The Blog

Why Do Pastors Always Talk About Money?

January 20, 2020 By Rich Avery

“Why do pastors always talk about money at church?”

It’s a question I’m asked every now and then when someone finds out I’m a pastor.

When I ask what they mean, they say that when they go to church it seems like their pastor always talks about the financial needs of the church right before the collection plate is passed each week, and asks people to give more money to help meet those needs.

On top of that, pastors preach sermons about money from time to time, and some of those sermons also seem meant to motivate people to give more to the church.

In essence, what they’re saying is they believe that pastors talk so much about money, and they ask their people to give so often, that it makes them feel uncomfortable about how they manage their own finances, and a little guilty about how much, or little, they give to the church.

So why do pastors and churches talk about money? Is it meant to make people feel uncomfortable or guilty? Do we do it too much? Here are three reasons why pastors talk about money at church.

Three Reasons Why Pastors Talk About Money

1. To invite people to help the church fulfill her calling to impact the community and world.

When people ask me why pastors always talk about money, I usually begin my reply by jokingly saying,

“If you think pastors talk too much about money at church, you should see what they do at the grocery store. Every single time I go there and put something in my cart, they ask me for money. And when I go to the doctor, he asks me for money too. When I go to the gas station, they ask me for money. When I go to the movies or out to dinner, they ask me for money. Come to think of it, wherever I go, people are asking me for my money in exchange for some service that they provide for me.”

My point is this: No business, organization, or ministry survives without money. Businesses charge their customers for the products and services they receive. Churches do not (though they may charge a fee for a particular class or workshop). Instead, churches invite people to give to meet their financial needs so they can accomplish the work God called them to do, and serve people who cannot repay.

Our ultimate goal as pastors in asking people to give is not to make budget, save for a new building, fund programs, or employ staff. We need to show people how their tithes make a real – and eternal – difference in the lives of real people through the daily ministry of the church inside the four walls, across the street, across town, and across the world.

2. Jesus talked about money a lot! In fact . . . .

Jesus talked about money more than He talked about heaven and hell combined.
Jesus talked about money more than anything else except the Kingdom of God.
11 of 39 parables talk about money.
One out of every seven verses in the Gospel of Luke talk about money.
About 25 percent of Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels relates to money, stewardship, and the resources God has given us.

Why did Jesus talk so much about money? Because…

3. There is a direct correlation between what we do with our money and what we truly believe.

Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Luke 12:34). In other words, where and how we spend our money is a reflection of where our heart is.

As pastors, we have an opportunity to not just ask people to give, but also a God-given obligation to show them how to earn it, save it, and give it in a way that honors God. That’s why a lot of churches offer money management classes and coaching.

I think we can all agree that the world does not tell us how to spend our money according to biblical principles. So where else will we hear this? It needs to come from the church.

But if you think pastors and churches talk too much about money, and ask people to give too often, consider these facts:

Only 4% of Americans tithe (give 10% of their income to their church) according to a 2011 survey by the Barna Group.
25% of American Christians gave away no money at all (according to a 2008 Christianity Today article – from which the following points are also taken).
The average regularly attending churchgoer gives 6% of after-tax income (but it was noted that this figure is skewed by a handful of very generous givers).
The median annual giving for an American Christian is $200 – just over half a percent of after-tax income!
About 5% of American Christians provide 60% of the money churches receive (it’s these people who skew the average mentioned above).

What this tells us, I believe, is that few Christians really believe that their money belongs to God and that they are stewards of the resources He has chosen to entrust to them. Few make a priority commitment to give from the heart. Most of us just “tip” God by dropping a few coins or bills in the plate here and there.

I believe pastors and churches probably wouldn’t need to ask for money if all Christians gave at least the 10% tithe. Our church has tested this assumption by holding a “Tithing Demonstration Weekend” once a year, where we we ask everyone to tithe 10% of the income they earned that week. Our goal was to see how much money would be received if everyone tithed. We’ve found that our income increased by nearly 50%!

We also challenged non-tithers to a 90 day Tithing Challenge to give tithing a try for 90 days and see what would happen in their lives as a result. After the challenge, we heard amazing stories of how people grew in their faith and watched God provide for their needs when they committed to giving Him at least 10%.

Of course, if you can’t give 10%, you can start where you can and try to add a percent every 4-6 months until you get there. But don’t stop there. Keep on going, and growing, in the grace of giving.

