Category: Action Steps

Let me guess…

If you could hop in a time machine and visit your younger self, there’s at least one money decision you’d beg her not to make.

(Probably more than one. It’s fine. We don’t judge here.)

If that’s you, welcome to the club. We ALL make money mistakes. Some of them are small. Some of them are expensive. And some of them still make us cringe when we think about them.

For example, here are a few financial lessons I learned the hard way:

• I didn’t have an emergency fund and almost went completely broke after getting a flat tire during an internship in Atlanta. One pothole nearly ended my financial life.
• I took out a car loan after college and paid hundreds of dollars in interest.
• I was offered a 401(k) with a match after the company I worked for was acquired…and I didn’t take it. Why? Because I didn’t understand how a 401(k) worked, what a “match” meant, and it all felt way too complicated. (Ugh!)
• And let’s not forget the time I loaned thousands of dollars to an ex-boyfriend and never saw that money again. 🤦🏼‍♀️

I could keep going—but you get the point.

Some money mistakes are just a bump in the road.
Others? They can quietly set you back years.

And if you’re in college, this matters more than you think.

This is the time where you:

• Build the money habits that shape your future
• Decide whether you’ll live with financial peace or constant financial pressure
• Make choices that impact your freedom, goals, and opportunities for years to come

The problem? Most young adults were never actually taught how to manage money.

So instead, they wing it. They make decisions that feel fine in the moment…and then deal with the stress, debt, and “I wish I would’ve known this sooner” moments later.

That’s exactly why I created a free video to help change that.

Inside Money Mistakes to Fix in Your 20s, you’ll learn:

✅ Two of the most common money mistakes young adults make (yes, the sneaky ones)

✅ Why they’re so easy to fall into

✅ And exactly how to fix them with confidence and clarity

Because this isn’t about being perfect with money—it’s about being intentional.

The sooner you take control of your finances, the sooner you’ll experience more freedom, peace, and options in your life.

Also, if you want even more money tips and you’re ready to stop guessing and start making smarter money moves, check out my free guide: 8 Money Mistakes to Fix in Your 20s. This guide will provide all 8 mistakes people make in their twenties so you can start fixing them today (before they get more expensive)!

When I brought home my goldendoodle puppy, Lincoln, I was told he would grow to be about 60 to 65 pounds. Perfect size, they said. Manageable. Ideal first dog.

Well… Lincoln had other plans.

Somewhere along the way, it became clear my sweet puppy was actually the Shaquille O’Neal of the litter. Today, Lincoln weighs over 100 pounds. He’s tall, broad, and takes up most of the couch. People used to say, “Kindra, his paws are huge!” when he was little. I smiled and nodded, assuming all puppies had giant paws.

They do not. That was a warning sign.

And here’s the thing no one tells you when you get a dog, especially your first dog: bigger dog equals bigger expenses. Everywhere.

Lincoln eats a lot. Dog food disappears at an impressive speed in our house. His medications cost more because doses are based on weight. When he stays at Alps Bark Park, he needs a suite upgrade because he literally doesn’t fit in a standard kennel. Vet care, grooming, and supplies all scale up with dog size.

And then there are the expenses I didn’t even think about. Emergency vet visits. Boarding when I travel. Training. So much training. Toys and treats to keep his giant, intelligent doodle brain busy. Grooming appointments that take longer because there’s simply more dog.

Looking back, I realize I skipped an important step. Jesus actually teaches about planning ahead in Luke 14:28–30:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’”

In other words, count the cost first.

I had never owned a dog before. I truly didn’t know what I was getting into. And financially? I definitely didn’t do the math.

Here we are now. Lincoln is nine years old. He is the very best boy. The love of my life. Honestly, he’s the best ill-informed decision I’ve ever made.

But let me be clear: he absolutely has his own line item in my budget. Multiple line items, actually. And he’s still expensive.

So here’s my advice: always do the math before making a purchase, especially one that involves a living being who will be part of your life for many years. Take the time to have your Luke 14:28 moment. Pets aren’t short-term expenses. They’re long-term commitments of love, care, time, and money.

Crunch the numbers. Think about food, vet care, training, boarding, and unexpected emergencies. Consider how your lifestyle and finances will support them over time.

Because while Lincoln has been one of the greatest joys of my life, a little planning on the front end could have saved me a lot of unexpected financial stress along the way. He’s still worth every penny, but counting the cost first would have made the journey a lot easier.

Credit card debt didn’t crash into my life. It snuck in. Quietly. Politely. In what I now call full creep mode.

It started with the best intentions. I got a credit card “just for emergencies.” I wasn’t reckless. I wasn’t buying wild, extravagant things.… life happened.

The car needed an oil change.
A doctor’s appointment popped up.
A friend’s birthday showed up on the calendar.
A “small” unexpected expense here. Another one there.

