I WANT A NEW CAR!

In your mind, you might think that a new car says who you are: wealthy, in control, good looking...I have arrived!  In truth, most people are signing for a huge loan that will be their master for the next five years.  If you can delay this pleasure and repair your present vehicle (or purchase a low cost, preowned one), you can put money aside into savings every month and pay cash and avoid the interest rates or the "repo man".  Remember, everything you own outright cannot be repossessed.  Most financially strong people never buy a brand new car as they lose great value as soon as you drive it off the showroom floor. This doesn't mean that you can never have a brand new car, you just can't have one right now.  Get your cash together and totally enjoy your purchase with no strings attached!

Christmas is coming!

If you haven't begun to set aside money for Christmas gift buying and giving, you must do so now.  You only have the remaining months to "get it together".  Compute what you will be spending and divide it with the number of months you have left to have it ready for Christmas.  The longer you wait, the fewer months you have to spread the expenses over IF YOU HAVE DETERMINED THAT CHRISTMAS ISN'T GOING TO FOLLOW YOU INTO NEXT YEAR!  Everyone wants to be generous at the wonderful time of year that God showed us His Ultimate Gift of JESUS.  Begin to concentrate on what people are saying as to their desires - often just a passing comment.  Then look for sales and ideas to accomplish their wish for as little cost as possible.  In everything, plan ahead.  As Dave Ramsey says, "Christmas comes in December every year."     It's a big step to a Merry Christmas.

You have to do this!!

A word to the wise:  You must have an emergency fund ($500-$1000).  Life happens and you will look to anyone or anything to help you out.  Credit cards will catch your immediate slack, but in the end it will cost you in payments and interest.  As an aside, when you charge, you are commiting next month's (or next year's) money that you haven't even earned yet?  Keep your budget on a "pay as you go" basis.  If you order online or can't use your debit card, put the cash to cover the amount in an envelope and set it aside.  When the statement arrives, deposit the cash into your checking account and then write the check or transfer the funds.  You have still paid the bill within that month's money.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

You've read the account in Matthew 14:15-21 concerning the feeding of the 5,000 and again in Matthew 15:32-38 of the feeding of the 4,000.  God sets many events as a pattern for us to follow concerning multiplication.  "JESUS took the loaves and fishes and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to His disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left 12 baskets or 7 baskets full." 

My husband and I decided that we would follow this example concerning our income from any source.  For every check or statement, we hold it in our hands and lift it up to the Lord, GIVE THANKS and ask JESUS to break it and then we take the money and distribute it to bills or savings, etc.  Does it go farther?  Yes, but that's not the point!  Being thankful is more important than anything else.  You will be acknowledging that God is your source and that He is caring for you.  We have seen checks in from unusual sources.  Experience the blessings that God has waiting for you.  He's not obligated, but it's a special way to give Him honor in your life.

Wealthy Millionnaires

There are many suggestions floating around about getting, spending and saving your money.  One very good article is published at http://www.yahoo.com./  It is called, "Financially Fit - Saving smart and living well".  It has many suggestions about getting and keeping your money.  Go take a look - you don't have to have a yahoo account as it is on their home page.  Just scroll through the news items and it will be there.  Like so many things, "it is hard by the yard but a cinch by the inch".  Get some good ideas and put them to work! 

Could you come up with about $5

That's about the newsstand price of April 2011 Money Magazine.  "How To Reach $1 Million" is a great article with real guidelines on "how to" adjust your savings to accomplish this and an estimated time frame to reach your goal. The article states, "To Hit The Magic Number, You Need The Right Plan."  I heartily suggest that you find a copy - even at the Library - and let the information soak in.  It deals with amount of yearly savings, percentage rate and number of years to $1 Million.  It's never too late to start, but it's very important to START NOW! 

Honey, do you remember the PIN for ...

Bank accounts, online ordering, special websites, etc. have caused us "millions" of PINs, passwords, and user IDs.  We used to enjoy "one size fits all", but sites are now requiring complicated information for security protection.  We solved the problem by buying an address book and writing the information for each web address.  We file the name of the website alphabetically and then put in just enough information to remind us, leaving lots of dashes so no one else knows the rest of the passwords - that way you can keep it by the computer even if someone else happens to open your book.  Also, we have another address book with all the information filed in our locked box in case we can't even decipher the dashes.  It sure make life a whole lot easier and more secure.