I don’t know how it is at your church when the pastor announces it is time for the offering, but at our church, people applaud and cheer now when the time comes. Why? One simple reason: because God loves a cheerful giver, and more and more people in our church are learning to give with gratitude, from the heart (2 Corinthians 9:7).

What about you? Are you growing in cheerfulness and generosity when the offering plate comes your way in church, and when the pastor preaches on the subject of money? Leave a comment below!

7 Safe Places to Keep Cash Hidden in Your Home

January 20, 2020 By Carol

I started writing this article sitting in the dark with no power after a storm. Fortunately my laptop was fully charged and I have a little USB powered light that illuminates my keyboard. The next morning the power was still out—for hundreds of thousands of people in my state. I needed to do my weekly shopping but the grocery stores were closed. I wanted some produce from the farmers market, but had no cash. The ATM machines did not work. Sometimes, there is just a good reason to have a bit of cash hidden in your home. I think this is one of them. But where would you keep it? Here are seven places to consider.

1. Taped to the inside of a dresser.

Thieves may look in your sock drawer, but will they dump it and look underneath? Or how about taped to the inside back of the dresser where you can’t see unless you pull the drawer all the way out? Put your cash in an envelope and tape it there.

2. A hollowed out book.

This classic hiding place is not such a bad idea for the book lover with lots of book shelves in his home. Simply choose a hardback book that you don’t care to keep and cut the center of the pages out with a razor blade. Put your envelope of cash in the hollowed-out section and place the book back on the shelf.

3. A fake electrical outlet box.

You can purchase fake electrical outlets that open to reveal a hidden box. It is just the right size to hide some cash and a few pieces of jewelry. This item normally comes with a template for you to use to cut a fresh hole in your drywall, or you could replace an outlet that you do not ever use. If it doesn’t match your other outlets, you can switch out the front plate. If you like this idea, Brick House Security offers a wide range of diversion safes that resemble everyday objects like hairbrushes, shaving cream cans, or dog food containers.

4. A package in the freezer.

Save a frozen vegetable bag. Fill it with a few packing peanuts and your cash in a zip shut bag. Twist tie it shut as you would any other half-used bag. Hide it in the back of the freezer—as though it was forgotten. No thief is going to want your half-bag of old broccoli cuts.

5. The bottom of your flour canister.

Place your cash in a zip shut bag and put it in the bottom of a canister. Then put your sugar, flour, or cornmeal on top. The only downside is that you have to dump your flour into a bowl to retrieve your money.

6. Inside your plumbing access door.

Most bathrooms have a little door that is screwed on the wall at the drain end of the tub. Sometimes this is hidden inside a linen closet. This opens to a shaft that will run the height of your house (attic to basement) to house the piping. You can install a little shelf inside and above the opening so that it is not visible unless someone sticks their head inside. This is an ideal place to hide a little fireproof cash box. If there is not enough room to install the shelf, simply tape an envelope of cash to the inside wall.

7. In the toilet.

Seriously, put your money in a mason jar and submerse it inside the water tank of your toilet. I like this idea because you can always access your cash without everyone in the house watching. Simply excuse yourself to the powder room and slip it into your pocket.

I should mention a couple words of caution to anyone contemplating hiding money in their home. First of all, tell your spouse or someone you trust where it is. If something happened to you, they may need that money. Secondly, do not hide cash in something a thief would steal anyway—like inside of electronics or in your car. Also, don’t hide it in something you might get rid of without thinking—like a suit coat pocket or the inside of a shoe. Lastly, except for the freezer, none of these ideas will protect your valuables in case of a fire or natural disaster. If that is important to you, use a fireproof safe that is professionally bolted down.

What about you? Have any other ideas for stashing your cash? We’d love to talk about it in the comments below!

8 Reasons People Don’t Give to Church

January 20, 2020 By Guest

The following is a guest post from Patricia from Smart Church Management.

She has created an online course to help churches be more effective with their staff and she provides church consulting services to help churches fulfill their call by managing the resources God has given them – people, time and money.

Churches exist to develop people in the Christian faith and to spread the message of the Gospel.

While the Word of God is free, often times spreading the good news is not and it takes money to do so.

I cringe when I hear people (especially Christians) say things like, “they just want my money” or “look at the jewelry that ‘preacher’ is wearing”.

These kinds of comments reflect a heart that needs some adjustment but also is a sign of someone who does not have a good understanding of one of the most basic biblical principles – which is giving.

