The Money Ministers

Can you still give to others even when you're drowning in debt? In this touching episode, we share the story of a woman who found herself struggling with debt and job prospects. Through our coaching sessions, we embarked on a journey to explore the heart of giving for Christians, using the widow's offering in the Bible as a model for us to follow... all while getting her completely out of debt. We delve deeper into the challenges of giving when burdened by debt, discussing the distinction between giving out of love and giving out of obligation. We also emphasize the importance of financial discipline and trusting in God's plan, even in the most difficult financial situations. Listen in as we uncover how to prioritize giving, both in time and money, and how God will call you to greater faith, love, and service as you draw closer to Him.In our conversation, we also touch on the topic of tithing and explore how, in the New Testament, there is no biblical command to tithe but rather to give out of love and within your means. Join us as we navigate the complexities of giving when in debt, and learn how to trust and rely on God's guidance and provision in even the toughest of circumstances.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Ever felt overwhelmed or unequipped to share your faith with your colleagues at work? Fear not! We're here to guide you through the challenging topic of being a Christian in a secular workplace, and leading others to Christ without getting fired. As your hosts, Catherine Van Der Laan and Erica Fluckus, we're on a mission to empower Christians in the workplace to break free from fear and embrace their calling to be a light in their office.Together, we'll explore practical steps to take bold steps of faith in the workplace, from praying for your colleagues to meeting them where they are and following God's guidance. Drawing on Jesus' example of loving those He encountered and building relationships with them, we'll discuss how you can be an effective witness in your office, regardless of your occupation. So, join us in this inspiring conversation and discover the joy of living out your faith at work, all while staying employed!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Do you ever struggle with asking for a raise, especially as a Christian? You're not alone! We're diving into the challenges Christians face when advocating for themselves in the workplace and how the story of Joseph demonstrates that faith, integrity, and work ethic can lead to success. Prepare to be inspired by Joseph's steadfast commitment to God while discovering practical steps for asking for a raise, including finding your KPOs or KPIs, rating yourself on those, and researching the next role.In this enlightening episode, we also discuss the difference between asking for a raise and a market adjustment, as well as when to approach your boss about it.  Performance reviews can be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate initiative and discuss recognition, so make sure you're prepared! Most importantly, we shed light on the significance of prayer and stepping out in faith when seeking a raise. Remember that it's not about buying a Maserati, but rather asking for resources to help, serve, and be present. So, tune in and learn how to embrace your worth as a child of God and effectively ask for a raise!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Is it wrong for a Christian to be rich? This thought-provoking question drives our conversation in this episode as we, Catherine Van Der Laan and Erica Fluckus, explore the two opposing opinions held within the church. We discuss how God talks about money in the Bible and share the inspiring story of one of Catherine's multimillionaire clients who uses his wealth to serve God and give Him glory. Join us as we examine the biblical figure of Abraham, a wealthy Christian, and how his example relates to this question.In our exploration, we also delve into Jesus' interaction with the Samaritan woman at the well and the importance of using money to serve the Lord. We consider the temptations of the devil, the significance of obedience, and how our hearts should be focused on God rather than money. Listen in as we reflect on the armor that God has given us to resist temptation and protect us from the devil's schemes in this insightful conversation on the relationship between Christianity and wealth.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Have you ever wondered how to manage your finances in a way that aligns with your Christian faith? Join us, Catherine Van Der Laan and Erica Fluckus, as we share life-changing insights on money management and giving from a Christian perspective. We'll explore how following God's plan for our finances can lead to a more fulfilling and purposeful life.In this eye-opening episode, we discuss the importance of planning, budgeting, and trusting God's direction for our financial journey. We share the story of a client who, with our guidance, discovered clarity and purpose in her financial life, embracing God's promises for her. Discover why planning and budgeting are crucial for freeing ourselves to give generously and live joyfully, and how to prioritize tithing in our lives without testing God's trust. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable wisdom on navigating the world of finances as a Christian!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Are you aligned with God's plan for your finances? Join Erica Fluckus and Catherine Van Der Laan as we unpack the importance of understanding God's intentions for our money and share our personal experiences of divine guidance in our financial choices.Discover the life-changing story of Joseph, who, despite being thrown into circumstances beyond his control, remained faithful and followed God's plan. We also explore the 'mansion exercise' to align our hearts with God's desires and dive into the passions He has placed within us. As we examine the significance of having a plan when it comes to managing God's wealth, we'll discuss how pastors prepare their sermons and how to remain receptive to God's plans for us.Finally, we'll share powerful lessons on giving and obedience, emphasizing the need to trust God and follow His guidance, even when we don't understand the reasoning behind it. We'll discuss how God uses our circumstances to reveal His plans and share an incredible testimony of a five-figure gift request that was met with God's surprising abundance. Tune in and open your heart to uncovering God's plan for your finances and learning how to align your actions with His desires.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Are you struggling to reconcile your relationship with money and your faith? You're not alone. In today's episode, Erica Fluckus, a life coach, career coach, and coordinator with a nonprofit, as well as a dedicated Christian and seminary graduate, and Catherine Van Der Laan, financial coach and minister-in-training, talk through what it means to navigate money and faith decisions. Together, we explore the intersection between money and faith, diving into what God says about managing money and how Jesus came to save us from our sinful relationships.We discuss how money is a reflection of our hearts and a tool of worship, examining the importance of tithing and giving to others in need while keeping our hearts fully devoted to God. We also consider the connection between money and the Christian heart and the spiritual impact of money trauma. By sharing practical ways to create a healthy relationship with money and faith, we aim to help you navigate this challenging topic and align your financial decisions with God's word.Join us for this enlightening conversation as we uncover the true meaning of money in the eyes of God and how we can best manage it according to His will. Through examining over 2,000 verses in the Bible directly related to money (in the podcast, not in this one episode!), we hope to provide valuable insights and guidance to help you on your journey toward a healthier, more faithful relationship with your finances. So tune in, and let's grow together in understanding God's perspective on money and its role in our lives.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

