January 16, 2025 • 23 mins
On this episode we revisit a pivotal episode, "Review, Reflect, and Reset Your Finances," where they share personal stories, such as selling a condo in Puerto Rico, to highlight the importance of reflecting on past financial achievements and setting fresh goals. Through a faith-based lens, they celebrate the wins and recognize their growth, offering hope and resilience for what's next.
Managing personal finances is crucial, and they've got some strategies to share. From pausing Amazon purchases to reconsidering your streaming services and possibly returning to cable, they explore ways to make entertainment choices more cost-effective. Listen as Shay and Vanessa discuss the psychological impact of spending habits formed in childhood and offer tips for resetting budgets for the new year. Plus, they uncover the benefits of thrift shopping and dollar stores in even the most affluent areas. Join them for a session filled with practical advice and spiritual encouragement to manage your finances with intention and faith.
💸⛪🕍📿💵
Our podcast is proudly sponsored by Crusaders for Change, LLC (C4C) and hosted by our CEO and Founder, Mrs. Shay Cook. At C4C, we provide customized corporate financial wellness programs for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Our services are tailored to create happier, healthier, and more productive work environments. We also empower individuals and couples to overcome debt, improve their credit, boost savings, and more. Ready to learn more about how C4C can impact your life? Contact us today at https://www.crusaders4change.org/!
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Shay (00:03):
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Vanessa (00:20):
And I'm Vanessa McNelley, Accredited Financial
Counselor and COO of Crusadersfor Change.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Shay (00:35):
Welcome back.
Today, we'll be revisitingepisode 44, Review, Reflect and
Reset your Finances, one of ourmost downloaded episodes, filled
with wisdom for those wantingto get their finances in order.
This episode is special as itis about embracing change and
using reflection for growth andprinciples that resonate as we
(00:58):
navigate life's seasons.
We also want to honor ourformer co-host, Vanessa, who has
moved on to new adventures.
We appreciate her contributionsand wish her well.
Exciting ideas and impactfulepisodes are ahead, so stay
tuned.
Now let's dive into thispowerful reminder of how faith
(01:20):
and finances can transform yourlife.
Vanessa (01:30):
Oh man, I wasn't quite ready for that.
Shay (01:31):
I know that was like quick Five, four, three, two, one.
All right, let's go.
Let's go.
We're talking about reviewingand reflecting and resetting
your finances because it'salmost a new year.
2024 is almost here.
My god, that's crazy.
Oh lord, I'll be 45 in a coupleweeks, Vanessa you'll be 29 no,
I'm 45.
(01:51):
I don't be playing those games.
My sister has been saying she'sbeen 29 for so long she don't
even know how old.
Vanessa (02:02):
She's right, I'm 40 to say that stuff.
Yeah, she's like it's weirdwe're the same age, both 29
weird but I'm happy to be 45.
Shay (02:10):
I mean I just I'm happy to be 45, because that means God
is providing and he is blessingme so I'm happy to be 29.
Yeah, I know you look greatgirl 29 I thought you were 21,
but okay, okay.
Vanessa (02:23):
No, I'm really going to be 43.
Shay (02:27):
That's a beautiful number.
Two of my favorite numbers fourand three, 34 a little better.
So, as the year comes to aclose, now is a great time to
reflect on the past year andplan for the upcoming one.
The Bible says, for everythingthat was written in the past was
written to teach us so thatthrough the endurance taught in
(02:50):
the scriptures and theencouragement they provide, we
might have hope.
Romans 15, four.
I love that because we can we.
Everything in life is a lessonand we should teach, treat it as
such.
And you know I feel like God asyou.
If you learn a lesson, hedoesn't have to put you through
that fire again, Cause I alwaystell people like why are you
(03:10):
going through this again?
You didn't learn it the 15thtime ago?
You know what I mean.
So like it's the cool to beable to learn from the lessons
and get endurance andencouragement from that to move
forward and have that hope.
Vanessa (03:21):
And it's so weird we're talking about this today,
because I was having thatconversation last night like
seriously, about everythingbeing a lesson and we're
supposed to learn from it and ifwe don't, we're going to go
through it again.
Shay (03:32):
Oh my God, you can be hardheaded too.
Vanessa (03:35):
Oh, I'm very hardheaded , I'm very stubborn, very.
Shay (03:38):
My family's like uh-huh, uh-huh.
I mean, I don't know what it isSometimes, I just need to be
going through it.
Why am I going through thisagain?
Why didn't I learn this back in1985?
I'm going through it again now,in a whole other century.
I'm in the 2000s.
I'm not even in the 1900sanymore.
It's just crazy.
We were born in the 1900s, butyou say it like that.
(03:59):
It seems like we're really old.
Vanessa (04:04):
You are not me, no, yeah.
Shay (04:06):
I'm sorry, you were born in 2003.
Thanks, but here are some tipsto help you make the most of
this time.
You know, when it come into aclose is like, for example,
reviewing and inflecting on yourfinancial goals.
What goals did you achieve?
Celebrate the wins.
You can also look at creatingnew goals if needed, and are
(04:28):
there goals you have to adjust,readjust?
So these are the kind of thingsyou can reflect back on on your
goals.
So any goals you want to shareor any of these things, Sure,
yeah, yeah.
Vanessa (04:38):
And I think something we need to remember first and
foremost is, when we do this,it's so cool to kind of see how
far we've come.
Shay (04:45):
Yes, yes.
Vanessa (04:46):
There's always growth.
There's always growth and it'shard to see it in that moment,
but when you look back you canreally see what's changed for
you, and usually it's a goodchange, and we've had some times
where things are bad.
Shay (04:58):
Yeah.
Vanessa (04:58):
Um, but yeah, but it's.
It's nice to be able to say oh,my goodness, like this time
last year, I would have been sohappy and feel so blessed to be
where I'm at right now.
Forget those things.
So I think it's a great time tokind of think about that and
say, okay, you know we've donethis far, what's next?
Yeah, but it's okay to sit inyour moment too and enjoy what
(05:20):
you have.
So I think there's a balancethere.
But you know so some one of mygoals this year was I had a
condo in Puerto Rico and I lovePuerto Rico but I just don't get
to go very often.
