Moving the Needle: Get Clear, Get Free, and Get Going in Your Career, Business, and Life!

Chapter 12Get Free with Your Money

We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like.

—DAVE RAMSEY, author of The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness¹

One time, a parish finance director called a wealthy parishioner.

“Our records show that you are a millionaire and that you have not contributed any money to the church. We need a new roof. Can you help us?”

The rich tycoon fired back, “Do your records show that I have a 95-year-old mother with enormous medical bills? Do your records show that I have a sister whose husband deserted her, leaving her seven children to raise on her own? Do your records show that I have a blind and incapacitated nephew who needs my help?”

The parish finance director immediately backpedaled. “I'm so sorry,” he said. “Our records don't show any of those things. On behalf of the church, we are so sorry.”

“That's okay,” the wealthy parishioner responded. “If I didn't help any of them, why would I give the church any money?”

Of all the places where people are least likely to be free, it's in the area of finances. Because money can play a big role in why people don't feel free, it's imperative to figure out how much is enough. So, how much is enough? It's my estimation that it's usually 10 percent more than what we have—meaning that most of us are never satisfied in the area of our finances.

I'm all ...