You are perfectly positioned to lead someone to Jesus. God's working already. He's wooing your coworkers. He's trying to reconcile every single person to Himself.One of the TOP questions I hear from Christians is, "HOW do I witness in the workplace without getting fired?"Listen to this episode to find out how.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

How do you ask for a promotion and a raise as a Christian?This is what I do. I help people get better jobs, raises, and promotions and I work primarily with Christians.Christians CAN ask for what they're worth. You can be humble and ask for a raise. You can be a giver, like Christ, and know your worth.You can advocate for yourself AND still represent Christ well. Let's talk through how you can get a better job and still represent Christ well.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

I've met a lot of Christians over the years. My husband's a Chi Alpha Campus Missionary, so we travel around to different churches, speaking and praying and helping Christians and pre-Christians wherever we go. I've also been weirdly interested in money and everyone's relationship with money for decades. Yeah, I'm really fun at parties. Haha.Anyway, I've noticed that many Christians don't think about saving money for retirement because they believe that they will be provided for in their old age. However, this is not what the Bible says. In fact, Scripture is clear that we are to plan for the future and to be good stewards of the resources that God has given us. So, what does the Bible say about saving for the future? Let's get into it.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Welcome back to The Money Minister. We're starting a new season to talk through things many Christians face when working through money decisions. This episode is about goal setting, serving God, and asking God to set your goals. That's a hard topic for anyone! How do we let God set our goals, especially our money goals?How do you make sure your goals aren't just that... YOUR goals and NOT God's goals?How do you live a life that God wants you to live?Let's answer all those questions and more in this episode of The Money Minister.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

