What economists might view as a good sign isn’t always good for consumers. On November 7, the Associated Press reported on information from the Federal Reserve showing a marked increase in borrowing during the month of September. Overall borrowing—much of it credit card debt and auto loans—rose $15.9 billion following a $14 billion gain in August and a whopping $22.8 billion increase in July. While more spending can indicate an increase in consumer confidence, it can also lead to long-term financial problems for those not quite out from under the uncertainty and instability of the Great Recession.
In the broad Christian Living category--which includes faith-driven self-help books on practical issues such as parenting, marriage, and time management--titles on personal finance also have long been a focus. In November, three Christian houses--Revell, Tyndale Momentum, and Abingdon Press--publish books that deal specifically with debt, and how American consumers, whether Christian or not, can manage their finances more responsibly. The topic is especially timely as we head into the holiday spending season.
In The Financially Confident Woman: What You Need to Know to Take Charge of Your Money (Revell), bestselling author, syndicated columnist, and motivational speaker Mary Hunt assures readers they can control their money. “You’re not alone. But it’s not a lack of savvy that’s the problem,” says Hunt. “It’s a lack of confidence.” In the book, Hunt offers lessons she’s learned from her own experiences battling debt, explaining how to use nine essential money habits to win the war against out-of-control spending: giving, saving, investing, rejecting unsecured debt, preparing for emergencies, and getting what you pay for. The book offers a six-week action plan for practical, immediate application.
Debt management can also provide important family lessons. Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After (Tyndale Momentum) relates how author Cherie Lowe and her husband paid off a seemingly insurmountable debt of $127,482 in less than four years. By eliminating their debt one bill at a time, the family became financially free, the couple’s marriage improved, and the children learned valuable financial management lessons. “In these fragile economic times, millions of people are discovering how quickly they can slide into crushing debt without ever having splurged on big luxuries,” says Jan Long Harris, Publisher of Tyndale Momentum. “Outlays for household repairs, medical bills, new brakes for the car, and other mundane expenses tend to add up fast in an era when many are facing unexpected life challenges due to the economy. And the average person’s annual pay increases, if any, aren’t keeping up with their cost of living.”
Debt doesn’t always result from purchasing expensive new cars or even from meeting everyday expenses. For many families who want to adopt children, the financial outlay for private domestic or international adoption can be overwhelming. In You Can Adopt Without Debt: Creative Ways to Cover the Cost of Adoption (Abingdon Press), author Julie Gumm, the mother of two biological and two adopted children, offers financial strategies from her own experiences. The book provides information on applying for grants, fundraising, and creative budgeting. “Delaying buying a new car is one thing, but we’re talking about children,” says Gumm. “Every child deserves to have a family, and for people who want to start or grow their family by adoption there are ways to do it without going into debt, even on a modest income.”
