When Money Got Tight, Faith Got Stronger: 30 Lessons in Trust & Frugality

Trusting in God is a recurring theme in the Bible.

Proverbs 3:5–6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths."

Psalm 62:8
"Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us."

For many of us, money seems to be getting tighter and tighter these days and we need to put into action what trusting God for our daily bread REALLY means.

The last few years my husband and I have seen some tumultuous times. After we moved across the country, leased a new vehicle, bought a house and had a baby, he—the primary provider—got laid off. He was unemployed for 5 months, looking for full-time work with no success. He then went back to school for a year while working part-time. We chewed through (what became) our emergency savings and built up a large chunk of debt. All experiences I didn't think would be a part of our "settled" 30's.

But God.

Surely by the grace of God alone, we made it to the other side. My husband now has two part-time jobs, and I run a small, very part-time business. We are surviving. Our debt is paid off (!!), our line of credit was approved for our next vehicle, and we pulled through!

So, if money is feeling tight for you—whether again or for the first time (like us)—know that you are not alone. Trusting in God’s provision was the foundation of our story, and through faith, sacrifice and hard work, we found a way forward. Here are 30 things my husband and I did in our 30s to stay afloat, all without the pressure of a strict and stressful budget:

1. Really, truly trusted that God would provide! Without this step, the rest are a vain attempt at strong-arming our way back to perceived control.
   
2. We “let” God take over, released the perceived control and prayed for our daily bread (with the Lord’s Prayer and otherwise), not knowing where it would come from.
3. Pursued making money from hobbies: I quit my part-time job, became a full-time stay-at-home mom (goodbye childcare expenses), and started a home-based business focused on passive income and freelancing whenever possible (during naps, playdates, independent play, evenings, weekends).
4. Regularly reviewed our income versus expenses, adjusting as needed.
5. Bartered/traded our skills, time, or business goods and services for things we needed.
6. Used up all the gift cards we had on hand.
7. Accepted help gratefully and without shame, including cash gifts (we received two gifts totalling $1,000 from friends and family—talk about the work of God! You could say we got a thousand elsewhere 😉).
8. Got rid of our second vehicle.
9. Turned off lights as often as possible, using candles and string lights instead.
10. Lowered the heat in our house—slightly during the day and significantly at night.
11. Walked or biked instead of driving whenever possible, batching errands to once or twice a week.
12. Cancelled all paid streaming subscriptions and exclusively used free/trial/ad-supported options (there are so many!).
13. Regularly monitored provider promotions to switch to better-value internet and phone plans.
14. Stopped buying alcohol, coffee, takeout, and fast food (for the most part).
15. Had at-home date nights (the internet is full of great ideas!).
16. Only used babysitters who didn’t charge (friends and family) if we went out.
17. Accepted all invitations to meals at friends' homes and hosted meals less often (or hosted at other times of the day).
18. Stopped travelling by air—this was a huge sacrifice since our families live across the country.
19. Grocery shopped every other week when possible and capped spending to a set amount per week.
20. Became an "ingredient household" (minimizing processed/convenience foods).
21. (Mostly) stopped online shopping.
22. Bought everything second-hand or DIYed when possible.
23. Skipped thrift shopping and only searched Facebook Marketplace for necessary items.
24. Focused on buying items on sale—stocking the pantry and freezer when possible.
25. Started using coupons, mail-in rebates, and other discount opportunities.
26. Regularly sold unused items and clothing on Facebook Marketplace.
27. Took advantage of my husband's work benefits and coverage to maintain our mental and physical health.
28. Used credit cards strategically for points, giving us time to pay balances back, and maximized every possible rewards program.
29. Our vehicle lease (why we were leasing is another story) is nearly up, and we have plans to buy a not-too-old, not-too-new import vehicle for the low mileage, price and insurance sweet spot, with a set LOC which will be much easier to pay off, instead of monthly payments.
30. And last but not least, embraced college-era nostalgia and ate a lot of ramen.

Why Share? 

Some of these ideas may seem simple or even obvious, but when money is tight, every small change matters. If just one of these tips can ease the burden for a family, help a mom stay home with her children, or put food on the table for someone in need, then sharing our story is worth it. Trusting in God’s provision and making intentional choices helped us navigate difficult times—and we hope these ideas can do the same for you. Remember, you’re not alone, and God is always faithful.

“Pray as if everything depends on God, and work as if everything depends on you.” — St. Ignatius