Father’s Day can be a tough holiday. There are many like myself whose father has been gone for many years. There are others whose birth father abandoned them or worse. But there are many others with fathers who are living and are special. Here are some ideas for all of them.

Overall, honoring fathers is a great start to building a foundation for present and future families. Having a solid foundation matters – a lot.

Matthew 7: 24-25
25  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25  And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

No, dad isn’t and has never been the perfect father. Let me guess, you were the perfect kid? No, the position of perfect Father is reserved for our Father in heaven. But fatherhood has never been easy. Accept the fact that there have been failures, but that hopefully you turned out right anyway.

Regardless, it honors God for you to honor your parents.

Exodus 20:12
12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Father’s Day is always the third Sunday in June. Put the date into your online calendar and make it recurring. Now you have no excuse for missing it!

Father’s Day 2025    Sunday, June 15, 2025

Father’s Day 2026    Sunday, June 21, 2026

Father’s Day 2027    Sunday, June 20, 2027

Father’s Day 2028    Sunday, June 18, 2028

Honoring fathers who have passed

Some honor their fathers on the anniversary of their passing, but others honor them on Father’s Day. Whatever day it is, honor them. Share a memory with family. Sharing with pictures is even better.

Honoring fathers who are absent

The unfortunate truth of America is that way too many fathers are missing from the lives and homes of their children. Some have chosen to abandon the responsibilities God has given to them to be the head of the household. Others have been forced away from their families by family disputes. There are many reasons, some understandable, others not. Regardless, the result is that the foundations of our homes and lives are weaker because of their absence.

No one can change the past. But we do have a part in creating our future. If you are reading this, don’t look back in anger or even in sorrow at the past. Instead look forward to your future and the lessons you can learn from his past mistakes. Maybe the greatest gift you can him give is forgiveness for his mistakes. We all make mistakes, some larger and more impactful than others. And we all need forgiveness. Think of the sins of the older brothers of Joseph and his forgiveness. They caused him to be sold into slavery and told his father Jacob that he was dead. Genesis 37-50. Yet he still forgave them and loved them. Genesis 50:15-21.

God wired us with a basic human need. We need fathers in our future who will instill Christ into their children, who will not just teach but live the life of a good, moral and law-abiding man.

Honoring fathers who are here

Use this day to honor all fathers, not just your dad. Make this a celebration of the many strong, hard-working, devoted and loving fathers who are on the front lines with their wives and children, working to provide support while playing with their children and loving their wives every day.

It does not take a “Super Dad” to have a super impact. Psychology Today reported the following:

“Children who have an involved father are more likely to be emotionally secure, be confident to explore their surroundings, and, as they grow older, have better social connections…Numerous studies find that an active and nurturing style of fathering is associated with better verbal skills, intellectual functioning, and academic achievement among adolescents.”

There are a thousand or more ways to celebrate the life of a father. You can purchase a special gift, take him to a game involving a favorite baseball team, give him a round of golf, or simply buy or, even better make, a special card that tells him how awesome he is.

Or make it an even bigger deal. Plan a cookout with fathers, uncles, grandfathers, friends and family. It will be hot, but worth the time. If that isn’t possible because the family lives spread out all over the U.S. or even the world, make it a block cookout with all the dads in the neighborhood.

You have many options, make a card, make a gift basket, make a gift, buy a gift. But all of those pale in comparison to your presence and kind words. Consider sharing the following as a part of giving that honor:

God took the strength of a mountain,
The majesty of a tree,
The warmth of a summer sun,
The calm of a quiet sea,
The generous soul of nature,
The comforting arm of night,
The wisdom of the ages,
The power of the eagle’s flight,
The joy of a morning in spring,
The faith of a mustard seed,
The patience of eternity,
The depth of a family need,
Then God combined these qualities,
When there was nothing more to add,
He knew His masterpiece was complete,
And so, He called it … Dad

Why? The following give some reasons that apply in many cases as good reasons to honor your father.

1. Dad gave you life. Even if you don’t have the best relationship with your father, you wouldn’t be here without him! But it doesn’t stop there because it is far easier to become a father than to be one.

2. Dad helped and served a lot during your early days. The pregnancy, childbirth and newborn phases you went through were hard on him as they were on Mom. He became an expert diaper changer and tear wiper.