In today's scripture, we see three stories: the beginning of Noah's story, when God was furious with the wickedness of the people of the world. They had a LOT of hardship - lots of work. To remind you, God cursed humanity and caused them to work really, terribly hard for what they needed. We still have to work hard for what we need, but not always the kind of backbreaking hard work they had to do. They were looking for relief and even named Noah “This one will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, caused by the ground which Yahweh has cursed.” They were looking for comfort, but God withdrew - which we see he's planning to do in Noah's time - and then he floods the whole earth.See, they didn't turn to God in their hardship. They turned to anything that would make them feel better at the time. God called it wickedness. We'll see that when we read the scripture. That sounds familiar to me. Does it sound familiar to you? In Matthew, we're seeing the beginning of the most important ministry on earth, starting with Weird John the Baptist. In this passage, we see John calling for repentance and a heart change - sound familiar? - and warning that Jesus, the Christ, is coming with a winnowing fork. He's coming to separate the righteous and repentant from the wicked of heart.John is preparing people for a choice in a hard time. You see, where we are in Matthew, John's baptizing people and Jesus is coming. His ministry starts right then. God ordains him from the sky. And John's helping people make a choice before they have to make a choice when it gets hard in their lives. Psalm 3 wraps it right up. Psalm 3 is written by King David when his son Absalom tries to usurp the throne. He's in a hard time. He's fleeing, running for his life, and doesn't know what will happen. But he DOES know the choice that he's going to make. He BELIEVES in God, in God's promises to him, and God's character. He's made a choice already - to turn to God when things get hard. He's made a choice to rely on God for his life, his future, his family's future, and everything he needs to live. King David, the man after God's own heart, shows us the choice we need to make here.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Today's reading is Genesis 2:18-4:16, Matthew 2:1-18, and Psalm 2. These readings are remarkably similar. God sees good, loves it, and blesses good. God sees evil, hates it, and rejects evil.We see curses, atrocities, and salvation. But isn't that the whole story of the bible?In Genesis, we're continuing to see this perfect place God's created. Don't you want more? Because this perfection was ruined, God now ties hard work to being able to eat. Then we see Cain and Abel. God expects us to give Him our best. It's what he's due. Abel gave God his best - the first and the fat was considered the best. Cain just gave him some fruit as an afterthought. We also learn here that God can cause our work to be fruitless or fruitful. In this passage, we see a few characteristics of God and people. We see that God provides for his people and those who seek Him and His will. He'll help us. We also see, like Cain, that Herod is willing to kill when he feels threatened or jilted. He killed all the male children who were 2 and under. Both Herod and Cain reacted selfishly and without humility when they didn't get the response they wanted. And neither of them got what they wanted from their evil.In Psalm 2, we see all of these passages come together. God gets angry with evil and curses it. There's no good that comes from murder or other evil. Instead, be wise and "give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way, for his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him."God wants your heart. He wants you to look beyond yourself and look toward Jesus, the Son. He wants you to GIVE HIM the best, the first, sincerely and honestly. He wants it because that's HOW you give him your heart.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

The Money Minister has decided to start a new, long season. We're going through the Bible to see what it says about money!In the next 365 episodes, we'll see what God really says about money. It's the #2 topic in the Bible, just after God himself. He wants you to relate to the world well and the world is run on money. So let's get into it.In today's passage, we see our God. We see him show up in all his glory and power and we see him show up as a helpless infant. More than that, we see what God intended for humanity and set up for us in the Garden of Eden. We see the routine he established - working for 6 days and resting on the 7th. We see how he gave humanity everything they needed to live AND one rule. In Genesis, 1 and 2:1-17, we see God's power as he creates the whole universe, then God's attention to detail as he shows us an amazing place with everything we need, down to streams of water, which symbolize life. In Matthew chapter 1, we see God's bigger plan and how He shows up in it, sometimes in a big way and sometimes in a small way. In Psalm 1, we see those streams of water again, symbolizing life and fruit, all that we need in God.Let's get into it.___________________________________If you'd like to learn more about Group Financial Coaching, please visit https://www.saverstreet.com/groupfinancialcoaching. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

