Does All Money Really Belong to God?

A close friend of mine told me his daughter asked him to explain the first rule of money to her friends. While he understood the first rule and agreed with it, he found himself slightly perplexed as to how to articulate the point. This got me thinking that maybe I should take some time to explain each rule a little deeper.

Rule#1 All Money Belongs to God:

To understand this rule it is important to understand what money really is and what it is not. Money is simply a means by which we manage and exchange resources. In earlier history, if I had one resource and you had another we could exchange resources as needed so that both of our needs were met. Money allows us a simpler way to make that exchange. Money has no inherent value in and of itself beyond the resources to which it is applied.

In the very beginning, in Genesis (1:26-29), we were called to manage the resources on the Earth. God created the resources of the Earth and placed mankind over them. We often think that man created economic systems. The truth is God created the management of resources. He created economics. There are many more passages that teach this principle, but at the very core is Gen. 1.

Even if you have a faith that differs from mine this principle still applies. It is important for us to respect a higher authority than ourselves regarding the management of money. The moment money is "only" about ourselves, the charitable application is lost. If we only use money for our gain then we abuse the resources to which the money is applied. This goes into some very deep economic and political topics that are not appropriate for this post. However, without giving we only hurt ourselves in the long run.

In conclusion all things belong to God. Therefore, that includes money. Take care of what has been given to you.

Sincerely,

Grant Magers
CEO
Moola Monsters, LLC
www.moolamonsters.com

Fishing for Kids

Recently I was given the book "Fish" by Stephen Lundin, Harry Paul, and John Christensen. If you have not had a chance to read "Fish", I highly recommend picking a copy up today. The book itself is directed towards increasing morale and improving results in business, but the four principles the the book emphasizes is good to practice for all areas of our life, especially in our relationship with our children.

Principle 1: Choose Your Attitude

How often do we get home tired from work, and our attitudes may be a little less than optimal. It is so important for us to choose our attitude when we are with our kids. Our time with them is precious and limited. We need to have a positive attitude as much as we can around our children.

Principle 2: Play

Who knows better how to play than our kids. They can bring out the kid in us if we let them. Find time to play.

Principle 3: Make Their Day

Who doesn't love it when someone goes out of the way to make our day? Take them on a walk. Go out for ice cream. Read them a book. Making a child's day is as simple as spending quality time with them.

Principle 4: Be Present

This may be the most important and the most difficult principle to apply on a consistent basis. When we are with our children we need to focus on them. It is so easy to let our minds drift off into work or bills when we are spending time with our kids. It is so easy to jump on the cell phone when are kids are wanting our attention. Be present for them. Look them in the eye when they are speaking. Acknowledge their comments and questions. When you are with them, give them your full attention.

The "Fish Philosophy" is great for growing our relationships with our children. Remember to choose your attitude, play, make their day, and be present.

Wishing you the best,

Grant Magers
CEO
Moola Monsters, LLC
www.moolamonsters.com

Many Thanks!

Every morning her feet shuffle across the street. Sometimes the sun is beating down on her as the temperature reaches 120 degrees in the Arizona summer. Hunched over and tired she shuffles. Cars race by her, sometimes, with little regard for the effort it takes her to just make it across. Nobody stops to help her. Nobody offers her water in the scorching sun. Yet everyday, without fail she makes it across the street and back again.

Her hand and arm are getting tired as she carries her burden. She never complains. She always smiles at each and every person that crosses her path. In our community she is an unknown soul. She is the woman who crosses the street everyday...back and forth. Yet, she is the woman that is protecting all we hold dear. Everyday she helps our children safely cross the street to get to school and to get home. She is an inspiration and an example for all to follow. She gives. She gives everyday without fail. I am so thankful this year for her.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!!

Grant Magers
CEO
Moola Monsters, LLC
www.moolamonsters.com

Piggy Banks

Last week I was presenting to a group of parents at a local church. Before I went up to speak it struck me to ask them, "how many of you had a piggy bank growing up?" Every hand in the audience went straight up. I then asked them, "How many of you regularly were taught to put money in your piggy bank and save?" Every hand stayed in the air. Then asked them, "Now as adults, how many of you save money the way you know you should?" Every single hand went down.

Isn't it interesting that so many of us were taught to save money, but so few of us do it. I have a theory... It is because "to save" has no intended consequence if it is not done. Children and adults respond to consequence. "If you do not eat dinner then you will not get desert." "If you run the red light you will get a ticket resulting in a fine." We respond to the consequence to create a positive habit.

Why do we go to work? Because, if we do not then there will be potential disastrous consequences for our lives. Why do we lock our doors? Why do we go to school? Why do we have our kids do their homework? Why do we do anything that requires disciple, if it is not to better ourselves and protect ourselves from negative consequences. Consequences are a large part of the decision making in human nature. This is why the third rule of money for kids is written: "If you spend all your money you will not have any left."

When a child is operating in the Moola Monster System they learn right away what this means. When they do not have any money there is immediate consequences to what they are able to do. Teach your children how to understand the consequence of not saving very young. If they spend all they have, they will not have any money left.