So why don’t all Christians support their church?

8 Reasons People Don’t Give to Their Local Church

1. Don’t Have a Home Church

We live in a consumer driven society and the church is no different than the restaurant or store down the street. People expect a good experience and when they don’t have one they will shop around until their needs are met. This has created a “church-hopping” culture that affects not only the person’s ability to become involved but it also affects the church donations that that person represents.

2. Don’t Understand the Concept of Giving

Giving is a very clear biblical principle and there are countless references to it in the bible. Many people don’t understand this basic principle because they have not had teaching on it and have some basic misperceptions.

3. Not Committed to the Mission/Vision of the Church

People want to know that what they support financially makes a difference. This places the burden on the church to articulate a defining mission and vision that church members can buy into and support. This requires the church to be constantly sharing its mission and demonstrating its impact in its community.

4. Bad Church Experience

There are some people who may have been givers in the past but had a bad church experience and just pulled back on their donations. This can be the result of an offense or from having strong opposition to the way church does things. Regardless, the bible is very clear about offenses and the fact that we are not to be led by offense but by love and forgiveness. After all church leadership is made up of people – and sometimes people disappoint us but that doesn’t change the call nor the responsibility we have to support the mission.

5. Don’t Agree with How Finances are Managed

Some people may be involved in a local church but don’t agree with how church finances are managed so they stop giving to demonstrate their disagreement. The reality is that supporting the church financially is returning to God what is His and church leadership is accountable to God for the management of those resources. Once the donation is made it is then between that church leadership and God. So whether someone agrees with how finances are managed or not, does not affect that person’s responsibility to sow it.

6. Unemployed

When people are in between jobs and in financial crisis it can be difficult for them to give to the church. For this reason, the current economy has had such an impact on churches all across America. It is important to have an emergency fund to carry people through financial setbacks but it can also help the church keep its doors open.

7. Support Other Ministries

There are a lot of great Christian organizations and some people choose to give to those nonprofits that are having a significant impact in the world. People tend to sow their money toward those organizations that are efficient and effective in fulfilling their mission. This puts a huge burden on the local church to demonstrate their ability to fulfill their mission by transparently showing how finances are efficiently managed and the results of their efforts.

8. Think Others Will Do It

Some people just figure that others will fill in the gap and don’t feel responsible for financial support. This kind of attitude, if embraced by the church at large, could be catastrophic and hinder the progress of Christianity.

Many churches have experienced financial hardship over the last few years and the economy has resulted in many churches cutting programs, merging with other churches, filing for bankruptcy and sadly some have been forced to close their doors. This is unfortunate because if more Christians stepped up to the plate and took personal responsibility for supporting the local church, many of these problems would not exist.

What do you think? Do you support your local church?

Tithing When Your Spouse Doesn’t Approve

January 20, 2020 By Joe

A friend of mine recently confided, “I always tithe from my income, but I would never tell my husband . . . he would not approve.” My initial response was respect for this act of devotion toward God in spite of the resistance her husband represents. However, as the conversation settled in, I began to question my friend’s actions.

Pastor Roger at Crosswalk.com

Her situation is similar to the question, “What if My Husband Won’t Let Me Tithe?” submitted to Pastor Roger at Crosswalk.com. Two differences are that my friend’s husband is not a believer and that my friend is keeping her giving a secret. However, the same question arises: Should one spouse tithe when the other spouse doesn’t approve?

I agree with Pastor Roger that the wife should not force the issue. I hope you take time to read his thoughts, but I will attempt to provide a brief summary here. Pastor Roger states that tithing should be a natural outflow of love and devotion to God (Luke 11:42), and that the husband (who is a professing Christian) is behaving like an unbeliever. The wife, therefore, should strive to practice Peter’s admonition to women married to unbelievers, “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives” (1 Peter 3:1).

He adds, “winning him over ‘without words’ in no way precludes a talk as to why he’s reluctant to tithe. At the right time, and in the right way, it’s OK to explore with him why he refuses to tithe – or to allow you to tithe.” There are many possible reasons:

He may be angry with God.
He may be blaming God for past hurts.
He may resent the fact that his spouse makes more money than he does.
He may think that the church doesn’t need the money – or deserve it.
He may have a spending problem.
He may believe that God will not provide if he gets into financial trouble.
He may be bowing down to the god of Materialism.