God gives us money for two reasons:To take care of ourselves  and our familiesTo take care of othersThat might sound simple, but it's not always understood. Taking care of yourself and your family means staying out of debt (or getting out of debt), saving for future needs, paying your bills now, including taxes, and not stressing about money.Taking care of others means giving when someone has a need. Providing for others' needs, like food, clothing, housing, heat, etc. is something we're absolutely called to do as Christians.Let's get into it. Also, if you have questions or would like to give me some feedback, feel free to email me at catherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.com.And if you'd like to join us in financial coaching, let's chat. I don't lecture in coaching like I do in this podcast. Go to saverstreet.com and book a complimentary consultation. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Finding God's plan for your life and your finances isn't easy. You need to grow, listen, pray, pray more, and then take a step in faith. In this episode, I talk through how God showed me my career path, my ministry path, and my family's path to make money.God cares deeply about how you relate to money and to your career. He cares because he wants your heart. He wants your WHOLE heart.Listen more to find out how to find God's plan for your life.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

God's blessings come to those whose hearts are aligned with God's heart.God wants to give you the desires of your heart. He wants to bless you. He wants to provide you with all you need.Most Christians try to make Christianity less of a step-by-step process... but I've always loved processes. Don't worry, this is still somewhat mystical. Haha.Anyway, the first step toward stewarding God's money well - the talents He gives you - is aligning your heart with God's heart. Doing what God wants you to do. Desiring what God desires. Listen to this episode to learn why and HOW to align your heart with God's heart. Link to Biblical Money Principles for Christians: https://go.saverstreet.com/biblical-money-principles-for-christians-oBook a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Giving and God's actual prescription for giving is a hot-button issue for Christians. There's a lot of back and forth and a LOT of controversy. And that makes a TON of sense to me. Money's not easy to talk about. We all know that money is emotional by now. Every decision you make with your money needs to feel like the right thing to do. We use money to soothe our hurt feelings or sadness. We use money as a sense of worth or to gauge how #hashtag# blessed we are. Money - and what we're supposed to do with it - cannot be a more controversial issue. I'm sure your blood is rising right now just wondering what I'm about to tell you to do with your hard-earned money. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

God gives blessings of wealth. He is happy to provide for his children. He also warns us a LOT about money, because having money can draw us away from God. So he warns us to help us put money in its place.We have to wrestle with a tension in our lives: between accepting God's blessing of wealth and not giving in to the temptation of relying on that wealth as our security or obsessing over it.God gives us money to bless others. God enables us to glorify him and love our neighbors. Let's get over our fear of wealth or the fear of money as Christians, so we can accept God's blessings and bring the gospel to the world.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

In this episode, we'll be talking through the situation of close friends or family asking for money. Here's the common story I hear in January: we're unsure of our financial future and would love to get out of this debt. It keeps sneaking up on us. I lent money to my brother last month, so hopefully, when he pays me back I'll get all caught up on my car payment and my credit score will be good enough to refinance this debt into a lower interest personal loan. Did I nail it? I've heard that literally hundreds of times. And I get it, too, but you all are making this much more complicated than it needs to be. Personal finances isn't some test that you need a study guide for. There's no formula to memorize or hard vocabulary to learn. You're making this too complicated for yourselves. Simply. Keep it simple and you'll go far. Anyway, that person who counted on their brother or friend to pay them back ends up disappointed, sometimes for months, sometimes forever. It builds resentment and distance. It forever changes the relationship. One person feels taken advantage of. The borrower isn't allowed to grow. The lender doesn't understand why the borrower isn't paying him or her back. It's because they didn't feel the pain of their decisions. And then you're in this mess. Now, let me be clear. I'm not saying NEVER to give money. But I am saying that lending money should be done wisely and with specific parameters and communicated expectations on both sides. Basically, you need an agreement. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

