If you've ever been surprised by how fast “Buy Now” adds up, you're not alone.

You spend 54 hours a year online shopping. And when it takes less than a minute to tap “Buy Now,” all that shopping can add up.

So I asked: what tactics or gadgets actually help you save money?

One listener said their food saver helps a whole lot. They buy a package of meat at Sam's, portion it, freeze it, and it stays wonderful in the freezer until they need it. And if someone comes over unexpectedly, they've got it on hand without running to the store.

I wish I could plan ahead that much. When I get stuff from Sam's Club, I end up thinking, what am I going to do with a 50-pound block of cheese?

If your grocery bill keeps climbing but your kids are still hungry, a creative substitution can help.

Swap ground beef for ground turkey. You can save about half of what you pay for ground beef.

Your family probably won't know the difference in tacos, spaghetti or even meatloaf. It works for burger patties on the grill too.

I just did this for Taco Tuesday. As long as you use enough seasoning, nobody in my family could tell.

If you've ever thought, if I could just get that next thing, then I'd be happy, you're in good company. I fall into that trap too.

Solomon was the richest man in God's Word, but he still wasn't happy.

It's easy to believe the next thing will bring fulfillment or joy. But in the end, materialism is vanity. It's the opposite of what God says is good for you.

Jesus said to seek first His kingdom, and then the things will be added to you. That is so hard to do.

The way to escape materialism is to change what impresses you. If you're enthralled with the better car, the bigger house and the constant upgrading of your possessions, you'll end up in the same trap Solomon found himself in.

The problem is I try to buy my happiness. The solution is seeking His kingdom first. And the result is a joy that doesn't need an upgrade.

Reese spent 10 years without a home.

One cold night, he went into a church that was open for people who needed a safe space. He asked if he could play the piano. Someone filmed him playing, and the video went everywhere.

Today, Reese has a home. He's playing shows. And he's raised more than $50,000 for charities that help other people who are homeless.

The thing that once helped quiet the noise in his own head is now helping other people find hope.

If you've ever met someone whose joy didn't make sense given what they'd been through, you'll understand Liana.

Liana met some girls in Kenya who had every reason to lose hope. They'd been through some incredibly difficult things. Yet somehow, they were still filled with joy.

Liana says she could see the light of the Holy Spirit shining through them. When she got home, she couldn't stop thinking about them.

So she started a little business called Liana's Whimsical Works. She collects driftwood, seashells and other things from nature and turns them into wind chimes, decorations and fairy wands to sell at local markets.

And 100% of her profits go back to help those girls in Kenya. So if you see her booth at a local craft fair, stop by.

Those girls showed Liana that even in the hardest circumstances, joy can shine through. Now she's doing everything she can to keep their light shining. That's how to love God and love people.

If your energy runs out before your to-do list does, you're not alone.

On those days, I try to rely on what Jesus said: remain in me. A branch can't grow fruit if it's not connected to the vine.

Most days, I'm trying to power through on Coke Zero and sheer stubbornness.

But Jesus offers something better, as long as I stay connected to Him.

If your house feels like it's getting away from you, here's a way to jump-start the cleaning.

Try the 10-minute reset tonight. Set a timer for 10 minutes. Pick one room. Put away as much as you can before the timer ends.

It's not going to make your house look like a magazine. But it might at least keep my kitchen counter from developing its own zip code.

If you've ever wondered what it looks like to really see someone, meet Cory Holslander.

He found a homeless man sleeping in a car at his car dealership.

Instead of kicking him out, he helped him find a home and a job.

Then he bought a house to help more people get back on their feet.

Cory Holslander, you are awesome.

If you get weirdly upset when your plans change, I'm that way too. Like I personally wrote the schedule for the universe and nobody checked with me.

God's Word says you can make your plans, but the Lord directs your steps.

God isn't surprised when my day takes a turn. There's no such thing as coincidence. It's God moments.

You don't have to pretend the interruption is fun. Just invite God into it. The delay, the detour, even the thing that wasn't on your calendar. Be raw and honest with Him: “God, help me see what You're doing here.”

The problem is I get frustrated when my schedule gets upended. The solution is inviting God into the interruption. And the result is trading frustration for trust and following Him into the next step.

If you need to snap yourself out of procrastination and into consistency, here's a clip I found.

“Everything counts. Everything that you do counts. The biggest mistake that people make is they think that only what they want to count, counts.”

Reading a book. Listening to an audio program. Taking a course. Going to bed early and getting up early. Working. It all counts, and it all goes on the plus side of your ledger.

Watching television, wasting time, hanging out and fooling around count too. They go on the negative side.

“If what you are doing is not moving you towards your goals, then it's probably moving you away from your goals. Nothing is neutral.”

The law of accumulation says that everything counts.

If worry has been creeping in lately, here's some Bible truth from school drop-off.

My third grader, Hadassah, was explaining what it means to have faith like a child, and how worrying too much gets in the way.

In her words: “We don't have to worry because we have You, and nothing to worry about, 'cause You give us everything we need.”

Honestly, I don't trust my heavenly Father enough. And He can provide way better than I can provide for my kids.

If you've had some setbacks in your life, God can still use you. I'm not perfect. No one is.

Travis wrote to me: “Andy, the clock struck midnight yesterday. I'm now officially one week sober following a recent relapse.”

And he shared a reminder for himself, and for you too: if you trip during a marathon, you might lose a few seconds from your time. But you can still finish the race.

If you've been wondering whether the small things you do really matter, here's the answer: everything counts.

A man without a home asked if he could play a church piano. A woman picked up driftwood and seashells. Travis reached one week sober after a relapse.

None of those moments looked big at the time. But they all counted.

And it works the other way too. If what I'm doing isn't moving me toward the person God wants me to be, it's probably moving me away.

The problem is I think only the big moments count. The solution is staying connected to the Vine and taking the next small step. And the result is a life where nothing is wasted, not even the detours, because God can use it all.

— Andy

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