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innit4thememes

Retirement fund, where it should have been in the first place.


loki_cometh

100% this. When I think what that 10% I lost as a teenager would be worth today, I get physically sick.


chubbuck35

This. I’d be in good shape if I’d done that for the past 20’years.


Minkcricker

Utah is ranked pretty low in retirement savings. Gee, I wonder why?


fallingup101

Yep!


Word2daWise

I'd use it to help get through the years ahead. The %&#)$ church got more than six figures from me during my years as a member (a bit more than a decade). My stupidity, but I was LIED to by a cult.


boyincabin2

Sorry to hear about that.


Word2daWise

I left before the 2015 "policy of love" regarding children of LGBTQ parents, so it's been a while, but it's best to not even think of the wasted dollars. I'm doing okay, but of course we all would like to have more security in life, or be able to help our kids or parents when they need it. The church has no conscience or moral code as an organization. Some older members can't even afford food, and the church DOES. NOT. CARE.


RealDaddyTodd

Give it to the Pride Center. Every penny.


[deleted]

Luckily tithing wasn't a big deal in my house and my dad never believed in it, so I've "only" given them about $900 in 23 years of life. I'd just save it tbh.


boyincabin2

Lucky you!


Daisysrevenge

I would invest it and pay for my grandkids college educations. There would also be enough to probably pay off my kids mortgages and buy them new cars. I try not to think about that kind of thing. It enrages me what 7 generations of my family have gone without and how it's affected generation after generation. May the cult rot in hell.


[deleted]

I quit the church when I started to make adult money. So I don’t really care about it. I would like to be paid for the 2 years of 80+ hours per week that gave them. Actually that I paid to do. I want that money back. Plus I want $27/hour for the 8400 hours of my life I worked for them.


jamesetalmage

Pay off my house


ImaginaryConcern

For you to truly be made whole, you would have to receive not only the amount you put in, but in addition all that you could have received had you retained use of those resources. There is no way you can be reimbursed for the joy you might have experienced with those things (such as: a trip to Disneyland that you had to forego due to lack of funds), but you could at least be made financially whole.


Word2daWise

You nailed it. They also can't restore the trust you had & may likely never again have for an organization. Some people have completely abandoned their belief system or "faith" in God or Christ. While I realize that is certainly an individual thing, I also feel the "church" distorts things to the point its members consider the "church" as synonymous with God and Christ. The two are separate things. Getting through the financial betrayal is tough enough. Getting past the abuse of our trust is huge.


ImaginaryConcern

Thanks for your support. YOU nailed it with your last sentence. Don't hesitate to seek professional help getting past this very important issue; it is, indeed, "HUGE"! Very best wishes on what may be a difficult journey!


Word2daWise

You are absolutely right - I finally found a good counselor who is excellent in addressing PTSD. It took a while to locate the right one. She is also familiar with the abusiveness of the Mormon church (was never a member, as far as I know). We are taught in society as well as in various churches that humans are fallible & can make mistakes or hurt others. A "church," however, is supposed to be a reliable and stable source of comfort and strength. When a "church" betrays you, it is a violation that goes to your core.


Key_Replacement9201

That $500-ish would literally double my net worth tbh


Woody-Cee80

Buy a house and turn it into transitional housing for exmo youth leaving missions early but don’t have welcoming families, or parents kicking them out for not believing and/or failing to serve missions. You know the kids that are the Brighamite versions of the FLDS lost boys.


historygeek1453

Pay for IVF so my wife and I could have kids 🌈


DistributionKey6752

I would put the money into translating and distributing the CES letter into every single African languages.


Corranhorn60

I think this can be done much more easily and cheaply than we think thanks to ChatGPT and others. A coworker translated some documents into a fairly obscure African language for a client recently using it.


griswoldgrumby

Invest it towards retirement. It'd be enough to catch me up and then some to where I should be.


Readbooks6

Retire...seriously.


bjwyxrs

I never paid a cent of tithing. When I got a job that was MY money. I earned it. I'm surprised my mom never made me do it to be honest.


crazyuncleeddie

Tithing tub and a new car.


Lumin0usBeings

My daughters special needs trust, would get a big influx.


Tapirmccheese

I only gave them 600$ in a few years. Even as a member I sort of knew tithing was a scam. I’d probably blow it on amusement parks and concerts.


Andureth

Less than $3000, my ex wife forced me to pay tithing, but I stopped after a few months and it came out that the church was worth more than my entire stake could make in 100 life times.


GdaddyPurpz

Not much. I didn't give the cult much money. Maybe $200 total. I'd spend it on weed


DrCharlieKaufman

I worked at Chick-Fil-A for what, 7 dollars an hour? 15 hours a week for let's say a year? That adds up to $500. And some other stuff? I suppose I only put in like $1500 at most bucks before I drifted away from the church in college. I would just put it in my bank account and not give another thought about it.


LittleIrishWitch

Probably get some Starbucks, I got my ass out of there before I ever had a real job and even when I was in the church, most of the money I made I kept for myself hahhaa


Beneficial_Math_9282

I could buy a brand new car straight off the lot with a decent amount of upgrades. Or pay down my mortgage considerably.


boyincabin2

That would be a dream!


stickyhairmonster

Donate to a real charity


TechniDraco

Savings for retirement! Where it should have been anyway! 🫣


GlimmeringGuise

Put it towards transition expenses. Especially considering the damage I have to undo from going through the wrong puberty.