So for me one of the things wasto sell that property and then
feel a little more financiallysecure, which just happened this
(05:40):
week.
Shay (05:41):
Yeah, congratulations, that goal was met Yep.
Vanessa (05:44):
So now I've just got to kind of figure out what my next
move is for my goals for 2024.
Yeah, but, yeah.
But goals don't even have to bethat big.
It can just be, you know, beable to live within your means
or feel a little more secureabout your savings.
So, you know they don't have tobe big goals, but it does feel
good when you can checksomething off your list.
Shay (06:04):
Exactly Our biggest goal that we accomplished this year
which I think was due to 15years of planning, which is
crazy is we bought a new homeand so we had tried several
other times over those 15 yearsstarting.
So we bought our home in 2007,our first home, a townhome and
(06:24):
three years later we were liketry to sell it.
That didn't work out and it waslike a letalana in school.
So a lot of things startedhappening and we just kind of
surrendered to sell it.
That didn't work out and thenit was like I'm going to let
Alana in school.
So a lot of things startedhappening and we just kind of
surrendered to God and said okay, and then we tried again.
That wasn't successful.
The third time we were, it wasperfect timing.
Thank God, it was all Godreally Cause the amount of money
we got on that home.
We wouldn't have gotten anyother time during that cycle and
(06:45):
we were able to put a lot ofthat money into the new house.
And so it's funny when I stepout, when I go get the mail and
I come back and I see my house,I don't know it's just.
And again, I don't like to getfocused on materialistic things.
But when I see this house andwhen I thought about all the
stuff I was asking God for, likeI would like walk around my
house for 15 years,no-transcript.
(07:14):
And then another thing thatfreaks me out about this house
is that it was built in 2016.
And 2016,.
I was going, I started the hellI went through working at my
previous job and I feel like andI know I ain't no, feel like I
know God was preparing thishouse for me and my family,
knowing that I was going throughall that stuff in 2016 and 2018
(07:35):
at the Coast Guard.
And so I was just like wow tome.
It's like all these thingsstart coming to me like God,
like this is bigger thanfinancial goals.
This is what he knew, and again, the idea of having this and
that that was all God anyway.
So it is like wow, and heprovided it all.
So that was the biggest thing.
But you know, there's been somestruggles because I wanted to
save more and like my IRAs, mystep and stuff.
(07:57):
But I felt, and I was shownthat I need to put all that
money into people, into the, the, the, this business, and that's
okay.
God will make up for that.
And then another little thingis Amazon.
It's just so easy to buy thingsin Amazon and it's like I saw
(08:18):
my credit and I always pay mycredit card off every month and
I know people struggle with thatand that can't, and I know I
always feel like God is puttingme through things so I can
better understand things fromour clients perspective.
And so, because you know, I usedto look at people like, why are
you buying so much Amazon?
And then I became one of thosepeople and I'm like, oh my God,
it's just so easy.
Ok, I need that, ok.
(08:40):
So now I try to just put stuffin the cart and let it sit there
for like a week or two and belike do you really need that?
Can you save it for later?
Or, like my daughter says, saveon the carbon footprint and go
to Target mom.
But yeah, so I've had the bigthings accomplishments and wins
from the house and someunfortunate things I have to
(09:02):
readjust, like the retirementsavings because of the business,
which is great.
Sometimes you have to spendmoney and not save money to move
forward in certain aspects.
And then little things likecontrolling my spending around
Amazon.
So you know, yeah, it's real,but it's good.
Vanessa (09:19):
Well, amazon is the devil on earth.
I understand completely,because I have that struggle too
.
Well, it used to be Target.
Shay (09:27):
Yeah, it used to be Target , but now I don't even have to
go anywhere, I can do it all ona phone and sometimes I'll wake
up at two o'clock in the morningand just like, oh yeah, I need
that, and go to amazon and Istart scrolling.
I'm like, oh man, I can'tguilty.
Yeah, it's just a bad thing,it's so easy to do.
Vanessa (09:43):
It's so easy and it's like, if I don't do it now, I'm
gonna forget, forget to buy that.
And it's like, well, if Iforget to buy it, did I really
mean it like so I have a weddingthat I'm going to on Saturday
and I think I bought like maybeseven dresses well, they're not
even cheaply expensive on Amazon.
Shay (10:04):
Like you can get a dress for like 30, 40 and nice quality
too, like okay, it's like Ijust don't know which one's
gonna fit.
Vanessa (10:08):
Well, that's part two like we need to just take our
butt to the store and buy adress for like 30, 40 and nice
quality too, like okay, it'slike I just don't know which
one's gonna fit well, that'spart two.
Shay (10:12):
Like we need to just take our butt to the store and buy a
dress.
Vanessa (10:15):
One dress, yeah, I may or may not have six packages
ready to go back to turn in akohl's for amazon, uh, but
they've been in my car for likethree weeks oh my god but yeah,
amazon's the devil.
Shay (10:29):
And then returning I mean for real, though, we need an
amazon sponsorship you're notthe devil, amazon, sorry well,
you know what I mean.
Hey, god created that, so heoversees all of that.
So it's all good we gotta justtame that beast.
we gotta tame to tame that beast.
We got to tame that spending.
(10:50):
And the next point is thereview your spending, the look
back at your spending over thepast year and see where you can
cut back.
If you're not already budgeting, take the time to gather your
details of your income andspending for the past few months
and do a spend plan, you know.
(11:12):
And if you're already budgeting, look through your transactions
, see um how your actualspending is compared with your
plan spending yeah, mine's thefood on amazon.
Vanessa (11:16):
I actually did this the other night because I like to
sit and do this.
I do it late at night too, whenI'm sitting in bed and I write
everything down on paper,because I'm 29, that's what old
women do and I write it on paperand it makes me feel better to
actually write it down.
And I was like okay, I was likeso this is what we're going to
do.
I was like next month we're notgoing to buy anything on Amazon
(11:36):
.
We're going to see how thatgoes.
Shay (11:38):
Yeah, in December.
Vanessa (11:40):
Okay, I'm done with Christmas shopping.
Shay (11:42):
Oh yeah, you're one of those.
I wait to the last minute.
Yeah, yeah.