For many, money management is a black and white topic. They focus on just one goal at a time, working as efficiently as possible with the money they have.I've been on both sides of the spectrum: all work and no play to get out of debt and the eventual transition from debt-burdened to debt-free.In this episode, we go through 7 steps to help you strike a healthy balance between your long-term financial goals and having fun, then we discuss why.It really comes down to planning your finances and then following that plan. But it's not so simple, is it?There are two common traps people fall into when going whole-hog on their financial goals:Not spending anything on funSpending too much on fun"Thanks for that, Sherlock," you might be saying right now. Let me elaborate.Lots of people will not spend anything on having fun while getting out of debt. They treat this time like going to Purgatory for your sins. They want it to hurt.And that's okay to a degree.But I've seen time and time again that those who enter debt-payoff Purgatory come out without the ability to have fun. It can then take years of therapy to be okay having fun again.And then what's the point?I advocate spending 1% to 5% of any "extra" or "beyond essentials" money on fun while getting out of debt. And you can spend it however you like.That amount goes up to 10% when you've achieved significant milestones.When you're still allocating some money to fun, you remember to be a person. You keep your friends and other relationships. You build a deeper desire to get out of debt, which makes you do crazy things like getting another job or selling all the crap you really don't use anymore - and maybe some that you do.But then... some people swing from spending just a little bit on fun to spending WAY too much money on fun.I've seen it over and over. It's like the old self woke up and they start spending without reserve on stuff they eventually regret: takeout 3x a week, fancy restaurants, cases of wine, too many Christmas presents, the new Playstation or Quest system. The list goes on.And the next month, they're back in Purgatory, paying for their sins of spending without keeping a plan in mind. They realize getting out of debt is pushed by a month or two and start beating themselves up.That's not a great cycle to be in.Here's the thing...Your goals are YOUR goals. Your goals can be about enjoyment. Your goals can be about helping other people. Your goals can be about your retirement (and some should be!). Your goals are YOURS and money is a tool that helps you get to them.Some people need to have enjoyment goals. Our next goal is Disney World with the kids! We're stoked.Some people need to have financial goals that sound WAY better to them than their enjoyment goals. They need to learn to live within their means.Often, my job is to figure out where people are on this spectrum and help them stay healthy, with relationships, and not burnt out while trying to get out of debt. It's hard to strike the balance. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

You can date while you're getting out of debt.A popular personal finance personality often says, "If you're in Baby Step 2, you shouldn't see the inside of a restaurant unless you're working there!"Whether you ascribe to that or not, it's important to keep your budget in control while you're getting out of debt and dating.How can you continue to get out of debt and have an amazing dating life?We talk about that intense question in this episode.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

The decision to be a stay-at-home mom or parent isn't JUST about the tradeoff between your salary and the cost of childcare. There's more to the equation.  Make sure you're making this decision with your eyes wide open.In this episode, we talk through salary growth and investment growth that is traded when deciding to be a SAHM or SAHParent. Here's the link we discussed in the episode:https://interactives.americanprogress.org/childcarecosts/Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Happy Thanksgiving!This week, we're discussing emotional spending and ways to get through it. Black Friday and the myriad of consumer "holidays" are right around the corner. We have Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday, and Giving Tuesday trying to eat at our wallets.Don't give in... unless you've budgeted for it and are actually getting a good deal. Listen now to find ways to mitigate and overcome your emotional spending triggers.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Your parents taught you something about money, even if they didn't mean to.After speaking with several hundred individuals in the last two years about their relationships with money, I've found that money woes start early in childhood.Children watch their parents and learn much more than they're overtly taught. Children learn reactions, emotions, stress, gratitude, and much more from simple observation. What did you learn from your parents about money? In this episode, we go over four different kinds of family money management methods and ask questions to see which one you might fit into.The four money management methods are: 1. Open communication & unstable finances2. Open communication & secure finances3. Closed communication & unstable finances4. Closed communication & secure financesWhich one are you from?More importantly, which method will you bring into your own family?Did you feel like your parents had enough money or that they were stressed out or anxious about the cost of things?Were your parents spenders or savers? How is that affecting how you relate to money now?Did your parents fight about money often or did they agree on how to manage their money?____________________________________________If you're looking for our Group Financial Coaching program, visit saverstreet.com and book a complimentary consultation. Mention this podcast and you'll get a $50/month discount! Woooo!!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