All the Best,

Grant Magers
CEO
Moola Monsters, LLC
www.moolamonsters.com

Go-Giver

There is a great book called "The Go-Giver" by Bob Burg and John David Mann. The book was written for business professionals in order to give us a different way of looking at the world. Rather than looking at it from the perspective of "go get", they brilliantly suggest we "go give" in order to get. We must give in order to receive.

I found it interesting that these gentlemen saw a weakness in our business ethic and wrote a book to encourage a shift in thinking about the way we go about receiving in this world. So how does this lesson apply to raising our children? It seems obvious enough. Who doesn't want their children to be gracious to others? However, how many children grow up to be "geters" rather than "givers" in our culture.

We live in a society that holds competition and winning at the highest levels. Unfortunately sometimes at all costs. The truth is I want my kids to win as much as the next person, but like this book we need to reestablish what winning is all about. Competition is good. It is what drives our great country, and I personally believe that competition makes all of us better. So I am not advocating being a doormat. However, I am advocating scripture, the meek shall inherit the Earth (Matthew 5:5).

We need to teach our children to be givers. It is through giving that the highest forms of receiving is earned. They need to be taught to give of their time, their talents, and their treasures without misguided expectations of return. By doing these things they will find that a world of opportunity will open that is unlimited in its potential for good. Thank you authors of the Go-Giver. We appreciate your insight.

Sincerely,

Grant Magers,
CEO
Moola Monsters, LLC
www.moolamonsters.com

Preparing Your Children for a Better Financial Future

I love being a parent. I have two boys ages 7 and 5. Just listening to them laugh is enough to make my day complete. Their happiness is my goal in life. Helping them achieve that happiness is not an easy task. We want our children to be happy. We want to protect them from all the pain of the world.

We do so many things to protect them. We put them in the best child-safety seats money can buy. We sort through every piece of Halloween candy and examine each piece carefully to make sure they are good to eat. We teach them the value of nutrition and exercise so their bodies will be healthy and grow. We make sure they do their homework and are making good grades to school. As parents we take great care in making sure our kids will have happy lives. The truth is that we want them to be happy kids, but more importantly we want them to be happy adults. Our children will spend 75% or more of their life as an adult. Almost all things parents teach children are for the child’s future as an adult. Ironically one of the things, as parents, we fail to teach adequately to our children is how money works in our world.

When it comes to money we have a tendency to make two major mistakes. First, we hope the schools will teach them. After all the schools teach them to count and make change. I know plenty of adults who can count and make change, yet they cannot retire. They have too much debt. They have filed bankruptcy. Being able to count and make change does not create an understanding of how money works. The second mistake we make is we assume our kids will catch on using allowances and piggy banks. As a child I had an allowance, I saved change in a piggy bank, and yet in early adulthood I found myself broke. How about you? We were all told to save. We were all told to work for money, but the majority of our country has been financially brought to their knees. So as parents why are we repeating the same mistakes that our parents made.

Having general knowledge about eating healthy and exercising does not ensure a healthy lifestyle. Would you tell your kids to eat vegetables and then serve them candy? Would tell them the advantages of exercise and then allow them to sit in front of the television 24 hrs a day? No, as parents we get them involved in that lifestyle. We enroll them in sports activities. We give them nutritious meals. They live the lifestyle we teach them. So how do we transfer that same experience to financial behavior?

If you want to reach your children for a better financial future, look at how money works in your life. You earn it, you spend it, and if you do not have any you cannot do the things you need or want to do. Create that same economy for your children in the home. For instance, in my house if my children want to play a game console it cost them 15 Moola Monsters per hour. If they want junk food, it cost them 5 Moola Monsters. My kids live in a child friendly economy in our house so they understand cash flow, savings, investing, etc. I built an economy for my kids so they live by the same financial principles I live by. I want them to understand how the world works, so when they grow to be adults, they will have the foundation to make the right decisions financially.

To learn more visit our website at www.moolamonsters.com. Remember, no matter what interest your child has as they grow up money will be a part of their lives, so give them they best education you can regarding managing it responsibly.

Sincerely,

J. Grant Magers

CEO

Moola Monsters, LLC

www.moolamonsters.com

Happy Giving

Every Sunday morning I ask the kids to get their Moola Monsters' banks and bring them to me. We then proceed to count their cards. We decide how much they are going to take out of their investments or how much they are going to leave in. We take out 10% and move it to savings. We also take out 10% for our tithe to God. This morning Michael asked me the most insightful question. After he gave me three Moola Monsters to give to God he asked me if the cards go to heaven to be with God.

What if they did? What if your tithe went directly to God? Would it change your thoughts about tithing? What if he kept an accounting of your giving? What if God used those funds to improve the universe? How would God use the dollars you gave Him? These questions sped through my mind in a blast of just a few seconds as Michael looked up at me awaiting an answer. Truthfully, it was a bit terrifying to consider that my giving is that personal to God.

I looked at Michael and explained that for each card he and his brother give, I give one dollar to the church on their behalf. I then explained that God uses those dollars by working with the church to help others. So in a very real sense those dollars do go to be with God in heaven, and he uses them. Of course let us never forget Matthew 6:19-21,

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Happy Giving,

Grant Magers

CEO

Moola Monsters, LLC

www.moolamonsters.com