Vanessa (11:45):
Yeah.
So I was like, okay, we'regoing to try that and then we're
going to put like limits onthings, because I used to do
that and I think sometimes wejust kind of get sloppy to do
that or we don't care you know,emotions get the better of us
sometimes.
So just readjusting thosethings and then looking at you
know my streaming subscriptionsbecause they have gone up this
year.
Shay (12:04):
Oh my God, no, my husband was telling me about.
Hulu is now $17 or something.
Vanessa (12:16):
I remember when it was like eight.
I mean just crazy yeah.
Shay (12:17):
Yeah, and then I pay for two different Netflix accounts.
Oh, they got smart and theyknew.
Oh yeah, you were one of those,okay.
Vanessa (12:20):
So I have like, and they're $15.99 now.
Shay (12:23):
Yeah, I know I do the Netflix in the house.
Vanessa (12:25):
Yeah, so I have mine and I get my dad's too yeah and
it's just like.
Shay (12:30):
Okay, like by the time I do all this, like cable doesn't
sound like a bad idea, eventhough I don't want cable but um
, but yeah, I just want to saythat my husband's very smart, it
very intellectual man and heeverybody's like I'm coming back
on cable.
I'm coming back on cable nateand t said he was gonna come
back to bite you because now wepay for our cable subscription.
(12:50):
We got access to everything buthulu and netflix.
We got access to hbo maxparamount, because everybody you
can put through their user sameuh login and it's cheaper.
So I'm just saying people wasknocking cable, but now they're
getting you because they're like, in order to have access, you
can either pay the 10, 15 per oryou just pay for cable and get
(13:12):
access to it.
It makes more sense, but it'scrazy yeah, I may readjust next
year.
Vanessa (13:15):
So that is your financial tidbit.
Shay (13:17):
I know exactly look at that, you know.
And then another thing healways said is like a lot of
people are cutting cable, butthen you have to increase your
internet because you need moreinternet, because you're doing
all this streaming.
So guess what don't cableproviders?
Providers, I ain't stupid, theygetting their money, they
getting their money.
So, but yeah, definitely wealso look at resetting your
budget.
After reviewing yourtransactions, get ready for a
(13:39):
little budget housekeeping.
If you aren't spending yourmoney with a purpose and a plan,
you may not get as far as yourfinancial growth, you mean not
meet your financial goals.
So you can take this time topivot if you're overspending,
cutting back anywhere thatyou're spending more than you
like, or revising your spendingcategories, putting more money
towards your debts andincreasing your savings.
(14:01):
So resetting your budget isimportant, just so you can be
like all right.
Especially, you know everybodydoes new goals in January and
stuff and you can say prepare inDecember so you can have a
fresh start, a running start, inJanuary.
Vanessa (14:14):
It's such a good idea to do it before the holidays.
Shay (14:16):
Yeah.
Vanessa (14:17):
We all overspend during that time and we just kind of
throw the budget out the window.
Shay (14:22):
Yeah.
Vanessa (14:23):
But if you look at things ahead of time, and you're
like ooh, I'm alreadyoverspending a little bit.
How can I finagle things andkind of get things where I want
them to be and that will helpkeep you on budget and on task
for the holidays.
First, off and give you a headstart for next year.
Shay (14:37):
Yeah, that's beautiful, but no shade.
But it ain't all because shadedon't overspend, because I'm on
a budget girl, I'm tight.
My husband calls me cheap, eventhough I'll be like I'm frugal,
I ain't cheap, so I'll have you.
Like I said on every episode, Ihave a budget and I stick to my
budget and if people want extrastuff and be like, okay, you
(14:58):
ain't getting it, or you knowI'm not buying for you, or I'll
cut from myself, but I, you knowI'll sacrifice, but I ain't
about that life.
I do overspend on other areas,obviously Amazon and stuff like
that, but during the holidaysfor some reason I'm able to just
stay.
I'm thinking it has to do withchildhood and growing up and
seeing so many gifts and hearingmy parents fight around money
about gifts and stuff, becausethey always overspend.
(15:19):
So I have like that in my headlike I'm never going to
overspend on Christmas Ioverspend on Not everything else
, but on a lot of other things.
But, around the holidays.
I just, and I think it's likesome trauma from childhood that
keeps me, it makes sense, though.
Vanessa (15:32):
It makes complete sense , because I do that too with my
gift giving.
Yeah, like it is what it isyeah.
But there's always somethingelse that comes up.
Or there's an extra party, orthere's a you know another
somebody who's asking forsomething for a family or
something like that.
But yeah, somebody who's askingfor something for a family or
something like that, um, butyeah, but to me it's like all
the other stuff, yeah, all thefluff, exactly, and that's why
(15:53):
it's lovely to have like adollar tree or a thrift store.
Shay (15:55):
My sister went to a thrift store recently and she was
sharing, we were on facetime.
She's like she was in heaven.
She's like, especially if yougo to a thrift store or a dollar
tree and a bougie and I knowI've said this before but a high
income area, those things be onpoint, I mean, and it's cheap
and it's nice, stuff like that'sanother tidbit from crusades
for change.
(16:15):
Go out there, find you a dollartree or a dollar store and a
thrift store.
That stuff gonna be nice andcheap and inexpensive.
I guess.
Vanessa (16:23):
Not cheap but good quality and they have, like I
love, facial products yeah.
And Dollar Tree is really uptheir game with these things.
So it's like you can get like areally nice face serum and a
cream and a mask and you're like, okay, that was $3.75.
I would go somewhere else and Iwould pay triple for one of the
products yeah.
Yeah, and you can put it in acute little basket.
Shay (16:43):
Exactly, yeah, nice gift, so amazing.
And then you also want to checkyour net worth.
You know, compare yourliabilities with your assets to
see where you stand.
Do you have a positive networth?
Unfortunately, a lot of peoplehave a negative net worth.
So if you have student loans, acar payment, a mortgage or any
other type of debt, it isn'tunusual for your net worth to be
(17:05):
negative, but there's a reason.
There's no reason to bediscouraged.
You can up your net worth to benegative, but there's a reason.
There's no reason to bediscouraged.
You can up your net worth andget more liabilities what you
own versus what you owe assetsand be able to increase that.
