FREE Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Class!

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be completely debt free? Ever wondered where in the world to even start on such a journey? You can attend the first workshop in this series for FREE! You have no obligation to pay one penny nor do you have to commit to continue on with the course (but I think you would want to!) The cost of the course looks like it would be $100. I put in my local zip to see if these courses were available and there were 29 places that it was being offered!!! THAT IS AMAZING!! Go see this post if you are interested in checking out more details.

The Emotional Benefits to Becoming Debt Free

I read this post awhile back and it was a great inspiration and encouragement. I have been wanting to post it since...I don't think I ever did, but if so sorry for the repeat. Here is the link to read The Emotional Benefits to Becoming Debt Free

FREE Money Map from Crown Financial Ministries

In case your new to my blog or you need a refresher, I have talked opening about our financial journey since following Crown's Money Map. I passionately believe in being Financially FREE and strongly believe anyone can achieve it if they are really willing to put the effort into it.
If you would like to read a little about our journey and read some helpful hints we have learned along the way (we are still learning) be sure to check out the "Seeking Financial Freedom" icon on my side bar.

Crown is offering a FREE money map for a limited time! I have enjoyed having our map. It has helped us to set our goals in the correct order, and give us a visual of what we are currently shooting for. As a couple you get to document your journey by marking down the dates you accomplish each Step.

So are you wanting FINANCIAL FREEDOM in your life? Don't wait any longer go HERE to score you FREE MAP!!!!
DANIELLE

Share, Save, Spend Bank.......

 On Monday the kids and I were reading through a fun kit that we were given to try out and give our opinion on. This kits focuses on how we can share the three T's, Time, Talent & Treasures. It has a wonderful little comic book that tells several different story's on the three T's. One of the things they talk about is a Share, Save, & Spend Bank. I have been wanting to get one of these for each of the kids for several years and have never followed through with it. I am now glad that I didn't because the book had a really fun "Do it Yourself" bank activity. In case any of your would like to make one below are the directions along with some pictures...just for added fun.

 Find three circle containers. In the background you can see we used left over tootsie roll containers we had from Easter. Parmesan cheese containers, and regular mason jars would also work well. Whatever you decide to use, first wash them out and let them dry. Then we got out some scrapbook paper and took the square punch I have from my Stampin' Up supplies and cute out 13 squares.

 Next we lined up our squares so we had enough to spell, Save, Share, Spend.

 These happen to be Lance's containers (left over cotton candy containers...also from Easter). The directions did recommend clear containers if at all possible so the children can see the money pile up in the containers. Step #3 it to secure the containers together. You do not have to secure them together if you don't want to. We decided for us it was best so they all stay together in one spot. We went totally functional here and went with good ole' duck tape. Not pretty, but hey it will serve the purpose.

 Then the boys applied sticky dimensionals to the back of each of the letters. You could also use pieces of tape and that would work wonderful as well.

 This is the finished product. The boys loved making them and we had a really great discussion on how we figure out how much to put inside each container when they are paid for a job, receive B-day money, or accumulate money in any other way. It is important to use to teach our children early how important it is to manage God's money. We also want to teach the value of money.....and remind them that it doesn't just "appear" you have to work hard to get income. The money in their SPEND jar is their money to decide how to spend it. If the jar is empty then it's empty until they produce the income to refill it. We pay the kids for doing extra jobs around the house. For example, sweeping off the sidewalk or the deck, picking up sticks and taking them to the burning barrel, helping to clean out the barn, painting, ect. is worthy of payment. We also do pay them a bit for completing regular household chores. (We keep the chores age appropriate and the amount of payment is solely up to mom and dad.)

Is there anything special you do to teach your children about money? If not, maybe you should consider a program like, The ABC'S of Handling Money God's Way by Howard & Bev Dayton (designed for ages 5-7).


DANIELLE

Kids EAT FREE!!

I just found out there is this little nifty site that tells you resturants that offer FREE KIDS meals!! I don't know about you, but one of the major reasons we don't go out is because of the outrageous price is cost for a family of 6 to eat out!! Well this site would also be nice if your going on vacation and want to try to hit some FREE KIDS FOOD kind of resturants!!
In my area, Lone Star Steak House (I can almost take those yummy rolls in my mouth!) offers TWO FREE KIDS MEALS on Tuesday nights with a purchase of ONE adult meal.....That is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Go HERE to check out where KIDS EAT FREE in your area!

DANIELLE

New Year Goals...."My List"

I was inspired to get some goals written down for 2010. I really enjoyed reading what other bloggers had to say about their own goals for the year. First of all, I should start by saying I don't get into making unrealistic life changes. I know that for me my list needs to include things I am committed to changing, thing I have been working on already, and realizing I am a busy wife, mommy, and homeschooler that just can't "Do it all". That doesn't mean that I didn't set some high achieving goals ....just that I kept my list limited.
I decided that dividing goals into catagories was the way to go for me. As we go through 2010, my hope is to keep you informed in a very transparent way on how God is using those goals to mold me throughout the year. I plan to bring you up to speed on what is happening around the Gaertegang household and how "the list" is panning out......My purpose?
To give God the glory for everything, inspire you to set your own goals, and make myself accountable for the things I put on my list.