In conclusion, Pastor Roger recommends not forcing the tithing issue, submitting to her husband’s authority and, when the husband is open to it, discuss his reluctance to tithe.

The Three Points I’d Add

1. All marital money belongs to both spouses.

Both my friend and the writer to “Ask Roger” distinguished between “my money” and “his money”. I love Dave Ramsey’s observation, “The preacher said, ‘and now your are one’. He didn’t say ‘and now you are a joint venture’.” My point is that married couples own all assets together, meaning both must agree on how to use those assets. The question “Should I tithe my money?” should not even be asked because neither spouse has their own money.

2. Marital secrets are time bombs.

Without telling her husband, my friend piously tithes, almost with a martyr’s complex. As I mentioned earlier, once I digested what she was saying, I began to question her giving. In fact, I asked her, “Do you believe that God wants you to keep secrets from your husband?”, to which she replied, “Yes, if that is what it takes for me to tithe.” I disagree. Such secrets will undermine the quality of any marriage, and I cannot imagine God winking at her as if to give His permission. Eventually, the truth will come out and I am concerned that whatever Christian witness she brought to the marriage will be compromised by this deceit. In her effort to please God, she may be effectively destroying any hope for her husband to come to faith.

3. Husbands don’t get a free pass.

Both examples in this post refer to wives, but the very same principles apply to husbands who may want to tithe when their wives don’t approve. My guess is that men will justify controlling the money because they are the breadwinners or because the wives are supposed to submit to them. Husbands: yes, your wife is supposed to submit to your leadership, but you are supposed to earn that leadership by loving your wife as Christ loves the church.

“For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His life for her to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word.” (Ephesians 5:25-26).

Just as Christ gave up His life to make the church holy and clean, we husbands should strive to give ourselves up to our wives so they will become holy and clean. Jesus knows that a holy church will want to tithe; in the same way, a wife who is loved unconditionally by her husband will also want to tithe. Forcing a tithe could short circuit the process.

In conclusion, I think all believers should strive to tithe. However, a married couple should do so together. If one spouse is not ready, the other should patiently wait until that time comes.

Readers: Is tithing when your spouse doesn’t approve an issue in your marriage? Are you the one who pushes for the tithe or the one who is being pushed? How does this struggle affect your marriage? Your relationship with God? Leave a comment below!

5 Bible Promises That Everything is Going to Work Out

July 29, 2021 By Joe

How do you respond when your child needs surgery? Your 401k loses half its value?

Your business partner embezzles funds from you? Your spouse is diagnosed with cancer?

You feel like you have failed God one time too many? You discover that your trusted pastor has been having an affair?

If you are like me, your first thought is not “everything will work out.”

Well-meaning friends may try to comfort me with those words, but, at the moment of anguish, I would prefer a friend who will simply sit with me, weep with me, and pray with me.

This being said, the Bible gives ample promise that everything will indeed work out.

After all, we serve a sovereign God who is never surprised by any misfortune which comes our way. My hope is that you can deeply absorb the following verses so that, when all logical hope disappears, these promises will surface and deliver a hope that defies logic. All verses are from the English Standard Version.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:28

Although this verse is so commonly used it can become a cliché, I urge you to step back and give it a fresh look. Paul is reminding us that we serve a God who is sovereign – who is always prepared for any apparent contingency and who specializes in making something good from our worst nightmares. Our part? To love Him and be committed to seeing His plans carried out. His part? To make everything work out according to his purpose.

How about you? Do love God? Are you willing to forego your agenda in order to rejoice in His agenda?

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” – Hebrews 13:5

We live in a materialistic world – a world in love with money; a world which breeds discontentment; a world with upside down priorities. Yet God offers us a promise which trumps the biggest house, the fanciest car and the healthiest bank account: He will never leave us or forsake us. Let that soak in. Our parents may precede us in death. Our best friends may forget about us. Our spouses may cheat on us. But our Father in heaven will NEVER leave us. Our part? To shun materialism and be content with what we have.

How about you? Do you seek security in worldly goods? Do you plan on being content “some day?” Why not relax from the rat race and discover true security in a God who will stick with you no matter what?

And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. – Philippians 1:6

Do you ever feel like you are spinning your spiritual wheels? Do you feel guilty when the preacher proclaims, “If you are the same place in your walk today that you were five years ago, you are backsliding”? The good news is that the work isn’t yours; it is God’s. Yes, He is doing the work in you, but it is nevertheless His project. Enjoy Him and celebrate. He always completes what He starts. His part? To start and complete your spiritual transformation. Your part? To enjoy the process.

