A Money Autobiography

At heart a money autobiography is very simple. We just remember and think about our money stories, beginning with the earliest stories from our childhood. Each one of us grows up getting messages about money; a money autobiography simply invites us to remember and think about them and how they might affect the way we think and feel about money today. What was your earliest memory of money as a child? Was money discussed in your family? Do you worry about money or feel guilty about what you have? There can be a whole range of questions that can be explored. Some we will share in the group, others we might tell our partners or closest friends, many we might record in a private diary or journal.

Why should it matter to develop a money autobiography? Pam Klainer is a “career coach” in the States writes, “In my experience, money is almost always the silent subtext to stories about work and career” By learning to tell a money autobiography we give a voice to what is silent; by thinking about the money messages we have received we can begin to understand our motivations, our anxieties, our hopes much better.

These early money messages are hardwired into our DNA and as long as we are unaware of them they will always have an impact upon how we live and, critically, how we listen to what the Bible has to say about money and possessions. As well as reading and discussing the Bible passages in Study Exodus!, Study 2 Corinthians! and Study Luke!, encourage group members to explore their own money autobiography.

• See A Money Autobiography for more background and a money autobiography case study.
• The document Money Autobiography Questions contains one month's worth of reflective questions prepared by Dan R Dick of the United Methodist Church in the States with some additional giving related autobiography questions from Liverpool.