Spiritual:
#1 Continue to be consistent in God's Word daily
#2 Study my Bible in conjunction with a concordance so I can a deeper understanding (buy a concordance!)
#3 Begin prayer journaling again
Homeschooling:
#1 More read aloud time together
#2 Continue "NO worksheet Wednesday" & Make Friday our test day
#3 Consider using a Unit Study next year
Chores:
#1 Make myself a checklist of my household jobs...so I can better track what needs to be done
#2 Keep the boys encouraged/disciplined on their chore lists
#3 Do all things big or small with a servant's heart
Financial:
#1 Continue to faithfully tithe and be generous when led
#2 Be very conscious of how we spend God's money and what we spend it on
#3 PAY OFF OUR MORTGAGE!!!! ohhh to be debt free....can't hardly wait!!!
Parenting:
#1 No yelling (Sometimes I feel like that is only way I am heard, not a good excuse though)
#2 More patients...hence the no yelling issue..
#3 Do all things in LOVE....listen attentively....play more!
Kitchen:
#1 Continue to learn more about cooking from scratch..Don't burn myself out...
#2 Continue to cook meals ahead whenever possible to help with time issues
#3 Keep collecting healthy budget friendly ideas.
Marriage:
#1 Monthly date nights
#2 Get away at least once a year!
#3 Being a happy helpmate at all times
Hobby:
#1 Create a space for my hobbies (somewhere?)
#2 send a stamped card twice a month
#3 Quilt once a month
#4 Blog for fun...to document my family....not feel pressure (from myself) to keep a certain schedule


Okay so there it is...I felt is was important to keep my list in each area to only #3 items.
The point: To be able to keep a concentrated effort in each area.

So have you written any goal for yourself, your marriage, your household yet? If not, you might want to seriously consider sitting down (with your spouse) and writing you own list.....Why??? I heard once "If we aim for nothing we will hit it everytime." Having a goal gives us direction, and something to work hard for.....of course keeping in mind, that our "goals" may not always be the same as the Lord's. I think that if you spend time in prayer about what goals the Lord would want for us, we will have some perspective to shoot from.

DANIELLE

Final Seeking Financial Freedom

Now that we have made it through the book.....
Here are the STEPS TO FINANCIAL FREEDOM
(aka: The Money Map)

Destination ONE:
SAVE $1,000 for Emergencies

Destination TWO:
Pay off Credit Cards
Increase SAVINGS to One month's living expenses

Destination THREE:
Pay off ALL consumer debt
Increase SAVINGS to 3-6 month's living expenses

Destination FOUR:
Begin saving for major purchases (home, auto,ect)
Begin saving for retirement
Begin saving for children's education
If you want to start your own business, begin saving

Destination FIVE:
Buy affordable home
Begin to prepay mortgage
Begin to invest wisely

Destination SIX:
Home mortgage PAID OFF!!!!
Children's retirement FUNDED!!!
Confirm estate plan is in order

FINAL DESTINATION:
My retirement is FUNDED!!
I am FREE to volunteer my time working for the LORD!!!

Well that is it, we finally made it through the whole journey.....I hope you have learned something helpful along the way! I would love to hear any comment or testimonies about anything that has happened as a result of being faithful stewards....Leave me a comment or send me an email!!!

BLESSINGS,

DANIELLE

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 16

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

PERSPECTIVE****What's really important?*****

Thanks for joining us this Wednesday!! Perspective is the subject this week! Here are a few highlights from the chapter.

MONEY WILL NOT BRING YOU HAPPINESS (p147-148)
Solomon, the author of Ecclesiastes, had an annual income of more than $25 million. He lived in a palace that took 13 years to build. He owned 40,000 stalls of horses. He sat on an ivory throne overlaid with gold. He drank from gold cups. The daily menu of his household included 100 sheep and 30 oxen in addition to fallow-deer and fatted fowl.
Obviously, Solomon was in a position to know whether money would bring happiness, and he did not hesitate to say that riches do not bring true happiness."He who loves money shall never have enough. The foolish of thinking that wealth brings true happiness! The more you have, the more you spend, right up to the limits of your income." Ecclesiastes 5:10-11

Money will buy:
A bed but not sleep.;
Books but not brains;
Food but not an appetite;
A house but not a home;
Medicine but not health;
Amusement but not happiness;
A crucifix but not a Savior.

IS MONEY EVIL? (p148-149)

Money is not evil. It is morally neutral. Money can be used for good, such as supporting missionaries or building hospitals. Is also can be used for evil, such as financing illegal drugs and pornography.
Examine closely 1 Timothy 6:10 "The love of money is a root of all sorts of evil." The Bible does not condemn money itself, only the misuse of or a wrong attitude toward money.

WILL GODLY PEOPLE ALWAYS PROSPER FINANCIALLY? (pp149-150)
Some Christians embrace one of two extremes. Some say if you are really spiritual, you must be poor because wealth and a close relationship with Christ can not exist. The second and opposite extreme is the belief that if a Christian has faith, he or she will enjoy uninterrupted financial prosperity.
However we have already said that money is morally neutral and can be used for good and evil.

More importantly take a look at three reason why the godly may not prosper.

1. VIOLATING A SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLE.
you may giving generously, but acting dishonestly. You may be honest but not fulfilling your work responsibilities. You may be a faithful employee but head-over-heel in debt. You may be debt free but not giving.
2. BUILDING OF GODLY CHARACTER.
Romans 5:3-4 reads, "Tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character."
3.THE MYSTERY OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
Hebrews 11:1-35 list people who triumphed miraculously by exercising their faith in the living God. But in verse 36 the writer directs our attention abruptly to godly people who lived by faith and gained God's approval, yer were poor. The Lord ultimately chooses how much to entrust each person. And sometimes we simply can't understand or explain His decisions.

COMMITMENT: I will consistently study the Bible to maintain God's perspective on money and possessions.

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 15

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

"What is your standard of living?" Well that is what we are talking about this week!! I think we all have an idea of what lifestyle we want to live.....sometimes an unhealthy perspective on what you expect your lifestyle to live leads to making bad financial decisions.