3. Dad loves you without restraint and unconditionally. He may not show it well (it’s a guy thing), but that love is there. Look back at those old family photos with him holding you.

4. Dad worked hard to pay the bills and keep things together around the house. Many dads were and still are the family’s primary or only breadwinner, especially during the earliest years of your life. Back then there were a lot fewer Mr. Moms.

5. Dad did his best as a role model. Sure, he failed at times; no one is perfect. The truth is that most dads try to be a good example. I love the way one author put it:

My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.
    Clarence Kelland

6. Dad taught you sports and kept you active as a child. He also likely picked you up the times you fell as you learned to ride that bike without the training wheels.

7. Dad helped when he could and as much as he could. Sure his advice wasn’t always what you wanted, but later you learned that he was wiser than you used to think he was.

Remember what Mark Twain wrote about his dad:

When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.

That is a shorter version of what Ann Landers, the great advice columnist, later write:

4 years: My daddy can do anything.
7 years: My dad knows a lot, a whole lot.
8 years: My father doesn’t quite know everything.
12 years: Oh well, naturally Father doesn’t know that either.
14 years: Father? Hopelessly old fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man is out-of-date. What do you expect?
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: Maybe we ought to find out what Dad thinks.
35 years: A little patience. Let’s get Dad’s assessment before we do anything.
50 years: I wonder what Dad would have thought about that. He was pretty smart.
60 years: My Dad knew absolutely everything!
65 years: I’d give anything if Dad were here so I could talk this over with him. I really miss that man.

8. Dad was your shelter. He made you feel safe and kept you safe. Sigmund Freud knew that well:

“I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father’s protection. “

9. Dad was funny. The best dads don’t take themselves too seriously.

10. Dad was your banker. If you needed money, ask dad (If he said, no, there’s always Mom).

11. Hopefully dad encouraged you in your faith. A father’s most important job is to disciple his children to meet and know Jesus.

Of course, your dad didn’t hit all of these. He wasn’t a super dad (probably), but he was still the best dad he could be. Thank him, honor him and give back to him some of the love and joy he shared with you.

Here’s a final tribute and thought:

A dad is a mender of toys,
A leader of boys.
He’s a changer of fuses,
A healer of bruises
He’s a mover of couches,
A soother of ouches.
He’s a pounder of nails,
A teller of tales.
He’s a dryer of dishes,
A fulfiller of wishes
Bless him, O Lord.
     Jo Ann Heidbreder

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus. He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.

While flowers are always a possible gift, quite frankly, mom’s deserve even more than a truckload of flowers. That is literally true. Salary.com several years ago estimated it would cost $113,586 to replace a mother’s services just based upon the 10 most time-consuming tasks.

Others put the estimated value of her services higher. Insure.com put the 2022 figure at over $126,000 per year.

Here is a chart from 2013 listing only 14 tasks which has a lowball estimate of just under $60,000 per year.

So, load up the truck with flowers and it still isn’t enough. Even at $60,000 per year, mom’s job is no cheap job; it’s a ton of work and it’s 24 x 7 x 365 with on holiday pay, no overtime and no vacations.

You can even find a selfish reason to celebrate Mother’s Day. And it is a Biblically solid reason. God told us in Exodus 20:12:

Exodus 20:12
12  “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.

Honoring your father and mother will lengthen your life! And some have measured that scientifically and have discovered that it is true because good family relations often turn into a longer, less stressful and more satisfying life.

But that leaves us with a question. What does it mean to honor one’s father and mother? God tells us a lot about that. The Hebrew word kavod (Eng., honor) indicates worth and value, resulting in praise. It actually means weighted or heavy, suggesting the respect we should pay to Mom is a lot; she is a big deal! In fact, at times kavod is translated as glory, showing just how serious this honor should be.

But the Bible does not instruct us in how that kavod, or honor, is to be given. That is no surprise since our relationship with God is personal just as our relationships with our parents is. How you give honor to mom is very personal and is entirely up to you.

There should be no excuses. Mother’s Day is always the second Sunday in May. Put it on your calendar as a repeating event.

