Children's Allowance

 Have you considered giving your children an allowance? Some folks think that children should get an allowance in return for good grades. Some folks think children should get an allowance based on the completion of chores. Have you considered giving a 5-year-old an allowance without expecting them to earn it? What about a tween? What about a teenager? If a child gets an allowance I am of the opinion that one needs to start young. When doing so some think it is a good idea to teach them to save at least 10% for something in the future. It is also a good idea to teach them the importance of giving. Just like a paycheck, we adults should do the same thing. We should save 10% of our income for something we want in the future. We should also give away 10% of our income. For some, this will mean giving a tithe to our local church. For others, this will mean giving the 10% to a local charity. In some cases, we may even give some of that amount to the person seeking alms on the street. When we give money to someone on the street we have no idea of their real need or how they will use the money. That is not really our responsibility. Our responsibility is to give to those in need. Sometimes we might do it by offering to get them something from a fast food restaurant of their choice. On the latter if they refuse then it is on them. Just think about how to give away 10%. In the end you will feel better about it.

Please feel free to leave your comments. All comments relating to this post will be made public unless you ask for it to be left private. All advertising comments will be removed.

Negotiate with Car Dealer

The process of buying a vehicle has a lot of moving parts. You have to haggle with salespeople over price and negotiate with lenders for an auto loan all while trying to strike a deal for your trade-in. Mistakes will cost you, so preparation is important.

Click Here for details 

Inflation:

 

I'm Debt Free 18 Months

 I’m debt-free! Paid off my last credit card yesterday! Took me 18 months to pay it off! I had a total of $36,500 in debt! I started with making $30,000 to now making $46,000. Sticking to the budget was so hard for me at first but now I actually enjoy doing my budget!

Getting out of Debt

 Living paycheck to paycheck. You need a plan to get out of debt. We can help. This is what one person did and now they do not feel the pressure of the debt. Remember, the 0 step is to stop using credit cards. The best thing to do is to snip them up and close the accounts. You can use debit cards to work just like credit cards. The only difference is you will never have to make payments or pay interest.

Paycheck #2 from my new job! Paid past due bills and got current on these utilities: electricity, natural gas, trash service, cell phone, and the Internet. Contacted the water and sewer departments and am not behind on them. Will get their bills and pay next paycheck. Set up an envelope system in one of the Dave Ramsey wallets (not the expensive one) and funded them for food, gasoline, and pet. Will add a clothing envelope to it next time. Still determining other items which could use an envelope and may expand in the future. Set aside monies in three regular envelopes to pay tithes of 1% for January, 2% for February, and 3% for March which I will put in the collection plate this Sunday. Created tithe envelopes for April at 4%. Created two regular envelopes and funded them to pay off 2 of 3 friend loans which I will give to them on Saturday when we go out to celebrate one of their birthdays. Set aside money to celebrate already. Created and funded a third friend loan envelope but held onto it for just a bit until I am sure my budget is set and I have accounted for everything that I know of. Started a home maintenance fund. Will start a car maintenance fund next paycheck.

Not much money left over for a lot of fun things. But dog parks are free and they are a fun source of entertainment. Otherwise, I am looking at my 99-cent Hulu membership for the month.

Still, I have given every dollar a job to do and I have a zero-based baby budget for the next two weeks. Can't believe how far my money stretched!

Dishwasher Safe

 Did you know that some of the things you put in the dishwasher are not good for your budget? This means the life of some of the things in your kitchen will cost you extra money. How much will depend on the cost of replacing some of the items?  There are some expensive items in the kitchen that will be ruined by the dishwasher.

Here is the list:

Anything Wood

This would include your cutting boards, items with wooden handles which would include knives and spoons. Wood will warp. Also, the dishwasher soap is abrasive. and will scratch the wood over time. The heat in the drying cycle will cause wood to warp and crack. These items should be hand washed. If you need a cleaning boost when washing wood try a bit of baking soda to scrub away stains. Wash your, cutting boards, by hand as soon as possible after using them but do not submerge them in water.

Cast Iron

When you purchased your cast iron you began to season it. That took a lot of effort and time. If you put your cast iron in the dishwasher as a short cut it will no longer be seasoned and you will be subjecting it to rust. Cast Iron should be rinsed in hot water and scrubbed with a soft sponge to remove the food and then dried immediately wth a towel. Soap in the kitchen will remove the seasoning.

What is it Worth

A father said to his daughter "You just graduated, this is a car I bought a while ago... It is a few years old. But before I give it to you, take it to a car dealer in the city and see how much they offer for it.”