Here is what the books shares (p 139): The Bible does not dictate one particular standard of living for everyone. However, Scripture contains a number of challenging principles that we should consider when choosing our lifestyle.
THINK WITH ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE (p140)
Nurture an eternal perspective. Our culture and the media implore us to focus on the immediate. Advertisers persuade consumers to gratify themselves today with no thought of tomorrow. Examine the following to understand how brief life is on earth compared with eternity:
Our momentary time on earth is but a dot on the time line of eternity. Yet, we have the opportunity to influence eternity by how we handle money today. We have not only the privilege to lay up treasures for ourselves in heaven but also the opportunity to spend on to influence people for Jesus Christ. Gaining eternal perspective and eternal values will have a profound effect on your decision making.
YOU ARE A PILGRIM (p141)
Scripture tells us about our identity and role on earth: First of all, we are citizens of heaven, not earth (Philippians 3:20). Second, we are ambassadors representing Christ on this earth (2 Corinthians 5:20). Third, we are aliens, strangers, and pilgrims on this earth (Hebrews 11:13).
MAKE AN EFFORT TO LIVE SIMPLY (p141-142)
Every possession requires time, attention and often money to maintain it. Too many or the wrong types of possessions can demand so much time, energy, or money that they harm our relationship with the Lord and others.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 " Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."
WE ARE AT WAR (p142)
"Suffer hardship with me, as a good solider of Christ Jesus. No solider in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a solider." 2 Timothy 2:3-4
RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY (p.142)
In a war you are going to use your most effective weapon. The devil's mission is to divert us from serving Christ. He frequently accomplishes this by tempting us to serve money and possession. "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against...the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
Ephesians 6:12
SPEND IN A WAY THAT PLEASES THE LORD (p142)
Prayerfully submit spending decisions to the Lord. Everything we possess is owned by the Lord, and we should spend to please Him and not for selfish purpose. Seeking the Lord's direction in spending does not mean that we will never spend for anything other than a basic necessity. Recreation, appropriate leisure activities and rest are important.
DO NOT COMPARE YOURSELF TO OTHERS (p142)
Some use comparison to justify spending more they should. Someone once said, "You can never keep up with the Joneses. Just about the time you catch them, they refinance their home and go deeper in debt to buy more things!"

SOCIETY SAYS: Acquire as many expensive possessions as possible because they are evidence you are successful, important person.
SCRIPTURE SAYS: The excessive accumulation of possessions will distract you from fulfilling God's purpose for your life.

July Monthly Spending Round Up

Well here is how we came out in JULY...if you remember Justin was suppose to take care of meals and shopping, but we decided about a week into in (since I had already made a meal plan for the first two weeks of the month we would just wait until August for him to try out his little experiment!
I have also been taking a break from couponing for the months of June, July, and now August. I am very happy with how this month turned out especially not using coupons for the most part...maybe I used a few a CVS....
I also decided I would not add in my CVS and Walgreens runs to my monthly grocery budget...but keep a tight rein on the spending and make sure it is only getting stuff we need and will use...

Walmart $50.12 (18 items)
I have to say $25.73 of that money was in supplies to make blueberry jam......
Aldi $71.73 (48 items)
Mostly camping items since we camped 3 weekends in July!
Kmart $14.45 (12 items)
Kroger $8.97 (3 HUGE bags of cheese)
===========================
Total for JULY $145.27 number of itmes 81
===========================
My CVS spending has been GREAT...CVS is finally rolling out some worthy deal this past month, and continues with great back to school deals this month!!!!!
============================
$15.97 oop (I stocked up on printer paper which is where most of this expense came from)
BEST PART!!!!!!!! I got 61 items in July for basically nothing because I have LOTS of ECB's I have been rolling over on all the deals......after all that is the name of the game!

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 14

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

BUDGET is the word this week!! Okay so maybe that is too scary of a word.....so if you can't talk "budget" then let's talk about a SPENDING PLAN........whatever you call...it means making a plan on how you will spend your money which will enable you to stretch your dollar even farther!

Here is what the book has to say: (p130)

Why BUDGET?
Budgeting is not always fun, but it is the only way to follow through and apply what has been learned about getting out of debt, saving and giving while still meeting basic needs. Regardless of income, most of us have difficulty making ends meet unless there is a plan for spending. Expenses always tend to rise just a little higher than income.

Budgeting provides an opportunity to pray about spending decisions.

How to Budget (p. 131-138)

Step One: Begin where you are today

Developing a budget must begin with the current situation. Determine precisely how much money is earned and spent. Most people do not know what they are actually earning and spending. For this reason it is essential to keep a record of every penny for a month to get an accurate picture in order to complete an estimated budget.
I would recommend that you buy a little notebook (one that is small enough to fit in your purse or your pocket)
one for you and one for your spouse. Each time you spend any money write is down. When Justin and I did this we would write what we bought and how much we spent....it helped us to know exactly where we could be better stewards...(aka: figure out where we were throwing away our money)

If your wages are not the same each month ( like with a commissioned income), make a conservative estimate on your annual income and divide by 12 to establish a working figure for your monthly budget. The same goes for things like real estate taxes, insurance, vacations...estimate how much you spend on each, then divide by 12 to determine your monthly cost.

Step Two: The solution is where you want to be

To solve the problem of spending more than you earn, you must either increase your income or reduce your expenditures. It is that simple: Either earn more or spend less.

Adding to your income

A part-time job, or better yet, a project that would involve the whole family are ways of increasing your income. The ever-present danger of increasing income is the tendency for expenses also to rise. To avoid this problem agree ahead of time to apply any extra income to balancing the budget the budget. Another potential problem is that a family member may sacrifice relationships in order to earn extra money.

