Dear Dave: My wife and I are in our 20s. We have no debt and $50,000 in the bank. Our income is $90,000 a year, and we’re cautious to live on less than we make. Still, we can’t seem to get motivated to make a budget. How can we get inspired to do this? —Isaac
Dear Isaac: Two of the biggest motivators we have are pain and pleasure. Financially, you guys don’t have any pain. You’re killing it! So, we’re going to have to figure out something associated with pleasure.
I think you need to look for something bigger than money to push you. You guys need to ask yourselves, “What are we saving for?” On a bigger scale, ask yourselves, “What can we do with this money?”
It sounds to me like you both realize money can’t be the goal. And that’s a good thing. You guys are obviously smart, gifted people. I’m sure you have ideas and goals, dreams and desires. Talk about them and write them down. By doing this, you’ll be taking the first steps toward making these things reality. When you have something specific that you want money to do, it gives you a reason to make it behave.
God calls us to manage well the resources He gives us, so that we’re able to do good things for His kingdom and His people. Broke people can’t give, so my advice would be to use your talents and resources for the good of others. —Dave
