Let’s be real: credit card debt feels like running a marathon with ankle weights. 🏃‍♂️ Every monthly bill just reminds you how heavy those interest rates are.

So when a balance transfer offer slides into your inbox with promises of 0% interest, it feels like a golden ticket. But here’s the catch: that golden ticket can either be your pathway to financial freedom—or a trapdoor that drops you deeper into debt.

From my book Uniform of the Steward, I wrote:

“A steward doesn’t just move money around; they move with purpose, aligning every choice with God’s plan for their resources.”

Balance transfers are exactly that: a tool. But tools only work when you know how to use them.

What to Consider Before You Transfer:

1. The Fee Factor – Most balance transfers charge a fee (3–5%). If you’re transferring $5,000, that’s $150–$250 upfront. Do the math: will the savings outweigh the cost?
2. The Countdown Clock – That shiny 0% interest doesn’t last forever. If you don’t pay it off before the intro period ends, you’re right back where you started—or worse.
3. The Behavior Shift – Proverbs 21:5 reminds us: “The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.” A balance transfer without a plan is just financial procrastination.
4. The Stewardship Lens – Ask yourself: Am I using this to buy time to dig deeper into discipline, or am I just shuffling debt around because it feels easier?

Here’s the truth: a balance transfer can be a wise move, but only if it comes with a game plan to break the debt cycle. Otherwise, it’s like rearranging furniture in a burning house—cosmetically different, but the fire’s still raging.

So what’s the steward’s play?

• Commit to a payoff plan: Divide the balance by the number of promo months and automate those payments.
• Cut the card: Don’t keep spending on the old card you just paid off. That’s how double debt happens.
• Seek wisdom: Proverbs 22:7 says, “The borrower is servant to the lender.” The goal isn’t just to manage debt better—it’s to walk toward freedom.

As I shared in Uniform of the Steward:

“Freedom isn’t found in zero-percent interest—it’s found in living as a faithful steward, unchained from debt.”

Because the truth is, God doesn’t just want you to balance your transfers—He wants you to balance your life.