1 00:00:00,144 --> 00:00:03,534 Hey, yesterday we talked about needs versus wants Today. 2 00:00:03,534 --> 00:00:06,104 Let's zoom in on a super common want. 3 00:00:06,444 --> 00:00:08,484 That daily trip to the coffee shop. 4 00:00:09,114 --> 00:00:10,464 Think it's just a few bucks. 5 00:00:10,674 --> 00:00:13,614 Let's run the numbers and see the surprising impact 6 00:00:13,854 --> 00:00:15,294 it might be having for you. 7 00:01:00,930 --> 00:01:03,510 Hey there, and welcome back to Your Daily Ask Ralph. 8 00:01:03,510 --> 00:01:05,430 I'm Ralph and I'm so glad you're here. 9 00:01:05,430 --> 00:01:10,440 As we continue exploring the joy of living below your means, we're working 10 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:12,750 to break that cycle of financial shame. 11 00:01:12,920 --> 00:01:16,610 With confidence, we're getting into some specific actionable spending 12 00:01:16,610 --> 00:01:20,750 changes now, so I hope yesterday's needs versus once exercise was eyeopening. 13 00:01:22,050 --> 00:01:26,910 So maybe as you looked at your lunch yesterday, that daily, $4, $5, or maybe 14 00:01:26,910 --> 00:01:32,550 even $6 or, or coffee or fancy tea popped up, do you sometimes justify 15 00:01:32,550 --> 00:01:36,840 it thinking, well, it's just a small treat, or I, I need it to get going, 16 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:39,150 or, it's my one little indulgence? 17 00:01:39,930 --> 00:01:43,950 Maybe you dismiss it as insignificant in the grand scheme of your budget. 18 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:49,050 Or perhaps, you know, it all adds up, but the habit feels too ingrained. 19 00:01:49,050 --> 00:01:54,240 A convenience, too appealing or the idea of giving it up feels 20 00:01:54,240 --> 00:01:56,190 like too much of a sacrifice. 21 00:01:56,760 --> 00:02:01,050 Well, that tendency to overlook that cumulative cost of small daily want 22 00:02:01,050 --> 00:02:05,730 purchases, or the resistance to changing those convenient habits, even when 23 00:02:05,730 --> 00:02:07,890 we know they drain our resources. 24 00:02:08,340 --> 00:02:10,620 That's the single item we're tackling today. 25 00:02:11,535 --> 00:02:16,845 Here's the thing, small leaks can sink big ships while one $5 26 00:02:16,845 --> 00:02:22,035 coffee might not seem like much consistency adds up incredibly fast. 27 00:02:22,695 --> 00:02:26,415 Listen, about $5 a day, five days a week, guess what? 28 00:02:26,415 --> 00:02:28,095 That's a hundred dollars a month. 29 00:02:28,515 --> 00:02:32,565 That's $1,200 a year, and suddenly that small habit has 30 00:02:32,565 --> 00:02:34,605 a significant financial impact. 31 00:02:35,340 --> 00:02:38,460 Look at the book of Luke chapter 16, verse 10. 32 00:02:38,460 --> 00:02:44,370 It reminds us one who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much. 33 00:02:45,030 --> 00:02:49,500 See, part of good stewardship is paying attention to those very little things 34 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:54,930 'cause they demonstrate our discipline and impact our overall financial health. 35 00:02:55,560 --> 00:02:59,670 Sometimes convenience culture tricks us into thinking these little daily 36 00:02:59,670 --> 00:03:02,370 luxuries are needs when really. 37 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,490 They are truly once and we can control them. 38 00:03:06,330 --> 00:03:09,210 So how do we combat this death by a thousand cuts 39 00:03:09,210 --> 00:03:11,350 spending on small daily wants? 40 00:03:12,030 --> 00:03:16,470 How do we prove to ourselves that small changes do make a huge difference? 41 00:03:17,130 --> 00:03:19,950 Well, the single powerful solution is to conduct what I 42 00:03:19,950 --> 00:03:21,810 call a short term experiment. 43 00:03:22,170 --> 00:03:25,470 I want you to commit to brewing your coffee or tea at home instead of 44 00:03:25,470 --> 00:03:29,760 buying it and just do it for one month, thinking it as the 30 day challenge. 45 00:03:30,255 --> 00:03:31,845 Because it achieves two things. 46 00:03:31,935 --> 00:03:34,605 First thing it's gonna achieve is immediate savings. 47 00:03:34,905 --> 00:03:40,335 You instantly keep that $3, $5, $7, whatever it is in your pocket each day. 48 00:03:40,905 --> 00:03:44,895 The second thing it does is it demonstrates impact, and by tracking 49 00:03:44,895 --> 00:03:49,005 that savings for a month, you see tangible proof of how small consistent 50 00:03:49,035 --> 00:03:53,535 changes add up over time, and it builds up your discipline muscle. 51 00:03:54,315 --> 00:03:56,985 It's not necessary about giving it up forever, unless of course 52 00:03:56,985 --> 00:04:01,275 you want to, but about proving the principle and seeing the potential. 53 00:04:01,845 --> 00:04:05,355 Making your own at home cost pennies compared to the coffee shop. 54 00:04:06,165 --> 00:04:07,365 So the solution is this. 55 00:04:07,365 --> 00:04:08,955 It's a focused experiment. 56 00:04:09,315 --> 00:04:11,775 Skip the shop and brew it home for a month. 