PERCENTAGE GUIDELINE FOR EXPENSES: (after giving & taxes)

Housing********** 25-38%

Food*************10-15%

Transportation**10-15%

Insurance********3-7%

Debts************0-10%

Entertainment***4-7%

Clothing*********4-6%

Savings**********5-10%

Medical/Dental** 4-8%

Miscellaneous***4-8%

School/Child Care*5-10%

Investments*******0-15%

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated monthly Budget

Gross monthly income:_________________ 8. Entertainment_________

Salary:______________________________ Babysitters___________

Interest:_____________________________Vacation:____________

Dividends:____________________________ Pets:______________

Other Income:_________________________ Other:______________

LESS:============================== 9. Clothing:_____________

1. Giving:___________________________ 10. Savings:______________

2. Taxes:___________________________ 11. Medical Expenses:_____________

NET SPENDABLE INCOME:________________Doctor:_____________

==================================== Prescriptions:____________

LIVING EXPENSES Other:_______________

3. Housing:__________________________ 12. Miscellaneous:_______________

Mortagage/Rent:_________________________ Toiletries/Cosmetics:__________

Insurance:_____________________________ Cleaning/Laundry:____________

Property Taxes:_________________________ Allowances:____________

Electricity:_____________________________ Subscriptions:___________

Heating/Cooling:________________________ Birthdays/Anniver:_________

Water:_______________________________ Weddings/Showers:___________

Garbage Service:________________________ Christmas:________________

Telephone home:________ cell_____________ Postage:______________

Maintaince:____________________________ Other:___________

Other:_____________________________ 13. School/Child Care:____________

4.FOOD ______________________________Tuition:___________

5.TRANSPORTATION:___________________ Day Care:_________

Payments:____________________________ Other:___________

Gas & Oil:__________________________ 14. Investments:__________

Insurance:__________________

Maint./Repair:______________

6. INSURANCE:_________________

Life:___________

Medical:_____________

Other:_____________

7.DEBTS:______________

(excluding auto & house payments)

=====================================TOTAL LIVING EXPENSES:_________

INCOME vs LINVING EXPENSES:

Net Spendable Income:________________

Less TOTAL Expenses:_______________

SURPLUS or DEFICIT:_______________

Step Three: DO NOT STOP!!!!!

The most common temptation is to stop budgeting......Remember that a budget is your plan on how to spend your money...it shoud be reviewed on a regular basis.

PROVERS 24:3-4 "Any enterprise is built by wise planning, becomes strong through common sense, and profits wonderfully by keeping abreast of the facts. (LB)

COMMITMENT

Keep a careful record of all spending for the next 30 days to determine you rsurrent situation. After that, plan a budget suited to your income and personal goals. Put the budget into practice!

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 13

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

Hello again and Happy Wednesday!! It's time for gaining some more knowledge on how to be better stewards of the money the Lord has given us!!!

Topic for this week:Children-The ABC's of Money

OHHHH Boy! We are talking about a great topic this week...Teaching our kids the value of a dollar.....listen to what the book wrote (p.118)

Answer this question: When you left home, how well prepared were you to make financial decisions? Parents and teachers spend 18 to 22 years preparing youth for occupations but generally less than a few hours teaching children the value and use of the money they will earn during their careers.
To teach biblical principles of handling money, parents should use three methods: verbal communication, modeling, and practical experience.

Verbal communication: (p118) We are instructed in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 to teach and instruct our children in the ways of the Lord. They need more than verbal instruction.....they need a good example!
Modeling:(p.119) Parents need to be models on how to handle their money faithfully.
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be imitators of me, just as I am in Christ." God gave us His written Word, the Bible, and also sent the perfect model, Jesus Christ, to demonstrate how we should live.
Practical Experiences: (p119)Children need to be given the chance to apply what they have seen and heard. This will benefit the child in money management (the art if wise spending) and money making (the value of work).

Income: As soon as the child is old enough for school is when the book recommends giving an allowance. Of course the amount will vary according to age, the chore lists, and the family budget. You can expect your child to make money handling mistakes at first...they are learning....it is so important that you DO NOT BAIL THEM OUT!!!!! His mistakes will be his best teacher....when he spends all his money in one day!
You do need to make some boundaries and offer some advice along the way.....be sure not to put to many "rules" in place that will limit the learning experience.
We struggled with this at first because we don't feel like we should pay our kids to help do things they should do anyway......but when we got the perspective of letting them earn money for chores so they could be better equipped to handle money we were on board. We also agree with paying our kids to do "extra work". These would be things they are not normally suppose to do........helping to rake leaves in the fall, helping you to clean out the basement...you get the idea....

Budget: Begin with a simple system! GIVE, SAVE, SPEND..you can use three boxes, mason jars....whatever you have on hand...When they see that the SPEND money jar is empty..they know they have no money to spend....simple! As they get older you can expand the "Budget areas".

Giving: Start them while they are young....get them in the frame of mind that giving is IMPORTANT! Make sure they understand the impact their gift has.

SAVING: Make sure your kids understand the importance of compounding money over time. As your child grows establish short-term savings and long-term savings.....to a four year old saving for even a small purchase can seem like forever!

Debt: Teach your children how important it is to avoid debt. Make sure they understand how hard it is to get out of debt!

Crown Financial Ministries has resources for teaching all these principles..WE USE IT!!!! I woudl encourage you to visit them and invest the money in teaching your children...you won't be sorry you did!!! It is worth the money I can personallly testify to it!!!!

Just so there is no confusion....I am not being paid to say any of this....Crown Finanical is unaware that I even exist.....I have many of their books and LOVE to let people know about great resources such as the ones they offer.......

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 12

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

This week we will be addressing INVESTING....