So, yeah, I think that's agreat thing to look at net worth
.
I know working with people thatare in a low income or
underserved areas.
Sometimes we're like looking ata net worth what is this going
(17:27):
to do for me?
But it actually just gives youan overall view of where you're
at and encourages you to moveforward to a positive amount.
Vanessa (17:35):
Well, and it's so nice to be able to look at those
things and just kind of seewhere you are, because, you're
right, most people are negative,especially when they're younger
and they're building their lifeand it's okay.
It's a okay to be there.
You don't want to stay there,but you know it.
It gives you a another goal,though.
And it helps you see what thatgoal should be, Make it a little
(17:56):
more clear a smarter goal,those types of things.
Um, and then I usually go online, I look at like celebrity
networks and I will tell you,sometimes that makes you feel
better about life too reallybecause they got a lot of debt.
Shay (18:09):
I've never done that exactly.
Vanessa (18:11):
Oh yeah, exactly and it's fun sometimes to be like
hmm, now I am not up there withBeyonce or anything like that,
but there are some like lowerlevel celebrities and I'm you
know sit there and like, okay,I'm like it makes you feel
better about life sometimes.
So, yeah, not to like knocksomebody.
Shay (18:29):
Yeah, we don't want to knock nobody and discourage
anybody, but hey you know yougot to do what you got to do.
Yeah, I can do that in my ownfamily.
So these people living themlives and looking like they got
everything and be like debt,credit card debt, collections,
taxes I'm, I'm good, I ain'tworried about it To the bank of
Shay though you know that right.
Vanessa (18:50):
No, that closed down years ago.
Shay (18:51):
I ain't, they ain't, nobody asked me for no money.
So they'll be like can youdonate to this cause and stuff
for me?
I'm like, as long as I get atax receipt, I'm good.
Yeah, I'll do it, but I ain'tDon't be asking me to pay your
electricity bill when I just sawa hundred Amazon packages on
your front step.
That's all I'm saying.
Get your life together, so yeah.
(19:13):
And then definitely check yourcredit score.
Reviewing your credit reportand making sure there are no
errors or fraudulent accountscan help you maintain a good
credit score.
I don't check my credit report.
Oh, yes, I do.
I have that Experian emailthing and I'll check it once a
month and make sure it looksgood.
Vanessa (19:27):
Yeah, that's something it's such a good thing to do,
and people usually don't do thisuntil they know about a house
or a car, yeah.
And you're like if you wouldhave just done this like six
months ago just to get somethingon there taken off or whatever
it might be.
Shay (19:42):
Oh my goodness, crusaders for change is what we're here
for.
We'll help you get that figuredout before you buy a house.
That's why planning isimportant.
Vanessa (19:50):
Exactly.
Shay (19:50):
Yeah, and set new intentions.
You know, think about yourfinancial goals for the upcoming
year, create a plan, as we justsaid, to achieve them, and this
might include paying off debt,saving for a vacation or
starting a business.
So you definitely want to havesome.
I always say dream big, havesome big goals.
Even if you don't meet them atthe end of the year, still just
continue.
I had this really, really biggoal and for the business, and I
(20:14):
just I move it, I kick it downthe can, but it's at least there
.
You know, and again I feel, asI've said in another episode,
god gave me that that wasn't andhe's like I'm going to provide
now.
Vanessa (20:28):
It might not be on your timeline, but it's going to
happen, and so it's nothing likethat and you're getting closer.
Yeah, you can see like whereyou are, you know, compared to
where you were last year.
Shay (20:35):
Yeah.
Vanessa (20:36):
So those are always good things and goals are
something just like our budgetsthey're ever moving and ever
changing, Like because lifedoesn't stay still.
Shay (20:43):
Not at all.
It's a living document.
Yeah, exactly.
Vanessa (20:47):
It's okay for things to change or you to mark something
off that's not importantanymore.
It's okay for those things tochange, even if you check it a
few times a year, it's good.
You have like a quarterlysession to kind of review things
Exactly, and then you're notscrambling last minute.
But it's okay for things tochange and for you to have
(21:07):
different intentions than youhad before.
Shay (21:10):
Yeah, setting new intentions is good and living an
intentional life is a beautifulthing.
Living with intention not justfree nilly, and having that
guiding voice, spirit isimportant too.
Again, if you're a believer, inwhatever religious background,
it's just having a higher powerto guide you helps with those
(21:31):
intentions.
So I would add that in there.
And so meeting with a financialprofessional is our last little
tidbit here.
If you're unsure where to start, consider meeting with a
financial professional, like usAccredited Financial Counselor,
who can help you create apersonalized plan for your
finances.
So Crusaders for Change, c4c ishere to help.
(21:51):
This is what we do, y'all.
This is what we do, and we lovethe Lord too.
We do it then.
But if you don't want to talkabout the Lord while you're
doing finances, that's fine.
But sometimes I love when myclients bring it up and then we
just be like all right, let'stalk about the Lord, and
finances is a beautiful thing,but we don't got to talk about
that.
We can be strictly money too.
So Crusaders for Change is hereto support you.
But, yeah, meeting with afinance professional asking for
(22:12):
help, or a wise old friend orfamily member or mentor, I would
even add, you know your tribe,as we call it, the money tribe.
Find somebody in your tribe tohelp you.
Vanessa (22:21):
Yeah, exactly, and it's never a bad time to want to be
a better version of yourself.
And it's never a bad time towant to be a better version of
yourself.
It is never a bad time to makethose changes and to kind of go
through that.
So yeah, so I just say sit down, have these conversations.
That they're not super funsometimes, but it gives you
purpose and a goal.
Shay (22:42):
And that's priceless.
Yeah, exactly, oh, wow.
So a lot of great things to doduring this time of year and
during, you know, reviewing,reflecting and resetting your
finances for the beginning of2024.
So any final thoughts?
Vanessa (22:55):
Just remember that you don't have to keep up with
anybody other than yourself.
I ain't living that life nomore, so it's okay, right it's
okay to be where you're at andit's okay to be happy with what
you have.
Shay (23:06):
Yeah.