57 00:04:11,805 --> 00:04:14,925 So, okay, are you ready for that one action step today? 58 00:04:15,195 --> 00:04:17,115 It's a commitment for the next month. 59 00:04:17,325 --> 00:04:19,485 First thing I want you to do is calculate your habit. 60 00:04:19,485 --> 00:04:20,625 I want you to be honest. 61 00:04:20,985 --> 00:04:24,675 Ask yourself how often do you buy coffee or tea while you're out? 62 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:26,540 And what's the average cost? 63 00:04:26,900 --> 00:04:28,490 Just multiply it out for a month. 64 00:04:28,490 --> 00:04:34,100 For example, if you do a $4 a day, times 20 work days, that equals $80 65 00:04:34,100 --> 00:04:37,430 a month, and I want you to write down that potential savings number. 66 00:04:37,730 --> 00:04:40,460 Second thing I want you to do is make that commitment. 67 00:04:40,700 --> 00:04:44,930 Decide today that starting tomorrow morning and for the next 30 days, 68 00:04:45,110 --> 00:04:48,500 you're gonna brew your coffee or tea at home or, or maybe even get 69 00:04:48,500 --> 00:04:52,970 that free coffee at work if it's available instead of out and buying it. 70 00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:55,960 And third thing I want you to do is plan your alternative. 71 00:04:55,960 --> 00:04:59,500 You wanna make sure you have a plan with coffee, tea, cream, or whatever 72 00:04:59,500 --> 00:05:03,430 you do at home, so that you're ready for tomorrow morning and fourth. 73 00:05:03,430 --> 00:05:04,600 And this one's optional. 74 00:05:04,780 --> 00:05:08,350 I want you to earmark those savings, decide what you'll do with that 75 00:05:08,350 --> 00:05:11,830 extra 80 bucks in your budget, what, whatever your number is, or 76 00:05:12,070 --> 00:05:13,540 how much you'll save this month. 77 00:05:13,955 --> 00:05:18,215 Maybe you decide to put it towards debt or maybe help you build that emergency fund. 78 00:05:18,215 --> 00:05:21,575 Or maybe you've got that specific savings goal in mind. 79 00:05:22,145 --> 00:05:26,075 Because here's the truth, having a purpose fuels motivation. 80 00:05:26,615 --> 00:05:28,860 See, might be asking Ralph, why this 30 day challenge? 81 00:05:29,540 --> 00:05:34,265 I. Because it directly fights that pain of dismissing small expenses 82 00:05:34,745 --> 00:05:38,645 and it battles that resistance to changing convenient habits. 83 00:05:39,155 --> 00:05:42,845 See, it makes the savings concrete and it makes them visible. 84 00:05:43,235 --> 00:05:47,105 It builds your confidence that you can make changes, and it highlights 85 00:05:47,105 --> 00:05:52,025 the real financial power hidden in seemingly small daily choices. 86 00:05:52,415 --> 00:05:53,225 Well, let's pray together. 87 00:05:53,225 --> 00:05:56,735 Father God, thank you for simple pleasures, like a warm drink. 88 00:05:57,230 --> 00:06:01,430 Lord, help us also to have discipline and wisdom in how we spend those 89 00:06:01,430 --> 00:06:03,770 resources, even those small things. 90 00:06:04,190 --> 00:06:07,430 Lord, I pray for my friend listening as they commit to this 30 day 91 00:06:07,430 --> 00:06:08,990 challenge starting tomorrow. 92 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,100 Lord, grant them the strength to break the routine, the discipline to follow 93 00:06:13,100 --> 00:06:17,300 through each day, and the contentment with the alternative they make at home. 94 00:06:17,810 --> 00:06:21,830 Lord, we ask that this experiment reveal the power of small changes 95 00:06:22,310 --> 00:06:25,490 and encourage them in their journey towards better stewardship. 96 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,690 Thank you for your daily strength, Lord, and we ask this in Jesus' name. 97 00:06:30,230 --> 00:06:30,740 Amen. 98 00:06:31,250 --> 00:06:32,870 Alright, you can do this. 99 00:06:32,930 --> 00:06:33,980 It's just 30 days. 100 00:06:34,310 --> 00:06:36,950 Calculate those savings, make the commitment, and 101 00:06:36,950 --> 00:06:38,450 then see just what happens. 102 00:06:38,720 --> 00:06:40,220 You might even surprise yourself. 103 00:06:40,220 --> 00:06:42,290 I. So we've tackled the morning beverage. 104 00:06:42,470 --> 00:06:44,150 How about that midday meal? 105 00:06:44,390 --> 00:06:47,090 Well be sure to join me back here tomorrow on Ask Ralph. 106 00:06:47,090 --> 00:06:50,420 We're gonna talk about another potentially huge money saver. 107 00:06:50,690 --> 00:06:52,370 I'm gonna cover that on tomorrow's show. 108 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:56,330 And if this episode sparked a thought about your own daily habits, 109 00:06:56,540 --> 00:06:57,710 please share it with somebody. 110 00:06:58,070 --> 00:07:02,480 You can find resources and links in the show notes and@askralph.com. 111 00:07:02,750 --> 00:07:07,880 So until tomorrow, brew Strong at home and keep seeking him first. 112 00:07:08,090 --> 00:07:10,970 Stay financially savvy and may God bless you. 113 00:07:11,270 --> 00:07:12,590 You have a great day today.