Money Talk for Women

Ongeza kichwa

Ok ladies, let’s talk. Money is often a taboo subject, and while many of us quietly worry about our families’ financial future or struggle with making ends meet, we tend to keep our fears and struggles quiet.

It may be that many of us “good Christian women" think that talking about financial issues or working towards certain financial goals is unspiritual and shows our lack of trust and dependence on God.

It may be that some have become slaves to unhealthy or destructive money habits, and the thought of exposing those or giving those up is just unbearable.

Or, it may be that some of us have come to a conclusion that money matters are not for us to worry about, and we have abdicated all financial issues (except for grocery shopping and paying the bills) to our spouses.
Wherever you find yourself today, I hope you’ll keep reading.

The reason why I wanted to have this conversation with you is because there are troubling trends emerging for women, especially in the area of finances, that if ignored for too long, may cause our families (and ourselves) unnecessary pain.

If you’re worried about finances not being “heavenly” enough of a topic, let me assure you, God’s word has plenty to say about money management and mismanagement, and it references that subject more than 2,000 times! So if it was important enough for our Heavenly Father to shed so much light on the issue, we should pay attention!

Unprepared for a Longer Lifespan

Data shows that women outlive their male counterparts by quite a few years. Average age expectancy for women is 81 while the average age expectancy for men is 73. This is both good and bad news. While we can enjoy a longer lifespan, we are financially unprepared for the years to come. Accord to statisticbrain, 52% of women will have to work past their retirement age in order to make ends meet. Did you know that 87% of impoverished elderly are actually women? These stats are disturbing, but they are not hopeless.

The good news is that more and more women are starting to realize how important their financial awareness and financial education is, and they are seeking financial wisdom and knowledge at increased rates.
So what practical steps can you take to become better prepared for the years to come?

• Follow the example of the ant! Proverbs 6 tells us to be like the ant that “stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.” Storing financial resources doesn’t demonstrate lack of faith in God. On the contrary, it’s a sign of wisdom and obedience! The reason why the ant is storing in the summer is because it knows that the winter season is coming! Most of us will face the “winter” season of life, and it’s our responsibility to be prudent and prepared!
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• If you’re married, talk to your spouse about preparing for the future and become informed and intimately involved in your family’s long-term savings plan. Set common goals and work on meeting those goals together.