Dates for Mother’s Day Date

Mother’s Day 2025 Sunday, May 11, 2025

Mother’s Day 2026 Sunday, May 10, 2026

Mother’s Day 2027 Sunday, May 9, 2027

Mother’s Day 2028 Sunday, May 14, 2028

Here are a few ideas for that special celebration and honor to your mom. What works best for you and mom will be very dependent upon age, where she lives, your family history and a lot more, but that’s why I offer a variety of ideas of different types and sizes. Regardless of the idea, the best part is that the costs come in far less than even the low figure of $60,000 per year!

1. Give more than a bouquet of flowers

Flowers die quickly and are too easy and too common to be that special gift.

Don’t ignore the idea of flowers, some moms love them and that is exactly what they want. Just don’t make flowers your automatic go-to gift or your only gift.

If mom has a green thumb or even an available garden area, get her a pot of flowers that can be planted. It will actually be less expensive than the usual bouquet of flowers, will last for years, assuming you don’t choose annuals, and will give her a lasting memory of your love and thoughtfulness.

Then take it to the next level. Deliver the flowers yourself and offer to plant them yourself. That may mean an extra trip to visit her, one with a few tools and maybe a trip to a restaurant with her.

But not all mom’s have green thumbs. Choose instead some plants that are almost impossible to kill, ones that require little or almost no attention, infrequent watering and, yes, they still look great.

Your local garden store, Lowes or Home Depot can help.

2. Don’t just take her to dinner, bring dinner to her

And cook it yourself if you can! Recipes of all sizes, shapes and flavors are available online with a simple search. If you are like me, a disaster in the kitchen, then order a take out meal, pick it up and deliver it hot.

And remember, you get to clean up too.

3. Do a special brunch date

If you’re not close enough to have a brunch with mom, do it virtually. Have the ingredients delivered to her door using DoorDash, GrubHub, Uber Eats, or some similar service, then set up a Zoom brunch with the whole family.

There are many opportunities for creative touches. Bake a casserole and drop by, add a cake or cupcakes, with a flourish of candles! It does not have to be a birthday or holiday to celebrate and honor mom.

4. Take Mom to a movie or watch her favorite movie with her at home

Going to a movie is always fun. You get to buy a bucket of popcorn and splurge.

There are few movies not available either livestreamed or on DVD if you plan ahead. There is even such a thing as a teleparty if Mom is far away. Check out Teleparty, formerly Netflix Teleparty.

5. It’s time for a picnic

While not all moms are outdoor-types, some love the idea. Mother’s Day is in May which in Florida is usually dry. Pack a picnic and head to a local park. You don’t have to sit on the ground, which might be tough for some. There are public parks almost everywhere with tables and benches. Take a better chair if needed – that special touch will make her feel special. She is!

And hand-pack the picnic basket yourself. The extra attention and effort will be worth it. If you are unsure what works best or how to do this, check out Almanac’s picnic ideas.

6. Don’t buy a card, make one

Store-bought cards are nice, but personally made cards add that special touch for a special person. There are many available apps that allow you to inexpensively make a personal card. By inexpensive, I mean just the cost of the paper, card stock, ink and envelope. About the most expensive part of the whole process will be the stamp.

One example is Canva.com, But you can check out several at this site. As an alternative, you can use a commonly available program that comes with Microsoft Office, Microsoft Publisher.

Or just do it the old-fashioned way and handwrite a letter to your mother. Share a memory of you and your mom. Nothing could bring more joy.

7. Add to that card

You don’t have to stop with just a card. Making up a gift basket with goodies isn’t hard. It just takes some time, but then so did changing your diapers when you were a baby! A trip to a Hobby Lobby or Michael’s can get you a basket as well as many contents. Drop by a Bath and Body Works or similar store and pick up a fragrant hand wash and lotion, then got by a grocery store and find some of her favorite cookies and treats. That makes a pretty full basket.

And if these ideas don’t fit, don’t quit looking. There are online sites with many, many ideas, suggestions and links. Keep looking and celebrate with mom. She is a gift from God (just as you were to her).

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus. He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.

Saving money is a challenge, especially in the high inflation of the current administration. The money seems to (and does) build up slowly and the temptations (or need) to cheat and spend rather than save are like dieting temptations, easy to find and hard to resist. Here are a few practical ideas to keep your savings increasing and to help you hold the line on spending. When you save on one of the ideas here, save the money toward an emergency savings account, your retirement or a special trip and vacation.

