9 Must-do steps to take back control of your finances with Biblical Principles

Do you feel like your finances are completely out of control? Maybe you avoid looking at your bank account, ignore bills piling up, or feel a tight knot in your stomach every time money is mentioned. I get it—sometimes I feel the same way.

One of my clients, Sarah, came to me like this. Her scarcity mindset and tendency to catastrophize everything gave her so much anxiety that she simply didn’t want to see her numbers.

She felt trapped, overwhelmed, and unsure if she could ever get ahead. Fast forward a few weeks into our work together: she tells me she actually enjoys looking at her numbers now, she feels empowered, and she loves that she gets to decide what to do with the money God has blessed her with. That’s the transformation I want for you too.

Here are 9 must-do steps to take back control of your finances, infused with biblical principles, real-life stories, and practical action.

Step 1: Forgive Yourself and Start Fresh

When I first moved to New Zealand, I couldn’t find a job as a foreigner. My husband’s income wasn’t enough for both of us, and slowly, we ended up with debt. Not because we overspent—if anything, I was too careful because of my scarcity mindset—but because life didn’t add up.

Here’s what I want you to know: your debt or financial struggles do not define you. You are not your mistakes. God forgives us in Christ, and because of that, you can forgive yourself too.

Proverbs 2:6 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Originally, wisdom was treasured more than silver or gold because it guided decisions that shaped life. Today, it reminds us that we can start over with guidance from God, not our past shame or our bank balance.

Write this down:

Step 2: Renew Your Relationship with Money

Before we can control our finances, we have to look at how we relate to money. For me, it wasn’t just about paying bills or tracking expenses—it was about fear, scarcity, and guilt.

Growing up, I was taught to be careful with money, and I carried that into adulthood. Even when I earned more, I felt anxious, guilty, or afraid I didn’t deserve it.

The first step is to acknowledge your money story. How do you feel when you see your bank account? Do you avoid it, panic, or feel undeserving?

For example, Sarah avoided her finances because her scarcity mindset made her catastrophize every number. She didn’t want to face the truth—and that kept her stuck.

In my F.L.I.P. the Table Method, this is where we find the money blocks. We uncover the beliefs, fears, and habits that secretly control your choices. Then we lean on God, replacing lies with His truth.

Here’s what I want you to do today:

• Reflect on your money story. Write down what comes up when you think about your finances—fear, guilt, pride, shame?

• Pray and ask God to show you where your beliefs about money are not aligned with His Word.

• Begin replacing lies with truths like: “Money is a tool God gives me to serve Him and others,” or “I am capable of managing what God entrusts to me.”

You can join this amazing 5 Day uncover your money story challenge to get started, HERE

This step is all about healing your relationship with money so that your actions aren’t driven by fear or avoidance—but by clarity, stewardship, and confidence.

Step 3: Set E.P.I.C. Goals

How does God want you to steward His resources? Going to work just to pay the bills doesn’t feel right. Life is much more than that. Money is a tool to create a life you love, be a blessing, and glorify God.

In my program, I teach E.P.I.C goals: Empowering, Precise, In-season, and Christ-led. It’s about clarity on where God wants you to go and what to focus on right now.

Ask yourself:

• What is my biblical financial vision?

• What are my short- and long-term money goals?

• How can I create a plan that aligns with my values?

• What is the top priority for my finances right now—debt, saving, investing?

As a former travel agent, I couldn’t buy a ticket if I didn’t know both point A and point B. Your financial goals are the same: know where you are, and know where God wants you to go.

You can listen to Ep 14 of the Fun Money Habits - Christian Mindset podcast to set E.I.PC goals HERE

Step 4: Assess Your Current Situation

Now that you know your destination, let’s look at your starting point.

Grab a pen and paper and start listing:

• Assets (what you own)

• Liabilities (what you owe)

This is how you calculate your net worth. It may be negative at first, and that’s okay.

