I live in northwestern Minnesota, and the past few days this entire state has been in the national news. For what? For being cold.
Huh?
Cold is normal for us Minnesotans, but these past few days has been awful cold. I know plenty of people who start their vehicles in the morning, just before going to work, and . . . guess what? They don't run.
I sympathize. I've been there and gotten the T-shirt. However, after many failed winters and busted power steering hoses, I now have a sure-fire way to keep my vehicles running, even when it's forty and fifty below zero. I start my vehicles every 2-4 hours, depending on the temperatures, and let them run about 15-20 minutes. I don't have a car starter, but if you did, it sure would make life much easier.
Yes, it may mean taking up at two or three in the morning to start it, but wouldn't that be better than waking up to a dead battery?
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Wedding ebook gets a makeover
My very first book, 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget, has just recieved a cover makeover.
I had this one professionally done--instead of the disaster I produced before. I still sold quite a number of that copy, and hopefully this will sell a lot more.
Here's a link to the Amazon Kindle site. Also, if you could review it, that would be most appreciated. Right now there is a disappointing 2-star review, and although I agree some of the information is common sense, there are still enough unique tips to make it worthwhile. Besides, if it was common sense, then why wouldn't everyone who is trying to save money on a wedding do these?
I had this one professionally done--instead of the disaster I produced before. I still sold quite a number of that copy, and hopefully this will sell a lot more.
Here's a link to the Amazon Kindle site. Also, if you could review it, that would be most appreciated. Right now there is a disappointing 2-star review, and although I agree some of the information is common sense, there are still enough unique tips to make it worthwhile. Besides, if it was common sense, then why wouldn't everyone who is trying to save money on a wedding do these?
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Avoid overdrafts at all costs.
A recent Forbes article cited that in 2012, consumers in the United States paid $32 billion in overdraft fees.
If you didn't grasp that number, it's this: $32,000,000,000.00
A hell of a lot of zeros.
Avoid overdraft fees at all cost. Trust me, I've been there got the T-shirt. At one time, years ago, we were so overdrawn in our checking account that when it came time for payday, we ended up being less than thirty bucks in the black. Luckily, I had a part-time job that was going to be paid the next day, but it was still very unsettling.
Overdrafts are like quicksand. It's like a hole you can't quite seem to get out of without doing something drastic.
What did we do? My wife and I sat down at wrote out a detailed budget. We even quit paying on some of our bills so we could at least stay afloat. Our three kids needed to eat and we needed gas in the car. We cut what we could. We've always been an advocate for eating at home, so we just bought more on sale and only what we needed.
We also quit using the checkbook for a time. We literally put it in the freezer, and only took it out what we got it under control.
Then, we worked hard not to get back in that situation again.
What tricks have you done to keep yourself out of overdrafts?
If you didn't grasp that number, it's this: $32,000,000,000.00
A hell of a lot of zeros.
Avoid overdraft fees at all cost. Trust me, I've been there got the T-shirt. At one time, years ago, we were so overdrawn in our checking account that when it came time for payday, we ended up being less than thirty bucks in the black. Luckily, I had a part-time job that was going to be paid the next day, but it was still very unsettling.
Overdrafts are like quicksand. It's like a hole you can't quite seem to get out of without doing something drastic.
What did we do? My wife and I sat down at wrote out a detailed budget. We even quit paying on some of our bills so we could at least stay afloat. Our three kids needed to eat and we needed gas in the car. We cut what we could. We've always been an advocate for eating at home, so we just bought more on sale and only what we needed.
We also quit using the checkbook for a time. We literally put it in the freezer, and only took it out what we got it under control.
Then, we worked hard not to get back in that situation again.
What tricks have you done to keep yourself out of overdrafts?
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Being harassed by a debt collector? Try Collectionbully.com
Are you being harassed non-stop by a debt collector?
Are they calling you multiple times at work, even when you've asked them to stop?
Have collection agencies threatened you with jail time?
If you feel like a debt collector has violated the law by harassment, then you need to get in touch with Collection Bully.com
The link is right here: www.collectionbully.com
Are they calling you multiple times at work, even when you've asked them to stop?
Have collection agencies threatened you with jail time?
If you feel like a debt collector has violated the law by harassment, then you need to get in touch with Collection Bully.com
The link is right here: www.collectionbully.com
Friday, June 21, 2013
Anniversary Time!
Sixteen years ago on this date, I married my best friend Melissa.
Sixteen years later, we still attend this church--and by the same pastor who married us.
This is also the reason why I write everyday, and our simple wedding is the inspiration behind my ebook 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget. Please give it a review. It's only $.99
Sixteen years later, we still attend this church--and by the same pastor who married us.
This is also the reason why I write everyday, and our simple wedding is the inspiration behind my ebook 99 Ways To Have A Memorable Wedding On A Shoestring Budget. Please give it a review. It's only $.99
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The hidden job description of a debt collector: to evoke and control your emotions
A debt collector called our house the other day, regarding one of my wife's credit cards that has been in default for a number of years.
(I must note here that my wife battled with leukemia two years ago, and was not feeling well in the years prior to this--not that we're proud of not paying a debt; we're not, and want to take care of it. But only when we're able to do so; also, she is still in a long recovery from the after effects of her illness).
I was at work when this call came in and my wife contacted me afterwards, saying they could take away the house and all of our possessions. I spent a great deal of energy calming her down, which only increased my heart rate.
I was pissed off!
The next day, when I was home, the butt-head collector calls again. This time . . . he got me! He gave me the same speech (I wish I had recorded it) and I told him he was a liar. I even told him that our financial counsellor said that all collectors are trained liars--he asked who my financial counsellor was and I said it was Dave Ramsey (you know, the guy from Nashville who has helped millions of people get out of debt). He had the nerve to ask who Dave Ramsey was!