All of the little details of investing I am pretty uneducated about......I get lost when people start talking about Money market, bonds, stocks, ect, ect....This is actually an area Justin and I are trying to get some counsel. If any of you have a wealth of knowledge, or know a Christian Financial Advisor we could talk with PLEASE feel free to email me and pass along that info.....

Here is a story to open the chapter...FROM THE BOOK:

One problem Allen and Jean wanted to address was their inability to save. "We've never been able to save consistently," Jean admitted. "We realize this has been a mistake, and we've suffered for it." Every time the car broke down or something else went wrong, we ended up going in debt because we didn't have savings to pay for these unexpected expenses. What should we do?"

So this week we will address this question.....But before we do, I thought I'd share this tidbit of info. According to one source, the average person in our nation is three weeks away from bankruptcy. He or she has little or no money saved, significant monthly credit obligations and a total dependence on next week's check to keep the budget afloat.

WOW!!!! We are a nation in trouble!!!! This book was also wrote way before this country was in the economic state we are currently facing. So stay put to get some encouraging advice, and Godly counsel from the author, Howard Dayton.

Proverbs 21:20 "The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets."

The first question you need to be HONEST and ask yourself is....which "man" does my family look like??? The wise man or the foolish man?

~~WARNING~~Answering this question in a very honest way, may cause you to make some remarkable changes in your life.

~~~~~HOW TO SAVE!~~~~~

Justin and I learned this important principle when starting our journey to FINANCIAL FREEDOM: The first thing we do when we get paid is write a check to our church. Then we write a check to the missionaries we support. Second, we pay ourselves. The reason behind this principle for us was knowing that we have given back the FIRST fruits of our income, not what is left over. The other reason is similar for paying ourselves second. We wanted to make sure that we are always adding to our savings. We found that if we waited until after the bills were paid , the cars are full of gas, groceries were bought, and misc. stuff was taken care of WE WERE OUT OF MONEY! By tithing and paying yourself (in that order), you learn what your monthly "spendable income" is and then learn to life within those means if you are not currently doing so.

The book advises "Steady Plodding". This is how they explain it (p 101)...

The fundamental principle you need to practice to become a successful investor is to spend less than you earn. Then save and invest the difference over a long period of time.

Proverbs 21:5 "Steady plodding brings prosperity, hasty speculation brings poverty."

I wanted to share this important piece of the puzzle with you that the book addresses. (p105)
It is scripturally permissible to save and invest ONLY when we are also giving. Jesus told a parable that illustrates the danger of saving without giving.

I won't take the time to type it all out but I strongly suggest you look it up in your Bible and see what Luke 12:16-21,34 has to say.

This chapter about investing talk about so much more: long-term and short-term saving, wills, inheritance, investment goals, avoiding risky investments, unacceptable investment goals.......but I think I will just keep in simple with where we need to start........

COMMITMENT: Establish a pattern of saving. Start with you next paycheck!

Feel free to chime in whenever you like... I love reading your comments and hearing feedback from you more than you know!

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 11

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

This week we are talking about WORK-Who is your REAL Boss?

On page 86 I found it interesting that the book said during a 50 year career the average person spend 100,000 hours working!!!!!!!! That is 25% of you life.....most people spend that time just enduring or suffering through it......very few actually Love what they do........Some though enjoy it to much which causes them to work to much and be neglectful to other top priority areas in life.
From the book (p86): People usually lean to one of two extremes: they either work as little as possible because the work is unpleasant, or they tend to work all the time because it becomes overwhelmingly important. Scripture affirms the value of work but teaches that we should have a balance in work. Work is designed to develop our character. While enabling us to provide for our material well-being, work is a pathway to experiencing a more intimate relationship with the Lord and with other people. In order to find satisfaction and balance in our work, we need to understand what Scripture teaches about it.

Genesis 2:15 " The Lord God took man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it."
Exodus 34:21 "You shall work six days, but on the seventh day you shall rest."
Thessalonians 3:10 " If anyone will not work, neither let him eat."
(This is a verse for those who are able to work but choose not to.)

God's Part in Work

1. God give job skills. Exodus 36:1-2 "And every skillful person in whom the Lord has put skill and understanding to know how to perform all the work."

2. God gives success. Genesis 39:3-2 "The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man...his master saw that the Lord was with him an dhow the Lord caused all that he did to prosper in his hand."

3. God controls promotion. Psalm 6-7 "For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God." (The book pointed out on p.88 that your boss is not the one who controls whether or not you will be promoted. When you understand this, you will work with a different attitude. It should have a tremendous impact on the way you perform as an employee.)

OUR PART IN WORK- Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men."
WORK HARD-
Ecclesiastes 9:10 "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might."
Proverbs 12:27 "The precious possession of a man is diligence as encouraged while laziness is repeatedly condemned."
2 Thessalonians 3:8-9 "With labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you....in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example."
DO NOT OVER WORK!
1st Priority : God Mathew 6:33 "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness."
2nd priority: Family!
If your job demands so much of your time and energy that you neglect your relationship with Christ or your family, then you are working too hard.

At the end of the each chapter there is a commitment section..p.97

Prayerfully evaluate your attitudes toward work and you job performance in light of what Scripture teaches. To help you discover any areas that need changing, ask yourself these questions.
1. Would I work more conscientiously if Jesus were my boss?
2. Would I think more highly of a president of an oil company than a gas station attendant?
3. How is my relationship with my employer, employees and fellow-workers?
4.Am I trying to do too much?
5. Am I performing my job at a level of excellence?
6. Am I lazy? Do I work hard?