Vanessa (23:06):
And you shouldn't let anybody else make you feel bad
about that, yeah, exactly um andyeah, and it's okay to reassess
and reset and grow a big.
Shay (23:15):
Thank you for listening to this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Vanessa (23:24):
Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and
please feel free to leave us areview yes, and for the latest
Yahweh's money content, visit usat www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired.
Shay (23:43):
And remember it's always better Yahweh's way.
Ever felt those awkward vibes when religion and money
come up?
You're not alone.
Welcome to Yahweh's Money, thepodcast where we tackle the
crossroads of faith and finance.
I'm Shay Cook, an AccreditedFinancial Counselor and the CEO
and founder of Crusaders forChange LLC.
Vanessa (00:20):
And I'm Vanessa McNelley, Accredited Financial
Counselor and COO of Crusadersfor Change.
Join us on our journey as wediscuss topics like tithing,
saving, and conquering debtthrough religious perspectives.
Let's get started.
Shay (00:35):
Welcome back.
Today, we'll be revisitingepisode 44, Review, Reflect and
Reset your Finances, one of ourmost downloaded episodes, filled
with wisdom for those wantingto get their finances in order.
This episode is special as itis about embracing change and
using reflection for growth andprinciples that resonate as we
(00:58):
navigate life's seasons.
We also want to honor ourformer co-host, Vanessa, who has
moved on to new adventures.
We appreciate her contributionsand wish her well.
Exciting ideas and impactfulepisodes are ahead, so stay
tuned.
Now let's dive into thispowerful reminder of how faith
(01:20):
and finances can transform yourlife.
Vanessa (01:30):
Oh man, I wasn't quite ready for that.
Shay (01:31):
I know that was like quick Five, four, three, two, one.
All right, let's go.
Let's go.
We're talking about reviewingand reflecting and resetting
your finances because it'salmost a new year.
2024 is almost here.
My god, that's crazy.
Oh lord, I'll be 45 in a coupleweeks, Vanessa you'll be 29 no,
I'm 45.
(01:51):
I don't be playing those games.
My sister has been saying she'sbeen 29 for so long she don't
even know how old.
Vanessa (02:02):
She's right, I'm 40 to say that stuff.
Yeah, she's like it's weirdwe're the same age, both 29
weird but I'm happy to be 45.
Shay (02:10):
I mean I just I'm happy to be 45, because that means God
is providing and he is blessingme so I'm happy to be 29.
Yeah, I know you look greatgirl 29 I thought you were 21,
but okay, okay.
Vanessa (02:23):
No, I'm really going to be 43.
Shay (02:27):
That's a beautiful number.
Two of my favorite numbers fourand three, 34 a little better.
So, as the year comes to aclose, now is a great time to
reflect on the past year andplan for the upcoming one.
The Bible says, for everythingthat was written in the past was
written to teach us so thatthrough the endurance taught in
(02:50):
the scriptures and theencouragement they provide, we
might have hope.
Romans 15, four.
I love that because we can we.
Everything in life is a lessonand we should teach, treat it as
such.
And you know I feel like God asyou.
If you learn a lesson, hedoesn't have to put you through
that fire again, Cause I alwaystell people like why are you
(03:10):
going through this again?
You didn't learn it the 15thtime ago?
You know what I mean.
So like it's the cool to beable to learn from the lessons
and get endurance andencouragement from that to move
forward and have that hope.
Vanessa (03:21):
And it's so weird we're talking about this today,
because I was having thatconversation last night like
seriously, about everythingbeing a lesson and we're
supposed to learn from it and ifwe don't, we're going to go
through it again.
Shay (03:32):
Oh my God, you can be hardheaded too.
Vanessa (03:35):
Oh, I'm very hardheaded , I'm very stubborn, very.
Shay (03:38):
My family's like uh-huh, uh-huh.
I mean, I don't know what it isSometimes, I just need to be
going through it.
Why am I going through thisagain?
Why didn't I learn this back in1985?
I'm going through it again now,in a whole other century.
I'm in the 2000s.
I'm not even in the 1900sanymore.
It's just crazy.
We were born in the 1900s, butyou say it like that.
(03:59):
It seems like we're really old.
Vanessa (04:04):
You are not me, no, yeah.
Shay (04:06):
I'm sorry, you were born in 2003.
Thanks, but here are some tipsto help you make the most of
this time.
You know, when it come into aclose is like, for example,
reviewing and inflecting on yourfinancial goals.
What goals did you achieve?
Celebrate the wins.
You can also look at creatingnew goals if needed, and are
(04:28):
there goals you have to adjust,readjust?
So these are the kind of thingsyou can reflect back on on your
goals.
So any goals you want to shareor any of these things, Sure,
yeah, yeah.
Vanessa (04:38):
And I think something we need to remember first and
foremost is, when we do this,it's so cool to kind of see how
far we've come.
Shay (04:45):
Yes, yes.
Vanessa (04:46):
There's always growth.
There's always growth and it'shard to see it in that moment,
but when you look back you canreally see what's changed for
you, and usually it's a goodchange, and we've had some times
where things are bad.
Shay (04:58):
Yeah.
Vanessa (04:58):
Um, but yeah, but it's.
It's nice to be able to say oh,my goodness, like this time
last year, I would have been sohappy and feel so blessed to be
where I'm at right now.
Forget those things.
So I think it's a great time tokind of think about that and
say, okay, you know we've donethis far, what's next?
Yeah, but it's okay to sit inyour moment too and enjoy what
(05:20):
you have.
So I think there's a balancethere.
But you know so some one of mygoals this year was I had a
condo in Puerto Rico and I lovePuerto Rico but I just don't get
to go very often.
So for me one of the things wasto sell that property and then
feel a little more financiallysecure, which just happened this
(05:40):
week.
Shay (05:41):
Yeah, congratulations, that goal was met Yep.
Vanessa (05:44):
So now I've just got to kind of figure out what my next
move is for my goals for 2024.
Yeah, but, yeah.
But goals don't even have to bethat big.
It can just be, you know, beable to live within your means
or feel a little more secureabout your savings.
So, you know they don't have tobe big goals, but it does feel
good when you can checksomething off your list.