Next, calculate your profit and loss:

• Income – Expenses = Profit or Loss

These four numbers reveal your financial health and give you a baseline to start your blessed life.

Step 5: Give Your Money Purpose and Shift Your Mindset

Now that you know your numbers, the fun part begins: deciding what to do with the money God has entrusted to you. This is where your mindset meets action.

When I left Tahiti and moved to New Zealand to be with my husband, our finances were a mess.

He had a huge student loan, and we couldn’t pay off our credit card.

On top of that, I wasn’t allowed to work for 3–6 months because of visa restrictions.

I had to take two jobs just to make ends meet—sorting mail at night and cleaning toilets—after leaving a luxury cruise ship career where I was a guest relations and activities manager.

At 24, I felt like we’d never dig out of the hole.

But here’s the turning point: I had to reframe my mindset.

Instead of thinking, “I HAVE to pay off this debt”, I started saying, “I GET to pay off this debt”. That one small shift changed everything. Gratitude replaced fear. Purpose replaced shame.

This is exactly what I help my clients do with the VIP Method:

• V – Value-based spending: Every dollar has a purpose aligned with your values.

• I – Intentional living: You decide where your money goes, rather than letting it control you.

• P – Priority focused: Your spending reflects your top goals—giving, saving, investing, or enjoying life.

And here’s a simple tool to help you reframe fear into progress: the YET technique.

When you see a negative figure or feel stuck, add the word YET to your thought.

• “I can’t save enough to pay my debt… YET.”

• “I’m not confident in my business income… YET.”

That small addition creates space for growth and hope. You’re not stuck; you’re on a journey.

So, as you set your priorities and assign purpose to your money, remember: every step, even a small one, counts. Focus on one little step at a time and celebrate the wins along the way.

Step 6: Identify the Problem

This is the step where we get brutally honest with ourselves. No excuses, no blame, just clarity. Often, this is why working with a Christian money mindset coach is so valuable—they help you see the blind spots you can’t see on your own.

Ask yourself:

• Are you living above your means because impulse buying has become a coping mechanism?

• Do you avoid selling or earning more because of fear—fear of being seen as greedy, fear of responsibility, fear that you don’t deserve it?

• Are life circumstances—like a divorce, illness, or high living expenses—making it feel impossible to catch up?

When I first moved to New Zealand, we were living paycheck to paycheck.

It wasn’t glamorous, and honestly, some days it felt impossible. But I had to do what needed to be done, whether I liked it or not.

And through that, God showed me something powerful: hard seasons cultivate gratitude, resilience, and wisdom.

The key here is not shame, but honesty. Once you see your patterns—whether it’s avoidance, fear of earning, undercharging or overspending—you can take steps to address them.

You’re not alone, and God is faithful to guide you through the process.

Take a deep breath and ask Him for wisdom: “Lord, show me the areas I’ve hidden from myself. Help me see the truth so I can steward what You’ve entrusted to me.”

Identifying the problem isn’t about beating yourself up—it’s about seeing clearly so you can move forward with purpose.

I am one call away if you know you need someone to walk along side you. Book your free Money Mindset clarity call HERE

Step 7: Start Tracking Your Finances

Before you can make a plan for your money, you need to know where it’s going. Tracking your finances is the simplest and most effective way to get clarity—and it doesn’t have to be complicated.

There are plenty of apps that can help, but I personally prefer manual tracking.

Writing things down helps you see patterns, triggers, and habits that are easy to miss when everything is automatic.

That’s why all my clients start with a money journal—one simple exercise that gives you insight into your spending and earning habits in real time.

To make it even easier, you can join my 5-Day Money Tracker Challenge to kickstart your tracking practice. It’s free, simple, and designed to make tracking fun instead of overwhelming.

And if you want a more structured approach, the full tracker is available for purchase too.