How about you? Are you guilty of beating yourself up when your spiritual progress hits a snag? Remember the promise that the God who created the universe in six days will complete what He has started in you.

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. – 1 John 5:13

As this verse promises, we can know that we have eternal life. Why? Because our faith is not based on anything we have done but on everything Christ has done. I love being able to live life on this earth while knowing that my destiny in heaven is certain. Our part? To believe on the name of the Son of God. His part? To secure that salvation by offering his sin-free life as a sacrifice for our sins.

How about you? Do you struggle with doubts about your eternal destiny? Is it because you are trying to earn your own way? Relax: Jesus has already done it for you.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. – Romans 8:38-39

God may allow some terrible things to happen, but life circumstances, even when we don’t understand them, should never give us license to doubt God’s love for us. Why? Because His word promises His absolute love. Our part? To believe that word. His part? To love us unconditionally.

How about you? When your world comes crashing in around you, do you doubt God’s love for you? Remember: you may never understand the “why’s” in this life, but your lack of understanding doesn’t diminish His love for you.

You might not be going through a tough time in your life today, but, hopefully, when that time comes, these bible promises will give you the assurance that everything is going to work out.

Readers, which of these promises are easy for you to believe? Which are a challenge to believe? Any additional bible promises which you love to cling to?

9 Financial Challenges Pastors Face

January 20, 2020 By Rich Avery

As a pastor for over 14 years, I don’t know anyone who went into the ministry for the money. Pastors respond to a call to serve God and make a real difference in the lives of others.

Most live modest lives and give sacrificially of their time and financial resources to help others. But some pastors struggle under the weight of financial burdens that few people in their congregation know about. These personal financial challenges often have a negative impact on the pastor’s church, and sadly, are leading a growing number of pastors to leave the ministry.

Here is a list of 9 financial challenges that many pastors face, along with some suggestions for what churches and pastors can do to address them.

9 Financial Challenges that Pastors Face

1. Lack of authenticity regarding finances.

Pastors and their spouses often feel pressure to look like they have it all together in every aspect of their lives – including their finances. When faced with financial difficulties, many pastors have a hard time admitting to anyone that they struggle or need help. And when they do open up and share their shortcomings and failures, it is sometimes used as a weapon against them.

2. Comparing themselves to others.

Some pastors feel a need to maintain a lifestyle level that is comparable to that of the business people in their congregation. This is often unrealistic – and unsustainable – if the pastor’s income doesn’t match up to their expenses. Left unchecked, this can lead to an increased debt load and added personal stress.

3. Feeling a need to justify having or doing something nice.

Some pastors have a hard time buying something nice for themselves, and feel like they have to justify certain personal purchases or expenses (like a car, vacation, boat, etc.) to others for fear of what they might say or think of them.

4. Modest pastoral salary.

We’ve all heard stories of celebrity TV preachers who live in mansions, and mega-church pastors who earn low-mid six figures, but the average starting salary for a pastor in the U.S. is $37,000. Depending on location and situation, some pastors can live on that just fine, while others, in places like New York City or Southern California, can’t live on twice that. Some pastors find they need to work an extra job to supplement their pastoral salary. Other pastors, especially in small and rural congregations, have two careers (in church speak, they are “bi-vocational”), working part-time as a church pastor and part or full-time in another field.

5. High student loan debt.

Many churches and denominations require their pastors to have a high level of education – four years of college and two to four years of seminary or graduate theological study. As seminary costs rise, more pastors-in-training are turning to student loans to finance their education. But many find it extremely difficult to make their monthly payments after graduation because their first church is often small and so is the starting pay. Bethel Seminary reported that the average student loan debt of 2009/2010 graduates was $38,247. Luther seminary reported that 68% of its 2009/2010 graduates had student loan debt, and that the average debt load was $50,838. It would take a pastor earning an average salary 15-20 years to pay off their seminary student loans – not to mention any undergrad loans they may have.

6. Inadequate savings for child’s education.

Pastors who struggle to pay off their own student loans will obviously find it difficult to save for their child’s education at the same time. This is a significant burden for several pastors I know.