Shay (06:04):
Exactly Our biggest goal that we accomplished this year
which I think was due to 15years of planning, which is
crazy is we bought a new homeand so we had tried several
other times over those 15 yearsstarting.
So we bought our home in 2007,our first home, a townhome and
(06:24):
three years later we were liketry to sell it.
That didn't work out and it waslike a letalana in school.
So a lot of things startedhappening and we just kind of
surrendered to sell it.
That didn't work out and thenit was like I'm going to let
Alana in school.
So a lot of things startedhappening and we just kind of
surrendered to God and said okay, and then we tried again.
That wasn't successful.
The third time we were, it wasperfect timing.
Thank God, it was all Godreally Cause the amount of money
we got on that home.
We wouldn't have gotten anyother time during that cycle and
(06:45):
we were able to put a lot ofthat money into the new house.
And so it's funny when I stepout, when I go get the mail and
I come back and I see my house,I don't know it's just.
And again, I don't like to getfocused on materialistic things.
But when I see this house andwhen I thought about all the
stuff I was asking God for, likeI would like walk around my
house for 15 years,no-transcript.
(07:14):
And then another thing thatfreaks me out about this house
is that it was built in 2016.
And 2016,.
I was going, I started the hellI went through working at my
previous job and I feel like andI know I ain't no, feel like I
know God was preparing thishouse for me and my family,
knowing that I was going throughall that stuff in 2016 and 2018
(07:35):
at the Coast Guard.
And so I was just like wow tome.
It's like all these thingsstart coming to me like God,
like this is bigger thanfinancial goals.
This is what he knew, and again, the idea of having this and
that that was all God anyway.
So it is like wow, and heprovided it all.
So that was the biggest thing.
But you know, there's been somestruggles because I wanted to
save more and like my IRAs, mystep and stuff.
(07:57):
But I felt, and I was shownthat I need to put all that
money into people, into the, the, the, this business, and that's
okay.
God will make up for that.
And then another little thingis Amazon.
It's just so easy to buy thingsin Amazon and it's like I saw
(08:18):
my credit and I always pay mycredit card off every month and
I know people struggle with thatand that can't, and I know I
always feel like God is puttingme through things so I can
better understand things fromour clients perspective.
And so, because you know, I usedto look at people like, why are
you buying so much Amazon?
And then I became one of thosepeople and I'm like, oh my God,
it's just so easy.
Ok, I need that, ok.
(08:40):
So now I try to just put stuffin the cart and let it sit there
for like a week or two and belike do you really need that?
Can you save it for later?
Or, like my daughter says, saveon the carbon footprint and go
to Target mom.
But yeah, so I've had the bigthings accomplishments and wins
from the house and someunfortunate things I have to
(09:02):
readjust, like the retirementsavings because of the business,
which is great.
Sometimes you have to spendmoney and not save money to move
forward in certain aspects.
And then little things likecontrolling my spending around
Amazon.
So you know, yeah, it's real,but it's good.
Vanessa (09:19):
Well, amazon is the devil on earth.
I understand completely,because I have that struggle too
.
Well, it used to be Target.
Shay (09:27):
Yeah, it used to be Target , but now I don't even have to
go anywhere, I can do it all ona phone and sometimes I'll wake
up at two o'clock in the morningand just like, oh yeah, I need
that, and go to amazon and Istart scrolling.
I'm like, oh man, I can'tguilty.
Yeah, it's just a bad thing,it's so easy to do.
Vanessa (09:43):
It's so easy and it's like, if I don't do it now, I'm
gonna forget, forget to buy that.
And it's like, well, if Iforget to buy it, did I really
mean it like so I have a weddingthat I'm going to on Saturday
and I think I bought like maybeseven dresses well, they're not
even cheaply expensive on Amazon.
Shay (10:04):
Like you can get a dress for like 30, 40 and nice quality
too, like okay, it's like Ijust don't know which one's
gonna fit.
Vanessa (10:08):
Well, that's part two like we need to just take our
butt to the store and buy adress for like 30, 40 and nice
quality too, like okay, it'slike I just don't know which
one's gonna fit well, that'spart two.
Shay (10:12):
Like we need to just take our butt to the store and buy a
dress.
Vanessa (10:15):
One dress, yeah, I may or may not have six packages
ready to go back to turn in akohl's for amazon, uh, but
they've been in my car for likethree weeks oh my god but yeah,
amazon's the devil.
Shay (10:29):
And then returning I mean for real, though, we need an
amazon sponsorship you're notthe devil, amazon, sorry well,
you know what I mean.
Hey, god created that, so heoversees all of that.
So it's all good we gotta justtame that beast.
we gotta tame to tame that beast.
We got to tame that spending.
(10:50):
And the next point is thereview your spending, the look
back at your spending over thepast year and see where you can
cut back.
If you're not already budgeting, take the time to gather your
details of your income andspending for the past few months
and do a spend plan, you know.
(11:12):
And if you're already budgeting, look through your transactions
, see um how your actualspending is compared with your
plan spending yeah, mine's thefood on amazon.
Vanessa (11:16):
I actually did this the other night because I like to
sit and do this.
I do it late at night too, whenI'm sitting in bed and I write
everything down on paper,because I'm 29, that's what old
women do and I write it on paperand it makes me feel better to
actually write it down.
And I was like okay, I was likeso this is what we're going to
do.
I was like next month we're notgoing to buy anything on Amazon
(11:36):
.
We're going to see how thatgoes.
Shay (11:38):
Yeah, in December.
Vanessa (11:40):
Okay, I'm done with Christmas shopping.
Shay (11:42):
Oh yeah, you're one of those.
I wait to the last minute.
Yeah, yeah.
Vanessa (11:45):
Yeah.
So I was like, okay, we'regoing to try that and then we're
going to put like limits onthings, because I used to do
that and I think sometimes wejust kind of get sloppy to do
that or we don't care you know,emotions get the better of us
sometimes.
So just readjusting thosethings and then looking at you
know my streaming subscriptionsbecause they have gone up this
year.
Shay (12:04):
Oh my God, no, my husband was telling me about.
Hulu is now $17 or something.
Vanessa (12:16):
I remember when it was like eight.
I mean just crazy yeah.
Shay (12:17):
Yeah, and then I pay for two different Netflix accounts.
