Smart Money Moves In Uncertain Times

How to Protect and Optimize Your Finances

April is Financial Literacy Awareness Month.

With all the financial noise filling our feeds lately, I wanted to take a moment to share some practical steps that can help improve your financial plan while increasing financial literacy.

In times of uncertainty, our natural reaction is often to panic and hoard resources. However, with the market being as volatile as it is, we want to avoid making hasty decisions that could harm our long term outlook. Instead of fixating on the market and investment balances right now, let’s shift our focus to what we can control: our mindset, our spending, and our stewardship.

Here is a 5-step check up to do on your financial journey right now.

Step 1: Assessing Your Financial Situation

Start by checking in with your financial health. Evaluate your income, expenses, debts, savings and investments. If you are in a crisis, the first step is to stop the bleeding. This means assessing where the damage is coming from and do what you can to stop it. For our purposes, that means taking a look at your financial situation as a whole. Where is the pressure point? The objective for this step is to get a full scan- to find what’s working, what’s hurting, and what can be adjusted right now.

Financial planning begins with knowing where we stand. It starts with taking full inventory and identifying what needs immediate attention. Luke 14:28 says “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” Before we can build a strong financial future, we must first lay a solid foundation. That can start with getting an idea of our starting point.

Step 2: Reevaluating Your Budget

Once you’ve assessed your situation, it’s time to revisit your budget. Or, what I refer to it as, your spending plan. Start with fixed expenses first to make sure all the necessities are covered: housing, utilities, transportation. Then, the discretionary expenses, or controllable expenses, things like groceries, entertainment, and eating out. Some quick fixes to lower these can look like shopping with coupons, discounts, or checking prices ahead of time to compare store prices and making a grocery list. Car pooling or errand stacking while you’re already out. A few dollars here or there add up over time or can be allocated to something else. Cutting non-essentials temporarily can help redirect funds toward more important goals like savings or a debt reduction.

Being intentional with every dollar may sound like a burden, but the payoff comes true financial freedom and achieving long term goals. When everything else in the market seems to be out of control, focusing on your discretionary expenses is one thing you can control that will make a difference. “The wise store up choice food and olive oil, but fools gulp theirs down.” Proverbs 21:20. This verse highlights how important it is to make progress away from living paycheck to paycheck, but to be more intentional with our dollars and save even in small ways. It also reminds us that wisdom isn’t just about saving for the future, it’s also about learning to pause and prioritize.

Step 3: Emergency Fund

Unexpected expenses do not check the calendar. That’s why it is always important to have an emergency fund. A recommended amount is usually 3-6 months of living of expenses in an easily accessible account, like a high yield savings account. The mission for these dollars is to provide some cushion should something unexpected happen. This is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline.

Creating an emergency fund helps protect your peace when it comes to anxiety of what-ifs. Matthew 6:34 says “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Don’t allow yourself to be consumed by potential future outcomes. Having that emergency fund will help you build faith driven preparation.

Step 4: Managing Debt Wisely

If debt is a part of your picture, make it a top priority. High-interest debt, like credit cards, can quickly get out of hand. This not only causes extra anxiety and stress; it also can create more of a threat for uncertain times. If you don’t have a debt repayment strategy yet, start with the snowball method. Paying off the smallest debts first so those dollars can make a bigger impact later. As those debts clear away, it allows more breathing room to focus on the next goal.

Proverbs 22:7 says “the borrower is slave to the lender.” Debt can be a heavy weight financially and emotionally. God encourages us to stay debt free to relieve ourselves of that burden. If debt is a part of your current journey, eliminating it will put you back in control and bring peace and freedom.

Step 5: Reviewing Investments in Volatile Markets

As mentioned last week, we cannot control the markets, but we can control our reactions. This is not a time to rely on emotions to make investment choices. Stay the course by using a long term approach, investing intentionally and strategically is the objective. For a more detailed approach on this step, please check out my post on Overcoming Fears in Investing: (https://financiallyunbroken.substack.com/p/overcoming-fear-in-investing ).

1 Timothy 6:17 “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” Markets may shift, but our faith is in God who provides. Keeping a long-term mindset rooted in faith can keep you grounded when the world feels unstable.

Step 6: Boosting Income in Challenging Times

If money feels tight, or your job situation is uncertain, consider looking for ways to generate additional income. Freelancing, side gigs or part time employment, tutoring or even selling unused items from around the house can provide some temporary relief while you look for long-term solutions.

Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” In this verse, we can read that God provides and trusting Him to those provisions bring faith and peace. Trust that God is not just watching your situation, but actively working behind the scenes.

Conclusion

As you take steps to protect and optimize your finances, remember this journey is more than just numbers. Financial literacy is about making informed decisions, but financial wisdom comes from aligning those decisions with God’s principles.

True peace is not found in account balances, it’s found in being a faithful steward, grounded in contentment, no matter the season.

Bible Verses to Reflect On

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!”- Matthew 25:21

“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.” - 1 Timothy 6:17

“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” - Matthew 6:34