Used Car Buying Tips

This is Doug Hastings, VP of Moody radio and were thankful for support from our listeners, and businesses like United faith mortgage.

My grandma loves Ice-T it surfing so I go to hang the grandma for a bit and I see she's holding her big plastic cup with her T the cup is literally sitting inside one of grandpa's sports socks. I'm not making this up. No one can make this up grandma you okay of course dear the socks soaks up the sweat and keeps the tea colder. Hey, it's Ryan from United faith mortgage and as I thought about it later. I thought that's the kind of mortgage team.

I want us to be the kind that's willing to take any step needed to get the job done on your new home purchase, refinance, or cash out refinance and can we help everyone know, obviously we can't know were willing to use grandpa sock to keep a drink called you know were willing to do whatever it takes to make sure you're taking care of.

We are United faith mortgage not a faith mortgage is a DBA of United mortgage Corp. 25 Millville Park Rd., Millville, NY license mortgage banker all licensing information, go to NML as consumer access.org corporate MLS number 1330. Equal housing lender not licensed in Alaska, Hawaii, Georgia, Massachusetts, North Dakota, South Dakota and Utah guy walks into an auto parts store is designed like a set of wiper blades for my own joy of their learning links a minute and then says okay sounds like a fair trade decided no getting stuck with 11 shop. But how do you avoid the pot holes and drive away their price advises president Rob West has some help and advice worse than the calls anything financially, 525-7000 800-525-7000 times more. Some used car buying to Rob. I like to say there are two kinds of people in this world like could be wrong, but those who enjoy the used car shopping experience like me most of the time, then everyone else. Yeah, you may be right about that at least the vast majority of folks really hate going through the process.

But I'm sure there are some folks that the fall into your category, Stephen. For those that don't like this. Maybe we can offer some help today, you will remember my dad was a car salesman for 35 years. So when I think I picked up a few things along the way so I like your plan, though, so where do we start well where you should always start when making a purchase, especially a major one like a car and that's with establishing how much you can afford. If you've been saving for the purchase and you're using cash. You arty know that number. If you plan on financing the car will you gotta figure out how much you can spend while making sure the payments fit well within your budget and don't derail you from other goals you can use a loan calculator to help you figure that out.

You want to put at least 10% down on the car 20% would be better than try to keep the term of the loan as short as possible and give us a three years is ideal, that sounds good to me.

And of course I once you have the loan paid off. Keep making the payments to yourself and then put that into savings so that you can pay cash for the next car that's the best way. Okay, now that we know what we can afford to spend what's next. Of course you have to determine the make and model of car that's best for you take into account the size of your family cargo space you're looking for. Of course the safety features and reliability as well. You may come up with two or three different vehicles that meet your needs.

That's okay. Having options will make the car hunting experience a bit easier. Yeah. And then of course you also have to determine whether you want an eight track in the car were set and if you're not familiar with those ask your grandparents okay I have a car or two I think will work for me and so now we start the hunt right not quite. Now that you know the vehicle or vehicles you're looking for.

You want to go online to Kelly blue book or Edmunds.com. I would plug in the vehicle's year, make, model, and mileage to get an idea of what you should expect to pay. I will put links to all of these sites we mentioned in today's show notes and speak quickly what number would they be looking at would be the trade value would you suggest they look at the used private sale value. What would they be looking for well yeah used private sale value was good and then trading value was good because well get a feel for what the dealer is paying for the car so and the dealer always wants to make what I will ideally for $500 they'll take more sometimes they'll take a bit less down to $200 but if you know what the trade-in value is you can have a feel for what the dealer himself or herself might be asking for the car so both of those good good question.

The rep I so now we start hunting right yes the question though is where to begin your search. I know you're a fan of auto trader, and that's a great place to look for used vehicles, but you can expand your search to Craigslist auto list and of course there's Carmax now because you like to haggle Steve you're a good negotiator when it comes to vehicles, you probably avoid Carmax.

They've got a great inventory in their vehicles come with warranties, but the prices are set. No negotiating allowed exactly and how do I know they won't negotiate under any circumstances. How do I know that Rob you've tried for I have is that perhaps you don't recognize my voice is more and they said please leave our car okay, but that's no fun.

