Don't buy new cars until....maybe never!

We are enjoying this class so much! He is just so straight forward when he calls you decision STUPID....and you KNOW he is right--but he has a gift and you don't get angry--you laugh with him.....then go to work on fixing the problems.....make that budget--use cash--make your money work for you!!!! He teaches most weeks a new word for many--NO!!!!
As a parent, I have learned to never say never....unless you like to eat words....but I will go out on a limb and say we will NEVER buy a new car....unless....well Dave says unless you have a million in the bank....but I will say UNLESS I can pay CASH!!!! He showed opportunity cost this week.....and talked about immaturity....so I want to share two of his pearls of wisdom this week!!!

Opportunity cost....
His friend wanted to buy a 1986 Mercedes when he made 6 figures...and he made 6 figures in his early 20's....went and test drove the car...sucked in the smell, looked at the symbol of Mercedes on the hood and steering wheel....the symbol for him that said he had arrived.....he had $40,000 in a mutual fund to pay cash for it....he wanted it...oh he so wanted it and had worked for it and was going to pay cash for it. He told the salesman he wanted to think about it overnight......he went home and did his financial calculator and knew he could not buy that car!!!! Opportunity Cost made him say NO!!! 12 years later he pulled up next to someone with a temporary tag on that same 1986 model Mercedes......he asked what he had paid--the man replied BOOK vlaue......$4000.....$36000 less than what it cost new 12 years earlier (WHAT KIND OF STUPID INVESTMENT IS A NEW CAR???) His mutual fund--the one that had $40,000 was now worth $300,000....so tell me what was the better investment?? Easy answer for me....and like Dave, who will tell you he is going to step on toes.....I am not trying to offend but for me--it is ridiculous to pay--that much for a car....the highest I could stomach would be $25,000 and let me tell you that makes my stomach hurt....so don't look for that to happen! I have financial goals for my family and car debt is not included in that.....I don't like bondage and that is what debt is!!!
This is long so I will just say that the immaturity pearl is about the inner child that wants it....DON'T let him make you buying decisions!

Godliness with contentment is a great thing.....be content with what you have a new car, purse, shoes, outfit, house...whatever it is that you think will make you happy if you only had....well news flash--IT WON'T...if you are not happy with the car you drive or the house you live in etc....a new one may please you shortly but there is something else lacking--and the thing won't fix it!!!

Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. The heart of her husband safely trusts her; so he will have no lack of gain. Proverbs 31: 10-11

Women talk to your husbands--make your opinions known--work together!!! You are supposed to be one so you need to act like it!!!! This is STRAIGHT from Dave....many times we don't want to make our spouse upset or tell them no but Dave points out you are doing an injustice by not speaking up.....

More on Dave Ramsey....

If you have the chance to go through Financial Peace University (FPU), you need to do it!!! I was a bit hesitant because someone said they thought you had to share all your numbers with the class. I also was unsure if I wanted to pay for the class when I had A Total Money Makeover....and although I had not implemented anything, I knew the basics. Lastly, I wasn't sure it was for us....our finances are in pretty good order. WRONG on all counts....you don't share your numbers in our class....yes, I had the book BUT had done nothing with it and EVERYONE can benefit and improve from Dave Ramsey!!!!!

Lots of things are just common sense but it seems common sense is in short supply these days. We are an instant gratification generation. Our Great grandparents and grandparents didn't believe in debt or credit.
The 1910 Sears catalog said 'buying on credit is folly'.....can you say DISCOVER card?
JC Penney only took cash--that changed on his death.
Ford didn't offer credit until 10 years after GM.

Our grandparents thought debt was DUMB and a SIN!!! Their homes were paid for and so were there cars....today it seems very few people plan to pay off anything. It seems like so many today are caught up in materialism....what can I buy next, what can I change, what do I want in my next house, what about my next car.....

Dave gave some statements that come from rich and poor people--hey if it is you--don't be mad at me--just repeating what DAVE says....and if it hits a nerve--maybe it is an area that you need to work on! :-) He didn't miss any one's toes last week!!!
POOR PEOPLE QUESTIONS: When buying a car, you ask them to get a payment of X amount...for 5 years or more.

RICH PEOPLE QUESTIONS: When buying a car, you ask them what the car is costing you--and then pay cash. If you are on your way to being rich, you never finance for more than 18 months to 2 years....if it is more than that....look at where you want to be! Once it is paid off--you put the car payment money in an account to save to pay cash for your next car.

DO NOT BUY A NEW CAR unless you have a MILLION dollars in the bank!!! New cars lose 70% of their value in the first 4 years--it is one of the worst investments you can make!! (Side note--when doing your budget--the right way--you figure out what % your transportation allowance is 10-15%....that includes car payments, gas, repairs....go do your math!!!)

HOUSES: NEVER take more than a 15 year fixed rate loan out on a house.

Children do what feels good--don't be a child--YOU ARE AN ADULT!!! Wait until you have the cash. NO it isn't always easy to wait to buy things, go places, or do projects on our house....but YES, it feels GREAT to come back from a vacation we paid for and owe nothing....it feels great to do a house project and not owe on it and we appreciate things so much more that we have saved to buy! These are the ways of Dave....he is a multi-millionaire and a Christian...he knows what he is doing and who he is doing it for!
I think we have about 60 families in our class--our consumer debt is $1,072,000....that includes NO homes...just something to think about!!!