So, I was doing the very reasonable thing of paying for it now and truly planned to pay it off the next month. Honestly, I really planned to. But each time, something else came up. Each time, I told myself, I’ll just carry it one more month. And because the balance wasn’t huge, it didn’t feel dangerous. That’s the sneaky part. Credit card debt grows (creeps) slowly enough that it’s easy to not notice it – until your buried under it.

Before I knew it, I had four-figure debt sitting on cards with two-figure interest rates. And no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to get ahead. I’d make a payment, feel proud… and then watch interest quietly undo my progress. It felt discouraging and heavy, like walking up a down escalator.

Here’s what I learned the hard way:
Slow and steady is exactly how I got into credit card debt. And slow and steady is how I got out.

The turning point: a real plan

I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “Hope is not a strategy.” Motivation isn’t enough. What finally changed things for me was having an actual plan and committing to it.

There are two solid, proven ways to pay off credit card debt. Neither is flashy. Both work.

1. The Snowball Method

With this method, you list your credit cards from smallest balance to largest, regardless of interest rate.

You:

• Pay minimums on everything
• Attack the smallest balance with extra money
• Roll that payment into the next card once it’s paid off

This method builds momentum fast. The early wins matter, especially if you’ve been feeling stuck.

2. The Avalanche Method

This approach focuses on math efficiency. You list cards from highest interest rate to lowest.

You:

• Pay minimums on everything
• Put extra money toward the highest-interest card first
• Reduce the amount lost to interest over time

This method saves more money long-term, even if progress feels slower at the beginning.

There’s no “right” choice. The best method is the one you’ll actually stick with.

The real key: consistency

What mattered most wasn’t which method I chose. It was that I:

• Made a clear plan
• Stopped adding new charges
• Paid attention every month
• Kept going even when progress felt slow

Little by little, the balance came down. The interest lost its grip. The stress eased. And eventually, the debt was gone.

Credit cards didn’t wreck my finances overnight. They crept in slowly. But with intention, patience, and consistency, I took control.

If you’re dealing with credit card debt, know this:
You just need a plan.
And the courage to stick with it.

Slow and steady works.

Did you know that God created processes in nature that can teach us how to manage our personal finances?

If you’ve ever carved a pumpkin, you know what surprises most people isn’t how small the seeds are—it’s how many there are. A standard-sized pumpkin holds around 500 seeds. Five hundred seeds inside one pumpkin! Now imagine if 10% of those seeds were planted. That’s 50 new pumpkins from just one. And if each of those new pumpkins also produced about 500 seeds? That’s 25,000 seeds. Again plant just 10% of those seeds, and you’re suddenly looking at 2,500 pumpkins. WOW! Growth like that doesn’t happen overnight, but over time it multiplies in ways that are almost hard to comprehend.

This God designed process of growing one pumpkin into many, many pumpkins, is an example of how compound interest works with money.

This is what I like to call the Pumpkin Seed Principle.

God built compound growth into creation

From plants and trees to families and communities, God designed growth to happen gradually, faithfully, and abundantly. Scripture reminds us:

“Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed.” — Genesis 1:11

Notice the pattern: seed → growth → more seed.

Money works the same way. Saving isn’t necessarily about having a lot right now—it’s about planting what you can and letting it grow.

Why saving feels hard as a college student

Let’s be real. When you’re in college, extra money can feel like a myth. Tuition, books, food, gas—it all adds up. Saving might feel pointless when you can only set aside $10 or $25 at a time.

But that’s exactly where the Pumpkin Seed Principle matters most. You’re not planting a full-grown pumpkin. You’re planting a seed.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 encourages us:

“Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle.”

Small, consistent action matters more than the size of the seed.

How compound interest works (without the math headache)

Compound interest simply means that your money earns interest, and then that interest earns interest too. Over time, growth starts to build on itself. At first, it feels slow—almost invisible. But eventually, momentum kicks in.

Just like a pumpkin vine, the biggest growth happens later. The earlier you plant, the more time growth has to do its work.

Saving $25 a month may not feel impressive today—but over years, those small deposits can turn into something strong and stable.

How to live out the Pumpkin Seed Principle

Here’s how to start applying this idea right now:

• Start small. Save what you can, even if it’s just a few dollars.
• Put your savings in an account that earns interest – preferably a high yield savings account.
• Be consistent. Regular saving beats occasional big deposits.
• Be patient. Growth takes time—both in gardens and bank accounts.
• Protect your seed. Avoid pulling money out unless it’s truly necessary.

A seed of peace

Saving money is about stewardship and peace. Each small deposit is a reminder that you’re building something—slowly, faithfully, and with intention.

So don’t despise small beginnings. God doesn’t. Plant your seed. Tend it well. And trust that, in time, growth will come—just like God designed the pumpkin seed to.