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Ask Crystal: Saving vs. Investing (Which is More Important?)

FREE Get Organized HQ Online Event! (100+ sessions and I’m teaching one of them!)

Ask Crystal: Saving vs. Investing (Which is More Important?)

Every Thursday in 2025, I’ll be answering a question on money and/or budgeting. If you have a question you’d love for me to answer in an upcoming post, please submit it here.

This week’s question is:

“I would like to know about your saving/investing conversations you had earlier in your marriage with Jesse and how that impacted your current finances. I often wonder if I had worked moreon investing vs. saving earlier in my marriage if I would be further ahead. I also wonder how risk tolerance and faith play into these strategies.” —Lindsay, mom of 6 in KS

First of all, thank you for such a thoughtful and vulnerable question. I think it’s often in our nature to wonder how things would be different if we had made different decisions in the past.

My biggest encouragement to you would be to focus on where you are right now and what you can do right now, rather than wishing you had chosen a different path years before OR wondering if you would be in a different place had you made different decisions.

Our Early Years: All About Survival Mode

That said, I will tell you that Jesse and I didn’t even consider investing in the early years of marriage. It wasn’t on our radar because we were just focused on barely being able to pay for rent, tuition, electricity, groceries, etc.

Since we had committed to stay out of debt and pay cash for everything, it meant getting really creative — even when we didn’t feel like it, or when we would have rather just gone and gotten fast food instead of cooking dinner, or when we would have loved to go do something fun that wasn’t free.

We came up with a lot of great ways to save money and we had a clear plan and strong why: make it through law school without any debt. But that was all we were focused on.

Sure, we would sometimes dream about things beyond law school, but it was hard to even consider what that would be like!

Once Jesse graduated from law school and our business began to take off, giving us a more stable income, we prioritized building our emergency fund. After that, we added things like disability insurance. Only then did we finally start discussing investing.

We went through Financial Peace University and I began to have a small understanding of the different types of investments. We met with a few financial planners and we started making a few investments.

What We Wish We Had Done Differently

Looking back years later, we wish we had known and understood more about investing sooner. We wish we would have moved to an investment firm that was a little more risky, aggressive, and intentional. We see where we could be in a different spot had we known more and been more actively involved in looking for new ways to wisely invest, instead of just kind of getting stuck in a rut for over a decade.

We actually just recently moved to a different investment company and, in the process, we reviewed all of our investments and really had to define our long-term goals. This was SO helpful for us to do as a couple — and we honestly wish we had done it much sooner.

I think it’s easy to get stuck in just doing what an investor tells you to do or doing what you’ve always done or even doing nothing because it can be scary to do something.

So our new motto is to stay sharp and never grow complacent — always asking questions and working with financial experts who actively seek smart, intentional investments that align with our goals and maximize our tax benefits.

What I’d Tell My Younger Self (and Maybe You, Too)

If I could sit down with newlywed Crystal — or any woman just starting out — I’d say:

1. Do your research and ask lots of questions.

If a financial advisor is unwilling to answer a lot of questions, doesn’t tell you why, and isn’t regularly reviewing your investments to make sure you are investing wisely, find a new one!

2. You don’t have to choose between saving or investing.

Do both — even if it’s not 50/50. Save for emergencies (we walk you through this in The One-Hour Savings Plan), then invest a little for the long term. It’s not either/or — it’s yes/and.

3. Risk tolerance is personal — and it changes.

In our 20s, our risk tolerance was near zero. But, as we grew more stable and educated, we learned how to take smart, calculated risks. (And you can do this without being reckless.)

4. Faith isn’t separate from your finances.

In fact, it shapes everything. We pray over big decisions. We seek to steward what we’ve been given. And we remind ourselves often that it’s not about pursuing more; it’s about being faithful with what’s already in our hands.

If You Feel Like You’re “Behind”…

God doesn’t operate on a scarcity timeline. You’re not late to the party. You’re right on time for your story.

Whether you’re just starting to save, finally building your emergency fund, or learning about investing for the first time, start today. Start small. Start scared. Just start.

Because progress is better than perfection. And consistency will always beat comparison.

Practical Next Steps If You’re Ready to Move Forward:

The One-Hour Budget – If you want a quick, simple way to take control of your monthly finances.

The One-Hour Savings Plan – If you’re ready to finally build (or rebuild) your emergency fund and create a savings strategy that sticks.

The Work-From-Home Blueprint – If you want to earn extra income that could fund your investments or savings goals.

Lindsay, I love that you’re asking these questions. Your curiosity and intentionality speak volumes about your character. I believe, with all my heart, that it’s not too late for any of us to build a strong, purpose-filled financial future by taking small steps today!

Keep leaning in. Keep learning. And keep trusting the One who holds it all!

What do you wish you could go back and tell your younger self about saving and investing? We’d love to hear your advice in the comments!

FREE Get Organized HQ Online Event! (100+ sessions and I’m teaching one of them!)

The FREE Get Organized HQ Event is back again this year!

Are you looking to simplify your life, get organized, and achieve more?

Get Organized HQ Virtual is the biggest organizing event of the year! It’s a free, online conference that brings together over 100,000 women annually to hear from a lineup of 100+ speakers on all things life and home organizing.

And the best part? You can get access to all of the Get Organized HQ Virtual sessions for FREE!

Just sign up here and you’ll get FREE access to 100+ practical workshops taught by a variety of experts and bloggers!

The event will take place September 8-13, 2025. Several workshops will roll out each day, and you’ll have 24 hours to watch each video for FREE.

I love this event — and here’s why:

Ease of Access: No need to go anywhere or change out of your comfy clothes—enjoy these info packed sessions without leaving your house! You’ll get all the conference sessions straight to your email inbox when the conference is airing September 8th – 13th!
Diversity of Topics: GOHQ Virtual covers absolutely everything – decluttering, storage solutions, home decor, time management. But the best part is that there are sessions for all seasons and stages of life! Whether you’re an empty nester, a busy mama, or anywhere in between – this event is for YOU!
Supportive Community: You’ll have the chance to connect with other women who are facing the same challenges as you. One thing you’ll know for sure after joining GOHQ Virtual is that you are far from alone!
It’s FREE. Truly free! You can get all of this great info without paying a dime!

I’m so excited to be one of this year’s Get Organized HQ Virtual speakers. I’ll be presenting a class on 7 Ways to Earn Additional Income! But there are so many other good sessions across many different categories:

Home Decor and Organization
Deluttering
Saving Money
Meal Planning
Tackling To Do Lists
Self-Care
Cleaning
Paper Clutter
And so much more!

And truly, that is just the tip of the iceberg! With over 100 sessions at Get Organized HQ Virtual there is something for everyone regardless of your season of life or interests!

Be sure to go grab your FREE ticket!

Who is Get Organized HQ for? This FREE online event is for you if:

You have big dreams and goals you want to achieve
You want to get organized and stay organized
You want your home running smoothly
You are looking for new organizing ideas and inspiration
You are having trouble getting motivated to organize

This FREE online event is for women of all ages and stages of life, and there’s really something for everyone — goal setting, digital organization, easy meal planning, quick cleaning solutions, streamlining your wardrobe, tracking finances, managing self-care, putting routines in place, and SO much more!