Oh, they got smart and theyknew.
Oh yeah, you were one of those,okay.
Vanessa (12:20):
So I have like, and they're $15.99 now.
Shay (12:23):
Yeah, I know I do the Netflix in the house.
Vanessa (12:25):
Yeah, so I have mine and I get my dad's too yeah and
it's just like.
Shay (12:30):
Okay, like by the time I do all this, like cable doesn't
sound like a bad idea, eventhough I don't want cable but um
, but yeah, I just want to saythat my husband's very smart, it
very intellectual man and heeverybody's like I'm coming back
on cable.
I'm coming back on cable nateand t said he was gonna come
back to bite you because now wepay for our cable subscription.
(12:50):
We got access to everything buthulu and netflix.
We got access to hbo maxparamount, because everybody you
can put through their user sameuh login and it's cheaper.
So I'm just saying people wasknocking cable, but now they're
getting you because they're like, in order to have access, you
can either pay the 10, 15 per oryou just pay for cable and get
(13:12):
access to it.
It makes more sense, but it'scrazy yeah, I may readjust next
year.
Vanessa (13:15):
So that is your financial tidbit.
Shay (13:17):
I know exactly look at that, you know.
And then another thing healways said is like a lot of
people are cutting cable, butthen you have to increase your
internet because you need moreinternet, because you're doing
all this streaming.
So guess what don't cableproviders?
Providers, I ain't stupid, theygetting their money, they
getting their money.
So, but yeah, definitely wealso look at resetting your
budget.
After reviewing yourtransactions, get ready for a
(13:39):
little budget housekeeping.
If you aren't spending yourmoney with a purpose and a plan,
you may not get as far as yourfinancial growth, you mean not
meet your financial goals.
So you can take this time topivot if you're overspending,
cutting back anywhere thatyou're spending more than you
like, or revising your spendingcategories, putting more money
towards your debts andincreasing your savings.
(14:01):
So resetting your budget isimportant, just so you can be
like all right.
Especially, you know everybodydoes new goals in January and
stuff and you can say prepare inDecember so you can have a
fresh start, a running start, inJanuary.
Vanessa (14:14):
It's such a good idea to do it before the holidays.
Shay (14:16):
Yeah.
Vanessa (14:17):
We all overspend during that time and we just kind of
throw the budget out the window.
Shay (14:22):
Yeah.
Vanessa (14:23):
But if you look at things ahead of time, and you're
like ooh, I'm alreadyoverspending a little bit.
How can I finagle things andkind of get things where I want
them to be and that will helpkeep you on budget and on task
for the holidays.
First, off and give you a headstart for next year.
Shay (14:37):
Yeah, that's beautiful, but no shade.
But it ain't all because shadedon't overspend, because I'm on
a budget girl, I'm tight.
My husband calls me cheap, eventhough I'll be like I'm frugal,
I ain't cheap, so I'll have you.
Like I said on every episode, Ihave a budget and I stick to my
budget and if people want extrastuff and be like, okay, you
(14:58):
ain't getting it, or you knowI'm not buying for you, or I'll
cut from myself, but I, you knowI'll sacrifice, but I ain't
about that life.
I do overspend on other areas,obviously Amazon and stuff like
that, but during the holidaysfor some reason I'm able to just
stay.
I'm thinking it has to do withchildhood and growing up and
seeing so many gifts and hearingmy parents fight around money
about gifts and stuff, becausethey always overspend.
(15:19):
So I have like that in my headlike I'm never going to
overspend on Christmas Ioverspend on Not everything else
, but on a lot of other things.
But, around the holidays.
I just, and I think it's likesome trauma from childhood that
keeps me, it makes sense, though.
Vanessa (15:32):
It makes complete sense , because I do that too with my
gift giving.
Yeah, like it is what it isyeah.
But there's always somethingelse that comes up.
Or there's an extra party, orthere's a you know another
somebody who's asking forsomething for a family or
something like that.
But yeah, somebody who's askingfor something for a family or
something like that, um, butyeah, but to me it's like all
the other stuff, yeah, all thefluff, exactly, and that's why
(15:53):
it's lovely to have like adollar tree or a thrift store.
Shay (15:55):
My sister went to a thrift store recently and she was
sharing, we were on facetime.
She's like she was in heaven.
She's like, especially if yougo to a thrift store or a dollar
tree and a bougie and I knowI've said this before but a high
income area, those things be onpoint, I mean, and it's cheap
and it's nice, stuff like that'sanother tidbit from crusades
for change.
(16:15):
Go out there, find you a dollartree or a dollar store and a
thrift store.
That stuff gonna be nice andcheap and inexpensive.
I guess.
Vanessa (16:23):
Not cheap but good quality and they have, like I
love, facial products yeah.
And Dollar Tree is really uptheir game with these things.
So it's like you can get like areally nice face serum and a
cream and a mask and you're like, okay, that was $3.75.
I would go somewhere else and Iwould pay triple for one of the
products yeah.
Yeah, and you can put it in acute little basket.
Shay (16:43):
Exactly, yeah, nice gift, so amazing.
And then you also want to checkyour net worth.
You know, compare yourliabilities with your assets to
see where you stand.
Do you have a positive networth?
Unfortunately, a lot of peoplehave a negative net worth.
So if you have student loans, acar payment, a mortgage or any
other type of debt, it isn'tunusual for your net worth to be
(17:05):
negative, but there's a reason.
There's no reason to bediscouraged.
You can up your net worth to benegative, but there's a reason.
There's no reason to bediscouraged.
You can up your net worth andget more liabilities what you
own versus what you owe assetsand be able to increase that.
So, yeah, I think that's agreat thing to look at net worth
.
I know working with people thatare in a low income or
underserved areas.
Sometimes we're like looking ata net worth what is this going
(17:27):
to do for me?
But it actually just gives youan overall view of where you're
at and encourages you to moveforward to a positive amount.
Vanessa (17:35):
Well, and it's so nice to be able to look at those
things and just kind of seewhere you are, because, you're
right, most people are negative,especially when they're younger
and they're building their lifeand it's okay.
It's a okay to be there.
You don't want to stay there,but you know it.
It gives you a another goal,though.