The girl came back to her father and said: "They offered $4,000 because it looks very old"

The father said: “Hold it and take it to the 2nd hand car dealer.”

The girl returns to her father and says: "The pawnshop offered $1000 because it is a very old car and they say lots of work is needed to drive it again"

The father asked his daughter to join a passionate car club with car experts and show them the car.

The girl drove the car to this car club, turned, and said to her father: “Some people in the club offered me $100,000 because it is a rare car that is in good condition, with great capabilities, and super difficult to find.”

Then the father said, "I wanted to let you know that you are not worth anything if you are not in the right place."

If you are not appreciated, do not be angry, that means you are in the wrong place.

"Don't stay in a place where no one sees your value"

Money Scams

 You work hard for your money. Do not fall for phone calls or letters that say you have money coming to you even if they appear to be from the IRS, Your bank, any company with whom you have a credit card or any company with whom you have any relationship. Each of these already has your personal information. Anytime you receive a phone call or letter that requests information or payment call first with a number that you already have in your files. Never, absolutely never provide any information to someone you do not know. 

Locking your credit is easy and convenient. You’ll need to contact the 3 major credit bureaus separately and provide your PIN, password, and other personal information to verify your identity. You'll be able to lock and unlock your credit via mail or phone at your convenience. Locking your credit is a simple and smart way to prevent fraud and identity theft. You will have to unlock your credit if you want to apply for a credit card, loan, or job. For a future employer find out when they need to access your accounts at each of the bureaus and unlock your accounts just long enough for them to verify the information. The same would hold true if you need to rent a house in our apartment and the landlord wants to verify your credit.

3 Years

Names not provided to protect privacy.

3 years in the making!

 WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(everything but the mortgage baby!)

$141,000 Paid off in 3 years!

We started this journey with 28 open accounts, a truck loan, and a baby on the way. Our range of income was 80-100.

We sold the $16,000 truck and cashed out my $25,000 in teacher retirement which helped put a dent in things!

But the biggest part was: we worked the plan, got on a budget, gave our finances to God, made BIG changes, made even bigger sacrifices, worked side jobs, sold a TON of stuff, said No to a lot, and kept at it when we wanted to give up. In 3 years we have not only paid off $141,000 but we also cash flowed the birth of 2 babies, 2 vehicles, 3 emergency room visits, a minor surgery, and closing cost on a house. We also survived 2020 and 3 furloughs, and suspension of bonuses (even though he hit them all!)

God has helped us and provided for us the whole way! There were so many times when He blessed us with just the right amount at just the right time.

A very big thanks to our parents and family who were always there encouraging and blessing us on this journey. To our friends who understood when we had to say no to things and were also a huge encouragement.

(Name Withheld) thank you for all the sacrifices that you made (I know switching to generic brands was tough at first lol). You did it all, you worked a full-time job and picked up so many side jobs, you are the master at selling things on the Marketplace, and you never cease to amaze me at your ambition and drive to be a better Christian, employee, husband, and Dad. This journey has been in so many ways so great for us and our marriage, it has taught us that we can make it through hard things and with God at the center come out better for it. Thanks for not giving up and for all you do! I Love you and would not have wanted to do this with anyone else!!

Now let's pay off that House!

Live like no one else, so you can live and give like no one else!

-Dave Ramsey

Bullet Proof Budget

 

Private Car Sale

 If you need cash, consider selling your car privately. A dealer offers only wholesale value for trade-in vehicles, which is often thousands less than private sale value. Consider your sales tax savings, as well. If you trade a vehicle worth $5,000 and pay a 10 percent sales tax rate, your tax savings equal $500. You must sell your vehicle privately for at least $5,500 for the private sale option to prove beneficial. Then, you can use the proceeds from your sale as a down payment or keep it if you prefer.

Do I need a financial coach?

 The answer is absolute. Maybe for something simple or for something more complicated. Many coaches say you always need someone to bounce life situations on occasionally. Have questions then one-on-one financial coaching help you solve your money problems. Relieve your stress. Take back control of your money. Sleep better at night.

Zero Interest Cards

 Are you trying to pay down debt? Sometimes it helps to transfer high-interest cards to no-interest cards. When you do this you need to cancel the old cards. In fact, we recommend closing out all credit card accounts. If you transfer the payments then when you get the new card put it somewhere you will not use it. It is too easy to use a credit card for emergencies or for wants that are not needed. We really do not recommend transferring cards but if you feel you must it is your decision. Here is a link to a page that tells you about two cards. Generally speaking the amounts you can transfer are small. Many cards only allow you to transfer $500.

