ECCU

June 27, 2017 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

Teaching Kids to Give Generously

Teaching My Children to Give Generously

I never planned on that very ordinary spring day to provide a teaching moment, yet that’s exactly how it turned out. I had just loaded my children into the car after a doctor’s appointment and a man, wearing tattered clothes, approached in a wheelchair. He asked if we had any food to spare, and I shared what I had to give: a sack lunch prepared for a picnic and a bakery donut I’d bought for my grandma. Joy filled his eyes when he realized the donut was cream-filled. The man was physically disabled but his humanity was displayed in a warm, thankful smile.

As I helped the man, three of my young children sat in the back of the car watching. To be honest in that moment I forgot they were there. Ages 3 to 6-years-old as we drove away they excitedly shared other ways they wanted to help the man. One of my daughters wanted to give her savings from her coin bank to him. My son wanted to share his bunkbed. Together we decided that while sharing a bunkbed wouldn’t work my children could use their savings to purchase items to create care bags. With a trip to the store, they purchased granola bars, toothbrushes, bottles of water, candy and mints and even socks. We packaged them up and keep these bags in the car.

Even years later, my children are excited to find people to extend compassion to. That one interaction was a first step to helping my children grow generous hearts. If you desire to have you children look beyond themselves to the needs of others, here are a few places to start:

Click over to the ECCU blog where I share 3 ways you can help your children look beyond themselves to the needs of others.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read full privacy policy here.

February 24, 2016 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

4 Ways to Make Time for What Really Matters

You’re always on the go. Scrambling to find enough minutes in the day for everything you need to accomplish. When you’re feeling maxed out, it’s hard to live intentionally and set aside time for God. How do you make time for what matters most?

I remember one Sunday I had a dilemma that taught me the importance of finding balance in my life. We were a few minutes late for church, and we took a seat behind the children. In our church, pre-K through sixth-grade kids sit in the sanctuary during worship and then are released after worship to go to their children’s program. We were barely seated when one of the sixth-grade girls jumped from her seat and rushed to John. “Would you be our teacher today? Our teacher isn’t here.”

It turns out there was a miscommunication between the children’s director and the teacher, but that still meant someone was needed to help with the sixth-grade boys and girls. My husband was quick to respond and another woman was too. And I just sat there. I forced myself not to follow. Why?

I knew I could get up to help. I was physically and mentally able to come up with a lesson on the fly. But deep down I knew I couldn’t. I homeschool. I write and blog. I lead our teen mom support group. I didn’t have one ounce of “extra” in me to give.

It’s hard saying no. Really hard. The only easy way to do it is by understanding what we were called to say yes to. Here are a few ways to pursue what really matters in life:

Make a list of your life themes

Life themes are the things that come from the core of us. Yet during different seasons of life they may look different. These are my eight priorities in this season of life. These are the things I choose to say yes to:

Being a child of God
Being a wife
Being a mom. (Adoption is a huge part of this now, as is homeschooling.)
Mentoring teen moms
Writing books
Blogging
Keeping a home
Staying healthy

Knowing what is most important in your life will make the next step easier: saying no.

Know when to say NO

My husband loves children’s church. It’s his passion, and he took a break from it when we adopted our new kids, mostly because the adjustment was huge. If he were to create a list of his eight life themes, children’s church would be on that list.

Because I love John and enjoy children, I’ve supported him in this. Before adopting our new kids, I spent most Sundays working by his side, but in this season of life I just can’t do it. I need Sundays to get filled up so I can pour out the rest of the week.

A time may come when I start helping John in children’s ministry again. But now is not that time. And I’m OK with that. I know Jesus has created me for a purpose in THIS day. In THIS season.

If someone asks you to do something that doesn’t fall under your life themes, take time to consider if you should commit. Know that it is okay to decline. Being picky with your commitments will give you the time, energy, and passion to fully invest in what matters most to you.

Surrender your control and plans to God

I’m a person who likes to handle things on my own. I take pride in doing a job well. I like to be organized and feel in control. Yet a busy schedule and kids is more that I can handle. I’m not always organized, and I’m rarely in control. I need God. Reminding myself of that and turning to Him changes everything.

I love marking things off my to-do list, but today I just sat down with my kids and played. We played blocks. We played toy animals, and I wondered why I don’t do this more often. “Being” a mom is more important than doing things around the house.

