Folks, $250/mo for car insurance comes out to $3000/yr which isn’t that unusual for a younger couple with two kids. Especially if one’s business involves a lot of driving.

I’d say that car insurance is way up there with housing costs as the #1 reason things seem to be harder on the current crop of 20-somethings. Car insurance wasn’t exactly cheap 25 years ago, but the cost wasn’t crippling the way it is today.

I do agree that you’re paying a few hundred bucks too much in rent. Ditto for groceries. And you need to earmark a few hundred bucks a month for a replacement car fund, to account for the wear and tear on your vehicles. They may be paid for, but they won’t last forever.

If that 10% tithe is truly voluntary, is within your means, and is being put to good use, I think it’s laudable in an age of selfishness and entitlement. If not … you may feel more ethically justified in cutting back once you have made some sacrifices in your own life.

I realize there are churches that criticize individual savings as a sign of “pride” and ask members to rely on the church in times of hardship. Funny how they end up borrowing money from nonbelievers like me when the church doesn’t come through. I also realize there are churches that require a 10% tithe as a contractual obligation of membership. I’m not sure what to think about that.