I remember reading this chapter several years ago for the first time. It was a very heart changing chapter. I am thankful for these biblical teaching so that I have been able to have the proper perspective.

What are you learning in this series? I would love to hear from you!!!

Seeking Financial Freedom Part 10

Welcome if you are visiting us for the first time here on Wednesdays!! If you want to start at the beginning of this series click on Seeking Financial Freedom on the right hand side of the screen..you will have to scroll down a bit to find it....

Giving is the subject this week! What is your attitude on giving? In my opinion, I think once we learn and understand the previous lessons about money we then get a new idea of what giving should look like. The Old and New Testament talk a lot of giving. In fact the book says, there are more verses that address giving than any other subject on money. (page 74)
Acts 20:35 Jesus says "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
(page 74) From the book: Giving with the right attitude is crucial. The Lord set the example of giving motivated by love. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son" (John 3:16) Note the sequence: Because God loved, He gave.
If giving is just to the church, a ministry, or to a needy person, it is only charity. But if it is to the Lord, it becomes an act of worship. Because Jesus Christ is our Creator, our Savior and our faithful Provider, we can express our gratefulness and love by giving our gifts to Him.

After having the right attitude towards giving the book address how our giving helps to develop our character on page 75.
From the book: Our heavenly Father wants us as His children to be conformed to the image of His Son. The character of Christ is unselfish. Unfortunately, humans are by nature selfish. One of the key ways our character becomes conformed to Christ is by habitual giving.

How much to tithe is the next area of discussion in the book. Many Christians associate 10% with the amount they tithe. The book warns to be careful when putting a set amount on what we tithe. It to easy can become "just another bill we pay." Christians need to be diligent in prayer over how much they should tithe, because the New Testament is unclear on an exact amount. The bottom line I think the book pointed out was....this is a very personal decision to be made by each family.

SOCIETY SAYS: It is more blessed to RECEIVE than give.
SCRIPTURE SAYS: " It is more blessed to GIVE than receive" Acts 20:35

Seeking Finanical Freedom Part 8

If this is your first time checking in on Wednesdays, WELCOME! Each week we are talking about MONEY and how to handle it using the Bible as our blueprint. You will hear me discuss the book YOUR MONEY COUNTS by Howard Dayton. When I read this book it changed my whole mindset on how I viewed finances and really gave "us" a boost on our journey to DEBT FREE living! If you would like to check out this series from the beginning scroll down and on the left hand side of your screen you will see a Label titled "Seeking Financial Freedom" click on that and you can start with Part ONE and work your way through......Also feel free to let other people you know about this series and encourage them to join us each week as we talk more in depth about our journey!

I just wanted to add a tid bit about Debt Repayment Responsibilities that was part of the lesson last week.

On page 51 the question is posed: Should you use all your savings to payoff debt????

The author's answer is: "It is not wise to deplete all your savings. You should maintain a reasonable level of savings so you are prepared when an unexpected expense comes up. If you are not prepared with a savings for emergencies you could incur even more debt!"

Bankruptcy: From the author:

"There is an epidemic sweeping the nation. Should a godly person declare bankruptcy? The answer is generally NO." Psalm 37:21 tells us , "The wicked borrows and does not pay back, but the righteous is gracious and gives." The author continues saying that in his opinion there are only TWO reasons for bankruptcy: a creditor forces a person into bankruptcy, or a counselor believes that the debtor's emotional health is at stake because of inability to cope with the pressure of unreasonable creditors. EXAMPLE: If a husband dessert his wife and children, leaving her with a business and family debts for which she is responsible, she may not have the resources or income to meet those obligations. The emotional trauma of an unwanted divorce, coupled with harassment from unsympathetic creditors, may be to much for her to bear.

Co-Signing: A study by the Federal Trade Commission shows that 50% of those who co-sign for bank loans end up making the payments. Seventy-Five percent of those who co-signed for finance company loans end up making the payments.

If those stats are not enough to speak against co-signing, God's word should be: Psalm 17:18 reads "It is poor judgement to cosign another's note to become responsible for his debts" (LB)

Society says: You may use debt as often as you wish; buy now pay later.

Scripture says: The Lord discourages the use of debt because He wants us free to serve Him.



This week the lesson focusing on Seeking Counsel! The Bible encourages us to seek counsel from several different sources..(pg 56)
SCRIPTURE: Psalm 119:24 (LB) "Your laws are both my light and my counselors." The Bible is the living book that our Lord uses to communicate His direction and truths to all generations. It is the first filter through which we should put a financial decision. If the Bible is not specific about a particular issue, subject your decision to the second source of counsel: godly people.
Godly People:Psalm 37:30-31(LB) "The godly man is a good counselor because he is just and fair and knows right from wrong." Would should know and appreciate the value of a couple of extra sets of eyes looking down that straight and narrow road.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 "And one standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer, three is even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken."
Spouse: If you are married, your spouse is your primary source of human counsel. Seeking the counsel of your spouse keeps them informed of financial matters, but also helps preserve your relationship because you will both experience the consequences of a decision.
Parents: Proverbs 6:20-22 "My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother...When you walk about, they will guide you." A word of caution from the author. Genesis 2:24 "A man shall leave his father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they shall become one flesh."
The Lord: The book says that during the process of searching the Bible and getting counsel from godly people we should be ask the Lord for direction.Psalm 32:8 "I (the Lord) will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you." Psalm 16:7 "I will bless the Lord who has counseled me."
Multitude of Counselors: Proverbs 15:22 (NIV) "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." Proverbs 11:14 "Where there is no guidance, the people fail, but in abundance of counselors there is victory."
COUNSEL TO BE AVOIDED