How do you balance holiday fun, wonder, worship, and gift-giving when you're trying to get out of debt? You don't have to cancel Christmas to stay on a budget.In this episode, we're going to prioritize YOUR favorite parts of the holidays that you celebrate.Rank what you love about the holidays and focus on those few things. 1. Prioritize what makes the holiday special to you and your family2. Set expectations with friends and family upfront3. Stay organized (feel free to download my holiday organization spreadsheet at https://www.saverstreet.com/downloads)____________________________________________If you're looking for our Group Financial Coaching program, visit saverstreet.com and book a complimentary consultation. Mention this podcast and you'll get a $50/month discount! Woooo!!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Getting out of debt can be exhausting. Dave Ramsey says that you should be gazelle intense when getting out of debt. I agree with him. You should be running from debt and paying it off as quickly as you possibly can.But when you're running like crazy and trying to make every moment as debt-free efficient as you can, it's easy to slip into burnout.Burnout can easily turn into something worse.Let's keep you healthy while you get out of debt.My three strategies are:1. Take a day off2. Spend 1-2% of your "bottom line" on fun3. Stay in communityListen to this podcast to learn more about each of those three strategies and why they work.If you're looking for our Group Financial Coaching program, visit saverstreet.com and book a complimentary consultation. Mention this podcast and you'll get a $50/month discount! Woooo!!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Statistically, 68% of people are in debt in the United States.The younger you are, the higher the number is.If you're trying to stay on a tight budget, so you can pay off debt or increase your savings rate, you don't have to sacrifice your friendships! You can still keep the friends you love so much.I've had hundreds of discussions with clients about going out, staying on a budget, and keeping friends.Seeing your friends is a priority!Listen to this episode to explore strategies to keep seeing your friends while staying on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

When your spouse doesn't seem to care about money, it can be difficult to approach money conversations that you need to have.Maybe his or her spending is out of control.Maybe you need to start paying down your debt.Maybe you have different beliefs about money.Listen to this episode if you want to know how to approach a difficult spouse for a difficult money conversation. Hint: It's a stepped approach.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

In this episode, we talk through one specific scenario from a client of mine:He's saving enough for retirement.He's saved a 20% down payment for his first home.His offers keep getting rejected for all-cash, 100% cash offers on homes. He's wondering if he should keep saving for a down payment on a home or increase his retirement contributions.Let's talk.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Today we tackle managing money and your life when you have a physical disability or physical limitation. Most people don't know this, but I have a physical limitation. I can't be as active as I used to be due to a genetic condition that I didn't know that I had until the last few years.This episode goes into what living with a physical limitation looks like when you're trying to get to financial independence.Physical limits and physical pain can make a huge difference in how you manage your life and your personal finances. I know it from personal experience and from coaching lots of people in these same situations. Some go on SSDI - Social Security Disability Insurance - and some work really hard to stay off of disability and stay in the workforce. I have no judgment either way. When you have physical limitations of any kind, and I know that's not the word most people like to use, so please forgive me. It's the word I use for my own conditions. When you have physical limitations, it affects your income and your spending. It affects your energy levels and your ability to do some tasks that other people take for granted and do every day. Cooking is one MAJOR expense and major limitation for people. When my energy is low and my body hurts, I need something low-effort to cook. When I'm in my recovery days, I need to do something easy and energy-giving. Emotions can then take over and drive your spending decisions. It's so so so so easy to order takeout and say, “To hell with the budget” when you're feeling like everyone else has it so much easier than you and you literally cannot stand without it feeling like knives piercing your back. The only way to continue to live a budget is to plan ahead for these episodes.Let's get into how.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

