Chuck Bentley
Chuck Bentley
It’s called skimming because thieves “skim” your credit or debit card information using a device that affixes to a card reader on something like an ATM machine or gas station pump. It blends in with the existing equipment well enough that unsuspecting consumers never notice it. And it’s become a big problem. From January 1 […]
Dear Chuck, Procrastinators Unite! This weekend, my husband and I will be crashing on our tax returns, due Monday, April 18th, and we’re hoping to receive a return. What do you suggest we do with the money? Procrastinator Dear Procrastinator, It is never best to wait until the last minute to do your income […]
Few people see the Bible as a financial guidebook, but Scripture is full of spiritual and practical advice. Here are the top three lessons in which the Bible differs from all other financial advice. 1. Money is not our master. Cash is not king. Becoming a millionaire is not an appropriate life purpose. The Bible […]
I am often asked to share basic financial moves. Here are my top six: 1. Make giving to the Lord’s work your top financial priority. The Bible calls us to honor the Lord with the first fruits of our wealth. I believe 10 percent of our gross annual income is the starting goal. 2. Have […]
I was with a friend from church who was buying some musical equipment for his children. When he got to the place where the cashier made the pitch for the extended warranty plans he said, “Hold on a minute, I want to ask an expert.” He then walked over to me and said, “Should I […]
Americans are currently saving an average of 4 percent of their annual income. This is the lowest savings rate for any country in the developed world. At a seminar I just completed, a participant asked me, “Well then, what is the right percentage of our income that we should be saving?” Glad you asked. First, […]
The Bible makes it clear that the standard for good stewardship is that we are to be both faithful and disciplined. Here is my list of best practices for good stewards. 1. Be faithful by honoring God with the first fruit of all your income. That means make giving to God’s causes your highest priority. […]
According to Bankrate.com the percentage of banks offering free checking with no strings attached fell to 37 percent in 2015. A total of 95 percent of the non-interest-bearing accounts Bankrate surveyed were either free or waive monthly maintenance fees for account holders who meet certain requirements, such as keeping a minimum balance or, most commonly, making regular […]
This may surprise you, but I carry a credit card. I never fail to pay off my balance at the end of the month, and I never pay late fees. For that, Ann and I take advantage of the convenience the card allows, earn airline miles, and enjoy 30 days of interest-free money. I have […]
The average personal savings rate for Americans has been hovering around 4.9%. We save $5 out of very $100, which is not bad… unless we compare it to other countries. The Chinese average 38%, the Irish 19%, the French save 16%, and Australians save 9.3%. For a developed country, we have one of the lowest […]
