Archives for February 2021

February 10, 2021

Treasure Talk #2: Six Financial Tips To Help You Fulfill Your Dreams Faster

Hi Friend,

Thank you for the outpouring of encouragement about the launch to our Blessings Brokers Treasure Talk series. These stories, tips and resources AND mistakes are taken from 25+ years of investing on my own with the Lord’s leading. I’m a living testimony of someone who has saved a little bit of money and shaved a little bit of expenses at a time and shaved. It does pay off. It works. 

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. –Proverbs 13:11 ESV 

Here are six initial tips I learned and still live by to help you invest more, buy your home(s), and make your financial dreams come true:

  1. Spend less than you make. This may seem simple, but it helps to save extra money to have a reserve to buy a car or put a down payment on a home. Divide your expenses in three categories: 1. Tithing/giving, 2. Spending, and 3.Savings. I like how Ron Blue states it in his book, Never Enough. He states four categories: 1. Live, 2. Give, 3. Owe (taxes and debt), and 4. Grow.   (Soon I’ll include an easy Budgeting Worksheet for you to use.) 
  2. Avoid Debt and Pay It Down as Soon as You Can. If you put any purchases on a credit card, try to pay it off each month. If you have accumulated debt on more than one credit card or many thousands of dollars, pay off the lowest amount first. Once one credit card is paid off, apply that same amount to the next highest debt amount. I don’t like to use the words “always” or “never” very often. In this case I will.  ALWAYS pay down as much as you can to pay it off quicker. NEVER only pay the minimum amount. That’s how credit card companies snag you. Beat them at their own game.
  3. Pay your bills days or weeks before they are due. Late fees can add on to your bills if companies don’t receive your payment on the due date.  Paying bills on time highly increases your good credit score or FICO. FICO is an abbreviation for the Fair Isaac Corporation, the first company to offer a credit-risk model with a score. FICO score is simply named after its founders, Bill Fair and Earl Isaac. As you are looking to buy a home, buy a car, or any large purchase, they will always look at your credit score. This score affects your qualification, interest rate, etc.  If you do get a late fee, which I do on occasion if I pay my bill too close to the due date, simply call their Customer Service phone number and speak with a live person. Most times they have taken off my late fee because they know I pay on time most times. Especially during these  COVID-19 times, companies have grace. 
  4. Shave your expenses. Please try to avoid going to Starbucks and other $5/day indulgences. One Starbucks avoided a day equals at least $100+ per month saved. Also, making your own lunches and dinners to avoid eating out also saves money AND is healthier. Even only water to drink each time you eat out saves at least $4 a person each meal AND Is better for your health. Occasional treats are fun. It’s the daily indulgences. Even getting my monthly spa pedicures and manicures I have curbed in an effort to shave expenses.  A $10 bottle of nail polish is much more affordable for me to paint my nails myself. 🙂 
  5. Give your tithe and be generous in giving. Even when you are budgeting, please continue to give at least 10% of your gross salary to the church and other non-profits. It’s your first fruit to God, not the crumbs left over after all our other expenses. It is FUN to give to God and to other non-profits. We can’t outgive God. He will continue to bless you and SURPRISE you. Also, when you itemize your taxes, tithes and donations to 501© 3 organizations are tax-deductible.  Another added bonus is that you can find good furniture bargains at Habit for Humanity ReStore and support other similar organizations.
  6. Find and keep a good financial advisor. I would never have had the courage and confidence to make the investments I have if not for my amazing Ameriprise Financial Advisor Jody Hyden. He is also a Kingdom Financial Advisor, which is an organization of Christian financial advisors who teach Biblical stewardship. I started with my Financial Advisor over 20 years ago before I bought my first home.  Here is the website to find one for yourself: https://kingdomadvisors.com/

I’d love to hear what Financial tips are you using. What are your financial dreams? How are you doing. Please leave comments and let us cheer you on. We at Blessings Brokers would be honored to work with you to have your God-sized dreams become a reality.

