We asked. Our clients answered.
Our finances allow us to “stockpile materials.” We enjoy spending money only when getting steep discounts. We also enjoy building church projects. For $4,000 in materials, we and other members built a $30,000 walk-in cooler for our church’s food bank by having first stockpiled deeply discounted items from “big box” stores.
Art and Edna Brockschmidt, Renton, Washington
For one period in my career, when I would receive a yearly 3% salary increase, we shifted one third of that to giving. During another period, we increased our total giving percentage by 1% each year until it was where we wanted it (about 20%).
John Sherwood, Greenville, South Carolina
I take a small amount out of my IRA to help balance the church’s budget.
Grace Peterson, Toledo, Ohio
We use a Thrivent Action Team for our church’s Vacation Bible School. A small group of us restarted VBS in our church and community six years ago. We are a relatively small church and each year we cap our VBS to 60 kids! How wonderful to see this each summer!
Crystal DeVore, Steele, North Dakota
My husband and I give our IRA charitable distribution to the church each year to help pay down the church mortgage.
B. Rennie, Califon, New Jersey
Editor’s note: In this section in our Winter 2023 issue, we shared a cost savings recommendation around purchasing stamps. Buying stamps from a source not affiliated with the USPS could result in a counterfeit product. Please always be diligent and seek reputable sources when making any type of online purchase.
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