Try these ideas and save:

1. Your car insurance rises every year even though your car is older and is very likely worth less. You would think at least the collision coverage would decrease since your car is a year older and worth less. No! But it will, if you decide to shop around at least every three years. You may not want to decide based upon premium cost alone, because there is a lot to be said about receiving good service; but if money is tight, shop around. 

2. If you have emergency savings, go with high deductible collision coverage. You can save a lot that way. I will admit it may cost you if you have an at fault accident, but if you go several years without an accident or if the other guys has no coverage and no money, your savings will far exceed the amount of your deductible. If you don’t have an emergency savings fund, start one now.

3. Shop your homeowners coverage as well. Those premiums tend to rise more than the value of your home. For some reason, the premiums never seem to decrease. Home insurers, like car insurers, count on you not wanting the hassle of changing carriers. But beware of the risk of having to be subjected to a Four Point inspection and possibly have to replace your roof. Many insurers will not start insuring your home without a careful inspection or with a roof older that 12-14 years. But then maybe it needs to be replaced! Better to do that before hurricane season and before leaks begin.

4. Drop your magazine subscriptions. Check and you may find the very same magazine is available at your nearest public library. Or, alternatively, spend a quiet evening at a local bookstore, reading your favorite magazines for free.

5. Hold a garage sale. Go through your closet and find clothes you have not worn in a year. The chances are you will never wear it if you haven’t worn it in a year. Pull the junk out of your closets you never use and out of the attic that you stuffed up there and see if there is someone else who wants your junk. You won’t make a lot, but you will make more than doing nothing will make for you. Alternatively, try eBay or sell online. A second alternative is for you to donate what you have to a Christian thrift store and take the deduction on your tax return if you are able.

6. Check your Internet, cable, streaming and phone plans. You can almost always improve your plan and save money if you check once a year. Ask yourself if you really need that landline. We dropped ours over a year ago and discovered we received fewer junk calls during dinner.

7. Get a free energy audit from your power company and see where your electric use can be trimmed. Consider adding attic insulation if your house is old, many types of older insulation settle and lose R-value, costing you money every month. Alternatively, you could do something really radical and turn off the lights when you leave a room.

8. If it isn’t free, drop your gym membership and take up walking. It is easier on the knees and hips than jogging, can be done well into your 70’s and even beyond for some, and is free! Enjoy life in Florida where the outside is a great place to be!

9. Keep your tires properly inflated, put the right gas in your car and maintain it based upon the manufacturer’s recommendations.

10. If you use AAA for emergency roadside service, go to an AAA location and check out their available gift cards. You get a 3 to 5% credit in AAA dollars towards your next year AAA bill. If it is a card for a restaurant you are going to eat at anyway, a store you will shop at anyway (or even Amazon Smile), or a gift card you would give as a gift anyway, you will save an annual AAA fee in a fairly short time, certainly less than a year.+

11. While I am on the topic of gift cards, buy them at a discount from a discounter like giftcardgranny.com. You can at times find meaningful discounts on hundreds of gift cards including Walmart, Target, and many large retailers.

12. Buy used, not new. A used car, if checked out carefully, is a great savings over a new car. New cars lose thousands of dollars almost the same moment you drive the car off the lot. If the car isn’t too old, you may still have some warranty left – always check. If buying a used car, always check the obvious things such as the tires. Many dealers will put new tires on a car if you spot a worn or repaired tire.

13. Used books are readily available at thrift stores, or, even better free books, magazines and videos are available at the public library.

14. Buy an Entertainment Book and eat out for 50% at many restaurants. Try Entertainment Books and see what restaurants and services are covered in your area. In the Tampa Bay area there are over 150 restaurants and services offering substantial discounts. You quickly save the cost of the book, try new places and then save a lot more.

15. Save without the hassle of coupons. There is a rather remarkable website worth checking – Savingstar. You can go to their free website, check the products you want to buy from a store and get cash back after you shop. You can link your store loyalty card or upload the receipt and save. The stores available can be seen from the site and include Publix, WalMart, Target, CVS, Walgreens and literally hundreds of other retailers.

Saving just requires that you try. The problem is that we tend to get so busy, that time is a commodity that is hard to find. But if you can find the time to try a few of these ideas here, you can save a lot. If you have additional ideas, call or email us and we will pass them on.

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus. He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.