1. Never seek the counsel of fortune tellers or Mediums. Leviticus 19:31 "Do not turn to mediums or spiritualists; do not seek them out to be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God."
2. Be careful of the biased. If the advisor will profit, always seek a second unbiased opinion.
SOCIETY SAYS: Be your own person; stand on your own two feet. You don't need anyone to tell you what to do.
SCRIPTURE SAYS: "The wise man is glad to be instructed, but a self-sufficient fool falls flat on his face." Proverbs 10:8 (LB)

Any thoughts??? Any comments??? Any questions????

Seeking Finanical Freedom Part 7

If this is your first time checking in on Wednesdays, WELCOME! Each week we are talking about MONEY and how to handle it using the Bible as our blueprint. You will hear me discuss the book YOUR MONEY COUNTS by Howard Dayton. When I read this book it changed my whole mindset on how I viewed finances and really gave "us" a boost on our journey to DEBT FREE living! If you would like to check out this series from the beginning scroll down and on the left hand side of your screen you will see a Label titled "Seeking Financial Freedom" click on that and you can start with Part ONE and work your way through......Also feel free to let other people you know about this series and encourage them to join us each week as we talk more in depth about our journey!


This week we are talking about GETTING OUT OF DEBT PART 2-"D" Day!!

Well NOBODY gets out of debt by accident so having a game plan is essential! Not everyone will have the same plan, but having a plan of repayment written down on paper so that you can prioritize what to pay off first is KEY!!

If you are deeply in debt or behind on payments it is a good idea to send your creditors a copy of your repayment schedule. Deciding what debt to pay off first depends on two things....
The size of the debt and the interest rate your being charged.



PAY OFF SMALL DEBT FIRST: You will be encouraged as these small debts are eliminated and it will free up more money to go towards other debts. After you pay off the first debt then take the money you were applying there and pay ALL that towards the second debt. Keep up this same process until ALL debt is GONE!!!!

PAY OFF HIGHER INTEREST RATE DEBTS: After figuring out which debt is charging you the most interest and after you pay off the smaller debts focus on the higher interest rates debt and pay them off.

6. CONSIDER EARNING ADDITIONAL INCOME: Some families simply don't earn enough money to support their needs even if they spend their money wisely. First, decide in advance which debt to pay off with your added income. Second, earn additional income without harming your relationship with the Lord or your family.

7. ACCUMULATE NO NEW DEBT: Pay for everything with cash, check, or debt card. The book points out that credit cards are not sinful, but very dangerous!!! Stats show that people spend 1/3 more when they use their credit cards. Instead of having 9 credit cards, it's a good idea to have only ONE and then if you are not paying off the entire balance EVERY month then perform surgery...any good sharp pair of scissors should help surgery be a success.

8. BE CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU HAVE: Ohhhhh watch out cause this one is a biggy!!!! We live in a culture that is founded in discontent (my words not the book)....Credit cards are plentiful and the society says "Go ahead you deserve it!" Money management is not taught in any schools as a whole to my knowledge and then with the rising cost of college!!! College students are entering the work force with enormous amounts of debt they racked up on their credit cards during school and then college loans on top of that........Here are three facts the book points out.....

*The more TV you watch, the more money you spend.

*The more you look at catalogs and magazines, the more you spend.

*The more you shop, the more you spend.

I don't think the book is saying you can't do these things anymore or that they are wrong...I think the author is encouraging you to put a tight limit on TV, shopping, and magazine looking while you get your contentment issues under wraps and your debt under control....a temptation for one person might not be a temptation for another...you know what yours are....right????....if not figure them out and use them to your advantage and not to dig yourself deeper.

9. CONSIDER A RADICAL CHANGE IN YOUR LIFESTYLE: Some people have sold their houses and moved to smaller ones...some people have sold vechiles with high monthly payment and bought used cars for cash.....some drastically lower their monthly cost of living..... Are there any drastic changes you need to make in help catapult you into DEBT FREE LIVING????

10. DON'T GIVE UP: In the beginning their will be a million reason why you should delay or not start on this journey....don't give into that temptation!! Stand firm in your commitment to get out of DEBT!!! Even along the way in your journey you may get tired and discouraged, but don't give up!!!!

HOW DO YOU ESCAPE THE AUTO DEBT TRAP???

Automobile debt is one of the leading causes of consumer indebtedness. About 70 percent of all the autos in our nation are financed!!! The average person keeps his car about 3 to 4 years.....but the average car lasts 10 years (in my opinion I think they can last much longer than that if taken care of and maintained.) First decide to keep your car at least 6 years....Second pay off your auto loan....Third, then continue to pay your car payment into your savings account. Then with the cash you save, and with a trade-in you should be able to afford a nice low-mileage car without going into debt.

WHAT ABOUT THE HOME MORTGAGE?

(from the author:page 48) I would like to challenge you to seek the Lord's direction concerning your home mortgage if you own a home. Is it possible that He may want yo to pay off everything you owe, including your mortgage? Usually this is a long-term goal because of the size of the average mortgage. When Bev and I began to explore seriously what God wanted for us, we sensed we were to work on paying off everything, including the mortgage. Frankly, this was an unrealistic goal for us at the time, but we researched how we might accomplish this.

Check out your amortization schedule (the payment schedule for paying your house off...if you don't have one call you loan company and request one.) Take a look at the first 12 payment (the first year of the loan) add up the principal paid....add up the interest paid....add up the money you paid in payments......You will quickly see hardly any went to pay off the principle....which is what we are aiming to do!!!

One method to reduce your loan is to increase your monthly payment....for example (in the book) $75,000 loan @ 12% (I realize this % is high compared to what most of have today, but just use this as an example) payments would be $771.47....if you just increase those payment $128.70 each payment (then the payment would be $900.17) you could pay off that 30 year mortgage in 15 years!!! WOW!!!!! Paying off that loan in 15 years will save you $138,864 in interest for the lifetime of that loan.....AMAZING HUH?????!!!!!