But most of the time haggling with most places is just part of the process. I haggle my way into a fair deal from your well there's still one more step before negotiations be bit began that I mentioned quickly once you found a good prospect.

First you want to see its vehicle history report. Use the Vin number. The vehicle identification number to get the reported Carfax or auto check.com you want to make sure it is a clean title. It means it's not been in the serious accidents not been total by an insurance company check mileage.

Sometimes the shady characters will spin back that odometer. So what you want to look for all yellow come back and chat a bit more picking your calls to today at 800 57 to have your lawn today. It's minimize live your host Rob last time Steve Moran were chatting for just a few minutes today about buying car which is a little like, well, getting a root canal died.

Not that I want to disparage dentists but you know it's never something you really want to do something you sorta get used to doing after you done it eight or 10 times but always something to be a little concerned about and prayed up so Rob where were we were talking about the actual discussion and price and that kind of thing that's where it really gets down to brass tasks tax rate what it's exactly right. So let's say you've checked the Vin number at one of these websites that will tell you whether there's a clean title then I think at that point you're really onto looking physically at the car so I would take this to an independent shop of your choosing mechanic.

Hopefully somebody you know and trust to have it inspected by third-party yell.

If the owner or lot salesperson says no for me that would be a dealbreaker. I would walk away, but assuming they let you then you've got 1/3 party who can look over all the main pieces of the car and make sure everything is in working order.

Now, if you've done that, everything looks good then. Now we start the negotiation on the price you've got in hand because you took our advice and in looking this up ahead of time. You've got the estimated value based on the year, mileage physical conditioning features so the question is, is the asking price anywhere near the estimated value of sellers. Not much to negotiate. We want to be fair on both sides. If not, you might ask the seller to come down a little bit and if it's way over the top. Point out that the estimated value is much higher and ask why this vehicles worth more.

Maybe the price is justified in more cases than not, it isn't. So I would offer the estimated value to see if they'll come down to something you can live with and if not in this is the critical part.

As you know Steve don't get emotionally attached. Just say no and walk away. There's another vehicle for you somewhere else. I like that Rob and my dad used to say that to me because obviously I bought my cards from him.

He's passed away now. But when he was here. He always used to tell me don't fall in love with the car. Don't fall in emotional love with the car there's always another one, and yes, there's another one.

Even in that color just have to be willing to wait a little bit and walk away. And obviously if you're going to do any walking walk to another dealer or two and make sure that the original dealer knows your shopping around so that they don't have that that sense of that you're interested in that you're doing your homework and you're not willing to pay more than you really have to also unknow add-ons when you're buying any car, whether it's new or used. Don't buy the floor mats don't buy the that the coding you know the wax special wax coating. Don't let them put any special stripes of any other loan payments to the molding. That's what I was going for. You know, none of the add-ons you really don't need that.

And if you do need it. You can find it cheaper elsewhere and then if they do give you any pushback as far as taking it to a independent mechanic, then you'll go somewhere else now. We were assuming that this independent mechanic is in 100 miles away and they would like you to do that. But assuming it's within about 2025 30 miles at the most.

There shouldn't be any real issues there.

So what there you have it. Rob anything that's it. I will just add though the ghetto you might want to look outside your local area. So once we decided on the last car we were going to purchase Julie my wife is a phenomenal researcher. She scoured the country and wind up finding the car that we purchased four states away. So I grabbed an evening flight spent the night in the hotel bar in the morning and I was home 10 hours later so you can get a good deal if you're willing and you don't want to mention this, I'll mention it because research). You saved $11 in total.

The ad I went together and hid subtractive flights of the other flight the meal when I got up. 1250 lot more that I did also get to stop on the way home Steven C. Ark encounter and I know that I sent you a photo of it as I was sitting there are going to try and it was a has something known. I will go into this. I don't know what you talking about in the car. It was an amazing yeah yeah well a Martian. I haven't seen it yet, but we want to do that and I'll use buying a new car as an excuse. There you are. So Rob didn't his wife let him all right. Here's her phone number 800 800-525-7000 would love to chat with you today about this or anything else. 800-525-7000. Let's go up to Idaho a few states away from Georgia, Jesse, how can we help you today what your question or comment for us all and I are unfortunately alarming.

