Are you tired of that Sunday night dread?

Knowing your bank account is almost empty again.

Does the phrase paycheck to paycheck feel like your personal motto these days?

What if I told you there's a different way, a way to build a

solid financial foundation step by step with guidance rooted in faith?

Well, on today's Ask Ralph Show, we're breaking free from the cycle.

You don't want to miss this.

Hello everyone and welcome back to the Ask Ralph Show.

I'm your host, Ralph Estep Jr. And I'm so glad you've joined us today.

For those of you who are new to the show, our mission here is pretty simple to help

you break free from the cycle of financial shame and build confidence in managing

your money all through a Christian lens.

Today we're tackling a topic that I know resonates with so many of us, and that's

feeling like you're constantly running on empty living paycheck to paycheck.

Are you tired of that never ending cycle?

Do you dream of a future where your finances feel solid and secure?

Well, if you do your in the right place, because today.

We're gonna start building that solid foundation for your financial

future, step by step, guided by timeless biblical principles.

Now, maybe you can relate to this feeling I, I know I felt this way many times.

I recently heard from a listener, let's call her Caroline,

who wrote in saying this.

She said this.

She said, Ralph.

I have a good job.

I really do.

But by the time the next payroll rolls around, I feel like I'm

scraping the bottom of the barrel.

It's exhausting, and honestly, it makes me feel like I'm failing somehow.

I wanna be a good steward of what God has given me, but I just don't

know how to break this cycle.

Well, Caroline, let me just start by thanking you for your honesty.

Your story is not unique, and today we're gonna find some.

Some answers to help you get to where you want to go to.

So what's the first thing we need to understand?

And listen, this took me years to understand.

It's the foundation of how we view our finances as Christians,

and the foundation is this.

God owns it all.

Now, that may seem very controversial, but let me explain.

The Book of Psalms, chapter 24, verse one tells us the earth is

the Lord's and everything in it, the world and all who live in it.

So think about that for a minute.

We are not the ultimate owners, we are stewards or managers of the

resources God has entrusted to us.

Now you're probably asking Ralph, why in the world is this important?

And I'll tell you why.

Because it shifts our perspective entirely.

It's not just our money to do with as we please and hear me on this.

Instead, we need to ask ourselves this question.

I. How can I best manage these resources in a way that honors God?

See, this understanding should influence every decision we make about earning the

decisions we make about spending, the decisions we make about saving and giving.

I. Imagine if you will, you're put in charge of a valuable piece of property.

Now, picture this in your mind.

It's a beautiful home.

Everything is just perfect.

You've got that manicured lawn, that white picket fence.

I mean, you can see this place gleaming as you drive or walk past.

Well, you wouldn't just let it fall into disrepair, would you?

No.

You take care of it.

You plan for its upkeep and use it wisely.

Well, listen, our finances are the same.

They are a tool that God has given us and he wants us to use them responsibly.

So what's the actionable take away here and listen, I always wanna give

you action items because ideas are great, but putting your ideas into

action is where true results happen.

So here it is.

Start viewing your finances through the lens of stewardship.

Ask yourself this, how can I honor God with my money today?

This simple shift in mindset can be the first step towards breaking

that paycheck to paycheck cycle.

I.

So now that we've laid that foundation, let's talk about some practical steps

that you can take to move away from that living paycheck to paycheck.

And here's my first one.

Step number one, create a God-honoring budget.

Now, I know the word budget.

That can sometimes feel restrictive, but think of it as a plan

or a roadmap for your money.

Start by tracking your income.

That's your net income, what you actually take home.

Listen, just look at your paycheck or the amount that hits your bank account.

It's really that simple.

Then what I want you to do for a month is track every single expense.

You might be surprised at where your money is actually going.

Listen, there are some great apps and even some simple spreadsheets

that can help you with this.

One of the ones that.

I love is called Simplifi, and that's from Intuit.

It's very affordable and gives you the information you need.

Listen, and a pen and paper are fine as well.

Here's the key.

The key is keeping track of the data.

Then once you know where your money's going, you can start making

intentional choices about where you.

Want it to go prioritize your tithe, prioritize those needs, and

then start looking at your wants.

Now I like to call a budget an intentional spending plan because

we'll choose to do those things that we set our intentions on.

Now let's move to step two, and that's prioritize savings, even if it's small.

The Bible encourages us to save and plan for the future, and

I can already hear you saying.

Yeah, right Ralph, I can't even figure out how to pay my existing bills.

Now you want me to save, but hear me on this.

