Pray over it. Seriously. Pray over your plans, your money, your opportunities, and where you’re being led.

Something that has always stuck with me: If you can’t handle the little God has blessed you with now, how can you ask Him for more? I had a REALLY challenging time with this for a long time. For a long time, I felt like my life was standing still. It wasn’t until I truly considered this, looked at how I was managing what I had already been blessed with, and actually took action that things started to change.

You don’t wait until you have more to become a good steward. You start with what’s already in your hands. Everyone starts somewhere. You don’t suddenly become responsible with money once you have more of it. Start with what you have NOW.

• GIVE. I make sure that I tithe. While I don’t always give that 10% directly to a church, giving and generosity are extremely important to me so I make sure my 10% goes SOMEWHERE because that’s what Jesus would do. Sometimes that means donating. Sometimes it means giving money to someone experiencing homelessness. Sometimes it’s simply seeing someone who needs help and doing a random act of kindness. If you can spend $20 on a cocktail, you can give someone $20 for food or buy them dinner yourself. It really is not that hard. Hold your money loosely. Bless people when you can and watch what happens.

• SAVE YOUR MONEY. Do not get fooled by the consumerism that has completely taken over the U.S. You do not need another pair of shoes. Wear the ones you have until they break or genuinely aren’t wearable anymore. Coffee? Unless you have a gift card, you have coffee at home. 😂 The little things ADD UP.

• LIVE AT HOME FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE if your circumstances allow it. I know this isn’t an option for everyone (trust me…I know), but if it is, take advantage of it. There is nothing wrong with living at home while you save, travel, invest, or work toward a bigger goal. Help them. Help yourself. Win win.

• Learn how to use points! Credit cards can be your friend when you pay them off IN FULL and actually learn how the points system works. Learn about transfer partners. Learn how to transfer points from your credit card to airlines. Some of my best travel deals have come from simply understanding points.

• Stop being so picky about where you travel. I usually don’t sit there thinking, “Hmm, I really want to go to [insert country] so let me find a ticket there.” I keep my options OPEN. I look at what’s affordable, what makes sense with my schedule, and what routes are convenient, then I choose from there. This is a huge part of how I’ve been able to travel so much.

• Hotels are not always the best option. Sometimes it’s an Airbnb. Other times it’s a hostel, whether that’s a private room or a small shared room where you can meet new friends. I choose to rotate between these options based on the destination, price, location, and experience I want.

• Have a separate travel fund. Something that has personally helped me is having direct deposit go into a bank account that I use specifically for travel. It makes it VERY clear what money I have available and where my travel money is coming from.

• Invest. Think about your future. But also LIVE. I absolutely believe in investing and letting your money grow. This should be set up and your #1 priority in your early 20s). Your future matters. Buttttttt I also personally prioritize living in the present when I know I can afford to fund it. Life is short, and none of us are promised tomorrow. Personally, I don't want to save every dollar for a future I may never get to experience while forgetting to actually live my life now.

I am NOT a financial expert, so please do your own research and figure out what works for your life, income, goals, and risk tolerance. This is simply what has worked for me.

Pray. Give. Save. Invest. Be smart. Use your points. Stop buying things you don’t need. And LIVE YOUR LIFE.