What’s One Thing I Can Do in 30 Minutes to Feel Less Behind Financially?

Speaker A00:00:37

If you feel behind financially, everything starts to feel heavy. Even those small decisions feel exhausting. And you don't need a full budget today. You don't need some spreadsheet or a total life reset.You just need a win. I mean, a real win, something you can do in 30 minutes that makes you feel steadier and remind you of something. I'm not stuck moving.Let's do that on today's show. Hello, friend Ralph Estep Jr. Here.This is financially confident Christian, where every day my goal is to help you break that cycle of financial shame and truly live in confidence. And today's topic is all about building that confidence. Just one thing you can do in 30 minutes to feel less behind financially.Let's get right into today's listener question. Here's today's listener's questions. Ralph I'm so far behind and I just need to feel like I'm doing something right.I don't have the energy or time for a complete overhaul. I just need one small win in the next half hour that'll make me feel less like I'm drowning.What is one thing I can do right now that'll actually make my finances feel steadier? Any progress, even if it's tiny?I was so happy to get that question because I think so many times we get hung up on the big goals of life, those big financial goals of retirement and savings and buying a home, buying a car. We don't think about those little wins that help to fuel that progress.And one of the things that I think really leans into this is what I call clarity. You listen to my show. You know, I talk about clarity all the time. Clarity creates calm even before the money changes.So today I want to give you a very practical tool. It's what I call the 30 minute money snapshot. This isn't some fancy budget. It's just a snapshot. We're not trying to fix everything.We're just going to turn the lights on in the room so we can see what's going on. And, and here's how you do it. Number one thing, get yourself an egg timer or some kind of countdown.Set a timer for 30 minutes, not when I feel like it, not later. Set that timer right now when you're ready to do this. Because time boundaries reduce that overwhelm. This is a short mission, not a life sentence.So find 30 minutes, put it on your calendar, and I'm telling you, invest 30 minutes in yourself. Once you do that, here's what you're going to do during that 30 minutes. I want you to write down three numbers only. Just get a piece of paper.If you want to use your notes app, that fine, doesn't matter to me. I just want you to write three numbers.I want you to write down the money you have right now, what's in your checking account, what's in your savings account, whatever account you have. Write down the money you have right now. Second step, write down the bills that are due in the next seven days. Only the next seven days.I'm not talking about two weeks from now, a month from now, that mountain you see in front of it. Just seven days. And then write down the minimum payments you've got to make for your credit cards.I'm talking about the minimums, the loan minimums, not the big, hairy, audacious goals of paying it off. That's it. This isn't a time of doing math gymnastics. You're just looking at reality and you're seeing with clarity where you are.So you've got the idea. Set that timer, break down those three things and encircle one must pay bill. Pick that bill that causes the most damage if it gets missed.A lot of us will be off rent or our mortgage. We don't want to be homeless. Or that electric bill you don't want to be. No lights on in the middle of the day. Maybe it's that car payment.You got to have that car to get to and from work. Maybe it's insurance or that critical minimum payment because you don't want to wreck that credit score again.But just circle one of those must pay bills. Because progress starts with one protected domino. Ever set up dominoes? I remember as a kid, I thought dominoes were cool.You set up, you get about 200 of these dominoes, and you set one after another, and you just barely touch that first one. It goes, well, that's what I'm talking about here. You want to have that win?Well, create that one domino, and then once you do that, choose one action that protects that bill. Just one action. For example, you could schedule that payment right now. You've circled that bill. You know, this one is. It's got to get done.Go ahead and schedule it. I'm a big proponent of electronic bill payment or going online and scheduling that. Maybe you're in a place where you need some help.Make that call right now and ask for an extension of that bill. Maybe you move the money into that bills account.If you've listened to me, we talked about having a separate bills account or a separate bills folder. Maybe you're struggling right now and it's time to think about being a little leaner. Maybe cancel one of those non essential subscriptions.Maybe things are real tight. You need to sell something today. There's no shame in that. Sell one item today to get that pressure away from you.Maybe text one of your friends, a person you rely on, and say, hey, can you help me brainstorm $50 by Friday? I got this bill coming up and I'm not sure how I'm going to do it. Use the resources at your disposal.I'm not trying to help you solve your whole life. There's a lot going on probably in most of our lives. But I want to help you protect one bill and start to regain some control.And once you've done that, then I want to encourage you to create a next step list. And on that thing, I just want you to put two items. Just write down the next two steps you're going to do tomorrow.Not 10 things, not a big old long list. For example, just two things, maybe for you. You're going to check my next pay date. Well, when's my next payroll coming so I'll know what to do.Because if you plan ahead of time, you'll be more successful. Or maybe list the next three bills that are going to hit after this Friday.Because what I have found in practice and in my own life, those small steps build trust with yourself again. And that's where we've got to start. Your question today tells me you don't trust yourself. Your question tells me you need that winning.You need something to just say, you know, I'm going to be okay. And listen, hear me on this. You don't need to be perfect. You just need some direction. So here's my encouragement, my one win for today.I want to really encourage you. Do that 30 minute money snapshot. Like I said, three numbers, one must pay bill and one protective action.Because that's progress, that's leadership, and that's truly biblical stewardship. Well, let's look at the Bible right now. Let's look at the Book of Matthew, chapter 6, verse 34.This is one of those verses that you've got to guard your heart in and just anchor yourself in this. Matthew 6:34. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.That is so true, isn't it? But what God is calling us to do is to handle today faithfully, not carry tomorrow's weight all at once.Because let me tell you, friend, you can't do it. God's given you enough for today and he's with you in this whole cycle.How about we pray right now, Father God, today's question person, they feel behind, they feel tired. And Lord, you see the pressure that they're carrying. You see the pressure that so many of us are carrying.So right now, Lord, I just ask for your peace. Not some fake peace, not some fake, you're going to be okay. I'm talking about a steady, grounded peace in you.I ask right now that you would give them courage to face today's reality. Break that feeling of panic and break that feeling of shame, Lord, and help them take just one small step that restores that clarity and control.And Lord, remind them they're not alone, they're not failing. They're actually learning to walk wisely and you're with them every step of the way. And we ask this in Jesus name. Amen. Friend.I want to encourage you right now. That small, faithful step that you can take today can actually change your whole week. Honestly, it can change your whole life.And if you've got a question, just like today's question or any of the questions we've been answering, I would love to hear from you. That's what fuels my passion. I love helping people. I love helping you. I love to put my arm around you and say, hey, let's figure this out together.That's the reason I do this show. That's why I put so much time and effort into this. And if you've got a question, I want to hear your question.Super simple way to get it to me is to go to financiallyconfidentchristian.com/question we'll put a link in the show notes, but I'm going to give you that again so you can write it down.Listen to me, if you've got a question for this show, I want to hear from you. It's financiallyconfidentChristian.com/question i want to thank you so much for joining me today. Got a little heavy today.I know that it's a lot of burdens on all of our hearts, but I just want to encourage you. You can do this. God is with you. He's not left you or he's not forsaken you. So stay financially savvy today.May God bless you and you truly have a great day today.