Can I Use Credit Wisely Without Falling Into Debt?

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Credit cards, loans, credit scores.

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It's a world that can feel confusing, it can feel overwhelming, and let's

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be honest, downright terrifying.

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Especially if you've been burned by credit before.

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You're probably asking yourself, is it even possible to touch credit without

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falling back into that debt trap?

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Maybe you think it's the devil's tool, maybe you just don't trust yourself.

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But what if I told you that avoiding credit entirely might

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actually be holding you back?

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Stick with me today 'cause we're tackling that uncomfortable truth on today's show.

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Hey there.

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Welcome back to your Daily, financially Confident Christian.

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I'm Ralph and it's great to connect with you again today.

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This is the show that helps you answer that question.

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How can I become a financially confident Christian?

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As we continue our series dealing with the stress of money worries, we've

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made huge strides tackling existing debt and building habits to prevent new

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debt, like avoiding those impulse buys and strengthening your emergency fund.

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Today we're gonna dive headfirst into a topic that often feels

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like a minefield credit.

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For too many credit has been a source of crushing stress and soul sucking debt.

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It's the monster under the bed, the financial boogeyman

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for them and for others.

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It's a necessary tool, the key to buying a home, securing a car, or

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even building a successful business.

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So let's get real today.

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Can you actually use credit wisely in your financial life?

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Without falling back into the stress and trap of debt.

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And look, I get it.

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Maybe he was sworn off credit cards entirely.

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You cut them up, you burn them, you bury them in the backyard.

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'cause they caused you so much difficulty in the past.

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You say to yourself, I, I've been there, I've done that.

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I've got the t-shirt and I've also got that overwhelming

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interest statements to prove it.

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Perhaps, you know, deep down you might need credit someday for a major purchase,

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maybe a home, a car, an education.

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But the very thought of using it fills you with paralyzing anxiety.

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You have this very real fear that you won't be able to handle

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it responsibly, and you fear repeating those past mistakes again.

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The struggle here is intense.

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It's that tension between the perceived necessity or benefit of credit in

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today's world and the very real, visceral fear of overspending, of

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accumulating, crippling interest and ending up back in that suffocating

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cycle of debt stress, and maybe you feel like it's an all or nothing game.

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Either you avoid credit completely and potentially limit your future,

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or you risk financial ruin.

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See this lack of understanding or confidence in using credit responsibly

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isn't just an inconvenience for many.

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It's a source of ongoing stress for countless financially

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confident Christians.

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It's a silent battle that many of you are fighting.

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But here's the bombshell.

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Credit itself is not evil.

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Let that sink in for a minute.

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Credit itself is not evil.

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It's not the devil's tool.

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It's simply a tool.

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And like any tool, a hammer, a knife, or even your tongue, It can

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be used for incredible good or for terrible harm, depending entirely

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on the user's wisdom and discipline.

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Think about it.

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Building a good credit history can be an act of why stewardship.

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It opens doors, it allows you to obtain favorable terms on a mortgage,

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potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars over the lifetime of a loan.

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It can be the difference between pursuing a dream and being stuck,

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but here's the catch, the crucial, often ignored truth is this.

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It requires strict God-given self-control.

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This connects directly to biblical principles of wisdom to biblical

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principles of self-discipline and managing the resources that God

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has entrusted to us faithfully.

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See, using credit wisely isn't just about financial savvy.

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It's about managing a powerful tool with diligence, with self-control, and trusting

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God for the discipline needed to avoid.

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Its very real pitfalls.

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It's about you using the tool for your benefit, for your freedom rather

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than letting the tool control you and enslave you and steal your peace.

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So what can we do?

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How do you, my friend who's listening right now, navigate this treacherous

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world of credit in a way that builds your financial health without leading it

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straight back to debt and back to stress.

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My single essential and non-negotiable solution is this, You must

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approach credit usage with strict faith fueled self-discipline.

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Committing to only charging what you can already afford, and paying off the entire

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statement balance every single month.

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Yes, you heard me right Every single month.

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And listen, this isn't some trick.

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It's the only way.

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It's the only way that you can use credit as a convenience, as

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a tool to build credit history, never as a way to spend money.

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You don't actually have.

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That's what gets so many people in trouble.

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They spend money they don't have, and this radical commitment is the key

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to using credit as a convenience or what we'll call a score building tool,

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not as a means of borrowing money.

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You don't have, or worse money that you cannot even pay back.

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So here's my one undeniable action step for today, specifically

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focused on using credit responsibly.

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This is where the rubber meets the road, as they say.

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If you have credit cards, you've got to make this agreement.

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I commit to pay in full.

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If you currently have one or more credit cards, make a concrete

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binding commitment to yourself today.

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Right now, as you listen.

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Moving forward, you will only use them for purchases that are already budgeted

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for and for which you and hear me on this part, and for which you already

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have the cash available to pay for it.

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And your goal is to pay that statement balance off in full every single

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month before any interest accrues.

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This means that you will never, never pay interest.

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You will pay zero interest.

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Now, you're probably thinking, Ralph, how does this help?

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How can this really make a difference?

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Here's how this single action plan, it directly fights that struggle of

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accumulating that high interest debt.

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It allows you to potentially benefit from using credit, like building that

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crucial credit score or earning those credit reward points without devastating

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cost of interest, and that sole crushing stress that debt puts on so many people.

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It just reinforces self-discipline.

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It keeps you firmly in control of your spending.

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It aligns your credit usage with your budget, with your financial

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goals, and hear me on this part, and most importantly, with your faith.

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Well, let's pray together.

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Father God, thank you for giving us the capacity for wisdom and Lord,

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the capacity for self-control.

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We confess that using credit can feel incredibly risky, and we sometimes

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struggle with the overwhelming temptation to overspend, to fall into the trap,

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Lord, Please grant us the discipline needed to use credit responsibly.

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Help us to see it as a tool.

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Nothing more, not a means to live beyond our means,

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Lord.

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Strengthen our resolve to pay off any credit card balance

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in full every single month.

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And Lord, we just ask that you will protect us from the pitfalls of debt and

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guide us in using all of our financial tools in a way that honors you and in a

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way that brings us true lasting peace.

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And we ask this in confidence.

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In Jesus' name, Amen.

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My friend, responsible credit usage is not just possible.

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It's a critical component of truly confident financial living, but it

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does demand constant vigilance and it does demand strong self-control.

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So commit to paying at balance in full each month.

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It's the absolute non-negotiable key to using credit without the stress of debt.

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This is not just a suggestion.

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It's a command for your financial freedom.

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And if navigating credit feels challenging, do me a favor and

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share this episode with someone else who may be struggling.

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There's other people who are battling this same thing right now, and you can

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find resources and connect with the show at our website that's at financially

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confident christian.com, and I've got a special gift for you on your journey.

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For the first 100 listeners who go to financially confident

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christian.com/master, I'm gonna give you a free copy of my book.

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It's called Mastering Your Finances.

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It's quick and it's a powerful read, designed as a starting point to help

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you break that cycle of financial shame and step into confidence.

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Again, go to financially confident christian.com/master

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to get your free copy today.

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Now tomorrow we're gonna be peeling back the curtain on understanding your credit

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report and your credit score and what those numbers really mean and how they

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directly impact your financial future.

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So you don't wanna miss it.

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So make sure you join me tomorrow.

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Now, let's all go out there and be financially confident.

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Christians, you can do this.

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I have confidence in you.

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Have confidence in yourself.

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Stay financially savvy.

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God bless you, and you have a great day today.

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I.