Please share with your friends and follow us at @blessingsbrokers and @danyamjordan.

With these Treasure Talk tips and others, remember it’s not how much you make, it’s what you do with it. I pray and believe you will continue to thrive and give back.

In our next Treasure Talk #3, I’ll give the story and tips for how I bought land and built my second home investment property before I was 40 years old. I can’t wait to hear your stories. We are in this journey together. 

February 2, 2021

Intro to the New Treasure Talk Series: How I Bought My First Home On a Budget Before 30 Years Old 

I didn’t think my budgeting stories were worth telling. Many thanks to Taylor, a 20-year-old leader on our Blessings Brokers team, who told me my financial testimony, resources and wisdom need to be told. So begins the first of hopefully many “Treasure Talks” that can help others grow your resources and help your dreams become a reality.

 I wasn’t born from a family with money. My parents both grew up on different tobacco farms near Myrtle Beach, SC. Mom is one of eight children. They didn’t have an indoor bathroom until after she was out of the house and married my Dad at 18 years. She told me that growing up they had “three bedrooms and a path to the outhouse.” 

My Dad worked for 33 years as a Delta Airlines jet mechanic. He wore a uniform and worked shift work. Before I was born my parents bought a modest ranch-style home. We lived there until I went to college. We lived simply and had just enough.

My Mom and Dad taught me to tithe at least 10 percent to the church first from my allowance. He said when I got paid a real salary to always tithe from the gross amount, not after taxes because it’s all God’s. We are simply the stewards and can’t outgive God. I followed their advice and still do. 

Dad also paid our bills as soon as they arrived in the mail.  He taught me to be thankful for the bills when they arrived because it meant we had a roof over our heads, electricity, and clean water. 

 I was the first in my immediate family to attend a four-year college. I’m so grateful my Dad scraped enough funds to pay my tuition and didn’t have to pay student loans. 

When I graduated from college I applied for well over 50 jobs and didn’t get one of them. I moved back home after graduation feeling so defeated. I had completed three different unpaid internships and worked a 20 hour a week job during college to earn extra money. I was ready to work full time. 

None of the employers were calling me back. Two weeks after graduation I began calling the employers I sent resumes to inquiring if I may interview. One kind employer told me he had had hired internally and encouraged me to apply for work through a Temporary Service like Kelly Services. He said it would be full-time work, and it could lead to a permanent position once I prove myself in the job. I followed his wisdom and was placed through Kelly Services at a non-profit private school called Porter-Gaud School that next week in the Donor Development Department.  

Months later it led to a full-time position as the Donor Development Office Manager. It was great experience, as they were launching into a $5.5 million Capital Campaign. I was grossing $20,000 a year, which I thought was GREAT at the time. I was 22 years old. The Business Manager encouraged me to contribute the maximum toward the 401K 6% retirement match, which is tax-free donations from my salary. I told him I thought I didn’t make enough money and that I was too young to contribute to retirement. He gave me some advice I’ll always remember:

“It’s not how much you make, it’s what you do with it.”

He then told me about compound interest and how quickly cash adds up when we contribute even a little bit each month to our 401K retirement. It does add up quickly.

Porter-Gaud School also paid for my Masters degree in Public Administration, which I’ll always be grateful for. I worked full-time and attended classes at night for two years.

I worked there five years, got my first apartment and realized how much each month it costs, and I wanted that money to go toward equity in a house.  

A Buyer’s Agent helped me buy my first home for $115,500, at 29 years old on a non-profit salary, while still tithing 10% and paying my own down payment. In the next Treasure Talk, I’ll give you six tips I learned and still by to help you buy your home, invest more in real estate and make your dreams come true. 

With this Treasure Talk and others, remember it’s not how much you make, it’s what you do with it. I pray and believe you will continue to thrive and give back.

Reflect: 

What are my dreams if money weren’t an issue?

Where can I shave expenses to help make these dreams a reality?

Recharge: 

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Matthew 6:21