Crown's Hot Topics

Give Thanks

November 23, 2009 15:20:00 EST

Soon, we Americans will once again gather around tables of food with family and friends to recall the bountiful blessings that God has freely bestowed on us and our country. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His lovingkindness is everlasting” (Psalm 118:1). Thanksgiving Day in America commemorates the celebratory meal of thanksgiving that the early 17th century settlers enjoyed with the Americans who were native to the region that became known as Plymouth, Massachusetts. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

How to be a Success

November 16, 2009 15:20:00 EST

A look into God's Word quickly reveals that material blessings were given because God loved His people, not because His people deserved those blessings. They were withdrawn from those who used them foolishly and transferred to more faithful stewards. (James 4:3). To be a success from a biblical perspective, some prerequisites must be met. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Making Career Decisions

November 9, 2009 15:20:00 EST

Choosing a career in America is generally not a one-time decision; it's a series of decisions, made as you progress through different stages of life, experience, and responsibility. As we move from one stage of life into another, we begin to adapt our lifestyles and family commitments to conform to our present employment needs or demands. However, this adaptation might not be the best way to approach career decisions. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Hope in the Midst of Hopelessness

November 2, 2009 15:20:00 EST

Over the last decade, the United States of America has experienced unrestricted economic prosperity—deficits, debts, and interest payments apparently did not matter and millionaires seemed to emerge (at least on paper) overnight. More recently, the economy has taken a “downturn,” a term some economists have used to describe the financial woes that are gripping America. Many people are now experiencing unequaled discouragement and a sense of hopelessness, job losses, marital difficulties, and fear and dread of the future. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Develop a Saving Lifestyle

Mon, 28 September 2009 15:20:00 EST

Into today’s economy, we are all looking for ways to cut back on our spending and save a little more. This is good news for the simple fact that the household savings rate has hovered near or below zero for the past few years. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Rollover Method for Paying Off Credit Cards

Mon, 21 September 2009 15:20:00 EST

One of the best ways to break out of the debt cycle is to have an emergency savings fund to cover unexpected expenses. This way, when your car breaks down or the refrigerator quits working, you won’t need to rely on credit cards or bank loans to cover the expense. Crown recommends saving $1000 in your emergency fund as a first step in the Crown Money Map Destination One. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Ideas for Funding an Emergency Account

Mon, 14 September 2009 15:20:00 EST

Steps to Makign a Budget

Mon, 7 September 2009 15:20:00 EST

Many people feel intimidated when they hear the word "budget." However, a budget is simply a plan for how to spend money. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

The Need for a Spending Plan

Mon, 31 August 2009 15:20:00 EST

f you were going to build a house, you would need a house plan. This plan would tell you the size of the house, and how big each room would be. It would tell you where the windows would go and how high to make the ceilings. You would see where to put in the plumbing for the bathrooms and kitchen. Obviously, you wouldn't be able to know all of these things without the house plan. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Buying a new car vs. keeping a old car

Mon, 24 August 2009 15:20:00 EST

Many families buy cars they can't afford and trade them in long before their usefulness has expired. Most Americans trade cars because they want to rather than need to. To buy or not to buy? In large cities, many can use public transportation. But for today’s average family, owning at least one car is a necessity. When deciding whether to purchase a new car or keep an older car, consider the costs of each. Luke 14:28 says, “For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Teach Kids about Money While on Vacation

Mon, 08 June 2009 15:20:00 EST

It's vacation time, and many of us will head to the beach, the mountains, or a theme park for some fun in the sun. Or maybe it's a week of family togetherness camping, fishing, and hiking at a state or national park. Vacation is a great time for some relatively painless lessons on managing money. Use the natural enthusiasm for vacation adventure to teach the kids about planning, budgeting, and paying for a trip. [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Spending Strategies for Living Within Your Budget

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:20:00 EST

Many people are considered "cheap" if they pursue bargains or seek out the most economical sources in town for products or services. Yet, when people need advice on where to shop because of an unexpected major purchase or financial emergency, they run to the "cheapskates." Why? Because they see the wisdom of saving every possible dollar in order to use it for more productive ways. The following list of money saving tips is not meant to be exhaustive, but it does represent ideas our family has used in order to allocate our resources efficiently and accomplish our financial priorities. Buy used, especially for major purchases. Contrary to popular belief, buying used is not risky and does not take a lot of expertise. It does take planning and a little bit of elbow grease. A few years ago, we needed to buy a refrigerator. New refrigerators at that time cost about $750, way more than we had in cash after purchasing our first home. We decided... [[ Click Title For...

[[ Click Title For More ]]

Biblical perspective on bankruptcy

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:27:00 EST

Sadly, for all kinds of reasons, people are declaring bankruptcy in record numbers. This year, one out of every 70 households will go bankrupt. If this trend were to continue, it means that during the next ten years, one of every seven households in the U.S. would declare bankruptcy. People used to avoid bankruptcy if at all possible because of the stigma of financial failure. Today, however, it has become more socially acceptable and people are filing for it in droves. God's Perspective on Bankruptcy The Bible never prohibits bankruptcy, but it does discourage it. Psalm 37:21 reads, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” We should make every effort to avoid bankruptcy. However, we believe bankruptcy to be permissible for the following reasons. A creditor forces the borrower into bankruptcy. The borrower experiences such extreme financial difficulties... [[ Click Title For More ]]

[[ Click Title For More ]]