identify action steps to reduce expenses
  • Begin a retirement plan (or do a check up on your current one)
  • Reduce debt and develop a personalized spending plan

Here’s what past participants are saying about Living Wi$ely:

“I’m sure I’ve shed years of worrying because of the ideas I learned in Living Wisely. Thank you!”

“Having a budget has helped me relax and begin to live into the abundance that God promises.”

“This has totally changed my life – thank you so much!”

 

Chris Harris, Canon for Congregational Development and former tax attorney, and St. Paul's Cathedral are pleased to offer Living Wi$ely throughout the Diocese of San Diego.  If you would like to bring Living Wi$ely to your congregation, please contact Canon Chris at harrisc@stpaulcathedral.org or 619-298-7261 x334

 

 

COURSE SUMMARY AND RESOURCES:

 

PART 1:  My Money Autobiography

Imagine your money was a person, how would you describe that relationship? One of respect or do you take it for granted? Understanding or confusion? Are you intentional or frivolous?

In our first class we take a look at our early memories of money as well as our cultural money myths. How has our experiences growing up and our consumer culture impacted our attitudes, values and expectations - often in ways we don't even notice.  We also take a look at the cost of those values; how a life of scarcity impacts us personally, spiritually and our planet.  We next examine how scripture often turns those values on their head, offering a glimpse of the truly abundant life, and setting the roadmap for the rest of the course.

 

PART 2:  Earning and Spending

Many of us have at one time or another said to ourselves, “If I only had $___ more each month, I’d be OK.” Our cultural values certainly prompt us to always reach for more. But what if we were to say, “enough!” And just when is enough, enough anyway? What is the difference between a want, a need and downright clutter?

Many of our common money concerns around retirement, savings and debt, have at their root, our cultural inability to say, “enough is enough.” Our discussion of "Earning" begins with asking this question of ourselves: Might we already have enough and not even know it? And how could that change our lives as Christians if we truly believed it?  What happens when we stop accumulating and start serving?

 

PART 3:  Giving

When we think of giving, do we roll our eyes and get ready to hang onto our wallets? Do we start to feel guilty or resentful about giving as an obligation? Or perhaps it’s a source of prestige and pride? Is our giving a priority or an afterthought? It is sporadic or intentional? Or maybe we’re really just consumers when it comes to giving; primarily concerned about what I’m getting in return?

This portion of the course looks at how our culture impacts our attitudes around giving. Jesus talked about money more than any other subject save for the Kingdom itself. Often it was in the context of money as a barrier to relationship – with each other and with God. This class looks at how giving as a spiritual practice can remove those barriers and begin unlocking the door to a new life of abundance and how anyone, no matter your financial situation, can begin today to be a steward of God’s gifts rather than a consumer.

 


PART 4: Saving

For years, the average saving rate in the United States hovered at less than 5% -- often dipping to zero. As a result, some surveys show the average Baby Boomer to have $85,000 in savings for retirement. Unfortunately, that’s about 1/10 what the average Baby Boomer needs.  Afer all, in a society based on consumption, saving is often portrayed as a negative!

Our focus on "Saving" explains why we need to make saving a priority, what types of savings we need, and how to determine how much we should start saving today, to get back on track for retirement. 

 

PART 5: Debt

Debt is normal and expected. That’s a cultural myth than most of us would take for granted these days. After all, Debt permeates every level of our society, from federal and state government, to giant corporations, from the neighborhood business down to our household and our children. But what are the real costs of debt? What do things really cost when we factor in interest? And how does owing others cost us in other ways beyond mere money? How does debt impact our health, our families, our relationship, and our ability to be Christ in the world. 

In this class, we examine when debt is OK, how to responsibly use credit and present a powerful tool for getting out of debt.

 

PART 6: Putting it all together: My Spending Plan

We end our time by putting our budget together based on the goals we’ve set around (1) giving; (2) saving and (3) debt reduction. Now that we have aligned our spending priorities with our values (rather than society’s), how do we live on what’s left? And more importantly, what’s holding us back?

Our final class offers strategies and ideas for cutting our spending, saving, eliminating wasteful spending and stretching the dollar. We also look at how living within our means, rather than being a sacrifice, can actually be more life giving. How living on a budget, paradoxically moves us from a life of anxiety and scarcity to a life of contentment and abundance.

 

 

 

Canon Christopher Harris, Esq. is the Canon for Congregational Development at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral.  His responsibilities include new member incorporation, small group organization, ministry development and stewardship (annual financial appeal, legacy and planned giving development and individual gift discovery/ministry discernment). Chris also oversees communications including the weekly newsletter, website and media relations.
 
Prior to joining the staff at St. Paul’s, Chris operated his own law practice which specialized in tax law, and served as Chairman of the Alpha Project for the Homeless, a multi-service homeless outreach agency recognized nationally by the President of the United States as the country’s 185th Point of Light.
 
Chris’s passion is helping people integrate their faith and values in their workplace, finances and family life.
 

 

 

  • Share/Save