LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Main => Gospel Music Lounge => Topic started by: dwest2419 on June 30, 2013, 05:59:06 PM
-
Hi guys. I have this Christian friend and we talk a lot and he is an musician at the church where I attend. This conversation turned wide right. But it got to the point where he started talking about his financial struggles. I asked him did he have a job. He said not at the moment. And he stated that the church pays him $125 a month for preforming for the congregation but he stated that's all he makes. Then I asked him what was his financial struggle and hear what he told me. He said he had join a gym membership, but he haven't kept up with the payments on the membership. And he said he owed them $226 dollars. And he asked for my help. How should he make payments to pay the gym membership off? Any ideas?
-
Richest man in Babylon is a book for folks who want o improve their financial position.
Step #1 is Get a Job (Start thy purse to fattening)
#2 Dont spend all you earn (save a portion of all you earn)
-
Richest man in Babylon is a book for folks who want o improve their financial position.
Yes, sar. that be a good read.
-
I also forgot to add that he also said that he was on claim for disability and has been denied but the case is in appeal stage and he also stated that he doesn't have any medical insurance so he's trying to get Medicaid but the process has been long for him as he explain to me.
-
Get a job, theres always something you can do.
The Bible says a man that doesnt work, shouldnt eat
-
I think most Christians I know struggle financially because of poor decisions and bad stewardship. I was one of those people. Ive learned my lesson. I was just telling my wife this on the way home. With the Lord's help I do not plan on getting into any more debt. Our only debt now will be our mortgages after I pay this bill tomorrow and once they are paid for I don't plan on owing anyone a thing ever again. If I was wiser back in the day I probably would not have a mortgage either. :) If he is disabled I would suggest finding a job for disabled people until that insurance comes through.
-
Also the thing with his disability case is that if the government sees that you've been working after you had a hearing on a SSI case then you wont be able to get disability or you can ruin your chances of getting disability if you try and go to work while the case is in appealing stage. Anyway, I had explain to him that he should make payments of $113 for one month and $113 the next month since he gets paid from the church $125 and owes the gym $226. So $113 + $113 = $226 or what I offered him he should do is maybe make $45 dollars of a payment for maybe five months that equals up to $225 and all he would have to do is pay an extra dollar to reach two twenty six. But he said that is too much money he's giving away. He further said that he would like to buy him clothes and other things.
I showed him a scripture in the Bible that was similar to his situation its in Proverbs 3:27 & 28 "Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it." verse 28) "Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you."
Another words what I was telling him is that the gym people want their money, right? He makes money from the church I believe $125. So what I got from the scripture where it says, "Say not to your neighbor, Go, and come again, and to morrow I will give; when you have it by you." Another words he has the money but he's too stubborn to give a large portion of his money because he wants to spend it on other things. I told him that's how the gym make their money buy getting people buy into their program and he not knowing that he couldn't financially afford to keep up with the payments and that's how they sucker you in. But anyway, he's going to have to makeup his mind.
-
But anyway, he's going to have to makeup his mind.
right.
He could also play for another church
-
right.
He could also play for another church
This guy Im talking about he is a guitar player. And where I come from guitar players don't make that much money in smaller churches these days. So it seems to me that he is really screwed.
-
fin hima good quartet music-loving church and he'll be invaluable. On the other hand, at the church I play for the guitarist makes more than me; but he is a beast
-
When I see Christian, financial, and struggles linked together, the first thing that comes to my mind is tithes. From my experience the Word works.
-
yup $12.50 on time, every time
-
fin hima good quartet music-loving church and he'll be invaluable. On the other hand, at the church I play for the guitarist makes more than me; but he is a beast
Are you keyboard player or something? Cause who the guy Im talking about says the drummer and the piano player makes more than him says the guitar player.
When I see Christian, financial, and struggles linked together, the first thing that comes to my mind is tithes. From my experience the Word works.
And you are right I assume he pays his tithes
yup $12.50 on time, every time
Yeah I agree he should pay his tithes which looks to be $12.50
And when I think more about him he told me he's going to make a $30.00 payment every month to the gym
-
He should teach music lessons and find a bigger church to play at while looking for a full time job.
-
<<keys
-
And when I think more about him he told me he's going to make a $30.00 payment every month to the gym
Push ups, sit ups, walking/running, etc...don't cost $30/month.
