Change Maker by Compass Catholic Ministries

Be Content and Give Thanks

The advertising industry was created to make you discontent so you will want to buy whatever they are selling. Ads encourage you to focus so hard on what you want and what you DON’T have, that you often fail to appreciate what you DO have.

Develop an attitude of gratitude by learning the virtue of contentment. It all starts with recognizing the blessings we already have and being thankful for them. Join us as we share ideas for appreciating what we have and learning to be content.

The Compass Catholic blog has more ideas about ways to be content and grateful for the blessings God has given you.

10 Questions to Ask Your Parents

 

Do you know where your parents keep all the information you would need in case of an emergency? Here are 10 questions to ask your parents just in case you (or other family members) ever need it:

1. Where do you keep your important information, in case I need to find it in an emergency?
2. Where can I find a list of your key contacts?
3. How are your accounts registered?
4. Do you have an up to date will?
5. Have you Designated a Power of Attorney?
6. Do you have a Health Care Proxy?
7. Do you have a living will or an advance health care directive?
8. How can I access your electronic assets in an emergency?
9. How do you want to disposition your personal Items?
10. Have you documented your final wishes?

The Compass Catholic blog has more details about what to ask and why it’s so important to know where this information is kept.

Health Care Alternatives

Increases in the cost of traditional health insurance have driven many people to participate in an alternative to traditional care insurance.

Health care sharing plans are significantly different than traditional health insurance and are usually based on Christian ideals where like-minded people help each other.

If you are considering a health care sharing plan, listen to the Compass Catholic Podcast as we have a conversation with our guest, Bob,  who has been using a health care sharing plan successfully (and less expensively) for years.

The Compass blog has more information and links to the major health care sharing plans.

8 Important Money Decisions for Every Marriage

Join us for eight important money decisions every couple should make.

Money can be one of the hot button areas of a marriage. People bring into their marriage all the assumptions and experiences of their families in the way they use and manage money. Each spouse was raised in a different environment, so no two people come into a marriage thinking exactly the same way as their spouse on any issue, most especially money.

It is important to set some ground rules for money in your marriage, whether you have celebrated many anniversaries or are a newly wed.

The Compass Catholic blog has more info on these decisions.

Cheap OR Frugal?

There is a difference between being cheap or being frugal. Cheap means using price as the only criteria for making purchases. Frugal means not spending more than you need to and knowing the price vs the cost of use.

A cheap person will invest a lot of time and energy in order to save a dollar or two, but the time and effort they spend may not be worth the money they save.

A frugal person saves money in a balanced way by considering the impacts of money saving ideas on other areas of their life. Saving money is good, as long as it is done in a balanced way so you can enjoy life and recognize the tradeoffs you are making.

This week’s podcast and the Compass Catholic blog point out the differences between cheap and frugal.

Are You Prepared for the Next Recession

We are in the middle of an economic expansion and the unemployment rate is at a 50 year low.  But change is inevitable and at some point there will be a recession.  Are you prepared to weather an upcoming economic storm?

A recession may be months or even years away so the best time to prepare is now. Join us for some ideas about how to get ready.

The Compass Catholic blog has more about preparing for the next recession.

The Spiritual Impact of Debt

It is so easy to separate our faith from our finances and think of them as two entirely separate unrelated things. But often times when we get into debt there is a spiritual void we are trying to fill by buying things we can’t afford.

Financial challenges can be a hidden monster in many families and marriages. By shining the light of faith into that dark corner, we can tackle and tame the debt monster and learn that every area of our life, including how we handle money, has a spiritual impact.

The Compass Catholic blog has more about the spiritual impact of debt.

Are You Headed for a Financial Disaster?

We have so many people come to us who are on the brink of disaster. Maybe they have missed several payments on the mortgage, their credit card bills are past due or they haven’t opened their mail for months.

These problems don’t happen overnight—they creep up gradually. If you are in a situation where your finances feel slightly out of control. The best thing you can do is get them under control before they spin into a full blown disaster.

For additional ideas about avoiding financial disaster, check out the Compass Catholic blog.

Don't Get Scammed

Have you ever gotten a phone call from your own phone number? There are any number of ways people hide their true identity in an effort to scam you. They may want your money or your personal information but they are persistent in trying to get you to give them what they want.

We have suggestions for how to avoid being scammed by being smart about who you talk to, what information you share, and how you can protect the information the scammers want the most.

The Compass Catholic blog has additional ideas about avoiding scams.

Plan to be Content at Christmas

Christmas can be a time of discontent as we try to keep up with what everyone around us is doing or expects us to do. If Christmas exhausts you financially, physically, emotionally and spiritually, learn the virtue of contentment from Philippians 4:11-13.

If spending less, buying fewer gifts and cutting back on activities will help you be content instead of exhausted at Christmas – go for it!  Christmas only comes once a year, so do more of what makes you and the rest of your immediate family happy and less of what causes stress and discontent.  

Check out the Compass Catholic blog for more on being content at Christmas.