Utilize tools to simplify life

Technology can be a major distraction, but it also can be a HUGE blessing. We have apps for everything, so why not utilize your phone to make life a little easier? I use my phone to help me simplify everything from grocery shopping to banking. Here’s one app to download to your phone right now to help you save time for what really matters:

ECCU’s Mobile App helps you ditch busyness and pursue purpose. You can accomplish all your banking needs in just seconds so you can spend more time on what matters. Swap long lines at the bank for ECCU’s mobile app that lets you pay a person or a bill while you’re on the go, deposit a check, find an ATM and transfer money between accounts in just a few seconds.

Skip long bank lines for more time to spend on what matters most. #ECCUmoments #ad

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ECCU financial products are designed to be compatible with Evangelicals’ faith-defined view of money. Its full-suite of checking, savings, investing and loan products help Christians serve as stewards of God’s resources.

About ECCU

ECCU is a full-service credit union designed for Christians. Their competitive checking, savings, investing and loan products help you do more with your money. So with every dollar you spend, you’re supporting ministry.
Most people already know the benefits of credit unions, such as customer ownership, fewer fees and higher savings rates. However, there is a segment of credit unions that continue to fly under the financial radar: Affinity-based banking—the intersection of faith and financial planning.

For most of its 50-year history, ECCU has been known for offering churches, Christian schools and other Evangelical nonprofits and ministries with specialized financial services. Now, ECCU also offers personal financial services:

—Personal savings account: a basic savings account for an emergency fund or savings for your kids that’s only $25 to open and has a 0.35% APY2 with no minimum balance.
—Money Market Savings account: a great opportunity to earn a higher rate (up to 0.95% APY2 on higher balances. This direct savings account—also called an online savings account—appeals to on-the-go consumers who prefer to be able to manage their lives online.
—Consumers can get these great rates because ECCU is largely an online bank.

*Thanks for ECCU for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting all Tricia Goyer collaborations and sponsors.

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November 17, 2015 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

3 Ways You Can Share God’s Love for $10 | Join the #GiveTen Challenge!

3 Ways You Can Share God’s Love for $10

As the holiday season rolls around I hear a lot of “I wants” from my kids. Catalogs show up in the mail. Commercials flash on the television. Every store is filled with racks of glittery, flashy toys that draw my children’s attention. My children are too easily drawn to what they can get, and my goal as a mom is to show them what they can give. Here are 3 ways I’ve done that.

Operation Christmas Child

We have participated in Operation Christmas Child for many years. My children pack a shoe box with gifts and OCC sends that show box around the world, sharing the love of Jesus with children. The children receive gifts, but they also receive the Good News of Jesus Christ in a 12-lesson Bible Study Course. With a trip to the Dollar Store my kids and I were able to fill three boxes for $10 each. We filled them with puzzles, balls, toothbrushes, socks and more!

I love that my children can choose gifts for another child on the other side of the world. You can visit samaritanspurse.org/occ to find out more about Operation Christmas Child.

Care Bags for the Homeless

Every Thursday night on our drive to serve at a Teen Mom Support group, my children and I see the same homeless man. And every Thursday I hear the same questions from my kids, “Did he eat today?”, “Where does he sleep?”, and “Mom, can we stop and help him?” That’s when I came up with the idea that would could help … even with $10. At the Dollar Store we bought snack items, a toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, wet wipes, soap, socks and more.

One of my daughters even included one of her small pocket Bibles and my youngest kids wanted to share their candy! We delivered the bag last night, and my kids were so excited to give I to him. And their new friend had a huge smile on his face as he received it.

Gift Items for Teen Moms

It’s hard being a mom. It’s even harder being a teen mom without many resources. Even at a young age moms sacrifice for their children. That’s why I thought it would be nice to buy some gifts and bless two young moms. We visited the Dollar Store, and we gathered kitchen items for one young mom.

For the other young mom we bought items to pamper her, such as fuzzy socks and nail polish. I will be taking these items to our teen mom support group next week. We’ll be able to share with these moms that they are important to God and others, and they deserve to be loved!

Do you have someone your family would love to bless this Christmas? I’m partnering with ECCU for their #GiveTen campaign. It is a simple movement of Christians living out their faith – $10 at a time. I was so blessed to see the ways my children and I were able to work together to spread compassion, happiness and generosity for only $10. Now, it’s your turn!