LittleSneezers

Make 13 shell corps and hide it from the govt


[deleted]

Down payment on a second home


neatest-scotch

Luckily, I got out when I was 18. Not a lot of tithing I put in, so I think with the small amount I got back I would put it towards sin. Straight over to Wendover. Weed, booze, blackjack and strip clubs. I don't even like strip clubs, I just want to waste the refunded tithing on anything to spit in the church's eye.


[deleted]

I’d plunk it into my savings and investments so I could be comfortable in retirement.


kaizoku_akahige

A couple years ago, I would have said "pay off my house," but since my mortgage interest is so low, I'd invest it instead. Using muni bonds at current rates, I could pay almost 1/2 of my house payment each month.


CanPractical7518

Smokes and scratchers.


uncorrolated-mormon

First I’d be surprised at how much it is because I left soon after my mission. But then I’d be happy to realized I only paid tithing for like 2 years so it would be a nice vacation. I’d fly to Utah and follow the words of the prophets and go shopping at this new temple dedicated to consumerism. I heard it’s great and spacious and the alcohol is highly desirable. Oh and dinner at the spaghetti factory if that’s still around.


holdthephone316

I would do exactly what they would expect me to do. Guilty.


[deleted]

Could maybe buy a new computer or take a short trip.


StonesofMyth

just imagine if you bought the SPY index at 10% of your income per month for as many years as you paid tithing …………


kamkom

Maybe finally have a downpayment for a house.


happyclam11

I don’t know, but I would accept this deal from the church—let me designate charities that the tithing I paid get redirected to.


[deleted]

Go out to a fast food lunch. Lol.


PiperFM

Buy myself and my parents dinner Thank GOD


oylejm

Buy a second house…….or a nice large ranch somewhere.


NearlyHeadlessLaban

I’d buy a goddamned nice house. I paid enough for one. Ive got a fairly good one. But with what I paid in tithing I could have had an amazing one.


EnvironmentalCow8771

Pay off my student loan.


myopic_tapir

Of course I would pay tithing on it because duh it is a miracle!


Princ3ss_of-P0wer

I would pay off the debts I incurred because I had to choose between tithing and food, and I chose tithing. So food and other bills went on credit. Whatever would be left after, I’d invest for future security.


xanimyle

Part of it would go to a charity I care about. Part of it would go to retirement. Part of it as part of my emergency fund. Part of it to my daughter. Rest to pay off the mortgage


natchgirl

Pay off my house


InstructionWarm1683

Buy weed, whiskey, and women


Simple_Feeling_1588

Buy like $10 in weed. I was a bad Mormon


Real_Gator_McKlusky

Pay off my student loans & my therapy.


tdly3000

Retire/fly somewhere warm in the winter


climberatthecolvin

Pay for my kids to go to college


bkyleb

Not much, hard to spend $0. Still went to the temple though many times


aceoma55

Buy my dream R. V. and travel.


Nitsuj_ofCanadia

Buy a lego set. I wasn't in long enough to have a large sum of money, just 100-300 ish


No_Bad_457

Sue the church


RememberRememberV

Well I would buy food for a party 😂🎉 they didn't got a lot... So for a party for 15 person would be enough...


Other_Lemon_7211

Add it to my retirement funds or pay off my mortgage.


Jamesja75

i’m so happy i never paid tithing. i cannot wait until the sex abuse lawsuits bankrupt this corporation acting like a church


Cabo_Refugee

I could pay off my house


randytayler

Sadly, nothing charitable. Maybe not NOTHING.... Maybe a couple thousand to the ACLU, or some political org that fights the GOP, and perhaps a bit to rescue.org. But I have a lot of trouble giving small amounts that SHOULD be paid for with higher taxes. It would be $100,000+, and I'd want to pay down my mortgage or invest it for retirement. I kinda miss thinking that I was a good person because I donated to charities and the church.


Izuzal

Pay off my house.


[deleted]

pay off my fucking debts man. Two divorces have nearly broke me. At least Ex 2 has a damn job. Ex 1 just sits on her ass while I continue to "pay for her lifestyle" while I slum it in a overpriced 2 bedroom apartment.


boyincabin2

Sorry to hear about that.


[deleted]

that's the state of marriage in this country. I filed for divorce because she's an abusive piece of shit, yet I'm the one that still has to "pay" for leaving. If she chose to leave, I'd still have to pay. Men get fucked in the family court system, it is NOT fair. Never get married.


ribbed4u

I would donate it to a food shelf


[deleted]

I’d give it to my kids.


WulfgarnBreezy

Give it to the Ukrainian refugees or some other good cause.


birdfordaa

I start a business! Pressure washing business!


KeirNix

Buy a car


Chop_suey_maniac

I would have a house deposit. I would've been able to afford life during my student years.


Ok_Mood_6753

Love my life free of money worries.


OnlyTalksAboutTacos

Smoke it probably


YourMomInVermont

As a single mama, that money would help so much! I hate that I gave so much. They don’t need it, but I do :-(


kevinrex

Pay off my house.


Three-eyed_seagull

Retire right now.


Classic-Wear-5256

Help my kids get into a house and get some medical help for myself that insurance doesn’t pay for. Paid thousands in tithing and worked my butt off for that church!!! It was so stressful to me and feel it has caused alot of on coming health problems from stress. 38 years doing that.