Once you’ve tracked your money consistently for a month, you’ll have a clear picture of your finances. That’s when you can create a spending plan (or as I like to call it, a “budget with purpose”) and start telling your money what to do instead of wondering where it went.

A spending plan is the fastest way to:

• Pay off debt faster

• Save for a home, vacations, or big goals

• Start investing and building wealth wisely

Tracking is not about restriction—it’s about control, awareness, and freedom.

When you know your numbers, you can make intentional choices and start using your money the way God intended: as a tool to steward His blessings well.

Step 8: Create Better Money Habits

Now that you’ve tracked your money and set your spending plan, the next step is building habits that actually stick. This is where transformation happens—not just in your numbers, but in your relationship with money.

Many of my clients come to me feeling stuck in cycles of fear, avoidance, or people-pleasing when it comes to finances. The truth is, your brain can be rewired with new habits. By consistently practicing small, intentional actions, you can replace old, fearful patterns with confident, faithful money behaviors.

I teach my clients how to implement Elastic Habits—tiny, flexible, achievable steps that make consistency easier.

Instead of trying to overhaul everything at once, we focus on small daily actions that add up over time. For example:

• Writing down every expense for the day

• Reviewing your spending plan for 5 minutes each morning

• Going live to talk about your products once a month

These small wins help train your brain to respond differently to money triggers. Over time, you start to think differently about money, feel more in control, and act with confidence.

It’s also about aligning your habits with your faith. You learn to make choices that reflect God’s provision, not fear or guilt.

This is exactly what I guide my clients through in my Biblical Money Mindset Mentorship, helping them build habits that transform their mindset, reduce anxiety, and empower them to steward their money well.

Remember: it’s not about perfection, it’s about progress. Focus on being 1% better each day and celebrate the small wins—they compound faster than you think.

Step 9: Review, Adjust, and Celebrate

Managing your money isn’t a one-and-done task—it’s a journey. Life happens, and even with the best plan, there will be ups and downs. That’s why reviewing your finances regularly and celebrating your wins is so important.

Start by checking in on your plan once a month. Look at your spending, your savings, your progress toward your E.P.I.C goals.

Notice what worked well and what needs adjustment. This is not about shame or perfection—it’s about learning and improving. Remember, only Jesus is perfect; your plan just needs to be functional enough to get started.

Next, make sure you have an accountability partner. This could be a friend, your spouse, or a coach.

Someone who can cheer you on when things go well and support you when challenges arise.

Accountability keeps you consistent and encourages you to stick with the habits you’ve built.

And finally, celebrate your progress! Even small wins deserve recognition.

• Did you track your spending for a whole week?

• Did you save for a sinking fund?

• Did you resist an impulse buy?

• Did you talk to a potential new client today?

Celebrate it! Rewarding yourself reinforces the new habits and keeps your brain motivated.

By reviewing, adjusting, and celebrating, you solidify the new behaviors, deepen your confidence, and grow a healthy, joyful relationship with money.

This is exactly what I help my clients do: transform fear, avoidance, and stress into clarity, faith-driven action, and financial joy.

Here is the 9 Must-do steps to take back control of your finances with Biblical Principles

You’ve taken a huge step just by reading this and deciding you want to take back control of your finances. Remember, managing money is not about perfection—it’s about progress, faith, and intentional habits.

By forgiving yourself, renewing your mindset, setting goals, understanding your numbers, identifying blind spots, tracking your spending, building new habits, and celebrating wins, you’re not just creating a plan—you’re transforming your relationship with money.

God wants you to steward your resources wisely, not out of fear or guilt, but with joy, freedom, and purpose.

You don’t have to do this alone—if you want support, accountability, and guidance in aligning your finances with your faith, I’m here to walk alongside you. Book your free Money Mindset clarity call HERE

Start today, take one step, and watch God multiply your efforts. You are capable, worthy, and equipped to steward your finances for His glory.

Take care.

Love

Raina | Biblical Mindset Discipleship Coach AKA The Fun Money Coach