With totaled a few weeks ago, little or not at fault but we did get all amount of insurance money out of the claim were potentially going to be looking for a vehicle. Maybe all winter timeline, nothing we talked about for a while anyways, also I think I'm working on and get free before we make another financial jump into any type of debt not we like to have at least half down looking for options and stocks were both in agreement were okay with preowned vehicle being on limited budget, no we were looking at a dealer actually wickedly deal and salvage title. All so we didn't know how my questions are is there any upside down like certified dealers that deal with that they would protect the vehicle depreciation value insurance issues or warranty issues with all of their vehicles are usually extremely low mileage newer vehicle not typically older than I 2017 models and what they have, but work on a talk, let what were leaning toward right now unless we have big red flags that we should avoid. Well, I think what Steve doing here.

I think the big idea here is not necessarily should you be concerned about a dealership that only special is specializes in salvage titles, but do you want to own a car that has a salvage title which just simply means there's been significant damage in the past. Now this can be an inexpensive option if you're on a budget and we all should be bunch. That's not for the faint and hard for the beginner, just because there could be any number of reasons really could have been in an accident and the damage exceeded a certain percentage of the value of the car, so the insurance company totaled it and therefore it you know it has to have a salvage or a junk certificate at that point, but it could be a variety of other things as well. Jesse could be flood damage video. Some states the callout, specifically flood damage on the course title, but others simply use that salvage title term you want to know that hail damage could be a theft recovery could be vandalism could be that it was nonrepairable so now that would be the thing that I would be concerned about.

Again, you can save some money and maybe find a diamond in the rough, but you want to make sure that there's not any difficult ensuring it. You want to understand what it's going to happen with the resale value. If you don't plan to drive it for the rest of its useful life.

But what about fraud and even your own safety, but Steve anything else you would want to point out there on the road.

I did a great job of hitting all the high points. Most states these days don't used to be different in the past, but these days, most states have a program set up where the dealer before he can resell the car whether he is the dealer who repaired the car or whether he's just a dealer who bought the car already repaired by somebody else these days states require that they inspect them and then Pro provide a certain certificate which makes you buying the car totally aware that the car has been checked out not by the dealer himself, but by the state.

The state agent who looks these things and knows exactly what to look for. Obviously there's not going to be any warranty with a car like that, maybe 30 days but nothing beyond that.

So I wouldn't look for that ever be aware of the age of the car, whether it's in no way a used car without a problem or used car that's been rebuilt or repaired to some great extent.

Personally, Rob and I don't like buying used cars more than about three years old and then you want to make sure that your insurance company knows that this is been a salvage vehicle as well. Otherwise, if you have a problem yourself with an accident, the insurance company might back away totally and completely when they find out.

Lastly, don't buy any flood cards, flood cars are a horrible deal.

The damage there can be covered up and it will really come back to haunt you, particularly if there are electrical electrical gremlins so those are the high points there and I think if you and your husband pray about that and watch those you will be in good shape.

Okay, I wish you the best. Thanks very much, all right, let's see Fort Lauderdale hi Gail, what's on your mind today.

Thank you all, yes, but I have been diligent and turn setting up guidelines for retirement and I include H now I got laid off and I'm debating whether I really need to go back to work and I'm just trying to figure out who I need to talk to that can look at all of my investment account and just sort of give me some guidance to what I should do. Yeah, I'm glad you're asking this question Gail. You know it's really important that we have the financial professionals in our life and a a retirement plan or retirement planning specialists can be somebody that's a really would help you in this look over everything help you think about what insurances you need in this season of life.

Whether you're on track with regard to the savings that you have to fund your lifestyle. Once you're no longer working and I really just help you think through all that, we recommend a certified kingdom advisor designation as somebody who's a competent financial professional with a significant experience requirement met but also biblical basis to their vice confined to CK moneywise live.moneywise live your cell phone number like to question or make comments.