It might seem impossible when you're living paycheck to paycheck,

but even setting aside a small percentage of each paycheck can

make a huge difference over time.

Consider automating a small transfer from your checking account

to a separate savings account.

Each payday.

Here's what I'm gonna encourage you to do.

Treat it like a bill.

It's a bill that you have to pay.

Basically pay yourself first, and this can help you build a buffer

for those unexpected expenses, which is key to breaking this cycle.

Listen, I know when I was struggling years ago, I simply

started by putting $20 per pay.

In a separate savings account.

It was just an an automatic thing.

I never even saw it in my checking account.

Well, guess what?

I was just looking before I recorded this episode and I still do that today.

And that money just continues to grow.

See, 'cause it's all about starting that habit and breaking that cycle.

I know that making these changes can feel overwhelming and,

and maybe even a little scary.

Listen, I was scared when I was going through it.

You might be carrying guilt about those past financial decisions

you've made or, or maybe you're feeling discouraged because of

where you find yourself right now.

But I wanna encourage you today, remember, change takes time, and it's

all about progress, not perfection.

That's what really matters because here's the big takeaway for today's show.

God's grace is sufficient and he wants to walk alongside you in this journey.

Think about the story of the ant.

That's a funny story to tell it in the book of Proverbs, chapter

six, verses six through eight, it talks about the story of the ant.

So picture this in your mind, one of those colonies of ants.

I, I remember having one of those cool ant farms when I was a kid.

The ant diligently prepares for the future, not out.

Fear, not at, not outta if you're at all, but out of wisdom.

See, we can learn from this building.

A solid financial foundation isn't about becoming wealthy overnight.

And listen, I'm gonna tell you right now, if that's what you're looking for.

This is not the show for you.

I'm not gonna be able to tell you how to get rich quick overnight

because that stuff doesn't exist.

Building a solid foundation is about being responsible with what God has

given us and trusting in his provision.

Look at the book of Hebrews 13, five.

It reminds us this, keep your lives free from the love of money and be

content with what you have because God has said, and listen to me on this.

Never will I leave you.

Never will I forsake you.

So focus on contentment and gratitude for what you already have while

taking these practical steps forward.

Let's go back to Caroline's story for a moment.

She mentioned feeling like she was failing despite, she mentioned having a good job.

And let me just tell you, this is a common feeling when you're living

in that paycheck to paycheck cycle.

And even if you have higher income levels, listen, I. I know people that make well

over $200,000 a year, and guess what?

They're still living in that cycle of paycheck to paycheck.

It's just their bills are higher and their paychecks are higher.

But you gotta remember this, it's important.

Remember that living this way isn't always about a lack of income.

Sometimes it's not about the amount of income you have.

That's why I said I know people that make well over $200,000.

Sometimes it's about how we're managing the income we have.

Caroline, listen to me.

The fact that you recognize this and you wanna be a better

steward is a huge step forward.

And by implementing a budget, prioritizing, savings, even those

small amounts, you're starting to take control and you're moving

towards that solid foundation that you sow desperately desire.

Don't let the feelings of shame hold you back.

Instead, embrace the journey with confidence.

Knowing that God is with you every step of the way, remember what the

scripture says, he will never leave you nor forsake you, and that is a

beautiful piece of truth from God.

So let's recap.

Today we talked about the importance of viewing our finances

through that lens of stewardship.

Recognizing that God owns it all.

We also covered two crucial practical steps, and I'm gonna

encourage you to do these today.

Creating a God-honoring budget and prioritizing

savings even in small amounts.

And remember, this is a journey.

It's not a sprint.

Be patient with yourself.

Celebrate those small victories and keep your focus on honoring

God with your finances.

Now looking ahead to our next episode.

We're gonna go even deeper into the power of planning.

We're gonna be talking about how to create a financial plan that gives

you freedom and stability so you can truly stop worrying about money.

Listen, you don't wanna miss that, so make sure you join me tomorrow, and thank you

so much for tuning in to Ask Ralph today.

I pray this has been a blessing to you.

If you have questions or a story you'd like to share, please

don't hesitate to reach out.

If you haven't already, I encourage you to subscribe to the podcast and follow

us on social media for more encouragement and practical financial wisdom.

You can join our newsletter by going to ask ralph podcast.com/newsletter.

I give some great exclusive content and some updates out there.

Remember this.

You are not alone in this journey.

I am here to walk with you every day, and with God's guidance and practical

steps, you can break free from the paycheck to paycheck cycle and build

a solid foundation for your future.

So until next time, as I always say, stay financially savvy

and make God bless you richly.