New Year’s Resolutions to Kick-Off the Year

What are your New Year Resolutions for 2025?  Lose weight – check, exercise more – check, and get in better shape – long overdue! Those three resolutions are there for me almost every year. But then life happens! Sometimes I keep such a resolution for a few weeks or maybe even a few months with strong encouragement. After that, the busy days of spring begin to take over.

Instead, join the Campbells and make one of your resolutions for 2025 to review your family financial and estate plans. Significant life changes (and even significant inflationary, market or legal changes such as increasing income tax rates) are something that should trigger in our minds the question, “Do I need to change my will or trust?” or “Should I change any of my beneficiary designations?” If you need an easy way to keep track of your bequests and beneficiary designations on bank accounts, IRAs and financial or investment accounts, make a list. It is best done on a computer file so you do not have to re-do the entire document each time there is a significant change, but then print it and keep it with your estate and financial documents just in case your computer files are somehow lost. For a few additional thoughts on this topic, see A Few Estate Planning Pitfalls (especially #3) and A Few More Estate Planning Pitfalls.

Also, think about adding a few fresh ideas in which your entire family can become involved! Here are some things we are trying that I can offer as suggestions to prayerfully consider.

1. Serve: Serve together as a family, a small group or just as a group of friends.  Find a ministry that touches your heart and about which you can be passionate. Schedule yourself to serve regularly in this ministry with your family, a group of friends, or involve your small group. On a simpler note, you can visit a friend you haven’t seen in a while, perhaps someone out with an illness or injury. Always remember that stewardship is a L.I.F.E activity that is not limited to dollars and cents. It involves your Labor, your Influence, your Financial resources, and your Expertise, your entire L.I.F.E. Stop by the Join the Movement booth in the Gatheria at Idlewild. Learn how you can discover God’s gifting to you and put your gift(s) into joyful service. You can give an hour a week – yes, you really can.

2. Broaden your view: Look for new opportunities to broaden your stewardship. Never neglect giving your tithe to your home church. Check out Does the New Testament Teach Tithing?, More on the Tithe – Tithes and Offerings 1, and More on the Tithe – Tithes and Offerings 2. Know that God has also called us to give over and above the tithe. Read and reflect upon Deuteronomy 15, Matthew 23:23, and Luke 12:33-34.

3. Give generously and wisely: When you find a ministry that touches your heart, consider giving as well as serving. You can give in different ways. Instead of just monetary giving, consider giving an appreciated asset, stock, or a piece of property. This type of giving may be better for both you and the charity than if you sold and donated the net proceeds. This strategy may reduce your tax burden if done correctly (and wisely) and increases the amount the charity receives – and what that charity can do. Not sure how to do this? The Idlewild Foundation can show you how. Just give us a call at (813) 264-8713. And never forget God in your giving.

4. Learn about Giving Funds: Explore the possibilities of a Donor Advised Fund that will allow you a deduction now, but choose who you want to support and how much you will give at a future date. This kind of fund can be an efficient means of setting up recurring donations and makes record keeping for taxes easy. Learn more at Ways to Give, or just give us a call. Now, with the new administration in Washington and with there being a great likelihood of either direct or indirect tax increases, more than ever you need to examine tax-wise giving. We can help!

5. Share your experience with others: If you have a life example of how God has blessed you and how you have given back to Him, share your story. Tell your small group, your friends, and your family about how you’ve been blessed and how you’ve been able to bless others.

6. Increase your giving: Despite rugged inflation, you may have some additional money that can be given to the kingdom. Rather than increase your standard of living, instead increase your standard of giving (a quote from Randy Alcorn). Increase your giving to Idlewild’s kingdom investments, join Pastor Edgar in that goal, or increase your giving to other Christian ministries. Please consider The Idlewild Foundation and its Fund 1:27 where 100% of any donation goes to ministry. Nothing – not one cent – goes to our salaries, overhead or administrative costs. Give over and above the tithe and enjoy the joy of generosity. For a bit of help encouraging that, read More on the Tithe – Tithes and Offerings 1, More on the Tithe – Tithes and Offerings 2, and Science Proves That It Is More Blessed to Give Than Receive.

Here’s another idea! Why not spend some time reviewing your spending for last year? By looking at your bank and charge card statements you’ll get a pretty good picture of where your money was spent and what your priorities have been. Did you find ways to glorify God through any of your spending? Did your spending in 2024 give more glory to yourself than to God? Could you do better? Give God the credit He is due. He made your income and your abilities (and every breath you took in 2024) possible.