If you're trying to get to financial independence or retirement at all, you need to budget. Hands down, that is the #1 way to take care of your money.My Bottom-Line Budgeting method has three steps:Review what you spent last month.Decide what you want to spend this month. Review your decisions against your financial priorities.The easiest part of budgeting is deciding what you want to spend. Anyone can use categories and decide what to spend. Easy peasy. The hardest part of budgeting is keeping track of what you're spending and what you've spent. It's not difficult, but it is emotional. It brings up uncomfortable feelings of guilt, shame, and defensiveness, but also HOPE, once you get through the budgeting process.If you don't know how much you're spending, you won't know how much you can save.Keeping track of your spending is ESSENTIAL to living on a budget and getting to financial freedom. Knowing and controlling what you spend will get you to financial freedom.HOW Do You Keep Track of What You Spend?Most people write down every expense using pen and paper. While I love a good analog exploration session, it's not sustainable for most people that I meet. So let's explore a few different automated applications:EveryDollar through Ramsey+ YNAB or You Need A BudgetMint at Mint.com Each one of these will track your spending automatically if you hook up your bank account or credit card(s) to the application. EveryDollar is $10 per month. YNAB is $12 per month.Mint.com is FREE. It's good for budget tracking. I use it myself and help my clients use it properly. If you'd like to learn more and get WAY more free stuff and tips on budget tracking, then listen to my podcast, Living a Budget, at the link below or set up a complimentary consultation at saverstreet.com. I'm here to help you!Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

The financial system in the United States is not set up for normal people to succeed. You are living in an extraordinary time. 78% of Americans are living paycheck-to-paycheck. This system is designed so people have to work overtime or two jobs just to make ends meet. This system is designed to get you to spend more and more money to look even more successful, so people think more highly of you. This system will put you in a box it has designed for you. Who you are. What you deserve. What kind of house you live in, job you get, car you drive, etc.This system is designed to keep you working, so CEOs can take trips to space.What do you do when the system is rigged against you? How do you stand? Stop playing their game.They have power... take it BACK.You have little ways and big ways to take your power back. The way to get out of the system is to start thinking for yourself, do the work you don't want to do, and check every detail.You're not STUCK. You don't have to be. There's always some way out.Stop buying things because that's what other people like. If you're having trouble focusing on what you can change - your situation, your behavior, your motivation - then book a complimentary consultation with me at saverstreet.com. Let's get you to where you want to be.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

If you continue to ignore your money problems, they won't go away. They're not going to disappear on their own.Your money isn't a self-healing machine. If you wait, you're not going to feel better about your money situation. Money problems shouldn't be ignored. They get worse over time if you don't address the root issue. Let's get to it.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

I work with many, many folks to help them get out of debt and save a crap ton to retire early. One of the MAJOR blindspots we tackle in financial coaching is prioritization and blinders as to what job people can have.I work with lawyers, directors, C-suite executives, marketing managers, non-profit sector personnel, government employees, and stay-at-home-parents.Everyone I've talked to pigeonholes themselves into a type of work that they can do. Unless you have a disability, you can do work outside of your specialty. Sometimes that's not necessary, but you need to understand how to look around and make more money, so you can get out of debt and retire early. Let's get to it.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

There's a raging debate between the Ramsey group and the ChooseFI group.Should you pay off your house (no mortgage!) or should you invest that money instead? This question is all about risk. Let's get into it.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Most people let their lifestyles inflate as their incomes inflate. That's called lifestyle creep. Let's look at the numbers. It's all about priorities. What's driving your buying decisions? What can you reasonably afford while prioritizing your long-term financial health? How can you give without feeling resentment? How can you figure out how much to save, so you can live a great life after retiring or retiring early?Let's get into it.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

