You ever walk into a store and you're automatically pulled towards that shiny

the package, that brand new product.

You tell yourself, I deserve this.

It'll last longer.

Just easier to buy new stuff.

But deep down you feel that twinge of guilt 'cause your budget's super tight,

your closet's full and your peace.

Well, that's a little drain right now.

What if I told you buying used didn't mean buying less than, but actually

might be buying more, more margin, more joy, and ultimately more purpose.

Today we're gonna talk about finding freedom by choosing secondhand first.

That's what we're gonna cover on today's show.

Hey friend.

Welcome back to your daily, financially Confident Christian.

I'm Ralph and I'm so glad that you're here joining me as we pursue that big question.

How can I become a financially confident Christian?

And we continue on our series beyond the Budget, really finding financial freedom

through choosing intentional living.

Now, if you missed yesterday's show, we talked all about mindful spending.

I'm encourage you to go check that out if you missed it.

And today we're talking about is there joy and better than that

savings in buying stuff secondhand.

So let's talk today.

Picture this, you are out shopping for a coffee table.

Maybe you're scrolling online or, or maybe you're actually out physically shopping.

You walk into Target, you're walking through the furniture, and next

thing you go, boom, there it is.

Brand new, perfect style, perfect color.

It'll fit exactly in the place where you want to put it in a room, and

it's got a low price of only $289.

And instantly your heart says, yes, I gotta have that.

But your bank account says, not today.

But still you justify it.

But what if you took a few extra minutes, just a couple of extra minutes and

thought, Hmm, I wonder if I checked Facebook Marketplace, and what if I was

able to find that exact same style, barely used for, listen to this, only 60 bucks.

See, this isn't just about coffee tables, it's jackets, it's kids' bikes.

It's those books you wanna read.

It's those blenders for the kitchen.

See, we live in a world wire to worship the new, but that addiction,

that addiction to the new, it's expensive and it's exhausting

from a financial perspective.

But here's the thing.

You gotta understand, buying secondhand isn't just smart, it's spiritual.

Now you're wondering, how is Ralph gonna tie this in?

Well, let me tell you right now, Let's look at the book

of John chapter six, verse 12.

It says this, when they all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples,

gather the pieces that are left over.

Let nothing be wasted.

See, Jesus himself didn't waste leftovers.

He saw value even in the extra scraps of a miracle.

Let's look at Proverbs chapter 21, verse 20.

It says this, I've used this on the show many times.

The Wise Store Up Choice Food in Olive Oil, but Fools Gulp, there's down.

Think about that for a second.

The Wise Store Up.

Choice, but the fool's gulp, there's down.

See, that means something very important to what we're talking about today, and

it's what this whole series is about.

That means the wise are intentional.

See if you wanna be wise, you save, you preserve, and you

don't devour everything at once.

Buying everything new and see, here's my connection and I truly believe this.

Buying secondhand reflects that same mindset.

Think about it for a minute.

It's wise, it's budget friendly, it's resourceful, and it's

environmentally respectful.

And most of all, this is why you listen to the show.

It's faithful stewardship.

So now you're asking Ralph, what can we do?

How do we even start that?

Lemme just tell you right now.

It's not complicated.

It's really pretty simple.

Just look for secondhand options before defaulting to that.

NEW Default setting.

Just pause and check first.

So here's your one action step for today.

I want you to start by identifying one thing you need.

Think of something you need in the next 30, 60, or 90 days even.

Maybe you need a new bookshelf for the kids going back to school, or you

need a coat for the fall and winter.

Maybe you need a blender for the kitchen, or hey, maybe you've

got that, that vacation scheduled and you need that suitcase.

So start by that.

Think of something you're gonna need in the next 30, 60, or 90 days in this.

Write that down.

Then I just want you to go search secondhand first.

So before you buy new check places like Facebook Marketplace or

Craigslist or offer up, hey, even take a trip out to local thrift

stores, or, Hey, here's an idea.

Go online and instead of going to Amazon, go to eBay.

Maybe it's a book you need, look at some used bookstores.

Or, Hey, here's a great idea.

Look at some of those Church swap groups.

So that's the first thing.

Determine what you want.

Second thing, look at some secondhand marketplaces.

And third thing, it's where you're gonna make a little commitment.

Commit to trying secondhand, Hey, even if it's just once, just one item.

If it works, celebrate.

If not, there's no shame.

Listen, I'm gonna tell you I did this personally, remember when I started

my own practice back 20 years ago?

I was setting up a new business, setting up a new office, and man,

I was on a shoestring budget.

Lemme tell you, shoestring is an understatement.

Well, I was looking at new furniture.

I needed some desks, I needed some guest chairs, all that sort of thing.

I'm looking and I'm like, I can never afford this stuff.

Well, then somebody said to me, Hey Ralph, did you know there's

a secondhand office supply place?

It wasn't too far from where we are.

Let me tell you right now.

I went in there and the stuff was absolutely beautiful.

I mean, wood desks that were made like they were made a century ago, and

the best part, I outfitted my whole office for what I would've spent on

one desk if I went the new route.

Now, eventually I did upgrade some, but man, it was the way to get started.

If you do the same thing, you're exercising a muscle of stewardship

and you're exercising a muscle of self-discipline, you might

be saying, Ralph, why does this well, well, it helps this way.

It saves money, it reduces waste, and hey, it's creative

and it can be joyful discipline.

And it keeps you focused on your values.

Not that consumer pressure to always buy new.

Hey, it's all around us.

Buy new.

You gotta have this new thing.

I talk about this on the show all the time, but this really helps you

stay focused on your values and not succumb to that consumer pressure.

How about we pray together?

Father God, thank you for every good gift and every resource

you've already provided.

Lord, we just ask you to forgive us for our waste and for defaulting to that

excess setting in our lives, for chasing new when you've already given us enough.

Teach us to see the value in what others overlook, Lord.

Help us become more mindful, more joyful, and in the end,

more creative with how we live.

Give us courage to break the world's pattern of always wanting more and

always wanting new, and help us to instead walk in contentment, walk

in stewardship, and walk in peace.

And we ask this in confidence.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Friend.

Secondhand isn't second best.

I've done it myself, and I'm gonna encourage you to do the same thing.

It's wise, it's freeing, and in the end it's purposeful.

So try it, even if it's just one item, and let that small step grow

your confidence, then pass it along.

Just like this episode, I'm gonna encourage you to pass this episode

to somebody you know, Hey, just send him a simple text message or an email

and say, Hey, I listened to this guy Ralph, on financially confident

Christian, and he had a great idea about buying stuff secondhand.

Point them to our website that's at financially confident christian.com.

And while you're there, grab a free copy of my book.

Everybody gets a free copy of my book.

It's called Mastering Your Finances.

And again, you get that@financiallyconfidentchristian.com

slash master.

Now, I wanna encourage you again to join me tomorrow as we

explore how learning new skills.

Hey listen, we're gonna talk about learning some new skills that

can save you some serious money.

And more importantly than that, help you walk in financial

confidence moving forward.

So until then, stay faithful.

Stay financially savvy, stay financially confident.

You got this.

I believe in you.

Believe in yourself.

Let's all go out there and be financially confident.

Christians.

God bless you and you have a great day today.