The Best Balance Transfer Card of 2022 | CompareCredit.com

Car Value

 If you lease one car after another, monthly payments go on forever. By contrast, the longer you keep a vehicle after the loan is paid off, the more value you get out of it. Over the long term, the cheapest way to drive is to buy a car and keep it until it’s uneconomical to repair.

401(k) Advise

Ted Benna, a benefits consultant, is widely credited with creating the 401(k) plan most companies use today. While a provision added to the Internal Revenue Code in 1978 is the basis for 401(k) plans, it was initially used primarily by senior executives who wanted to supplement their pensions. Benna came up with the idea of using matching contributions to encourage contributions from lower-paid employees. More recently, Benna has developed an alternative savings plan for small employers that want to help their employees save for retirement but find traditional 401(k) plans costly and cumbersome to administer. Kiplinger’s talked to Benna, author of 401(k)s and IRAs for Dummies, about how 401(k)s can be improved and how savers can get the most from their plans.

What advice would you give to a young person who has the opportunity to enroll in a 401(k) plan for the first time? It’s never too early to start investing, even if it’s only 1% of your pay. Bump up your contribution as you advance and get pay increases. When people tell me they can’t afford to make contributions, I tell them, for one week, keep track of the spending decisions you make that are discretionary. Beverages, entertainment and so on. Once you do that and look at how much you’re spending, decide whether it would be smart to take some of those dollars, even if it’s only $20 a week, and put it in your 401(k).

Side Gig

Searching out a way of earning extra money? Most individuals favor working from home. One way to do this is by taking surveys. I have found 3 different sources for surveys that do pay out cold hard cash. It's not much but it may be enough to feed a pet or two.

1. Mypoints: Lots of surveys, can let the computer run watching videos that will earn a few points too. In addition, sometimes you can find things that you need that will offer coupons that will return some of the money spent to your pocket. This site will send you E-mails with offers. You can just click on the offer (no purchase required) and collect points to redeem for cash. I have been a member for several years and have earned over $1,000. The link is https://www.mypoints.com/refer-a-friend?mid=22286193. Sign in today and start earning. This site offers an option to pay out to PayPal where you can transfer your earnings to your Bank Account.

2. Swagbucks: This site offers surveys, savings on purchases, and coupons too. I have been paid $25 for this one. You can redeem points and request a cash payout via PayPal. The link is https://www.mypoints.com/refer-a-friend?mid=22286193. You and your referral get a 300 SB Bonus when your referral earns 300 SB within their first 30 days. In addition, you will also earn 10% of the SB earnings for the life of their account. You can print out coupons that will give you points and you can get more points by using the coupons that are for the purchases that you make on a regular basis.  This site has an option to pay out to PayPal where you can transfer the earning to your bank account.

3. Paid View Point: Earn up to $25.00 for every new member you invite. Every time they cash out you will get 20% of every research survey reward they have accumulated. Invite as many as you want. I have never been turned down for a survey. Earn as much as you can. This site pays out via PayPal where you can transfer the money to your bank account. The link is https://paidviewpoint.com/?r=miz39l

4. YouGov: Usually get 2-3 surveys a month. I have never been turned down for a survey. Many of them are political in nature but it is easy to take them. When you have taken enough surveys they will allow you to transfer your earnings directly to your bank account. https://account.yougov.com/us-en/join?referral=yDpUdzp3JRV22fylRlS2IA

Happiness Today

When you were a kid, what did you want most? What did you think would make you the happiest!

When we were children we were dependent on our parents, relatives, and friends of our parents to provide the things we wanted the most. For me, it was over 60 years ago so I do not really remember much of my early childhood. I think for the most part I was in survival mode since my parents had a lot of verbal arguments and sometimes I suffered verbal abuse from my Dad and occasionally corporal punishment. I think the thing I treasured the most was peace and tranquillity in my household. I can remember wanting a bicycle and a BB gun. I also treasured privacy in regards to my friends. For the most part, my folks did provide shelter, clothing, and food. As for transportation that was provided by using a bicycle and my 2 feet to get from point a to point b. We lived out in the country away from most everyone on a small farm. I always thought money would bring happiness. It did not. It did bring momentary pleasure but it surely did not provide real happiness.

Today money does not bring me happiness. Even receiving gifts does not proved me with happiness. Happiness for me is having peace around my immediate surroundings. For that, I am dependent on my family and community, and local environment to provide peace.

It also depends on my spending habits and the spending habits of my wife. When spending is left to the basics of my faith in God, our home, clothing, food, and transportation I am very satisfied and that brings me peace and happiness. At the age of 75, I want for little to nothing. 

