Today on MoneyLife

"Cash for Clunkers" is a government program aimed at getting you to trade-in an old car on a new car that is more fuel efficient. The government is offering a trade-in credit of up to $4,500.

Many standards must be met for a car to qualify. The car must be drivable, insured for at least a year, be a 1984 model or later, and get 18 miles-per-gallon or less.

If you’re interested in purchasing a new car with better gas mileage, it’s something to check out if it becomes law. The goal for the government is to get gas guzzlers off the roads.

I don't think this is a good deal for taxpayers to pay $4,500 for a car that may only be worth $1,000. I wonder what the government will do with all those cars?

You shouldn’t buy a new car if you can’t afford one; used vehicles are a better value. Also, you can always give your car away. Several ministries will take them.

Our guest today is "Mompreneur" Angel Rushing. Angel is a stay-at-home mom and an entrepreneur. She found ways to increase her family’s income. We found Angel and heard her remarkable testimony in a Crown Bible study, so we asked her to share her story today.

Angel is recent graduate of Crown’s Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money Study.
She lives in Clarkesville, Georgia, with her husband of 10 years, Steve. They have four children (two are grown, two are young). Angel homeschools her two young children, and is thankful she can shape what’s going in their heads and hearts.

Angel first learned God’s financial principles through listening to Larry Burkett on Money Matters. She always picked up something from Larry answering caller questions and shared what she heard with others.

Angel says she's a natural saver, some would call a tightwad. She always lived on a strict budget and started using envelope budget system after getting married. That really helped, because they had different money personalities.

Steve faced a $14,000 tax debt when they got married and some credit card debt. Angel got help dealing with IRS, asked for a reduction of the fees, and IRS made them a settlement offer. They paid the IRS and then began attacking credit card debt.

Using envelopes helped them to see the money and where it was going, and know when they had to stop spending. the couple anted to pay off their credit cards and vehicles so Angel could stay home and care for their children, which they were able to do by living on a strict budget.

Still, Steve and Angel couldn’t save much money after she stopped working. It bothered her that they struggled to save because of their tight budget. When her family had some medical and car problems, she got another 0% card and charged the expenses, which they hope to pay off in the next few months.

Angel became an entrepreneur at home to be able to pay off debts and save more. Gardening is a way she earns extra income. With her parents, Angel grows 80 different varieties of produce (fruits, vegetables, and honey) to sell at two different farmers markets. They made $7,000 last year. (See video)

Angel says gardening is satisfying and it's something the kids can get involved in, planting and harvesting. She says it doesn’t seem like work because you enjoy the fellowship so much.

Angel aso developed another home business. She always used coupons and learned to match store sale items with coupons, making the item free or costing only pennies.

She stocked up on the free items like toothpaste, shampoo, and razors, then started having yard sales to sell extra items. She priced the items at half what they would regularly cost in the store. People placed orders, she delivered, and made $120 the first time.

Angel saw that she could make money without investing much into it. She now makes $150 a week, more at Christmas, up to $800 a week.

• Check grocery store Web sites for sale items
• Match coupons with those sale items
• There are Web sites that do that for you
• TheCouponClippers.com, CutOutHunger.org, CouponsandForms.com
• Some grocery store chains will double the value of coupons
• Some of the items will end up being free, you’ll only pay tax
• Angel buys coupons online instead of clipping herself

Now takes orders for produce and other household items through her own Web site.

I hope you were inspired by Angel’s testimony and learned something. She had unexpected expenses, and didn’t have the money saved to pay for them. I appreciate her honesty about that, and many of us can relate to that.

Angel responded by using a 0% credit card, and resolved to pay it off before the special interest rate expired. She worked through it and became more motivated to save.

I hope you'll be inspired to work through your own adversity, set a goal, and keep going.

Angel’s business has no risk, there's no money invested. She’s bringing in extra income for her family through her businesses. I'm impressed by her heart and her capacity to do all these things.

One more thing I noticed about Angel, she has the joy of the Lord. She enjoys what she’s doing. She’s using the gifts God has given her. I want all you to get to that place.

If you were helped and inspired by today's program, I hope you'll consider becoming part of Crown's effort to teach biblical stewardship by making a gift online or by calling 800-722-1976. Thank you!

Starting a Business

Starting and managing a business takes motivation, desire, talent, research, and planning.

• Read More

How to be a Success

To be a spiritual success, a Christian must be willing to relinquish all rights and accept God’s plan. God’s plan will always provide enough.

• Read More

Should I Start a Businss?

Starting a business can be a complex undertaking, requiring much prayer and consideration, the right motive, a workable plan, and adequate capital.

• Read More

Basic Business Minimums

.Christians need to give their businesses to God, live by His principles, and accept the fact that they are managers of His business.

• Read More

Other Resources:

• ABCs of Money Package
• Career Direct
• God's Principles for Operating a Business
• Business By the Book
• Crown Mvelopes