A margin mindset, not a budget mindset.

Organize your finances into four buckets. Take your income that you make right now and put it into these buckets, and set a goal to live 70-10-10-10 over a long period.

1. 10%
   Tithe
2. 10%
   Giving
3. 10%
   Saving
4. 70%
   Bills and life

Tithing is an honor issue, and it is an order issue. If you aren’t currently putting God first, that needs to become your chief financial goal. Could you do 1%? 5%?

Housing

no more than 30%

Housing costs include mortgage, taxes, HOA, and insurance. 30% is actually an aggressive number; many financial advisors will tell you no more than 28%. Aim for a home priced at a maximum of three times your yearly earnings.

Insurance

10–25%

Insurance is a non-negotiable if you want to be wise. If you have kids, term-life insurance should be non-negotiable; the ideal amount is 10–12× your annual income.

Food and groceries

10–15%

Including restaurants.

Transportation

no more than 10%

A car payment is often one of the largest drains on a family's monthly cash flow. Cars lose 15–25% of their value per year. Pay a car note off as soon as possible and drive that car as long as you can.

Utilities

5–15%

Health

5–10%

Supplements, gym memberships, etc.

Recreation / fun / toys

5–10%

Date nights, fun experiences with your family, Netflix, movies, concerts. This margin is not supposed to be a monthly bill. Toys are not bills. If you want a boat and cannot pay cash for it, you cannot afford the boat.

What's left

5–20%

Developing these margins can leave you with 5–20% monthly of money you can do whatever you want with. That is your margin.

The path of savings is: first, 6 months of expenses. Second, fund your retirement. Third, invest. Save 10% monthly until you have 6 months of basic living costs in your short-term savings. These savings should be kept at all times. Once you have built your 6-month savings margin, then put that money into retirement and investments, and do so for the rest of your life. Retirement is money you put into safe investments and never touch, no matter what. An investment is money you can afford to lose.

Many people treat credit cards like loans. They are tools, not loans. Credit card balances should be paid off completely at the end of the month. No exceptions. If a person has credit card debt, it is proof that they are living beyond their means. If you have debt like personal loans or credit cards that need to be paid off, contribute at least 10% of your income per month to your debt instead of savings until it's completely paid off.

1. 1

   Put God First (Tithe 10%)

   “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the best part of everything you produce.” — Proverbs 3:9

   The first 10% reminds you that God is your source, not your job, business, or talent. Honor creates order, and order creates blessing.

2. 2

   Create Financial Margins (70-10-10-10 Rule)

   “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get.” — Proverbs 21:20

   Most financial stress comes from living with no margin. The 70/30 principle teaches you to live below your means so you can create peace, freedom, and flexibility. Tithe 10%. Give (over and above) 10%. Save 10%. Use 70% however you want.

3. 3

   Pay Yourself Second

   “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones… they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter.” — Proverbs 6:6-8

   Saving is stewardship. Wise people think ahead instead of consuming everything at the moment. What you consistently save today becomes both security and opportunity tomorrow.

4. 4

   Put 10% into Retirement and Never Touch It

   “But divide your investments among many places, for you do not know what risks might lie ahead.” — Ecclesiastes 11:2

   Consistency, patience, and time are the foundations of long-term wealth. Retirement savings are not emergency money or spending money; they are future money. Never borrow from your future to fund your present.

5. 5

   Seek to Give 10%+ to Advance God's Kingdom

   “God loves a person who gives cheerfully.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7

   God blesses us not just so we can increase our lifestyle, but so we can increase our impact.

6. 6

   Don't Love Money, Love People with Your Money

   “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” — 1 Timothy 6:10

   Money is a tool, not a god. When you love money, you eventually use people. When you love people, you use money to bless, serve, build, and help others.

7. 7

   An Investment Is Only an Investment if It Creates Passive Income

   “Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.” — Proverbs 13:11

   Not everything that increases in value is a true investment. The best investments produce ongoing income and create long-term stability.

8. 8

   Develop a Talent That Can Be Monetized

   “Do you see any truly competent workers? They will serve kings rather than working for ordinary people.” — Proverbs 22:29

   God put gifts inside you that can add value to others if you develop them into talents. Your gift becomes a talent when you develop it, and your talent becomes income when it adds value to the marketplace.

9. 9

   Develop Multiple Streams of Income

   “Plant your seed in the morning and keep busy all afternoon, for you don't know if profit will come from one activity or another—or maybe both.” — Ecclesiastes 11:6

   A single revenue stream might disappear. Multiple streams create stability and resilience. If God has given you multiple gifts, ideas, or opportunities, develop them wisely instead of depending on only one source.

10. 10

    Have a Long-Term Financial Plan

    “But don't begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it?” — Luke 14:28

    Wise people build intentionally for the long term. Without a long-term financial plan, emotions and impulse will control your money.