For me, I think the one thing that does bring me real happiness is when I see my son of 20 making wise decisions in life. I think the ultimate happiness I have in life is bringing the wisdom of things I have learned in life to others.

Many have difficulty with their finances and have nothing but happiness. I seek to help others to have a better understanding of their finances today and their finances in the future. If you are one that has problems with their finances it would bring me great pleasure to guide you to a better financial tomorrow.

Please feel free to use the chat feature in the lower right hand corner to introduce yourself to me and allow me to help you get on the right path to your financial present and future.

Never Give Up

 Are you trying to get out of debt? It takes a lot of work. Many of us early in life get introduced to credit cards by our parents, schools, friends, and businesses. 

“You will never see the end if you give up in the middle.” –Joyce Meyer

Many of us make the decision to get things now rather than to save for them. This is the path I traveled for many years. I learned the hard way. Many times I had to go without because of the debt that I had created and it weighed heavy on me. I know it does for you. For some of us we spent many years building up this debt and now we have to do without to pay it off! Because it takes some time to pay off the debt we tend to accumulate more of it. Not good. When we have debt we have to pay interest. Often that interest can approach 20 to 30 and even more depending on where we create that debt. We enjoy helping folks to make a plan to get out of debt and if need by to hold your hand to encourage you with your plan. Feel free to comment on this message if you want help. All comments are private and no one that visits this blog will see them.

Banking Scams

Did you get a call from your bank? Did they tell you they were calling because someone other than you have accessed your account? Are they asking for personal information from you? Are they threatening to close your account? Are they asking you where you last used your credit card or debit card? Do not answer any of their questions? Your bank is not going to call you about your account. Never give private information to anyone who calls you regarding your bank account or any account. If you answer their questions you may discover your money has disappeared from your bank account.

Happiness

Do you seek to impress others?

At the young age of 20, I thought I had the world in my grasp. I would spend money to impress others. I purchased snappy clothing in including really different ties. Those were the days when folks dressed up in their Sunday best for church. I would order the most expensive item on the menu to try and impress others. To put it simply I did not understand the value of the money in my pocket. I used credit cards and just really set out to have fun, as long as I impressed everyone around me. Little did I know that I was not really impressing them. I was a FOOL.

Was I happy? Nope because other folks really did not care. I had a lot of friends but I was not me. I was trying to be anyone but me. Do you purchase the nicest car you can find on credit to try and impress others? Do you try to purchase clothing to impress others? Do you try to have a home that impresses others? Do you try to furnish your home to impress others?

Unless you have tons of money in the bank or a really well-paying job I can guarantee that you are going into debt to impress others. I can guarantee you that if suddenly you find that the car is going back to the bank or if the home is going back to the bank that your so-called friends will not be there to help you. They will not really care. They will care about themselves. They do not usually care that you are in debt living paycheck to paycheck.

If this describes you in any way you may need help to get out of debt and understand how to manage your paycheck so you have money left over at the end of the month. I can help you to MASTER your money and get you a VISA to a better life. 

Want to say goodbye to debt. Hit the chat button in the lower right-hand side. If we are in we will chat with you. If there is no response just send us a message.

Money to Spend

 Here is a great tip. Want money to spend for a vacation or for something special for that special someone or maybe money to spend on gifts for Christmas. Here is one way to do it. Get 50 envelopes. Number them 1 to 50. Each week you choose an envelope and you put money in it. Envelope 1 gets $1. Envelope 2 gets $2. 
Envelope 3 gets $3 and so on. You end with envelope 50 that gets $50. You do this before you put money toward anything that does not require you to pay for your home, clothing, transportation, or food. This is a good way to save up a small emergency fund too.

Todays Sponsor

Interest is Our Enemy

 Interest Is Our Enemy!

Did you know interest can be our enemy? Did you know that if you purchase a new car every 5-7 years that you are paying enough interest that would pay for a brand new car after doing this for most of your life? Did you know that when you spend money to pay interest on debt that you are spending money that you will never be able to spend on things for yourself, your spouse, or your family? Yes, interest is our enemy.

How do you avoid paying interest? For many of us, it means that we never use credit cards. For many of us, it means we never go shopping, not even window shopping unless we are going out to purchase something specific that we need. It means we have a plan to avoid debt. It is called a budget. A budget is a living document where the amounts can be changed to fit our needs from month to month. There are two purposes of a budget. One is to show us where we are spending our money. The second one is to give us a plan each month on how we are going to spend our money. The whole purpose of our plan is to life within the amount of money that we earn each month.

Chat with us and let us help you to get out of debt. The average individual/couple can get out of debt in 2-3 years.