Rob West today. It's 800-525-7000 805 five 7000 union a little late, wondering no were not going used cars we might get to that later in the week were trying to see what we can come up with is still evident Pinto you trying to get rid of no no no more Pinto's death, that there is a good admonition right there.

No more pintos just placated right into your family financial conversation. Dover, Ohio hello Dean, how can we help Sir hello gentlemen, I call sure I have a question about taxes I have and on several social media posts from people like bunch that if you get a large tax return every year you have your tax withholding from your given too much money to the IRS so I call and see how I need to set up my withholding so that I can reduce that tax return each year. Yeah it is a great question and that is true, Dean. That's a lot of people look forward to that tax refund in the sense it's they see it as a forced savings maybe and then it's kind of exciting to get that windfall, but I'd much prefer that you have that money on a monthly basis.

Number one, you're not earning any interest by loaning it to the government temporarily until you get back, and I'd rather you build that into your spending plan every month that additional amount that you're overpaying your taxes so that you can allow that to be prioritized according to your first two values and then allow your values to then translate into goals financially.

So if you try to get out of debt. I'd rather build a put that every month toward debt repayment. If you want to increase your giving your you're looking to save for that next car purchase or retirement, whatever it is the are getting that in the budget is really key now. Anytime you earn any income you owe taxes for most people, and how much your employer sets aside the pain in your behalf is determined by this form W-4 so what you're going to want to do is just that form there's a formula in there to tell you it's changed in the last few years, but you want to follow the procedure to adjust that form W-4 such that they will collect a little bit less every month and you should do this no matter what. When you have a major life change or you're getting a big tax refund every year like you are and you want to decrease it. If you get a second job, your spouse gets a job you're unemployed for part of the year you get married you have a baby, you adopt a baby and all these things are going to really result in you wanting to adjust that W-4 and I like to say that new W-4 tries to reduce the complexity of calculating how much to withhold uses the same basic underlying information is the old form, but it replaces some complicated worksheets was a more straightforward question. So I would contact your HR department or if somebody who handles the payroll and make sure that you can get that adjusted Dean.

Glad you called today thank you very much hope that helps you.

Let's travel quickly to Chicago I Helen, how can we help you.

How are you here) time, related to the lady who talked about retirement planning and close to retirement… Quite a bit a nest egg we've gone to about three different companies for planning, financial planning certified kingdom advisor and what I'm trying to sort out is paying see base for financial planning versus seems like the one company that they can manage it so that Boeing from whether just getting financial planning which is pretty expensive but that is a fear I have to hand over that 401(k) now. I totally get it. When you stand. The one you raise some really important questions that I'd like to unpack some of them I wouldn't take a quick break we come back to chat with Helen and Christine, can you guys live free 805. Thanks much for sticking around to being with us today and moneywise live user phone number 800-525-7000. We were chatting with the with Helen about choosing a financial planner or an investment manager Rob to join as anything that yeah I'd love to get my thoughts. You know how when you raise some great points.

We just summarize you and your husband spent a lifetime amassing these assets and your wanting to know do I choose a financial planner who I'm going to pay a fee for a comprehensive financial plan. Do I also need or separate from, should I choose an investment manager to actually manage these funds and with that's going to come a percentage of the assets under management in the form of the fee on an ongoing basis which, as you point out can be costly and then you raise. The third point right at the tail end am I even prepared to delegate heat this responsibility for managing my hard-earned assets over to somebody else and am I gonna be able to handle that. Let's tackle all three. In terms of Helen.

The financial planner versus the investment manager both. I think it's really a both now they could be separate professionals or in many cases it's one in the same, but often times you will pay a separate fee and here's the idea for comprehensive financial planning, you would attend. Expect to pay either an hourly rate or a flat fee because they're evaluating a very comprehensive level. Your entire financial life and then coming back with a series of recommendations that really look at all of the key areas. Everything from are you covered from a risk standpoint in terms of insurance. And what about your cash flow and the amount of reserves that you have and do you have enough saved to fund your lifestyle into retirement. What could pose a threat to that and have you dealt with that you really looking adjust all of the areas pointing out the areas of deficiency, but that also no telling where you were, you're right on track.