When we first started on our journey of paying off the house we could only round up our payment to the next hundred dollars....which I think was an extra $40 or $60 a month...I can't remember exactly....Well that is not much but it was something extra eating away at the principle. Also when we got our tax check back each year we would try to put the majority of it on the house loan as well. Another thing you might not realize is that we all get an extra paycheck throughout the year.....Some of you are paid weekly...every two weeks...and someof us monthly.....this year July is the month you get paid extra.....We always pay an extra payment when that happens, because the whole payment will go on priniciple....Did you know that by simply doing this idea every year you will take 5 years off the lifetime of your loan????
Before prepaying a payment a paying off your loan early you'll want to check and make sure there is no penalty....usually there isn't one but check just in case!

Well that's all for now....there are a few more thing in this chapter that I would also like to pass on to you all, but I will have to try to do that either later today or later this week...I'm out of time for now!!
So did you get the homework done from last week??? Are you ready to start your journey????

Seeking Finanical Freedom Part 6

If this is your first time checking in on Wednesdays, WELCOME! Each week we are talking about MONEY and how to handle it using the Bible as our blueprint. You will hear me discuss the book YOUR MONEY COUNTS by Howard Dayton. When I read this book it changed my whole mindset on how I viewed finances and really gave "us" a boost on our journey to DEBT FREE living! If you would like to check out this series from the beginning scroll down and on the left hand side of your screen you will see a Label titled "Seeking Financial Freedom" click on that and you can start with Part ONE and work your way through......Also feel free to let other people you know about this series and encourage them to join us each week as we talk more in depth about our journey!

This week we are talking about GETTING OUT OF DEBT-"D" Day!!

I love the opening paragraph on page 41.
We have so much personal debt in our nation that the average person has been described as someone driving on a bond-financed highway, in a bank financed car, fueled by chargecard-financed gasoline, going to buy furniture on the installment plan to put in his savings-and loan-financed home!

HOW TO GET OUT OF DEBT: (Page42)

Keep in mind that getting out of debt in as unique to each person as their story of how they got into debt...each situation is different, but you can use these following steps as a road map on your journey to true financial freedom!!!

The steps are simple, but following them requires HARD WORK!!!!!!!

1. PRAY. (2 Kings 4:1-7) Read this remarkable story of how the Lord multiplied what the widow had. The first step, prayer, is the most important. Ask the Lord for help, strength, and guidance in your journey to DEBT FREE LIVING. Is also is important to remember that he might act immediately like in 2 Kings, or slowly over time.
As people begin to eliminate debt and accelerate debt repayment, the Lord blesses their faithfulness. Even if you can afford only a small monthly prepayment to reduce your debt, DO IT! The Lord can multiply your efforts.

I know Justin and I can personally attest to following this first step.....When we started this journey 5 years ago on a single family income that didn't allow for much extra prepayment on our mortgage (that is our only debt). As we have continued to be faithful in this journey the Lord drastically multiplied our efforts in 2008. I am so thankful to the Lord for providing such great encouragement to our hearts......sometimes on this journey we have felt like we just weren't getting anywhere...even though we were...SLOWLY. Looking back over the past five years I am thankful for the Lord teaching us to eat this "big elephant" (aka: our mortgage) one small bite at a time. He has taught us the importance of being persistent in our faithfulness to Him, He has tested our true priorities, and most importantly he has continued to strengthen our faith in Him. We are amazed at the circumstances that He has allowed in our life to bless us financially (and in many other ways as well.)
This is not included in the book but I would also say that this is not a one-sided journey. Both you and your spouse have to be fully on board for this journey to be a true success. It doesn't matter who takes care of the financial end of things in your household...you both have to know what is going on so you can stay on the same page...and stay accountable to one another. So COMMUNICATION is HUGE!!!!!!

3. ESTABLISH A WRITTEN BUDGET.

Okay I said the "B" word!!! I know some of you have already clammed up just thinking about it!!!! So if the "B" word is just to much let's think of it another way....A Spending Plan....there isn't that better???? A written budget does a couple of things it helps you plan ahead and carefully manage your spending to see where you might be able to cut back. Also it keeps you and your spouse from doing impulse buying since you know you will have to be accountable.

Something you might also consider that we did in the beginning of the journey. If you have no clue on where to start with your budget, keep a little notebook with you and your spouse has one too...it can even be a slip of paper...just something to keep with you that you can write down every penny you spent that day and on what....Do this for 30 days.....at the end of that 30 days you will know exactly where your money went and what you spent it one....this will be a good start to where you begin your budget. I found for me it was also a great way for us to rein in MISC. spending....we thought about it more because we knew we had to write it down.

3. LIST YOU ASSETS- EVERYTHING YOU OWN

By making a list of the things you own you can assess to see if you should sell of those items to start reducing your debt. Maybe you have an extra car or a second car that you should get rid of to get serious about getting out of debt. The books says"Don't think about what your losing or what you paid for the item you're selling. Think about how much you will gain which can be applied to your immediate debt reduction."

4. LIST YOU LIABILITIES-EVERYTHING YOU OWE.

When you list your debt you can get an accurate picture of your current financial situation. Also list the interest rate your being charged for each creditor. Interest rates vary greatly and by listing each of these you can better decide where each one falls on the priority list in debt reduction. Here are the examples the book lists; Home Mortgage, Credit Card Companies, Bank, Installment Loans, Loan companies, Insurance Companies, Credit Union, Loans from Relatives, Other personal Loans, Business loans, Medical Loans, Other,

For each one List the Amount owed......Monthly Payment.......Interest Rate....

Well that is the first FOUR things you should do...let that be our homework for this week! Next week we will talk more about your next plan of action.....

Feel free to leave a comment, ask any questions...even personal questions are fine with me..I will do my best to answer them. REMEMBER TO DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!!!