Check out Dave's site for a FPU near you!
http://www.daveramsey.com/

DAVE RAMSEY ROCKS!!!

Okay, Okay...so it was July when I thought I was back on track.....and it is now September! I just have to say Dave Ramsey ROCKS!!!!! We are taking Financial Peace University (FPU) right now....and WOW!!!!! We are good with money but we want to be great--and DEBT-FREE!!!! I have several things that have really hit me--common sense but not in practice. I want to share several of the things but will have to do it a bit later!! If you have the chance to take FPU....DO IT!!!! We bought The total money makeover--awesome stuff but I had not implemented it. The FPU class makes you accountable--you have homework--so it has to be done!!! We had all written down our consumer debt total...everything but the house payment--and I was AMAZED at the debt our class has.....I just can not say enough about Dave Ramsey....God has given him a gift--not only is he great with money--using common sense things but he is so fun to listen to!!!! We were laughing our heads off--in a financial class--I look forward to the videos each week--and leave even more motivated!!! That is the difference in the book and doing the class along with it--the support group of like minded people is great!!!

I am back and getting on track!!!

I feel like I have been on a hiatus from saving, coupons and good deals!! I have to get back in gear--who doesn't love to save?! I want to get our budget done--and stick to it--I have MS Money....so what am I waiting for? I need to be more diligent at checking PPP....signed on last night....opportunity waiting...I missed a couple today....it is easy, easy, easy.....not going to get rich quick but I have $35 deposited in my account and more pending post approval....too easy....and I enjoy it!!! Check out payperpost.com and start making money!!!

Take Control Stem Cell Innovation for Women

Future Stem Cell Research Therapies May Be Found in Women's Menstrual Blood...whhhhaaaa? Yep...you read that right....keep on reading...
Many people have strong opinions on stem cells and their use....depending on where/how they are harvested.....I would say I am one of those people BUT this press release reveals a possible new way of obtaining them that had never occurred to me!!! I love learning and educating myself on new things and old things....so check out this innovative use of something we have to face as women!! Please read the article on CNNMoney !!

Science and technology have come so far and still have many things in the works! How great would it be to find a way to cure and treat illnesses or diseases with stem cells from something that most women have every month! How great would you feel to be able to extend someone's life or at least play a part in being helpful? That is something that is happening anyway--like it or not--why not help someone with it! I am thankful for the insight God gives to men and women to develop these life helping and life saving ideas! Keep your eyes on the news and your home page for more cutting edge developments on this process!!!!

Taking Control: Future Therapies for a Host of Serious Diseases May Be Found in Women's Menstrual Blood!!!

July 07, 2008: 01:28 PM EST


OLDSMAR, Fla., July 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- With today’s hectic lifestyle, where most women are juggling careers, family, relationships, and a host of activities, the idea of possibly facing a serious illness in the future is not something that readily comes to mind -- especially when a woman is in the prime of her life. But what most women don’t know, is that the key to treating a number of possibly life-threatening diseases that she, a parent, a sibling or even her children may face in later years, such as osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, may be found within her own body -- in vital stem cells, which can now be harvested from her own menstrual blood.

Now, thanks to the revolutionary research and technology of C’elle, a service dedicated to providing women with a safe and easy method of collecting and preserving stem cells found in her menstrual fluid each month, even the busiest woman can take control of her future, right in the privacy of her own home. With C’elle’s non-invasive collection process, menstrual cells are processed and cryo-preserved (stored at a very low temperature) for potential cellular therapies that may be used in the future. These self-renewing cells one day may even be used for sports medicine or cosmeceutical treatments, such as anti-aging therapies.

Tough Economy? Take control...with the click of a mouse on a pop-up calendar to mark your next cycle, order C'elle online for a limited-time introductory price at www.Celle.com

For more information about C’elle, please call 1-877-892-3553 or visit www.celle.com.

Proverbs 13:20 Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.
ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!! OK so this is a vent....the top is a reminder to me!!! We are very aware of what we spend--and try to be responsible and frugal while enjoying life!!!! It is sooooo frustrating to me when people complain about money but spend it like there is no end to their account.....now hear what I said--they complain about having no money but are always buying what they want!!!! We do not want debt and will not take anything from others....so we save until we can afford things. I know that all I should care about is my own finances but it is so frustrating to be on this mission to be debt free--and it is so good to say we won't have a house payment in just over 3 years!!!! That should be all the reward I need to keep me focused but when we make the conscious effort to not buy unnecessary things or save money until we can save cash for what we want to do....it gets a little hard to see immediate gratification.....

So God has me where I am supposed to be because I am surrounded by great debt slayers this week.....thanks God for putting good friends and good stewards around me! Thank you for allowing me to vent!!

Free Krispy Kreme doughnut today!!!

It is National Doughnut Day......
To mark the occasion, doughnut purveyor Krispy Kreme is offering a free calorie bomb. You can choose one of any of their varieties at participating stores.

A little history....It is always on the first Friday in June......
The celebration was launched in 1938, in the depths of the Great Depression, as a Salvation Army fund-raiser honoring the volunteer “lassies” who served coffee and fresh doughnuts by the thousands to homesick soldiers in France during World War I.