Financial Habits Every Single Woman Needs

Wise financial planning for single Christian women requires balancing biblical stewardship with practical wealth-building strategies. When navigating money management independently, the journey can feel overwhelming without a partner to share financial decisions.

But according to certified financial planner Linda Stubblefield, author of the Amazon bestseller Hidden Figures: Seven Numbers Women Must Know for Financial Success, effective financial planning for single Christian women starts with overcoming one simple barrier.

The Question Every Woman Must Ask

“I find that women are afraid to say, ‘I don’t understand that. Tell me more about that,'” Stubblefield explains. “And it’s perfectly okay. Men do that without feeling embarrassed, or like it’s going to reflect badly on them.”

This reluctance to ask questions stems from cultural conditioning. While men often discuss investments and money matters at work, women tend to focus their conversations on family and personal topics. The result? Many women reach retirement without adequate savings because they have not taken calculated risks in investing.

Why Single Women Have a Financial Advantage

Contrary to popular belief, Stubblefield finds single women are more willing to engage with financial planning than their married counterparts.

“Single women are more willing to ask questions, and that is very exciting to me,” she notes. “They’re willing to raise their hand and say they need somebody to help them. If you don’t care, nobody cares.”

This self-reliance becomes a powerful motivator for financial education and wealth building.

Biblical Foundation for Financial Planning and Growth

Many single Christian women struggle with the tension between building wealth and storing up treasures in heaven. Stubblefield points to biblical examples demonstrating God’s approval of wise business practices.

“The goal is to be in the space that God has put you in with confidence, generosity and love.”

Linda Stubblefield

The Proverbs 31 woman was a trader, not someone with guaranteed income. Lydia, the seller of purple cloth, built a sales business. These women took risks, used their skills, and expanded their markets.

“The goal is to be in the space that God has put you in with confidence, generosity and love,” Stubblefield explains. “Whatever we’re doing, we’re doing it with the confidence that the outcome will be the right thing for God.”

Financial Planning Fundamentals Every Woman Must Understand

For that reason, Stubblefield emphasizes two critical concepts that form the foundation of financial success:

Cash Flow

Your income minus expenses equals cash flow. This number determines whether you’re moving forward financially or falling behind each month.

Net Worth

Your assets minus liabilities equals net worth. Positive cash flow should reduce debt or increase assets, thereby growing your net worth over time.

“Buying a car is not simply going onto the parking lot and deciding if you can afford the payment,” Stubblefield warns. “You need to ask if this will add to your liabilities, or will you spend some assets to buy this car?”

So, what are the best habits to maintain financial wisdom?

Essential Financial Habits for Single Christian Women

1. Schedule Regular Money Meetings

Whether weekly, monthly or quarterly, consistent financial check-ins provide clarity and direction. Review your cash flow, net worth and upcoming financial decisions during these sessions.

2. Embrace Calculated Risk

Growth requires risk. This applies to both investments and career advancement. Many women avoid higher-paying positions with performance bonuses because they prefer guaranteed salaries, missing opportunities for greater financial growth.

3. Practice Generous Giving

Generosity opens hearts to trusting God and often correlates with greater joy. Financial planning should include purposeful giving aligned with your values.

Critical Lessons from Divorce Financial Analysis

“In a divorce, don’t assume the family home is always the best asset to retain — it may come with expenses that drain other resources.”

Linda Stubblefield

Through her work as a divorce financial analyst, Stubblefield witnessed alarming patterns among women who had given up any financial responsibility during marriage.

“Often these women were divorcing not out of their free will, it was pushed on them, and yet they had abdicated any knowledge of the finances,” she observes.

Consequently, her advice for women facing divorce is to understand clearly what you own and owe. Don’t assume the family home is always the best asset to retain — it may come with expenses that drain other resources.

Recommended Financial Tools and Apps

Stubblefield recommends several digital tools for money management:

• FaithFi (faith-based budgeting)
• YNAB (You Need A Budget)
• Every Dollar

All follow the principle of “telling your money where it’s going to go” rather than wondering where it went.

Defining True Financial Success

“Financial success is achieving your goals,” Stubblefield states. “It’s not about making more money or beating the stock market. Success is using the assets God has gifted you, and is giving you stewardship over, and using those well.”

Taking the Next Step

Overall, Stubblefield offers this encouragement for single Christian women ready to take control of their financial future: “Depend on the Lord, have trust and faith that He has your back. He absolutely will protect and defend, and He wants you to utilize all of your beautiful gifts.”

Financial planning for single Christian women isn’t about fear or greed — it’s about faithfully managing God’s resources while maintaining generous hearts and confident spirits.

Linda G. Stubblefield is a Certified Financial Planner with 30 years of experience advising clients with their money. Currently retired, she has been a stockbroker, financial advisor and financial planner. She has managed branch offices for Morgan Stanley and owned her own financial planning and divorce analysis firm (CDFA) in Washington and Arizona. She has held a SEC Series 7 license to advise and sell securities since 1990 and has been a Certified Financial Planning Practitioner since 1996.

“At some point, these licenses will expire, and it will just be me with my knowledge and experience. I hope to have the opportunity to help hundreds more.” 

Her books, Hidden Figures: Seven Numbers Women Must Know for Financial Success and Tell Them Why: How to Raise Children Who Know Who They Are and Why They Are Here, (click here) are available on Amazon.

This article was adapted from an interview with Linda Stubblefield. To hear the full conversation, watch the complete episode on the Mission Single Podcast, hosted by Kelly Werner.