One of our sponsors

Bill Collection

Dr. Robert Epstein documented that Google bias may have shifted at least 6 million votes to Joe Biden. It turns out that this is not the first instance in which technology was used to rig an election. This happened in the 1876 election of Rutherford B. Hayes

Technology is all around us today. Not only in the voting booth but it is there for bill collectors too! Many times they harass you or call you at all hours of the day or night. They often try to call your work, neighbors, friends, and relatives. This is all illegal. Sometimes we have to stop answering the phone or screen our calls. Sometimes it is necessary to block their calls on our smartphones. The debt will not go away but by making arrangements or getting a person like me who is a Financial Coach you can set up a plan to get out of debt. The average person or couple can get out of debt in 2-3 years or less with our coaching.

Please hit the chat button and if we are available we will be happy to answer any questions! If we are not here please leave a short message along with the best time to call.

Veit (Andy) Johnson - Financial Coach

Veit (Andy) Johnson

Your Financial Coach

This is a digest about handling money

Over the years we made many financial mistakes. It is our goal to help you to avoid the mistakes we made and help you to gain financial peace and be able to do all the things you dream of doing in the future.

 

Our Mission: I equip people with the tools they need to take control of their finances!

Call us at (209) 814-6892. We have office hours between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday thru Saturday.

Better yet see if we are available by contacting us in our popup.

 

Book Mark this blog and visit it on a regular basis for FREE Information on getting out of debt.

"As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behavior. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behavior. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works." -John C. Maxwell

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We will be sharing articles and resources that will assist you in handling money and other situations in life. Please feel free to leave comments on any article. Comments that include advertising links will be deleted.

Life Lesson

 This is something I just learned. It took me 75 years of living and I had never heard this thought today. Never purchase anything that is on sale or full price unless you need it!

Christmas Giving

Here is a good rule for giving Christmas Presents from Rachael Cruz. It is an excellent way to save money on gift-giving. In addition, you may consider giving something of yourself at Christmas. For instance, some ideas would include dog walking, housesitting, making a collage of pictures of special times with family. Maybe doing errands for an older person that has trouble getting around or maybe taking them to their Dr's appointment. Feel free to share ideas in the comments section.

Starting a Budget

Everyone needs a budget for their day-to-day living expenses. This is the only way one will be financially successful.

Here is how one person I know does it: 

Get a Seeitbigger calendar planner from Walmart. 

Write down every paycheck on the day it comes in and the amount.

Write in every bill on the day it is due. I do this 2 months in advance.

In a 5 subject notebook date four pages per paycheck. 

On one page write a list of all bills that must come out of the paycheck. (refer to your planner calendar) and add them together. 

Include amount for groceries, one for gas. Add anything, not in those 3 categories that must be paid out of the paycheck. 

Hopefully, it is less than the paycheck. If not get a side income coming in or reduce somewhere. 

On another page divide it into 4 large boxes by drawing a large cross. 

Label box 1 as Bill's

Box 2 is groceries

Box 3 is gas

Box 4 is miscellaneous

On another page record those times that need to be spent on different insurance for car, home, pets. This would also include renters insurance if you rent a home or an apartment. 

Everything spent out of the paycheck must be written down in a box so you can see where your money is going. 

I try to pay most Bill's first. 

The other two pages work like a running check register. Look at your balance every couple of days. 

Write down what you are spending. 

It helps me to have a 3 in 1 bank account with direct deposit. 

10 % is deposited in account 1 for tithes, 

10% in account 2 for savings and the rest in debt to pay Bill's. 

If you don't know your set amount to budget for groceries or gas then get a notebook and keep a 2 monthly journal of spending to get an average. 

Remember to calculate things that come up once per year like a pet's yearly exam, property taxes, car registration, and insurance for home, health, and car.

 Another reason is to use a calendar planner and work your budget ahead as much as possible so you won't get caught off guard.

Paycheck to Paycheck

 Why Some People will Stay 

Living Paycheck to Paycheck

1. They have no VISION.
2. They ignore their DEBT.
3. They do not have an Emergency Fund.
4. They do not TITHE.
5. They spend more than they earn.
6. They INVEST more in STUFF than in themselves.
7. They put today's happiness BEFORE their financial future.
8. They do NOT know how to say NO.

Pennies grow into dollars

 Compound Interest

On A Zero Budget

Virtually every one of the richest individuals on planet Earth will verify, that the most powerful concept for the accumulation of wealth is Compound Interest HANDS DOWN!

