'Where Your Treasure Is...': The Podcast where Faith and Finance Meet

S11 Ep3 Good with Money: Investing

In the third episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about when and why ‘Investing’ may be worth considering in the context of our personal finances.Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:Simon starts off by explaining the two core elements of investing: to counteract the effects of inflation [04:48]; and to achieve an expected return, very often for a specific purpose. [06:14]Simon talks about the different kinds of ‘bonds’ (including premium bonds, bank bonds and corporate bonds) that can be used for investing. [08:23]In response to a question from Bex, Simon explains that activities such as acquiring gold, buying currency and day trading do not have an expected return and should not therefore be classified as ‘investing’ in the pure sense of the term. [11:05]Simon uses a story about the respective business needs of a farmer and a baker to illustrate how hedge fund traders can attempt to take advantage of the commodities market. [14:24]Property is another interesting area – unlike many other investments, it is generally not a passive income stream; instead, it requires active management and involvement from those wishing to make a profit from investing in that area. [16:06]Simon then goes on to address the issue of whether investing should be regarded as a form of gambling, with the key point being the presence, or not, of an expected return. [17:18]Quoting from Luke 12.16-21, Mark 10.17-21 and 1 Timothy 6.10, Bex and Simon highlight the importance of resisting the temptation to make money a goal in its own right when engaged in investing activities. [19:40] For anyone interested in exploring how we can adopt a heavenly perspective and have pure motivation when working and earning money, Bex would recommend ‘The Garden City’ by John Mark Comer. [23:34]Concluding his comments, Simon emphasises the importance of investing in order to achieve a specific and appropriate purpose. [24:01]Next week’s episode will focus on the related topic of ‘Pensions’. [25:20]Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast. Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting. You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

S11 Ep2 Good with Money: Saving

In the second episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about the advantages of including ‘Saving’ as a core element of the way that we manage and use our personal finances.Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:Simon introduces this episode by explaining that saving allows us to control our money by moving it through time so that it is available when we need it. [01:44] He goes on to explain that saving is a means of putting money aside while the aim of investing is to generate a financial return from money that has been placed into some kind of venture with that purpose in mind. [02:37]In response to a question from Bex, Simon comments that, generally, saving should be our second priority (after giving) when organising and deploying our money. [03:55]When it comes to deciding on a desirable size for an emergency fund being created by saving, Simon suggests that the key consideration is to go for a proportionate amount or ratio that suits our particular circumstances. [06:03]When asked to pinpoint a key benefit of saving, Simon talks about the resilience that it gives to our financial journey, for example by cushioning the shock of a sudden spike in expenditure that happens annually for most people at Christmas and which otherwise could push us into debt. [08:13]However, a saving strategy can only protect us against known future expenses [12:09] if we are able and willing to use our emergency fund when the need arises. [13:59]Being flexible in how we respond to financial pressure points or competing demands on our resources can be assisted significantly by maintaining a God-focused perspective of, ‘It’s His money; what would He have me do with it? [15:24]Simon remarks that the need to save is likely to be less of a priority for those who are approaching retirement or who are already retired. [17:57]When wrapping up the episode, Simon comments that the next stage after saving is to consider investing. He also addresses the issue of whether or not we should attempt to save if we are in debt. Regarding that latter point, he mentions that a number of previous episodes of the podcast have focused on the issue of debt; for example, , Season 8 Episode 6 looks at ten top tips for dealing with debt. [19:46]Simon’s final, final, final observation is that John Wesley, in his ‘Use of Money’ sermon, encourages his congregation to earn, give and save as much as they can – notably, omitting any mention of ‘spending’ as a significant priority. [22:30]Next week’s episode will focus on the topic of ‘Investing’. [23:23]Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast. Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting. You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

S11 Ep1 Good with Money: Budgeting

In the first episode of this ‘Good with Money’ season, Simon and Bex talk about ways in which budgeting can help us get off to a great start if we want to be good with money and also to do good with our money.Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:Simon and Bex start off the show by announcing the three charities that will each receive £100 as part of the celebrations for the podcast’s 100th episode, aired on July 30th. [00:37]Bex and Simon explain that Season 11 is going to be about using our money well and not just managing it well. Topics covered in the eight core episodes of the season will comprise the following: budgeting, saving, investing, pensions, tax, debt, insurance and family matters. [02:22]Simon uses a couple of examples to support his comment that budgeting is a pervasive topic when dealing with money and is therefore a really good place to start when aspiring to be good with money. [06:22]The power of a budget is that it enables us to plan ahead and to decide how we are going to ensure that we give ‘every pound a purpose’. Equally important is the encouragement not to pay ourselves first, but instead to give to God first, as illustrated by Proverbs 3.9: ‘Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all you produce.’ [12:46]In response to a question from Bex, Simon gives an example of how ‘framing’ our priorities can help us to strike the right balance between what we allocate to current expenditure and what we earmark for the future. [14:16]Simon provides a broad-brush overview of Christian budgeting, starting off with Psalm 24.1 (‘The earth is the Lord's and everything in it’) to illustrate that we are stewards of any wealth we have, and going on to mention the importance of prioritising our giving and ensuring, also, that we live within our means. [17:43]When asked to identify some additional key principles, Simon highlights the following behaviours: use money as a tool rather than making it a goal in its own right; be aware of the danger of having a rigid attitude to budgeting that can inhibit our ability to be sensitive to prompts from God about how He wants us to use our money; be open about money matters with others and seek wisdom from them. [21:46]Listeners are warmly invited to share their thoughts and experiences related to budgeting. Next week’s episode will explore the topic of ‘Saving’ [24:07]Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast. Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting. You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