There's real value in that if you've never done that. Just to have an objective third party who is a real professional looking over all of those things and you should absolutely be expecting to pay you could be somewhere depending on the complexity of your situation.

It could be a couple of thousand dollars or more. Beyond that, I like the idea of you hiring an investment professional who would typically be paid based on the assets under management, a percentage for ongoing management in the art that's I think well worth the expense. Because here's the idea you have built a lifetime amassing this you don't want to put it on autopilot. You want somebody was giving careful attention to. Do you have the right portfolio. It's good to meet your goals and objectives.

You know what, how much should be in stock so much in bonds.

What stocks how to diversify them and even from a tax efficiency standpoint and a charitable giving standpoint, is there careful consideration being given to those now that final question though is something you can have to wrestle through in advance because the answer to this question is no. I wouldn't even go there and that is are you willing to delegate because in order to hire somebody who's a fiduciary, making decisions on your behalf with your goals in mind. Of course you know is I think the right approach, but it requires that you be willing to turn that over, not blindly.

You certainly are and be monitoring you should be in regular communication, but you have to recognize that that's perhaps different then you've been handling it to this point, you have to be okay with that. Tell me what questions you have and they were now looking talked to three different first Michelle complication and just giving an overview. It looks like managing give us a whole financial plan of what to do about managing market. For example like is that tax benefit looks a little beyond what I could do and really manage it well, so whether to decide to actually go at that. Well worth it and I guess that's it's reassuring for you to say that not that everybody situational different but this is interest. We didn't have a planner all these years.

So it sounds like perhaps you done quite well, but I think at this point you don't want to get out of the emotional toil that you take on you if you know you have to take responsibility for this and I think you will want to enjoy the season of life.

What God has for you next and not be losing sleep over whether your investments are in the right place so delegating that can give you a lot of peace of mind and help you to be a careful steward of your resources. So I think you're on the right track. I continue to pray through. But I think this is the direction you should Helen God bless thank you very much for that down to Fort Lauderdale Ringold, how can we help you sir great thank you very much, yet requested them out about my credit score. I have a great deal of apps on my phone and when I look on 7703 and 700, but what I look for expedient it's 577 so I was a little confused and how does that work the other cool slightly. Greek Kuklinski client, but when I look in expanded 577 yeah yeah I can understand how that would cause you some concerns couple thoughts here. Have you pulled a copy of any of these reports and in particular the one that was 575 you seen energy just seen the number just in the number next up is for you to pull all3@annualcreditreport.com it will cost anything. Here's the thing they can vary significantly. That's a little more than I would tend to expect but they vary because not all companies report to all three bureaus, so it may be a situation Ringold where you've got some accounts and the majority of them were several significant ones have been reported to two of the three, but not the third, and so the third.

Probably I could be wrong, but I'm just guessing here is probably a lack of credit and so the, the, to various accounts you have, whether the revolving or installment their reporting to the other two and could be that you need to open a secured credit card or something that's gonna report to that third Bureau. It's typically not going to be an issue. You know, because your credit is so strong.

The other two places, but I would take a next step go annual credit report.com Paul three and make sure there's not something inaccurate on there that's hurting you. If it's just the lack of credit than I would say Prasanna, don't be too concerned about that makes sense. I mixed the record on credit, reported my credit scores every. It could elevated every day but excavators doesn't do it at night. Yeah well they're pulling from one of the three bureaus I don't know which one they are, but if it's one of the higher ones it's probably coming from one of those two. So I think you know the next step is for you just to review that information. Make sure it's accurate and it will become obvious when you compare them what information is missing from that third one that striving that will risk well. We appreciate that call today. Thank you very much, Christina Chattanooga, Dana in Twinsburg, Ohio were coming your way. After we accomplish our next break before we do that just want to remind you that if you've never visited our website, you might want to check that out when you get just a moment it's money wise live.org moneywise live.org and there you will find a whole bunch of free resources and materials that will help you as you work through your budget. Try to put together the spending plan will also have access to our past radio archives, easy way to find a certified kingdom advisor in your area and also an easy way to connect with the budget coach and that may be particularly helpful for you as well you know it's one thing to have us tell you what you should shouldn't be doing with your money and your finances. It's another thing to actually sit face to face on your computer and talk with someone, someone who's well-trained someone who has your values and someone who does this in a real regular basis. So, again, that person would be a certified budget coach and you find that one way to connect with them when you visit our website moneywise live.org moneywise live on Rob West now before I get to the remaining calls for the program. Today it's time for us to have a quick family that's right work in a chat about some upcoming changes in the program. In fact, I asked Steve to step out of the studio for just a minute so I could talk to you all directly actually told him there was bagels out there.

