Bob Lotich - Simple Money, Rich Life: Achieve True Financial Freedom and Design a Life of Eternal Impact

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

T hese are just some of the amazing people who helped make this book possible. Each one had a significant impact on the creation of what you just read. If you happen to know or meet any of them, give them a high fivethey deserve it.

• Our parents
• Barb Albert
• Chad Allen
• Jessy Rei Argota
• Joshua Becker
• Chuck Bentley
• Tom and Stephanie Bills
• Jacob and Callie Blount
• Eric Brinker
• Jeff and Lauren Cantoni
• Scott and Michelle Cash
• James Clear
• Stephen Cook
• Max and Hannah Corwin
• Cory Edwards
• Chris Ferebee
• Pam Gibbs
• Jeff Goins
• Justin and Laura Gordey
• Shelly Griffin
• Bryan and Stacy Harris
• Risi Hatmaker
• Tammy Hatmaker
• Tori Hein
• Mary Hunt
• Millie Katina
• Kristel Kazda
• Dawn Kropp
• Bryan Lark
• Kenny MacKay
• Derrick Minyard
• Kathy Mitchell
• Phillip and Joanna Parkinson
• Peggy Pedroza
• Jordan Raynor
• Carrie Rocha
• Alex Seeley
• Adam Simon
• Ruth Soukup
• Andrew Stoddard
• Robby Valderrama
• Bryce Vernon
• Kim Von Fange
• Carlos Whittaker
• You! Yep, go on and high-five yourself!

Seriously, thanks again for picking up this book and reading. Linda and I are praying that as you apply what youve read and take the natural steps, God would unleash the supernatural so that you can walk in true financial freedom.

So many amazing people helped with the project, and Im sure I forgot some, so if your name should be on this list, Im sorry. Let me know, and Ill put it in twice in the next book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Lotich, CEPF, is a high-performance financial coach and has been named a top-twenty influencer in personal finance. His award-winning website, seedtime.com, and SeedTime Money podcast have reached over 50 million people in the past decade.

He loves sharing the results of his money experiments, from budgeting hacks and investing strategies to radical giving and yearlong sabbaticals, along with other timeless financial instruction from the Bible. He and his wife, Linda, live in Franklin, Tennessee, with their three children.

THE FINAL STEP TO A RICH LIFE: THE 1% CHALLENGE

T he formula weve led you through in this book is to save, earn, and give all you canwhile enjoying it all. That is the 40,000-foot view. Now I want to leave you with one simple, practical thing to do to make the most of the money God has entrusted to you. I call it the 1% challenge.

INCREASE YOUR SAVINGS AND GIVING BY 1% EVERY YEAR

One percent is so small youd be surprised at the minimal impact it has on your budget. Yet each year your AUM and Net Given will grow, allowing you to manage Gods money well on earth and store up treasure in heaven.

Most people find that they dont even notice an increase of 1% or 2%, but even if you are convinced that you will, if you follow the four-part framework mentioned in chapter 13, you should be able to see your earnings increase by well over 2% each year.

And if you want to or feel called to do more or to increase that percentage more frequently, by all means go for it. But strive to make a 1% annual increase the bare minimum.

LETS TAKE ACTION NOW

Set an annual reminder to increase what you save and give by 1%.

Do this step right now. Ask Siri, Alexa, Google, or any other robot of your choosing to remind you every year to do this. Or add it to your calendarwhether that be an e-calendar, your planner, or a puppies-and-kittens wall calendar. Use the tool that works best for you. But just do it.

You can schedule it one year from today or on the first of the year. We increase our savings and giving on my birthday each year. Its an opportunity to celebrate Gods faithfulness in providing for us well enough to be able to increase by another 1%.

A SIMPLE START

If youre not sure what percentage to start with, then I would suggest starting with whatever you do right now. Do you already save 5% and give 5% a year? Bump that up to 6%. Maybe you give 10% and save 3%. Increase each number by 1%. If youre new to percentage giving and saving, then start with just 1% this first year.

LINDA: Or best of all, pray and see how the Lord directs you. His leading might very well be out of your comfort zone, which is a good thing. Always obey those promptings. Thats where the adventure lies! Good things are always on the other side of obedience.

DO IT NOW

Seriously, in case you ignored me before, grab your phone right now and add a yearly reminder to increase the amount you give and save by 1%.

When that time comes, you can pull out this book, review your highlights if you need a refresher, then adjust each amount by 1%. If you have automated your savings and giving (see chapter 5), then increase those automatic withdrawals by 1% across the board, whether its to savings, to your 401(k), or to your giving recipients.

This will probably take you 5 to 10 minutes. One time each year.

Can you spare 5 to 10 minutes a year to improve your financial life now and increase your eternal impact?

TRUST THE PROCESS

I know this sounds too simple. The fact is that succeeding with money really is simple. It isnt always easy, but if you consistently take the steps, you will succeed. It wont happen overnight (though most people are surprised how fast things change). Trust the process and keep going.

Let me be your friend and coach nudging you to do this. You wont regret it. If you do nothing else but apply this one idea, I believe your mind will be blown (Ephesians 3:20 style) when you look back 10 or 20 years from now at what God has done in your financial life.

ONE LAST THING

Imagine being a few years down the road with no money worries but complete confidence in God as your provider. Free from the shackles of debt and, instead of paying interest, earning interest. Loving your work and thriving in your business or career. Having the opportunity to give from the overflow in your life and loving every minute of it.

And then imagine taking your first steps in heaven and being absolutely floored by the incredible impact of some simple decisions you made with your money.

You see, I believe money management is an act of worship.

Every day, you and I make decisions about how to spend our money. We have the opportunity to use it for Gods glory, resulting in eternal impact. The Enemy knows this, and I believe thats part of why so much of the church has been in financial bondage.

He is actively working to destroy our financial lives. This may look like fear, guilt, and shame related to money, stirring up strife with our spouses, and keeping us broke so we cant take care of our families and have nothing to give. Its his goal to keep us on a hamster wheelalways running yet never making any progress. And if were all just struggling to keep our heads above water, how are we going to help those around us?

Its time we flip the script. Its time for the church to rise up, quit following the worlds flawed approach to money, and show the world a better way.

I believe we should be the ones with the resources to solve the worlds difficult problems.

I believe we should be the ones that the world comes running to for financial advice.

I believe God can and should be glorified by how we handle our money.

Following the simple formula in this book has yielded an incredibly rich life for us. As you apply what youve read, I pray that it will for you as well.

THANK YOU FOR READING!

I t has been an honor sharing our work with you. If this book has added value to your life, would you consider one of the following?