Giving Sets the Tone

LISTEN TO INCREASE - GIVING SETS THE TONE

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Today, we are going to discuss the second financial health marker on your fuel gauge. If you’re just joining us, here’s a quick recap. 

Money is fuel. Fuel to get you where you want, or even feel called to go. Therefore, we need a full tank so we can live confidently toward the life we desire. 

The first mark on your fuel gauge is simple. Spend less than you make. This second step is challenging, and for many, counterintuitive. 

Give 10% of your income away. 

What?! If the objective of what we are talking about is to increase our finances, then why would we start by giving money away? 

Here’s what I believe and have practiced my entire adult life. When giving becomes the starting point—the first line item—it shifts the entire budget into a healthier, more intentional posture. Suddenly, the remaining 90% has structure. It has purpose.

I also believe that giving the first 10% isn’t generosity in the traditional sense—it’s discipline. It’s a habit that pulls the heart away from impulse and toward intentionality. And that discipline pays dividends. When you make the decision to give right away, before the month begins, you naturally become more thoughtful with the rest. You’re more aware. You plan differently. You spend with more clarity and fewer regrets.

This becomes especially impactful during the Holiday season—a time where excess spending is almost expected. People often go into the Holidays hoping to feel generous, only to end up feeling stressed, stretched, and financially behind by January 1st. But those who enter the season with a disciplined rhythm of giving already baked into their mindset experience the season differently. They’re not scrambling to squeeze generosity into what’s left. They’ve already positioned giving at the top, and as a result, their spending naturally falls into more meaningful, intentional patterns.

Giving the first 10% also creates margin—mentally and emotionally. Instead of chasing possessions or temporary comforts, you create a built-in reminder that the purpose of money is bigger than consumption. When the first part goes toward others, the rest becomes easier to manage because you've already made the hardest, most defining decision of the month.

And here’s the beautiful thing: once the first 10% is allocated, the remaining 90% tends to work better. Budgeting becomes clearer. Overspending becomes less frequent. Priorities become sharper. Giving first removes the fog from the rest of your financial picture.

So as the Holidays approach, giving isn’t just a nice gesture—it’s a powerful way to set the tone for your entire budget. It grounds your values, shapes your habits, and allows the remaining 90% to be spent, saved, and enjoyed with far more clarity and purpose.

Today, let’s start small, but also stretch our giving muscles. I want you to take $100 out of the bank in a crisp $100 bill and I want you to give it to someone in your life who could use a little extra help. I know we may not have our money right where we want it today, but if we start increasing by giving, we will very quickly see our hearts change as we focus outwards and on others. Happy Season of Giving! 

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Zach Santmier is the owner of Trumble Agency, Inc. and the author of the personal financial course, Increase. He focuses on helping families escape paycheck to paycheck living so they can freely pursue their ideal future.