Figure out a moment that their parts but here's what we have.

Steve is actually retiring after a long and illustrious career on Christian radio. I submit the best cohost in Christian radio. He's decided after me putting it off for years and encouraging him to reconsider. He's decided it's time to spend more time with Marsha and his grandkids and do a little more traveling now is not going away completely. He's going to still be a contributor to the program but he will be retiring as cohost of moneywise and moneywise live as of April 1 so obviously that's bitter sweet. Steve is a dear friend in somebody that we love and cherish she's been a big part of this program going all the way back to Larry Burket and that we will miss him greatly, but that we are excited about all that God has in store as we revamp the program with some great new features and I think you're going to love it. But here's what I am telling you that a couple of weeks early where actually get to stay after the broadcast today for maybe 20 or 30 minutes and give you an opportunity to record some celebrations of Steve's ministry on radio for a long time so Steve Moore has impacted you like he has me and I know there's literally millions that the Steve Moore is a household name and you want to call and will get to as many as we can after the program today. If you call 800-525-7000 800-525-7000 and you can even start calling right now will stay after I'll get to chat with you and will record you just celebrating Steve Moore and all that he is meant to you. Into this program for a long long time.

It'll be quick it'll be a way for you to honor him were actually getting use these in some pretty creative ways.

In the next couple weeks so you want to celebrate Steve call right now 800-525-7000 and I will put you on hold and the soon as the program ends. We will get to as many of those as we can. All right. Let's take some more calls. Christine's in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Christine, you are on moneywise live, this may happen because I wanted to get my payment portal and and payment status not available that I received the first text without any problem.

Yes. Well I Christine couple of things there number one. The website you're still talking about IRS.gov. When you click that get my payment button.

That's what is the stimulus check portal and that tool has recently been completely revamped and so for some reason they have revamped it and it's entirely possible when they did that your info might not be on this new part of the sites of the best thing to do is just answer the questions again and see if that clears it up.

You may need to provide.

Again, this is directly into the IRS's website that you go to IRS.gov. You might need to provide social or date of birth or street and you know I think it's important that you do that to make sure the IRS has everything that they need so that they can get that stimulus payment out to you so I head back there and know that this is not uncommon in terms of what people are facing with this latest round of stimulus.

If you have further questions.

What you do that give us a call back.

We appreciate your call today.

By the way, all the lines filled up with folks who want to congratulate Stephen celebrate him. So thank you for doing that. If you're getting a busy signal. I will do this again tomorrow so you can try again then let's go to Twinsburg, Ohio, Dana, you're on moneywise live go ahead hi thank you for taking my call. Sure what earlier you use parking on that and my question is what you recommend or what is your advice on purchasing warranty should I do it when I purchased the car at the cargo ship or if it's reaching a car screeching malate should I or the warrantee that by the manufacturer or should I wait for the manufacturer think that to extend the warranty for that which would be the better thing to do. Yes. Well, I think the first question here. Dana is just.

Do you want that extended warranty all along a lot of financial professionals will just say that as long as you have a healthy emergency fund in your putting money aside especially for expected car maintenance, then you should be okay because here's the bottom line. No Consumer Reports and many other people that that look at these at length will tell you that extended warranties are overpriced. That's the reason people sell them because they make a bundle in commissions and you know at the end of the day. I think if you want that added peace of mind. You could certainly get it. And if you're going to get at the best time to do it is at the time of purchase, but I think the real question is, is it something you need and would you rather just again make sure you have a fully funded emergency account, perhaps even you have set something aside in a separate savings category for your car so you can maybe do all of the needed and necessary maintenance preventative maintenance on the schedule. The Ted that is recommended.

