The Religion of Personal Finance

Personal Finance as a Modern Faith

To many outside the financial world, personal finance might feel almost like a religion. With its own set of beliefs, jargon, acronyms, and even fanatical followers, personal finance has newcomers to “the fold” and those who have “strayed from the path.” Each group forms tight-knit communities, sharing insights and supporting each other in their journey. Much like those who follow religious teachings, personal finance advocates want to help others benefit from the lessons they’ve learned. But for some, this unyielding devotion can feel overwhelming, which might explain why personal finance can turn people off.

The "Primary Answers" of Personal Finance

Growing up in Sunday school, we learned the classic “primary answers” that seemed to apply to nearly every lesson: read your scriptures, go to church, and pray. Facing a challenge with faith? Read your scriptures, go to church, and pray. Struggling with family relationships? The answer, once again: read your scriptures, go to church, and pray.

In personal finance, there’s a similar trio of primary answers: budget, save/spend less, and invest. When dealing with debt: budget, save/spend less, and invest. Saving for a down payment? Budget, save/spend less, and invest. Wanting to curb spending habits? You guessed it—budget, save/spend less, and invest.

So why do churches and financial coaches repeat the same message year after year? It’s because many people resist it. Just like some resist reading scriptures, others resist budgeting. It’s no mystery what we need to do—it’s not brain surgery. But sometimes, a specific lesson, talk, or blog post will resonate at just the right time, inspiring change. Sometimes, it takes hearing the same message a hundred times before it finally clicks and motivates lasting action.

Quick Fix Culture

In our fast-paced world, we crave quick fixes and shortcuts. We don’t want to sit down and read an entire book on finance or spirituality. We’d rather get a 30-second summary on TikTok. But there’s no shortcut to lasting change—no magic pill for spiritual or financial literacy. We hear the same principles repeated because we slip up. We need to be reminded that it’s okay to make mistakes and start over, rebuilding our discipline. Becoming an expert in any area requires dedication, and while personal finance may not take 10,000 hours to master, it still demands time and consistent effort. And everyone learns at a different pace, which is perfectly okay.

The Role of Community

Churches are well known for fostering inclusive communities that create lasting friendships, and there’s a good reason for it. Growth in any area, be it spiritual or financial, takes work and dedication. Having a support group creates accountability and camaraderie. Online financial communities serve a similar purpose. They provide a space for people to share tips, seek support, and celebrate progress in their journey toward financial wellness.

Repentance and Redemption

In both faith and finance, there are times when we fall short of our goals. We might want to save money but lack the discipline, and it’s easy to feel as though we’re too far off course. But just as religious teachings offer repentance, personal finance offers redemption. No matter how much debt you have or how daunting your financial situation, you can start fresh. No one is beyond “saving” when it comes to personal finance. With each step toward budgeting, saving, and investing, you’re creating the opportunity for a better financial future.

Building Habits Line Upon Line

Most people don’t become financially savvy or spiritually wise overnight. Building good habits takes practice and patience. Both personal finance and spirituality are lifetime pursuits that require daily effort. Though we may all know the “right” answers, it often takes years to master putting them into practice. But no one needs to go on this journey alone—community, support, and continued learning are always there to help us along the way.

Growth happens slowly and sure we may all know the correct answers, but it often takes a lifetime to perfect and implement. You don't need to go on this journey alone, there is support.  

If you found this helpful and would like help budgeting or investing please email me at taylormckeecoaching@gmail.com