I’d like you to find the most creative way you can to share God’s love for $10. I’m SO EXCITED to hear what you come up with! Share your idea with me and ECCU for your chance to win a check for $500 to do more in your community. Wouldn’t that be fun?! I love when we all work together to share God’s love!

About ECCU’s #GiveTen Challenge & $500 Giveaway:

At the start of the season of giving, now is the time where offering thanks and helping others is top of mind. How would you spend $10 to do the most good for someone else?

Share your ideas and stories on ECCU’s Facebook page and enter to win $500 to continue blessing others!

Click here for official rules and learn how to enter: www.eccu.org/GiveTen

#GiveTen this season & enter the @ECCU Generosity Challenge! http://eccu.org/GiveTen #giveaway

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*Thanks for ECCU for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting all Tricia Goyer collaborations and sponsors.

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May 26, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 5 Comments

Preparing Your Teen and Finances for College {Plus a Giveaway}

I’ve been homeschooling for more than twenty-five years with, so far, two college graduates and one child in the process. Overall, my kids thrived in college. They got good grades, made good friends, and blossomed into godly adults. They all went to secular local and state colleges, yet their relationship with God grew.

Do you have a teen about to head to college (or maybe you’ve just started your parenting journey and are looking to prep and save for your child’s future education)? Here are some tips for preparing them and your finances:

As parents, be involved.

John and I loved having teens. We had dinner nightly with them, we served in church together, and we curated long, meaningful talks. To do this, we had to be open, available, and involved. We cut back on our personal recreation, work, and goals to have time with them. This prepared our children’s hearts by proving they were worthy. They had the attention of their parents and didn’t seek it from unhealthy relationships in college.

Have an open-door policy.

Our house was open for our teens’ friends to join us for dinner, for games, or for just hanging out. We made sure our house was teen-friendly, and we filled the fridge and pantry with snacks. Sometimes their friends came to hang out even when our kids weren’t there! Our children had solid friendships with other godly teens when they entered college; this foundation allowed them to be friends with unbelievers, too, yet also remain strong in God.

Encourage a knowledge of God’s Word and a deep commitment to God.

Our children were not perfect in college. They messed up (such as when our daughter performed in a theater production we considered questionable!). When they didn’t want to listen to our advice, God’s Spirit and God’s Word spoke to them. When my husband and I couldn’t get their attention, God did! Their relationships with God pointed them to truth for college and beyond!

Start saving now.

If you haven’t started a college savings yet, don’t worry. It’s never too late to save—every bit makes a difference. If you didn’t get around to establishing a college savings account early on, you’re not alone. Only 48 percent of parents surveyed are saving for their child’s education, according to Sallie Mae’s “How America Saves for College 2015” report. You can still maximize your investment toward your child’s college education, even if the college-bound kid is a high school senior already.

Need a few ideas to get started? Here are just a few tips from ECCU:

—Consider using auto-deposit services to save. ECCU likes to call this strategy, “auto-magic.”

—Encourage your college-bound youth to find a part-time job and invest the paycheck into a high-yield savings account with built-in perks, such as free online banking and transfers, and an interest rate above the national average.

—Money market savings accounts are a smart choice for college savings – they offer better rates for higher balances. High yield promotional certificates with guaranteed rates are good for saving money that you do not need to access for several years down the road.

—Don’t be discouraged if you can’t foot the entire college bill. Even if you choose to set aside funds to cover tuition for one or two semesters, or textbooks for an entire year … every dollar you save will help your aspiring college graduate!

About ECCU

Most people already know the benefits of credit unions, such as customer ownership, fewer fees and higher savings rates. However, there is a segment of credit unions that continue to fly under the financial radar: Affinity-based banking—the intersection of faith and financial planning.

—Personal savings account: a basic savings account for an emergency fund or savings for your kids that’s only $25 to open and has a 0.35% APY2 with no minimum balance.

—Money Market Savings account: a great opportunity to earn a higher rate (up to 0.95% APY2 on higher balances. This direct savings account—also called an online savings account—appeals to on-the-go consumers who prefer to be able to manage their lives online.

—Consumers can get these great rates because ECCU is largely an online bank.

