Every Thursday in 2025 I answer a question about money and/or budgeting. If you have a question, you would like to answer in a coming post, submit it here.
This week’s question is:
‘I would like to know about your savings/investment interviews that you had earlier in your marriage with Jesse and how that influenced your current finances. I often wonder if I had worked that Moreon investing versus saving had worked earlier in my marriage if I would move forward. I also wonder how risk tolerance and belief play in these strategies. ” —Lindsay, mother of 6 in KS
First of all, thank you for such a thoughtful and vulnerable question. I think it is often in our nature to wonder how things would be different if we had made different decisions in the past.
My biggest encouragement for you would be to concentrate on where you are now and what you can do now, instead of wishing you a different path years earlier or you were wondering if you would be in a different place if you had made different decisions.
Our early years: everything about survival mode
That said, I will tell you that Jesse and I have not even considered investing in the early years of marriage. It was not on our radar because we were simply focused on being able to pay for rent, tuition, electricity, groceries, etc.
Because we had promised to stay out of debts and pay cash for everything, it meant that it became really creative – even if we were not there, or if we would rather just be away and got fast food instead of cooking dinner, or if we would like to do something nice that was not free.
We have devised many great ways to save money and we had a clear plan and strong why: make a law study without any guilt. But that was all we were focused on.
Of course, we would sometimes dream about things that go beyond the law study, but it was difficult to even consider what that would be like!
After Jesse graduated from the law studies and our company began to increase, giving us a more stable income, we gave priority to building our emergency fund. Then we added things like disabilities. Only then did we finally start discussing investments.
We went through Financial Peace University and I started to have a small understanding of the different types of investments. We met a few financial planners and we started to make a few investments.
What we wish we had done differently
Looking back years later, we would like us to have known more and understood about investing earlier. We would like us to have moved to an investment firm that would be a little risky, more aggressive and deliberate. We see where we could be in a different place if we had known more and had been more active in the search for new ways to invest wisely, instead of just being stuck in a rut for more than ten years.
We actually just moved to another investment company and we have assessed all our investments in the process and we really had to define our long -term goals. This was so useful for us to do as a few – and we really wish we had done it much earlier.
I think it is easy to get stuck by just doing what an investor says you do or do what you have always done or even do nothing because it can be scary to do something.
So our new motto is to stay sharp and never become complacent – always ask questions and work with financial experts who actively look for smart, intentional investments that match our goals and maximize our tax benefits.
What I would tell my young person myself (and maybe you too)
If I could sit with newlywed crystal – or a woman who just started – I would say:
1. Do your research and ask many questions.
If a financial adviser is not willing to answer many questions, you do not tell why and not regularly assess your investments to ensure that you invest wisely, look for a new one!
2. You don’t have to choose between storing or Invest.
Do both – even if it is not 50/50. Save for emergencies (we walk through this The one -hour savings plan), then invest a bit for the long term. It is not/or – it is yes/and.
3. Risk tolerance is personal – and it changes.
In our 1920s our risk tolerance was almost zero. But as we were more stable and trained, we learned how to take smartcalculated risks. (And you can do this without being reckless.)
4. Faith is not separate from your finances.
In fact, it forms Everything. We pray about big decisions. We try to control what has been given to us. And we often remember that It is not about striving for anymore; It is about being faithful to what is already in our hands.
If you feel that you are “behind” …
God does not work on a timeline of scarcity. You are not late for the party. You are on time for your story.
Whether you are just starting to save, finally build up your emergency fund or learn about investing for the first time, start today. Start small. Start scared. Just start.
Because progress Is better than perfection. And consistency will always beat the comparison.
Practical next steps when you are ready to move forward:
🕒 The budget of one hour – If you want a fast, simple way to take control of your monthly finances.
💰 The one -hour savings plan – When you are ready to finally build (or rebuild) your emergency fund and to create a savings strategy that lingers.
💻 The work of the work and at home – If you want to earn extra income that can finance your investments or saving goals.
Lindsay, I think it’s great that you ask these questions. Your curiosity and intentionality speak volumes about your character. I believe, with all my heart, that it is not too late for someone of ours to build a strong, specially filled financial future by taking small steps today!
Keep leaning. Keep learning. And continue to trust those who holds it all!
What would you like to be able to go back to tell your younger person about saving and investing? We would like to hear your advice in the comments!
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