Change Maker by Compass Catholic Ministries

Should Children Get an Allowance?

We met a mom a few weeks ago who was telling us that her son and daughter started a dog walking business when they were young. Mom and dad taught the kids how to manage money wisely, and how to save. As the kids got older they took on more responsibility for their personal finances.

Their son is now graduating from college with no student debt. His entire college experience was funded by scholarships and money he saved. Even more amazing is that he has $100K in the bank as he graduates! What a wonderful way to get a head start in life.

This week the Compass Catholic podcast has ideas about how to train your kids to be financially responsible. If you don’t teach them when they are young, they will never learn as adults. Check out our blog for more on helping your children be financially responsible.

Financial Clutter

Recently, we were talking to the president of a Catholic Credit Union who mentioned the term “Financial Clutter” as all those things that get people off track with their finances.

Maybe it’s doing something you should NOT be doing or maybe it’s NOT doing something you should be doing.  Financial clutter is whatever gets us off track from being a good steward of God’s blessings. Join us for a lively discussion on financial clutter.

The Compass Catholic blog has more on how to find and eliminate the financial clutter in your life.

Plan to LOVE Your Retirement

When people retire, many times the goal is to simply stop working. As our lifespan increases, retirement can be a time of great fulfillment if you plan well. Not planning for retirement may result in a dead end feeling when you no longer have a reason to get out of bed every morning.

Finding a passion to use your talents and skills in serving others can result in a fulfilling lifestyle and a feeling of accomplishment during this season of life.

The retirement years can be one third of your adult life. What are your plans for loving retirement? The Compass Catholic blog has more about planning for happy, fulfilling retirement years.

One step in planning is to be financially prepared. Check out our retirement calculators to review your financial readiness.

What is a Crisis Budget and When Do I Implement it?

Sooner or later almost everyone faces a financial crisis.  A job loss, illness, birth of a special needs child, or damage from a hurricane or winter storm can all wreak havoc on your financial stability.  Plan for the unplanned by having a crisis budget. A crisis budget will help you survive economic setbacks with minimum impact to your financial stability.

This podcast shares how to create a crisis budget and when to put it into action, and be sure to check out the Compass Catholic blog on crisis budgets.

I just graduated from college, now what?

College graduation is one of those milestones in life that need to be celebrated. And after the celebration it’s time to face a lot of planning and decisions about your future, including strategies for how to handle money, pay off the student loans, and become a financially responsible adult.

Join us for ideas and suggestions about how to get organized for your financial future.

The Compass Catholic blog has more on how to get a handle on your finances.

Money Saving Ideas

Saving money means paying attention to both large and small opportunities. Large opportunities to save may be a bonus, refund, raise or inheritance. Small opportunities to save means paying attention to the many ways you may be wasting money on everyday items you purchase. Join us as we discuss some small ways to save those pennies.

The Compass Catholic blog has more on money saving ideas.

What Your Graduate Needs to Know About Money

Seniors in high school or college or recent graduates or are on the cusp of making financial decisions that may have a life-long impact. Help them become wise money managers and good stewards by being sure they have learned the important financial lessons. None of these lessons are complicated but they are all necessary to avoid future financial disasters.

The Compass Catholic blog has more on this topic.

Debt Payoff Plans

Paying off debt is a lot like losing weight. There are fad diets that may help you lose weight quickly, but some on those diets may not be very healthy. It takes a lifestyle and mindset change along with discipline to keep the weight off.

In the same way, paying off debt takes a lifestyle and mindset change along with discipline in order to manage your spending and concentrate on paying off debt. But some of the ways to pay off debt may not be financially healthy.

Join us here and on our blog for things to think about when planning a debt pay off plan.

10 Easy Steps to Improve Your Monthly Finances

We all have a tendency to think that SOMEDAY we will be happy, content and financially stable. But if we don’t start today, we’ll never get there.

Join us for 10 easy steps you can take today to improve your monthly finances: track your spending; review monthly payments; determine if you still need to pay PMI on your mortgage; earn more; review insurance; discern wants vs needs; question every purchase; set spending priorities; stop shopping as entertainment; quit comparing yourself with others.

Listen in and check out our blog to learn more about ways to start improving your monthly budget today.

26 Weeks Till Christmas

Lots of people are preparing for beach vacations. The furnace is turned off and the air conditioner is on. NOW is a great time to consider … Christmas! 

Don’t let Christmas catch you financially unprepared. We encourage you to avoid going into debt this Christmas and now is the right time to start planning so you can achieve that goal.

The Compass blog has more on staying out of debt for Christmas.