Then, the guy went on a tirade again. I ended up telling him off and gave him a true blue %&@# send-off.
A thought occurred to me afterwards. He got a hold of my emotions. Big time. Not good.
If a collector calls and you honestly can't pay at that time, and are truly working on a plan, tell them you're working on it and hang up.
Don't let their tactics get the best of you. Which is to control your emotions.
(I must note here that my wife battled with leukemia two years ago, and was not feeling well in the years prior to this--not that we're proud of not paying a debt; we're not, and want to take care of it. But only when we're able to do so; also, she is still in a long recovery from the after effects of her illness).
I was at work when this call came in and my wife contacted me afterwards, saying they could take away the house and all of our possessions. I spent a great deal of energy calming her down, which only increased my heart rate.
I was pissed off!
The next day, when I was home, the butt-head collector calls again. This time . . . he got me! He gave me the same speech (I wish I had recorded it) and I told him he was a liar. I even told him that our financial counsellor said that all collectors are trained liars--he asked who my financial counsellor was and I said it was Dave Ramsey (you know, the guy from Nashville who has helped millions of people get out of debt). He had the nerve to ask who Dave Ramsey was!
Then, the guy went on a tirade again. I ended up telling him off and gave him a true blue %&@# send-off.
A thought occurred to me afterwards. He got a hold of my emotions. Big time. Not good.
If a collector calls and you honestly can't pay at that time, and are truly working on a plan, tell them you're working on it and hang up.
Don't let their tactics get the best of you. Which is to control your emotions.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
My harsh reaction to a dangerous Motley Fool article regarding Dave Ramsey
Today I discovered a disturbing article regarding financial guru Dave Ramsey. I discovered this as I was perusing his website and came across a half-hour radio interview with the article writer from the Motley Fool.
I give the guy kudos for at least agreeing to go on the show and debate his views, and I equally give Dave kudos for not ripping the guy a new one--something he sorely needed.
The article in reference on the Motley Fool site is listed here, and the basic gist of his argument is regarding the 12% average rate of return the stock market has done since the mid 1920's. This supposedly causes people anxiety as they harp on with "Oh, you can't get 12% on your mutual funds!"
I have one word for this: bull.
The company I work for offers a 401(K) program, and in its mutual fund offerings I have four I am invested in. The average in the last 3 years (the furthest back the data provides unless I view the prospectus), one did a little less than 10%, two were are 13%, and one did 16%. I don't know about you, but that's a lot more than 12%. Besides, I looked at the information Wells Fargo gave us and ALL of the information they state advised that the average rate of return was 12%!
And here's my greatest contention in response to the "foolish" article: WHO CARES! You're splitting hairs and analyzing data to death, depending on how you want to look at it. This is why I hate following politics any longer, because when the government spews out data for something, you can analyze it fourteen different ways to Sunday and come up with a different analysis--this depends on which political party is in power and which news program you're watching.
Take Ramsey's teachings of never having a car payment. If you were to save for decades what you'd pay for in car payments, investing in mutual funds which have averaged 12% rate of return, it comes to 5-7 million dollars--and to top it off, Dave ALWAYS ends this statement with "And if I'm half right, you're still okay!"
I tried to comment on the Fool's article, but I could not without registering on their website--something I am not about to do. Because of this, I will not EVER visit their site nor purchase any of their products.
(Oh, by the way, the guy who wrote the article had NEVER attended his 9-week Financial Peace University course, had NEVER read any of his books--except for a few choice article in the Total Money Makeover--and was not a regular listener to Ramsey's show. I don't know about you, but if I was going to write an article trashing someone's views, I'd want to do a lot of research and read a lot on what that person said.)
I give the guy kudos for at least agreeing to go on the show and debate his views, and I equally give Dave kudos for not ripping the guy a new one--something he sorely needed.
The article in reference on the Motley Fool site is listed here, and the basic gist of his argument is regarding the 12% average rate of return the stock market has done since the mid 1920's. This supposedly causes people anxiety as they harp on with "Oh, you can't get 12% on your mutual funds!"
I have one word for this: bull.
The company I work for offers a 401(K) program, and in its mutual fund offerings I have four I am invested in. The average in the last 3 years (the furthest back the data provides unless I view the prospectus), one did a little less than 10%, two were are 13%, and one did 16%. I don't know about you, but that's a lot more than 12%. Besides, I looked at the information Wells Fargo gave us and ALL of the information they state advised that the average rate of return was 12%!
And here's my greatest contention in response to the "foolish" article: WHO CARES! You're splitting hairs and analyzing data to death, depending on how you want to look at it. This is why I hate following politics any longer, because when the government spews out data for something, you can analyze it fourteen different ways to Sunday and come up with a different analysis--this depends on which political party is in power and which news program you're watching.
Take Ramsey's teachings of never having a car payment. If you were to save for decades what you'd pay for in car payments, investing in mutual funds which have averaged 12% rate of return, it comes to 5-7 million dollars--and to top it off, Dave ALWAYS ends this statement with "And if I'm half right, you're still okay!"
I tried to comment on the Fool's article, but I could not without registering on their website--something I am not about to do. Because of this, I will not EVER visit their site nor purchase any of their products.
(Oh, by the way, the guy who wrote the article had NEVER attended his 9-week Financial Peace University course, had NEVER read any of his books--except for a few choice article in the Total Money Makeover--and was not a regular listener to Ramsey's show. I don't know about you, but if I was going to write an article trashing someone's views, I'd want to do a lot of research and read a lot on what that person said.)
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