Deuteronomy 8:18
18     But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth …

Take some time to sit down with your family and discuss ways to manage your money more effectively. Consider speaking with someone from the Stewardship Ministry of Idlewild Baptist Church or with us at The Idlewild Foundation. There are financial counselors who work with Idlewild’s Stewardship ministry who will meet with you for free to discuss your finances and budget and help. We can give you tips and ideas in managing your money. And don’t worry. You won’t be bludgeoned until you agree to give money to Idlewild or to the Foundation! On the other hand, you will learn ways that you can further God’s kingdom by sharing His blessings with others – with open hands!

You can contact us at The Idlewild Foundation, (813) 264-8713 or email me at jcampbell@idlewild.org. Make 2025 a year to celebrate!

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40 year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus.  He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016.  He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.

We live in a spender’s world. There are a few folks promoting the idea of saving in articles, but I rarely, if ever, see that idea of saving money in any advertisement on major network, online, or in a magazine. It just isn’t advertised or promoted. And that’s a shame, because in America we need a shift from our spending culture to one that at least accepts the idea of saving as something good.

That would be quite a change if it happened. As of February, 2019, the average credit card debt per household was at $5,700. As of October 2023, that figure had risen to $6,380. If you remove those households which pay off all charges every month and never carry a balance, the average debt rises substantially. Does anyone see a problem with debt?

Credit card debt has grown astronomically. In 1983, credit card debt was “only” $120,000,000. Now revolving debt, largely credit card debt, is over $1 trillion, nearing ten times as much debt as 40 years earlier. About 41.2% of American households carry a balance forward on their credit cards. Sadly, but predictably, the highest debt households are those with a zero or a negative net worth. Revolving debt is the most damaging and harmful debt because interest rates are the highest and committed spenders get hooked on spending.

At the same time, personal savings are low. In the 1970’s and 1980’s, personal savings rates were between 5 and 7%. However, those high rates decreased to a 1 to 3% range after the year 2000. There was a brief peak of saving during the recession from 2008 to 2010, but as the economy started recovering, spending began to soar again. As of March 2018, the savings rate in the United States was 3.1% according to Investopedia. Thankfully, by late 2024 that rate had risen to over 4%. But with debt rising faster, we still do not save nearly enough.

We need a change in the American spending culture that has developed. Why? There are many reasons ranging from financial freedom, wise planning for retirement, wise preparation for emergencies and hard times, peace of mind, along with just being better stewards of the wealth and resources God has entrusted to us.

Many people will recommend saving 10% of your disposable income. That is simply too low. See Save More, 10% Isn’t Enough.

The inevitable challenging question is, “How can I save even 10% much less more than that?” The equally inevitable answer is “by spending less, a lot of discipline, and a little sacrifice.” Here are a few more ideas with more detail than just those few words.
Develop habits

The only way you will ever reliably save over the long run is if you are fully committed and engaged in saving; get out of the habit of spending and get into the habit of saving.

Before you make a purchase, always ask yourself five questions:

• Does this fit within my monthly budget?
• Do I really need this?
• Do I have room for it?
• Will I really use this?
• Are there long-term upkeep, maintenance, parts or repair expenses or costs associated with this and can I afford those expenses?

Before you make the purchase, walk away. Wait a minimum of 10 minutes and then address the five questions. If all (yes, I said all) of the answers to the five questions are favorable, (four “yes” and one “no” is a “no”), only then should you consider making the purchase.

Write the questions down and put them in your wallet, taped to your credit card, or save them in your phone and always open them before making a purchase. But what about buying a soft drink? Yes, even that. There is even a long-term cost associated with soft drinks and food – exercise (and those things aren’t free). Those many little expenses add up quickly into budget breakers.

Another tip for you is this, set a weekly or monthly savings goal.

A final tip for creating this saving habit, leave your credit card at home and pay cash. This is far more important than you may think. Forbes Magazines says that multiple studies have shown that people spend more, a lot more, when they have the “convenience” of a credit or debit card or a pay app on their phone. Psychology Today agrees. That convenience has a cost, convenience results in spending a lot more, twice as much or an even greater amount that that based upon studies.