So you're not to put in a position where you have to deal in. It was something after the fact. And that's always more expensive, but if you want that added peace of mind.

Then I would encourage you to go and do it upfront, probably when you buy the car from the dealership but make sure you understand what you're getting is it truly bumper-to-bumper. Is it a limited warranty.

I think that really goes a long way in helping to make sure that you don't get to the place where you need something and find out it's not covered and then you're frustrated because you spent a lot of money on something you didn't understand.

So ask lots and lots of questions and I hope that's helpful to you and for our final call of the broadcast.

Today, let's head south to Lakeland, Florida and Cindy Europe next on moneywise live go ahead very good. Thanks Mike you Mary Borthwick to hold you know Cindy, I really would love for you all to be on the same page on this. I certainly don't want you doing anything behind his back in the opposite would be true for him as well.

This is not one-sided. And here's the big idea of God's design for marriage is oneness, to become one, including our finances under the Lord. And so I think we always when it comes to handling our money properly in God's way.

We need to start by recognizing that God owns it all. So we've been entrusted as a married couple together one flesh we been entrusted to be the money managers, for the Lord of this portion of his resources. So the question is, how should we manage it for his glory.

It becomes a tool to accomplish his purposes, now part of that is providing but not an unending list of needs and wants. There needs to be a limit to your lifestyle, which is that the providing side and then we want to look at. I would save and before that what we want to be giving and yes what we want to be saving for the future. In the short term, like an emergency fund in the medium term, like a new car down the road or a new used car. Our college education for the kids or longer term for retirement. That season that God redirects you, you're no longer working now.

I would be looking at that in terms of the planning for that as a couple and it's can have to start with prayer and a recognition that God owns it all and then talking about your values. What's most important to us if our money in the way we allocated tells a story about what we value most are we happy as a couple with the story were telling with our money and if not, what changes do we need to make and to the extent you all have misalignment.

It probably is not about the money it's probably about the values those things that are driving you all and what you ultimately want to accomplish in your marriage and through your family and how can money than be an expression of that and I don't mean to sound like Cindy. That's easy yeah that's that can be challenging, especially if there's been other issues in the past because money issues are often symptomatic of hard issues. It's not about the money. So I think you will need to come together be prayed out before you do, and I would ask your husband you mind if we begin praying and thinking together about what we want to accomplish with our money, both now, but also longer-term because keep in mind you of the longer term, your perspective, the better your decision today. That's a principle that is always right. The longer-term your perspective, the better your decision today so if you can sacrifice in the long term. Excuse me. In the short term to meet long-term God-given goals. You're always going to come out better but it's going to require you all working together on that. What I like to do is send you a copy of Howard Deaton's book money and marriage God's way and I think perhaps that could give you a roadmap for this oneness I'm describing in your financial life as a couple and I love for you to begin to work through that once once a week or once a month and to see if that doesn't begin to bring more alignment between the two of you does that make sense okay you hang on the line will get your information will get that book right out to you.

If you have other questions along the way. Give us a call.

Hey, I am overwhelmed how quickly every one of our lines filled up. I'm not surprised though Steve is amazing and so thank you for those of you who are holding on the line to celebrate him. If you didn't get through. Here's one thing you could do if you want to call 800-525-7000 about 30 minutes after the show, you'll be able to get to our voicemail just all the prompt where you want to ask a question and you could leave something on the voicemail for Steve will be able to grab that audio and we can use that to bless them again. 800-525-7000 wait for about 30 minutes after the program because all the lines are full right now you get the recording and you can get in there and leave a message with folks I really appreciate you being along with us today. Walking with us sharing your stories asking your questions.

We covered a lot of ground that we talked about saving for retirement. We talked about stimulus checks.

We talked about cars that's always fun and we always want you to know that this show is about going back to God's word to look at his principles and wisdom, and apply them to what we deal with every day. When it comes to our money. Hey, before I let you go today. Let me remind you if you haven't checked out the new moneywise app you need to do it.

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