And it helps you see what thatgoal should be, Make it a little
(17:56):
more clear a smarter goal,those types of things.
Um, and then I usually go online, I look at like celebrity
networks and I will tell you,sometimes that makes you feel
better about life too reallybecause they got a lot of debt.
Shay (18:09):
I've never done that exactly.
Vanessa (18:11):
Oh yeah, exactly and it's fun sometimes to be like
hmm, now I am not up there withBeyonce or anything like that,
but there are some like lowerlevel celebrities and I'm you
know sit there and like, okay,I'm like it makes you feel
better about life sometimes.
So, yeah, not to like knocksomebody.
Shay (18:29):
Yeah, we don't want to knock nobody and discourage
anybody, but hey you know yougot to do what you got to do.
Yeah, I can do that in my ownfamily.
So these people living themlives and looking like they got
everything and be like debt,credit card debt, collections,
taxes I'm, I'm good, I ain'tworried about it To the bank of
Shay though you know that right.
Vanessa (18:50):
No, that closed down years ago.
Shay (18:51):
I ain't, they ain't, nobody asked me for no money.
So they'll be like can youdonate to this cause and stuff
for me?
I'm like, as long as I get atax receipt, I'm good.
Yeah, I'll do it, but I ain'tDon't be asking me to pay your
electricity bill when I just sawa hundred Amazon packages on
your front step.
That's all I'm saying.
Get your life together, so yeah.
(19:13):
And then definitely check yourcredit score.
Reviewing your credit reportand making sure there are no
errors or fraudulent accountscan help you maintain a good
credit score.
I don't check my credit report.
Oh, yes, I do.
I have that Experian emailthing and I'll check it once a
month and make sure it looksgood.
Vanessa (19:27):
Yeah, that's something it's such a good thing to do,
and people usually don't do thisuntil they know about a house
or a car, yeah.
And you're like if you wouldhave just done this like six
months ago just to get somethingon there taken off or whatever
it might be.
Shay (19:42):
Oh my goodness, crusaders for change is what we're here
for.
We'll help you get that figuredout before you buy a house.
That's why planning isimportant.
Vanessa (19:50):
Exactly.
Shay (19:50):
Yeah, and set new intentions.
You know, think about yourfinancial goals for the upcoming
year, create a plan, as we justsaid, to achieve them, and this
might include paying off debt,saving for a vacation or
starting a business.
So you definitely want to havesome.
I always say dream big, havesome big goals.
Even if you don't meet them atthe end of the year, still just
continue.
I had this really, really biggoal and for the business, and I
(20:14):
just I move it, I kick it downthe can, but it's at least there
.
You know, and again I feel, asI've said in another episode,
god gave me that that wasn't andhe's like I'm going to provide
now.
Vanessa (20:28):
It might not be on your timeline, but it's going to
happen, and so it's nothing likethat and you're getting closer.
Yeah, you can see like whereyou are, you know, compared to
where you were last year.
Shay (20:35):
Yeah.
Vanessa (20:36):
So those are always good things and goals are
something just like our budgetsthey're ever moving and ever
changing, Like because lifedoesn't stay still.
Shay (20:43):
Not at all.
It's a living document.
Yeah, exactly.
Vanessa (20:47):
It's okay for things to change or you to mark something
off that's not importantanymore.
It's okay for those things tochange, even if you check it a
few times a year, it's good.
You have like a quarterlysession to kind of review things
Exactly, and then you're notscrambling last minute.
But it's okay for things tochange and for you to have
(21:07):
different intentions than youhad before.
Shay (21:10):
Yeah, setting new intentions is good and living an
intentional life is a beautifulthing.
Living with intention not justfree nilly, and having that
guiding voice, spirit isimportant too.
Again, if you're a believer, inwhatever religious background,
it's just having a higher powerto guide you helps with those
(21:31):
intentions.
So I would add that in there.
And so meeting with a financialprofessional is our last little
tidbit here.
If you're unsure where to start, consider meeting with a
financial professional, like usAccredited Financial Counselor,
who can help you create apersonalized plan for your
finances.
So Crusaders for Change, c4c ishere to help.
(21:51):
This is what we do, y'all.
This is what we do, and we lovethe Lord too.
We do it then.
But if you don't want to talkabout the Lord while you're
doing finances, that's fine.
But sometimes I love when myclients bring it up and then we
just be like all right, let'stalk about the Lord, and
finances is a beautiful thing,but we don't got to talk about
that.
We can be strictly money too.
So Crusaders for Change is hereto support you.
But, yeah, meeting with afinance professional asking for
(22:12):
help, or a wise old friend orfamily member or mentor, I would
even add, you know your tribe,as we call it, the money tribe.
Find somebody in your tribe tohelp you.
Vanessa (22:21):
Yeah, exactly, and it's never a bad time to want to be
a better version of yourself.
And it's never a bad time towant to be a better version of
yourself.
It is never a bad time to makethose changes and to kind of go
through that.
So yeah, so I just say sit down, have these conversations.
That they're not super funsometimes, but it gives you
purpose and a goal.
Shay (22:42):
And that's priceless.
Yeah, exactly, oh, wow.
So a lot of great things to doduring this time of year and
during, you know, reviewing,reflecting and resetting your
finances for the beginning of2024.
So any final thoughts?
Vanessa (22:55):
Just remember that you don't have to keep up with
anybody other than yourself.
I ain't living that life nomore, so it's okay, right it's
okay to be where you're at andit's okay to be happy with what
you have.
Shay (23:06):
Yeah.
Vanessa (23:06):
And you shouldn't let anybody else make you feel bad
about that, yeah, exactly um andyeah, and it's okay to reassess
and reset and grow a big.
Shay (23:15):
Thank you for listening to this episode.
We hope you found today's chatabout the intersection of
religion and money insightful.
We would love to hear yourfeedback.
Vanessa (23:24):
Hit that subscribe button or follow the podcast and
please feel free to leave us areview yes, and for the latest
Yahweh's money content, visit usat www.
crusaders4change.
org or find us anywhere youlisten to podcasts.
Until next time, stayfinancially fit and spiritually
inspired.
Shay (23:43):
And remember it's always better Yahweh's way.
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