Saving

Saving needs to be as automatic and invisible as you can make it. In the past people had government savings bonds purchased directly out of their income before they got their check. But government savings bonds are no longer a typical investment (nor should they be). However, the idea of having the money seamlessly go to an investment or savings account and never make it to your bank checking account is a great idea.

Some articles suggest that all savings and investments should be done by hand because automatic transfers do not develop a habit. That is a reasonable concept, but I believe the greater concern is the temptation of having money visibly in your account.

When a paycheck is cashed, it is just too easy to keep $10 or $20 or even more as “spending money.” The funny thing about “spending money” is that it never gets saved and is always spent.

If a sum goes directly from your employer to a savings account (perhaps your emergency fund) or into your 401(k) or some other saving fund, it is much harder to spend. If you are doing well and get a raise, put the entire raise into savings too.

Budget and cash flow tracking

You can best follow what you spend if you keep a cash flow record that tracks every expense. See Where Does Your Money Go? to see how to get started with a cash flow analysis and budget.

This will be work and it will take time. Just know that the result will be worth it and after a few months you can relax and be less stringent because you will have developed better spending and saving habits and practices. You will also be able to see the savings add up!

Investing

After you have an emergency savings account, your savings need to go in a different direction. No one ever became wealthy on the savings rates paid by banks (except the banks themselves). To make progress against the inevitable power of the rate of inflation which is compounded annually to your detriment, you need to invest, and the best opportunity to stay ahead of inflation is the stock market. Isn’t that risky? Of course, there is risk. But read Aren’t Stocks a Risky Investment? so you can see that there is a certainty of loss if you do not invest at all.

Cutting expenses

Cutting expenses and costs needs to become equally automatic. The idea is not to be Draconian about it and not to put yourself in total self-denial. Your goal is not to deprive yourself of enjoyment of life, but keep this one fact in mind: overspending today does deprive you of enjoyment of life and spending ability in the future. Every dollar not saved today is two dollars you won’t have in the future, when you may need it much more.

For ideas on cutting expenses, see Ideas for Living Better Through Stewardship, 7 Steps for Financial Progress, It’s Time to Start Saving, Planning Your Financial Future and …, and Save More, 10% Isn’t Enough. There is no area of your spending that can’t be reduced; be creative and persistent.

Refinance

If you have debt that can be consolidated with a lower net cost to you, seriously consider consolidation. First see Debt Consolidation, Maybe and Maybe Not. Your goal is to be debt free, out of the bondage of being a borrower.

Now what?

Once you are out of debt and any loan payments stop, put the former loan payment money into your investments. Don’t just increase your spending, instead, increase your investment in your future.

Year, every household should do a financial check-up. Life happens and we begin to slip into spending patterns and habits that waste small amounts of money very easily.

How can I keep this up?

There are two points to make to answer the question, “how can I keep this up?” The first is that like any discipline, it gets easier as you develop good spending and saving habits. If you are consistent and regular with your budget and saving, you will find the pressure of the spending mindset decreases. You become more adept at spotting the subtle pressures encouraging frivolous spending and you also begin to see results as your savings and investments increase.

The second point is even more important. Your disciplined financial management is more God-honoring than the spending mind-set. For a good lesson on this point, read God and Money by Greg Baumer and John Cortines. Greg was a spender and John was a saver. Together they learned stewardship and Godly handling of money. Which rises the final issue.

Now what?

What are you saving for? If you save for 20 or 30 years and accumulate a large portfolio, so what? Being out of debt is important, but only for a short time when eternity is considered. Our lives were never meant to be just about ourselves, our comfort, and our satisfaction. We were created with a purpose, Ephesians 2:10, and that purpose is not to serve ourselves. Don’t ever forget God who made your ability to earn money and build savings possible, Deuteronomy 8:18. Don’t leave Him out of your financial plans or your life. We are called to be servants of our Creator and to be generous with the money and gifts He has given us. 2 Corinthians 9:11-13.

If you would like to earn more about your purpose and how your financial blessings (and even your financial struggles) can fit into God’s plan, give us a call at The Idlewild Foundation at (813) 264-8713.

About the Author

John Campbell has retired from a 40-year legal practice as a trial attorney in Tampa. He has served in multiple volunteer roles at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Florida, where he met Jesus. He began serving as the Executive Director of the Idlewild Foundation in 2016. He has been married to the love of his life, Mona Puckett Campbell, since 1972.