S10 Bonus Ep2 ‘Money and Me’ - with Naomi Martin

In the second bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season, Naomi Martin (previously an Intern and now a Trainee Financial Planner at Stewardship Wealth) reflects on ways in which she and her generation experience money and interact with it. Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:Naomi introduces herself, speaks about her Christian upbringing and explains how it came about that she completed a degree in philosophy and theology and then entered the world of finance and financial services. [01:02]In response to questions from Bex and Simon, Naomi talks about how her attitude towards money has been affected by living in a number of different countries [04:38] and also by examples of sacrificial generosity from the Bible and her own experience. [06:06]For Naomi, the last few years have been an interesting time of responding to new financial challenges and opportunities, as well as a period of trying to put in place good money management building blocks for the future. [09:56] Looking to the long-term, her hope would be that she would build up a track record of using money well, wisely and for the benefit of others. [11:13]When asked about the relationship that her peers currently have with money, Naomi suggested that a number of different trends seem to be emerging, including a genuine appetite to talk about money, a desire to deal with it well and to ‘work it out’. [12:29]Prompted by Simon, Naomi talks about an occasion when God’s provision for a mission trip came as a natural outcome of responding positively to what she felt that God was saying to her about getting a job. [16:09]When asked about practical money tips that have helped her, Naomi highlights the value of using written notes to help her plan ahead, coupled with an honest and pragmatic approach that ensures that she doesn’t ignore problems and neither is she unhelpfully optimistic about her financial position. [18:06] Naomi proffers some comments on her generation’s awareness of scams and also the extent to which they have embraced the variety of payment and purchase options available these days. [19:41]On the topic of things that money can’t buy, Naomi comments that ‘if money is your goal, you won’t ever achieve it,’ and observes that, as far as she is concerned, relationships – with others and with God – are priceless. [21:57]Despite Bex’s lack of awareness of what is next for the podcast, these show notes can reveal that Episode 1 of Season 11 (‘Good with Money’) of the ‘Where your Treasure Is…’ podcast will drop on Wednesday 1 October 2025! [23:21]Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast. Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting. You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

S10 Bonus Ep1 ‘Money and Me’ - with Frank Morton

In the first bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season, Frank Morton, Operations Manager at Stewardship Wealth, talks about key moments and turning points in his journey with money.Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:Simon introduces Frank [00:56], who talks about his Christian upbringing [02:05] before going on to explain how his career in financial services came about. [03:15]Next, Frank speaks about the challenges of maintaining a faith perspective within the workplace [04:53] and of becoming more open and natural about his Christian beliefs over time. [06:55]In response to a question from Bex, Frank shares some thoughts about his experiences of having conversations with people about money, outside the work context. [10:14]Prompted by Simon, Frank remembers a lesson in generosity and compassion that he learnt from his father. [12:07]When asked about generational attitudes to money, Frank highlights the different experiences of, and perceptions of, the availability of credit and the nature of debt. In that context, the money course run by CAP (Christians Against Poverty) has proved to be a very useful resource. [16:28]For Frank, the standout passage from the Bible that deals with attitudes to money is Hebrews 13.5: ‘Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”.’ He then goes on to share a story of God’s provision to illustrate that verse in action. [19:48]When asked about a possible tip to share with his younger self, Frank highlights the importance of letting God into our financial situations and getting to the point where we genuinely trust Him to provide what we need. [22:21]On the issue of things that money can’t buy, Frank agrees with The Beatles and also prizes genuine, deep-rooted friendships far above worldly wealth. [24:14]The second bonus episode of this ‘Money and Me’ season will feature a conversation with another of Simon’s colleagues – whose identity is currently shrouded in mystery! – which will serve as a companion piece to this episode. [25:21]Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to whereyourtreasureis@freerangepodcasting.co.uk while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast. Our Instagram page will also provide you with additional content and features.This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting. You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6