When there's strain, people fall back on their old ways of doing things. People fall back into controlling what they're used to controlling and how they're used to controlling. We're talking through 3 scenarios: 1. The single person who doesn't want to plan because they don't want to be controlled.2. The single person who likes to control other people with money.3. The married couple where one person is controlling the other with money.That last scenario can turn into financial abuse if you're not careful. Let's talk this through and figure out what you can do about it. Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

It's okay to have fun while you're working toward an early retirement and financial independence. It's easy to let one of your priorities to take over. Saving money should NOT mean you stop having fun. Keep having fun! Live a life you'll look back on and be proud of.This podcast episode is about balancing health, wealth, fun, family, work, and spirituality.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

If you're in a relationship where one person is the spender and the other is the saver, you're going to have some conflicts. You view money in different ways. It's security for one person, and a fun tool to use for another. Explore how you feel about money and bring those feelings to your spouse. Your job is to put your marriage first and treat it as the best team you'll ever be on. Teams need different personalities. Teams need different perspectives. Teams work together and address when one person feels anxious and another feels held back. Talk it out. My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

In this episode, I discuss the different levels of FIRE, what it means to retire early, what financial independence means, and how to get there. My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Help! I'm giving my family lots of money and it's sinking me. I don't know what to do.I hear that often. Really often. Too often. Let's take a hard look at money boundaries with family: what they should be responsible for, what is enabling them, and when you can help.I'm not telling you to be selfish here. Let's look at this from a fresh perspective.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

When you feel caged in, stuck, and frustrated about your financial situation, stop. Stop and look around. What are you missing? What are you ruling out? What's the opportunity?It can be hard to take a step back and find your opportunity. I get that. I've been there: with food insecurity (and malnutrition), and frantic to get out of my situation. I get it.What's the third option? Find opportunities to make more income. Find opportunities to cut expenses without sacrificing your HEALTH. Find opportunities where OTHER PEOPLE say there aren't any.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

If you try to completely change your habits, your brain is going to rebel and you'll revert back to what you were doing before. Make SMALL habit changes. Put guardrails up and then move forward. Work WITH your habits, not against them, to make lasting change.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

There's a see-saw from fear-based action to desire-based action. Fear-based actions have you running from something - the saber-toothed tiger that's coming up behind you. You run and run, and the direction doesn't matter, because you just want that THING, whatever you're afraid of, to stay far away. You need to get away. You need to protect yourself and your loved ones. You keep yourself tense, and self-focused because that's your only way to survive. Let me tell you - there's NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT when you're running from something scary. That's okay. I've coached women who were in survival mode, got therapy, got coaching (from me), and started looking up to where they were running to. Desire-based actions have you running, too, but running toward something you want. It has you reaching for a future or a thing that you so desperately want to have. For some couples, it's children. We work to afford IVF or adoption. For some people, it's taking care of their parents, their children, being free to spend money the way they want to, instead of buying their groceries from a place they don't actually like, because it's the only place they can afford. They see a future where we help our neighbors without having to calculate whether we actually can or not. That's a future worth reaching for.For Susan, she learned that she wanted relief, confidence in her future, a plan that she could follow, SO THAT she could have a dignified retirement with a little bit of travel, seeing friends and family, and no money worries. She wanted safety and security. Later on, we defined that a little more. She wanted to feel accomplished and be proud of what her work produced. She wanted time to be creative and play her instruments again. To play without worrying about how to pay for it.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street

Living a Budget is all about the messy decisions, feelings, processes, and breakthroughs that happen when you're trying to get to financial independence or early retirement (FIRE) by living on a budget. Listen more to find out what else we go into.My name is Catherine Van Der Laan. I'm a financial and career coach at saverstreet.com, specializing in helping you earn more and save more, so you can get to financial independence and early retirement. I retired at age 32 and couldn't be happier. Take the fear out of finances through financial coaching.Earn what you deserve through career coaching.Get to financial independence when you live on a budget.Book a free coaching session: https://www.saverstreet.com/free-consultationsaverstreet.comcatherine.vanderlaan@saverstreet.comFB: @SaverStreetIG: @saver.street