Simple Math: Your savings + ECCU = More Ministry

What about you? In what ways are you preparing your teens’ hearts and your finances for college?

Kickstart your college savings with this giveaway from @eccu

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GIVEAWAY: Need to kickstart your college savings?

Enter ECCU’s #ECCU4school giveaway below and you could win $1,000!

The contest runs from May 19 – June 19, 2015. The qualified winner must open an ECCU Money Market Savings account where the $1,000 will be deposited. Click here for official rules: http://bit.ly/ECCU4U

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*Thanks for ECCU for sponsoring this post. All opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting all Tricia Goyer collaborations and sponsors.

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March 3, 2015 by Tricia Goyer 18 Comments

Restoring the Lost Art of Piggy Bank Savings

There is nothing more wonderful than to hear exciting announcements like this:

“Mom, I’m getting married!”

“Goyers, guess what? You’ve been chosen to adopt a wonderful sibling group!”

We’ve heard both within the last six months, which means that our family is growing in wonderful ways! (And more information about this new sibling group will be coming through my blog in future weeks … I promise!)

Of course, there’s nothing worse than hearing wonderful news and the first thought being, “Great, but how am I going to pay for this?!”

For most of our married life, John and I have spent whatever we’ve had in the bank, living check to check. Some years were very lean, and some years were abundant. But it’s been in the last few years that we’ve been better at savings … and aren’t we glad. Now we can look to expand our family with excitement, not huge worries about costs.

But that’s just one benefit.

Having a happy piggy bank also:

Helps guard against credit debt.
Helps to teach kids the value of money.
Reminds us that we are in control of our money.
Allows us to share our abundance and give to others.

Happy Piggy Banks Guard Against Credit Debt

Having a savings account is a buffer than helps you to guard against credit card debt. When you have money put aside, you can celebrate life’s events with a joyful heart, and without the worries of having to scale back on family celebrations. You are also prepared when those surprise expenses come up like medical bills or new tires.

Happy Piggy Banks Teach Kids the Value of Money

For children (well, sometimes adults too) the concept of money is vague. To help children understand better, show them an example of your family budget with savings, giving, and expenses laid out. Let your kids watch you as you write checks or put money into your savings account. Provide your children a small, weekly allowance and help them to do the same with their money.

Let the kids feed the pig! Piggy banks are a life-changing adventure. #savewithECCU bit.ly/ECCU4U

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Happy Piggy Banks Reminds Us We Are In Control of Our Money

When we spend using credit cards, money slips away every month with fees. When we have a budget and a savings account, we can happily decide between our wants, our needs, and how to spend and give. Instead of $50 or $100 (or more) going to interest every month, we can give to worthy organizations that supporting teenage moms or who fight against human trafficking around the world. We decide where every penny goes, and who it can help.

Happy Piggy Banks Allow Us to Share From Our Abundance And Give To Others

Having a savings account prepares us for life’s challenges, and life’s celebrations, but it also helps us to give with compassion. There have been times I’ve wanted to give to causes, but I’ve had little to give. When we save well, we can give well.

Saving Can Be Giving, Too

Most people already know the benefits of credit unions, such as customer ownership, fewer fees and higher savings rates. An added benefit is affinity-based banking—the intersection of faith and financial planning. These are financial institutions that offer business and consumer banking services while also investing profits in social causes. Using a credit union like this doubles your giving. You not only have more to give with few fees and higher savings rates, the credit union is using their profits to give to worthy causes, too!

If you’re looking to start making your piggy bank happy I’d like to help! (Actually ECCU wants to help and I’m excited about them helping YOU!)

Simple Math: Your savings + ECCU = More Ministry

With ECCU, your money does more than earn a good interest rate for you. It helps fuel Christ-centered ministry worldwide by providing loans to churches and low-cost banking services to missionaries and Christian organizations. Together, you + ECCU = supporting and resourcing more ministry. Plus, if you open a Money Market Savings today, ECCU will donate $50 to International Princess Project to help fight human trafficking in India.

“SAVE WITH ECCU” $1,000 GIVEAWAY!

Enter below for a chance to win $1,000. The contest runs from March 5 – April 10, 2015. The qualified winner must open an ECCU Money Market Savings account where the $1,000 will be deposited. Click here for official rules.

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