7. Unprepared for retirement.

Historically, churches have been slow to provide for the retirement needs of their pastors, and pastors didn’t often take the initiative to create their own savings fund, leaving many retired pastors living in poverty. Gratefully, more churches and denominations are setting up retirement plans and offering a match to what the pastor contributes to the plan, but many churches still do not. Pastors who’ve lived in a church parsonage have another problem at retirement: no home equity. While many retirees enjoy living in a home they own, retired pastors often have to pay for housing in their retirement years.

8. No unemployment benefits.

The recent economic downturn caused many churches to cut back and some to lay off staff. Some churches can provide a generous severance for laid off pastors but many cannot. And since American churches are exempt from unemployment taxes, pastors are not eligible for unemployment benefits. I don’t know how long it takes the average pastor to find a new position these days, but I know several pastors who have been between churches for 2-3 years. One has been driving a semi truck cross-country for nearly two years while searching for his next pastorate.

9. Uninsured or underinsured.

Many churches cannot afford to provide health insurance benefits for their pastors. This leads many spouses to work outside the home to provide insurance for the family through their employment. For pastors who don’t have Medishare or traditional health insurance, medical emergencies often become medical debt that takes years to pay off.

What can churches and pastors do to help resolve these financial challenges that pastors face?

1. Pastors need at least one person, or perhaps a small group of people, that they can be “real” with.

Sometimes the church board, or the board’s lay leader, can fill this role, but other times it needs to be someone else. Pastors need people around them who are good listeners, non-judgmental, can keep things confidential, and are committed to their personal and spiritual well-being.

2. Churches and denominations that require a high level of education for their pastors should be willing to pay more for it.

Churches should provide more affordable ways of obtaining that education – especially if they require their pastors to attend their own denominational school.

3. Churches should be as generous as they can be with their pastor’s salary, benefits, and retirement.

If you cannot do everything you may want to do for your pastor, don’t let that be an excuse for doing nothing. Make a list of all the things you’d like to provide, prioritize the list, and take one or more steps toward those goals each year. If you can’t provide health insurance, at least start a flexible spending account so the pastor can pay for medical expenses out of pre-tax dollars. If you can’t provide a 5% match for your pastor’s retirement savings, start now with 1%.

4. Pastors should start their own emergency and retirement funds if they haven’t already.

Even if you can put in just a few bucks a week, it really adds up over time!

5. Pastors should seek to set a good financial example and not be afraid to preach about stewardship and money.

Even if they feel inadequate in dealing with the subject, they should teach it nonetheless. You don’t need to preach like you’ve got it all figured out. Instead, say, “This is what I’m learning” or “This is what God’s been teaching me lately about money.”

6. Pastors should seek to remain humble and grateful, and not compare themselves to others or worry about what others think.

They should not worry about their lifestyle and what they decide to spend money on. Ultimately, we serve an audience of one.

Pastors, is there anything else you’d add to these lists? Church members, have you seen your church or pastor struggle with any of these financial issues in the past? What was the result? Leave a comment below!

A Closer Look at Making Money with the Gigwalk App

January 20, 2020 By Jonathan

Want to make some extra income with your iPhone? It never ceases to amaze me the creativity people have with iPhone apps. Oftentimes the simplest of ideas start a new revolution. When it comes to making money with an iPhone app, you should always walk with a bit of caution at first.

Companies and manufacturers alike want to know more about how their product is performing in the marketplace. This has to do with pricing, product placement, advertising, and more. Mystery shopping has been around for awhile now. The Gigwalk app is making an attempt to simplify the process for normal everyday people to complete tasks that companies are willing to pay for. My goal today is to show you how to use Gigwalk and my overall impression of the app.

Gigwalk Overview

Once you download the iPhone app, you will be asked to sign up for a free account. It does want to collect a little bit of information from you before you start accepting “gigs.” Be sure to add your Paypal email address because this is how you will be paid.

The app will also ask for permission to access your current location. You will want to do this as the app can tell you how far each “gig” is away from you. This is also a great feature because if you do travel from time to time, you can see what gigs are available no matter where you are at the moment.

Typical gigs very in their responsibilities. Some gigs are as simple as snapping a photo of the desired product on the grocery store shelf. Some companies just want to know how their product is being displayed. Others want you to do a price check on the product.

As far as pay, a gig will range between $5-20 each. Once you submit the required information, you will need to wait for approval. After you are approved, you receive payment via Paypal.