    In fact, even with notoriously low paying websites for taking surveys or collect from free faucets, we can accumulate a sizable balance in a few short months that will keep growing and if you stick with me, I will show you (right here on this page) how I have been doing it, absolutely FREE! On this site do not gamle. You will most likely loose.

TIP: YOU SHOULD BOOKMARK THIS PAGE (CTRL D)

Register with Freebitco.in (if you haven't already).It's absolutely free if you follow my instructions.

Now Logon and maximize the free rolls they give you by clicking on More and select Profile on the top menu. Click the bar that reads DISABLE LOTTERY AND INTEREST and check the box to disable lottery, but leave disable interest unchecked. This is just one of the adjustments that help me earn more.

Go back to the Top Menu and click FREE BTC and scroll down the page to click the Roll button



SUCCESS, You should see a notice that you just made money without spending a penny!



O.K. I admit, when you first start it's only fractions of a penny and most people who sign up quit before they realize there is serious money to be made here if you work your way up as a Premium Member and invest in their growth with all the free money you can find. For example, the screenshot above is probably higher than you will see for a while, because I Redeemed some of the Free Reward Points I earned to activate a couple of Bonuses on every free roll I make for the next 24 hours.

The best plan, is to use other Free BTC websites to earn Satoshi and withdraw them into this account for faster growth. To build a big snowman, you would probably start with one small snowball and keep packing more snow on it until it reaches the size you want, right?

One example of this is Satoshi Hero where in four months I earned over 120,000 Satoshi and withdrew it directly into my Freebitco.in balance where I could use it to buy more FUN Tokens.

Actually I didn't buy them, I just deposited my Satoshi (like dollars spent on a CD at a bank) and in 90 days I get it back with Interest. Then I deposit it all back to earn Interest again on the larger compounded balance without lifting a finger.

I just got paid for all the FUN Token deposits I made this summer, so I invested them in more FUN Tokens that will pay compouded interest as shown in this chart below.


If you plan to spend extra time browsing online to find more Free Bitcoin, you should get setup with the free Cryptotab Browser. I just started using this myself, so I am not earning much yet, but it really is much faster than the stock Chrome Browser and there is no additional cost, so why not?

Since I started compounding a few short months ago, my results have blown me away and they just keep getting better. Remember, this all came from free money I earned online by clicking for pennies.

This was my balance on August 24


And this was 1 month later on September 24

I have made quite a bit on Bitcoin, but I often had to let it lie dormant for months until it went up enough to withdraw, but with FUN Tokens they only go up or down by a couple of pennies worth and all the while keep earning interest for me. As if the earnings are not enough, owning over 12,500 FUN Tokens makes me a Premium Member with more special perks (like free Wheel Of Fortune spins every day) that earn me even more and the longer I hold them the more they grow.

Here are just a few of the better rewards I won spinning.

Won 4800 RP

Won 4100 Sat

Won 4400 RP

Won 4600 Sat

---

Quick Start Today by registering for a free account with Freebitco.in and click More to select Profile so you can Disable Lottery (to double the Reward Points you earn). I set the alarm on my Smartphone where I installed their App to remind me to go back every hour and punch that free roll. This runs a lot smoother once you get into it and takes very little time and no money. If you want to follow along with what I do, click my signature and sign up for my free email list.

     
               Benjamin Franklins "A Penny saved is a penny earned"

10 Day Debt Plan

There are many reasons people find themselves in debt; medical expenses, a job loss, lost work due to an illness or injury, and yes, reckless spending. 

Whatever the reason you’re in debt, it can feel nearly impossible to climb out. Being in debt is stressful. It can cause fights between partners and even divorce. 

And debt hampers your ability to achieve the financial goals you might have like buying a home, saving for educational expenses, starting a business, or saving for retirement. 

Top 5 Reasons People Find Themselves in Debt

Click Here for more information.

Pay Off Debt

Step 1. Stop using credit (cut up the cards, so you are not tempted which results in more debt)

Step 2. Save up to $1000 for an emergency fund. (This works for me for things like a new tire to replace one that blew, a new battery for the car when it will not start, a replacement water heater when the old one quits, an unplanned trip to the doctor). If you look at a tire and it is getting close to being replaced this is not an emergency, you still have time to put aside money for the tire. Having an emergency fund means you do not have to pay for something with credit.1: List your debts from smallest to largest. (ignore the interest rates) 2: Make minimum payments on all except the smallest one. 3: Focus on paying off the smallest debt with every extra dollar you can get. 4: Repeat the process until each debt is paid off!

During this time you are not eating out, going to the movies or ball games, or other things that cost money. Research the internet for free things to do like going for walks/hikes. Playing board games with your significant other or the kids.