-
Push ups, sit ups, walking/running, etc...don't cost $30/month.
i thought he was disabled?
anyway
1. tithe
2. reduce expenses (dont eat out, cancel memberships, internet at the house if their is a public library)
3. increase income (many great ideas up above)
it is really that simple
-
Technically he is working because he is getting paid. All the church has to do is send in a statement form and he is screwed. That's why I claim what I get on my taxes. I hear these days gyms come looking for you so they may mess up his credit if he doesn't pay. That's why I don't plan on doing stuff like that anymore. Ghetto gym for me. :D
-
i thought he was disabled?
He's been diagnose with schizophrenia and is taking medicine for it. But that is his disability. But he also has been denied Social Security Income, but the case is in the appeal stage even though he told me its been seven months and has not heard a word from them as of yet.
-
Push ups, sit ups, walking/running, etc...don't cost $30/month.
I know but the gym is persistent and they would like for their money. But that is the thing he regrets doing.
-
Ive seen all kinds of disabled people in grocery stores working
-
Ive seen all kinds of disabled people in grocery stores working
You have? Did they still get disability?
-
yup, that tithe is the principal answer.
The Word works if you work it.
That and sound thinking and allocating. I mean, If all i got is a buck25 comin in a month, the gym is the LAST thing im spendin dough on.
-
IDK about their personal finances, but I do know they have jobs
-
yup, that tithe is the principal answer.
The Word works if you work it.
That and sound thinking and allocating. I mean, If all i got is a buck25 comin in a month, the gym is the LAST thing im spendin dough on.
Your right WOLFMAN. I tried to tell him that before he signed that contract with the gym. Now he owes them.
IDK about their personal finances, but I do know they have jobs
So is it best for him to get a job and not worry about not getting SSI because if he gets a job he is screwed?
Technically he is working because he is getting paid. All the church has to do is send in a statement form and he is screwed. That's why I claim what I get on my taxes.
Yikes! ?/? A statement form? I don't know if the church has done that as of yet. For that is information I don't know. Cause I usually don't get in the churches business I don't know if they sent in a statement form.
-
Usually if you make a certain amount from playing music you have to clam it on your taxes. Many church musicians probably don't do it because they get cash and don't sign anything. I want to say if you make over 400 the church is supposed to send you a 1099 at the end of the year but the amount could be higher. If the church doesn't right him a check or make him sign for the money there is no way to prove he got it. My home church mademe sign for cash and checks they gave me. That's how I know. There is a benefit to it if you make enough to itemize deductions. You can write off expenses but he doesn't make enough to do that.
-
Usually if you make a certain amount from playing music you have to clam it on your taxes. Many church musicians probably don't do it because they get cash and don't sign anything. I want to say if you make over 400 the church is supposed to send you a 1099 at the end of the year but the amount could be higher. If the church doesn't right him a check or make him sign for the money there is no way to prove he got it. My home church mademe sign for cash and checks they gave me. That's how I know. There is a benefit to it if you make enough to itemize deductions. You can write off expenses but he doesn't make enough to do that.
Yeah I just talked to someone about that. But the thing is I don't think he makes that much money in order for the church to send a statement form in. Now if he was making over $400 dollars then yeah I can see that happening but not for a $125 dollar check.
IDK about their personal finances, but I do know they have jobs
I just talked to someone again about that. How he can still get a job and still get SSI disability even though it is still in the appeal stage. I heard it is all about how much money you make on the job you get.
-
Yeah, but if hes worked over 4 months in your example, then hes already made over $400. But I think the limit is $600 annually, which means after 5 months, he has to report it.
-
Yeah, but if hes worked over 4 months in your example, then hes already made over $400. But I think the limit is $600 annually, which means after 5 months, he has to report it.
I thought it was based upon how much you make not how much you make per year that the pastor has to report it afterwards. Your statement could be true but I don't think the guy receive any papers from the pastor after the end of the year or so. He told me all that it was a love offering for playing for the church. How serious can it get than this? I really do not know what to say. All I remember him saying that he will be looking for a job.
-
Ok guys, I've just got word from my friend, the pastor there is suppose to basically give him a 1099 form to show how much he's been paying him over the months but the pastor have not decided not to do that for whatever reason. As to why the pastor there doesn't want to submit or never thought about sending a statement form, I really don't know. Anyway, I don't know if the pastor there feels that it's not necessary to give the guitar player a statement form. Who knows?