The Main Dashboard

The main dashboard in the app is divided into 4 sections:

Browse Gigs

This is updated in real time and has to do with your current location. New gigs are added all of the time. Yesterday in my area there were 2 live gigs and when I checked this morning there were 4 total gigs. Each gig also has a desired completion date. From the looks of it, these are normally about 2 weeks out.

My Gigs

This is where you can monitor the stage your gig is in. There are three stages: applied, in progress, and completed. Applying is pretty simple as all you need to do is hit the “apply” button to notify the owner of the gig that you want to participate.

Once you are approved, you will be moved to the “in progress” stage. This displays a listing of all of the current gigs you are involved with. The final stage is labeled “completed.” This is where you can view your total earnings and completed gigs.

My Profile

There is a percentage completion meter here. They want you to fill it out as much as possible. It could be that this information is used in creating gigs. For example, a creator of a gig may just want female participation. I am of course just assuming this is true. There is nothing stated that you have to get your profile to 100% completion to make money with the service though.

Working Today

The last section on the main dashboard show the profile pictures of all of the users who are currently working gigs. Not really much can be done here, but it is a powerful feature of displaying other profiles of people earning money with Gigwalk.

Final Thoughts

As best as I can tell at this moment, Gigwalk is not a scam. It seems to be a legitimate and useful tool. I can bet that companies and manufacturers really like this idea as it gives them direct access to the everyday consumer. Some gigs are surveys and this info can be helpful for sure.

When I showed my wife the app, her first thought was: “I can do both of those gigs while I am grocery shopping.” I guess there is nothing like earning money while you are grocery shopping.

If you have used Gigwalk in the past, we would love to know your perspective. Feel free to share below!

How to Remove a Cosigner from a Student Loan

January 20, 2020 By Aaron

When I was going through the process of getting a student loan for my first year at college – I thought little of the fact that my dad stepped in to cosign my student loan. I had scant knowledge about the whole loan process and basically felt money just “grew on trees” (which probably led to my early money management problems when I entered the “real world”).

I now have a greater understanding of the risk he was taking by cosigning. If I failed to come through on my repayment of that loan, he could have been saddled with the debt.

Fortunately, the Lord has provided for me through the years where I’ve been able to meet my loan obligations. And about four years ago, I paid off the last of my school loan. Freedom!

Cosigning a Student Loan

Generally, a cosigner is needed on student loans because most young people do not have sufficient (or any) credit history to qualify for loans. To meet this need – someone close to them will step in (like my father) to “vouch” for the student. In essence – they become the guarantee to the creditor that the loan will be repaid.

Oftentimes, having a cosigner will help get the student a lower interest rate on their loans as well. This is one of the benefits of having a cosigner.

Due to the past recession and issues with home loans and lending – it has been a little harder to become credit-worthy. Having someone with a proven history of paying their bills on time and a good credit score will also bode well for the student applying for a loan.

(It is of note that a cosigner is only needed on a private student loan and NOT on a federal loan.)

Can a cosigner be released from your loan?

So you’ve graduated and you are ready to start making your way in the world. You’ve found a job, got some wheels, and are living with one of your roommates from college. Life is looking good.

You come to the point where you’d like to start cutting your ties with some of your financial supports. You’re making decent money (for a graduate that is) and feel it’s time. One of those “ties” is with your student loan cosigner. You’d like to release them from any future obligations as it relates to your student loan.

While your intentions are noble – there are a few things you’ll need to be able to prove to your lender before the cosigner can be removed from the loan.

Most lenders will require that you have made at least 12 to 24 consecutive monthly on-time loan payments before they allow a cosigner to be removed. This is why it is so important that a student remains faithful with their repayment schedule. Make paying on your loan each month a top priority (even if you sometimes feel as though you aren’t making a dent). Plus, your credit rating is being build during repayment and any slip or missed payment can have an adverse affect on your score.

A couple other lender restrictions may entail – meeting the “age of majority” (the age “society” has deemed you’ve entered adulthood – typically 18 in most countries), as well as underwriting and credit requirements.

Once these have been satisfied, the student can fill out a “request for cosigner release” with their lender. During the application review, it’s important regular loan repayments be made on-time.

That’s it!

Finally – be sure to check with your lender as each will have some adjustments to these requirements.

(It’s important to note that a cosigner will (in most cases) be removed from their loan obligations in the event of the borrowers death or permanent disability.)

Have you ever applied to have someone removed from your student loan? How did the process work for you? Leave a comment below!