Send me an e-mail on a good time to call and chat about your situation to vajohns@gmail.com. There is no cost for the chat. If I do not answer please leave a message. (209) 814-6892. I am often available between the hours of 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. PDT

30 Day Debt Elimination Quick Start Challange

My Friend Brand offers these YouTube videos.

He does a really great job showing you how to get out of debt.

Click Here to get started.

 

 “Before you speak, listen. Before you write, think. Before you spend, earn. Before you invest, investigate. Before you criticize, wait. Before you pray, forgive. Before you quit, try. Before you retire, save. Before you die, give.”

William A. Ward

We all have different views on money. Have you listened to others that know how to manage money? Have you investigated before you invest? Do you spend your money before you earn it? Did you quit before you tried to manage your money? Are you saving for retirement? Do you give any of your money to others?

If you answered no to any of these questions you need to seek out a mentor or coach to help you with how you take care of your money.

As of April 16th, my family and I are debt free!!!

This was shared on Facebook. Names are removed to protect the privacy of the writer.

Another Family is debt free

As of April 16th, my family and I are debt free!!! It was just in time to welcome our third child and change our family tree forever! We sold 2 vehicles, our dream home and many, many other items. I picked up a part time job for 6 months (until Covid hit), and we stayed gazelle intense the entire 19 months and 10 days of Baby Step 2. God provided for us the entire way (and still is)! Being on the other side of our mountain of debt feels amazing! If you’re currently on Baby Step 2, stay on course and don’t give up! Being debt free is well worth the sacrifices to get here.

Your Credit Report

 The only thing a credit score does is to rate how well you handle debt. Those items that are commonly reported to the credit bureaus are mortgage payments, credit cards and loans. Some utility companies have begun to report monthly payments.

The only thing a credit score does is to measure how well you handle debt. It is used by banks, credit card companies and companies that have their own credit cards to determine your risk level for extending credit.

A poor credit score can affect your ability to obtain some jobs. For instance if you have a low score you may have problems in obtaining jobs in the financial world and organizations that require a security clearance. Many companies today run a credit report when you are being hired. The item they are looking for is late payments.

You do not need a credit score to get a mortgage. A mortgage company can do a manual underwriting  where you produce your financial records for them to see historically how you handle your income and spending.

If you are having financial problems we can help you get on the right track by providing you with a plan to have financial peace.

Finished BS 3

 

Names are not shown to protect the privacy of the writer. This was a post on Facebook.

My tired self just drove 40 miles to the bank (I live in the sticks) to deposit the last bit of cash tips to finish baby step 3.

20 months ago, I was newly divorced w $40K in debt. I worked 2-3 jobs for the last 20 months. I had mostly stayed at home while married and had no clue how i would do this, but i was determined to have financial freedom.

I have 4 kids (half time) and don't get child support.

I recently took a job at my kids school. I start in a few weeks. Its a huge pay cut from my full time bartending job but I DONT CARE cuz now I can finally be on my kids schedules. It will cover the bills. I can do side hustles when they are with their dad . . . If I choose to. I cannot imagine the concept of free time and tucking my kids in every night, but I will know it soon!

Comment: Fathers need to pay child support.

Getting Our of Debt

A post from Facebook

Getting out of debt is hard work. Here is a message in social media that I read on how one gentleman worked toward getting out of debt. In advertising the phrase "try it you'll like it!"

It was close to $40,000 in 9 months. I didn't think it was possible. We have relatively low cost of living because we share rent and utilities with my sister. Saying no a lot. Finding things like furniture in decent condition on the side of the road and reselling on marketplace. Stimulus checks and tax return. I have a friend that I can work for occasionally where I can make good money. Also, I was lucky that I could use an insurance claim to pay off a car loan and paid cash for a used car. It was a combination of minimal spending, luck, and focus.

I wouldn't let money stay in my account. As soon as it hit my account, I would pay my debt immediately. No temptations that way.

   

Stop retirement contributions

Stop retirement contributions (until debt is gone). One thing you’ll start to see as you start eliminating your debt is that it’s SUPER easy to take “one step forward, two steps back”. I ALWAYS recommend that one who has debt stop contributing to retirement while they’re getting out of debt. This is only temporary. (1-2 years) Why? Because it’s inefficient. You can’t do two things at once here. You must do an analysis of what your debt is costing you verses what your investments are earning you. Odds are the gains are either cancelled out OR worse yet, you’re losing ground even faster than you thought. The bigger point here is that, if you want to start to win with money, you have to be willing to question and then skewer your current thought patterns and habits around money. Would you agree with that? Is what you’re doing now really working? I know this is a little challenging and it may feel like I’m poking you in the eye a little bit, but I can promise you this is a super important point. In this process, you’ll only get momentum if you can focus intently on each of these micro steps as you go through them.

Preparing or Reparing

 I often tell people every day you're either preparing or repairing. Hi, John Maxwell here. Welcome to Minute with Maxwell. That’s your statement of strength today.

Today, right now in your life, my life, we are either preparing or we are repairing. One [person] sets up tomorrow for success. The other [person] sets up today for failure. If we are repairing, we can't even get into tomorrow. At best, what we're doing is trying to fix today because of something we allowed yesterday. But if we're preparing, it means that we're making the best of today so that we can guarantee that tomorrow is going to be a success. I think that's essential during a crisis, because a crisis has a tendency to come in like a tornado, a hurricane, and just scatter and mess stuff up and wreck lives. And I just want you to know, don't let it happen. Take each day at a time.

Today matters. Make today count. I wrote a book on that. Don't try to take care of the next week in the crisis. It will overwhelm you. Just take care today and prepare well. Tomorrow will come. It'll get a little better.

Thanks for being with me today on Minute with Maxwell.

MISSED PAST STATEMENT OF STRENGTH VIDEOS? CLICK HERE TO WATCH 

Never Give Up

 

Never give up on becoming a master of your money.

What is Debtg Consolidation?

 

Kiersten Essenpreis for Money

Debt consolidation gathers debt from multiple sources and puts it in one place, which simplifies paying off what you owe. Consolidation can also allow you to reduce the interest rate or total amount of your debt.

Most of us manage many forms of debt simultaneously, keeping track of due dates and balancing interest rates to avoid late fees or a bruised credit score. But one lump sum means one lender, one due date, one interest rate, and one set of login credentials. It can be a strategic personal finance move in the long run — as long as it’s done right.

Before consolidating your debts talk to us. Debt consolidation is usually not a good idea and creates more problems in the long run.

Schedule a free consultation appointment today. Our goal is for you to learn to master your money! 

Click Here To schedule a free online appointment.

Benefits of Budgeting

According to Spendmenot statistics, only 32% of US families maintain a household budget. So why should you join this number? A budget is a financial plan that helps you allocate funds to different categories of your life. You get to decide how much you spend, save or invest based on your take-home income. Your take-home income is the amount left after the payment of taxes and medical insurance.

Budgeting allows you to:

• Highlight horrible spending habits.

• Prepare for emergencies.

• Spend what you can afford.

• Stay focused on your personal finance goals.

Earn extra money for your budget: https://r.honeygain.me/VAJOH7AD2A

Financial Tip

 

Did you know that the majority of the population would be able to save much more money every month than they think? When you think about all the non-essential things you buy, it’s pretty easy to believe! According to the long-proven 50/30/20 rule, you should set aside:

• 50% of your budget for essential expenses such as housing and food;
• 30%—maximum!—for non-essential spending;
• At least 20% of your income should be put into savings.

When you think about it, it’s a pretty logical way to manage your finances. Unfortunately, too few people take the time to make a detailed budget and think about it.

Here are some facts from 2018 about how Americans’ money relates to the LivingFacts website:

• 12% of Americans said they could not cover a potential $400 expense. 61% said they could afford the $400 in cash or equivalent, while 27% of Americans said they would have to borrow the $400, or sell assets, if the opportunity arose;
• 36% of Americans say their retirement savings are on track. 44% say they are having problems, and the remaining 20% are unsure about the state of their savings;
• 64% of Americans owned a home, while 27% rented one, and 9% had other arrangements;
• The average annual salary of an American can be divided into three different types of expenses: 33% for housing, 16% for transportation, and 13% for food;
• Only 47% of Americans with a credit card say they have been able to pay their bill in full every month for the past year. 26% say they have had a balance on their card a few times, while 27% have a balance most of the time;
• 82% of married people say they are doing well financially, compared to 66% of single people. 78% of married people with children under 18 are doing well, compared with 52% of single people with children.

Business Insider even goes so far as to say that many Americans plan to work until they die and not retire because their finances are so precarious. More precisely, 37% of Americans think they will have to work until they die, while 34% of them plan to be able to retire around the age of 80.

It is therefore quite clear that the financial health of American society in general is more precarious than one might think, especially considering that even people who manage to save do not in fact save enough.

With our best saving tips article, though, you will be able to get to your goal quickly and, who knows, maybe you’ll have a little more leeway for your non-essential spending in addition to planning your retirement properly!