Hello everyone,
I have been pretty busy with Church and family time as well as my periodical one on one coaching that I kind of forgot about this page. Sorry.
But Time is an issue we all have to deal with.
Do you ever say, “I don’t have any time for *blank*”
Well welcome to being normal.
Here is what I do. Very stress relieving for me.
I prioritize everything I need to do. Time frames and deadlines.
like so. This past week one of my days consisted of… . .
Install shower head
Gym
Grocery
Family time
Coaching session
Sleep
Child in school
So that kinda turned into this
1. Child in school 6:30am drop off by 7am
2. Shower head install at Mom’s 7am
3. sleep 3 hours 8-11
4. Gym 12-1:45
5. Coaching session 2:15 - 3:30pm
6. Family time till 6:30pm
7. Grocery after 6:30pm
8. sleep for at least one hour
Notice there is gaps in time. you have to be realistic and calculate the time it will take you to do these things and the time it takes to get to your next task. Shower, drive time etc…… Be realistic only do what you know you can do. The stress comes from overloading. Prioritize.
Now know that I work nights. So, I am somewhat busy but I prioritize my day. On this given day I did not go to grocery. I went the next day. But, That was least important on my list and there were groceries in the fridge. I don’t dwell on what does not gets done. I focus on what can be done. If it is in my control, why worry? If it is out of my control, again, why worry?
Focus on your time plan it out a little better. You’ll get more done. Don’t just wing it day to day. Plan. Your income and stress level will get better as a result long term.
Be smart, be frugal, be a better you.
Richard
Good Morning guys,
Well if have been following me the past 2 years, you would know we (Me and my family) were on a journey to being debt free.
Summary:
Lost 2 homes
Living off of overtime hours. Well beyond our means.
2009 overtime ends and wakeup call lose homes and luxuries.
I apologize for the lack of entries these past few months. But,
Update:
Bought new home after becoming debt free. (Woo hoo!!!)
Saving and paying cash for all our new furniture and other items.
Been teaching FPU as a Coordinator and also coaching one on one.
So, now to the subject……
You have chosen the lifestyle you live right now. If you are on welfare, you chose that. If you are struggling and need help with anything in your life, you chose that. Let’s use Mike Tyson for example. This man earned over 400 million dollars in his sports career. What does he have to show about it today? Nothing. He filed bankruptcy. All his weath gone. He chose that.
So basically I come up with this. Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst. You cannot live your life day to day. You need to prep for the future. Things will happen that you will not plan for. Air conditioning will go out in your home. Car transmission will go out. Water heater bursts. Things will happen. You need to prepare for these things. And no not with home warranties. That is the broke man’s way of handling things. In the long run you will spend more than you save for these warranties. These companies make money, stay in business and provide you this service for a reason. Because you pay too much!!!
Rainy day fund, God only knows fund, auto fund, home fund, Emergency fund. Whatever you call them, you need to put money aside for these expenses. Most of you have a resolution to get your money in order. That is nice but it will not work.
It needs to be a goal. And for it to be a goal you need to … .
1. Put it in wirting - It becomes more real when you do this and increases the odds of actually doing it.
2. Set some time frames. Set times that you want to finish this by.
3. Plan. If you are doing this alone it actually will be harder for you. (Find a buddy to go over this with. Someone that will give you tough love.
4. Set a meeting time regularly to keep you on course review your progress with the goal. Sometimes you set goals that just seem impossible. Well make a new set of stairs that are easier to climb. Look at your main goal as a bunch of smaller reachable goals. (Steps) When you set theses steps they need to be easily reachable. That way you will not get discouraged and if you are putting it in writing, you will actually see and notice your progress.
So, let’s start the new year right. Get your money in order and don’t let finances control you. Don’t let that little child in you who wants stuff now get in the way of a better life later. Learn to sacrifice for a greater goal.
You make your choices. Will the consequences help you or hurt you?
Any questions on any money subject, please just ask.
Until next time,
Be Smart. Be Frugal. Be a better YOU.
Richard
Dave Ramsey shared a story from his mentor about how we as americans are gradually acclimated to love debt. Basically it is about a frog Click here to watch video afterwards.
The Frog when placed near boiling water feels pain and discomfort so, he avoids the pot all together. Now when placed into a pot of room temperature water, the frog just swims comfortably around adjusting to the temperature of the water. Once the fire is turned on, the frog just adjusts with the increasing heat until it cannot adjust any longer…….. You get the idea.
That is how it is with debt. We are gradually adjusted into thinking credit cards are a good thing. We have a small amount 500.00 we are allowed to borrow. We get a 20.00 a month payment due. Then they increase the balance. You say oh! I can afford it. The minimum due increases. All the while you are increasing slowly your debt load. Until one day you realize you are working to pay the credit card companies and very little stays with you. You are stuck with a huge minimum due payment. For a nice chunk of your adult life. But unlike the frog, There is hope. You just need to learn a new way of doing things.
Credit cards
Store Cards
Car payments
Student loans
They are all traps. Find your way out of them people. Watch the video The water is debt. The frog is you.
You have a question? Just ask. I look forward to any and all that you may have. If I do not know the answer, I will find it.
Be Smart. Be Frugal. Be a better YOU.
Richard
Hello again everyone. Been busy these past few weeks. Sorry for the down low phase. Anyhow!!!!!
Are you struggling?
There is one way many of you will see a positive change in your life. That is w-4 and w-2’s
The taxes you get refunded to you every year. I know people that get 3,000 up to 10,000 dollars in returns during tax time. And honestly that is ridiculous. That is your money, not the governments. Some of you use it as a savings account honestly some of you might need to leave that amount alone so you can save. But that method is childish. You are not mature enough to keep it in your own account. I mean 2% interest coming to you is better than no interest staying in the government coffers.
I am not going to go into detail in this message I just wanted to bring this question to your minds…
Would that money you are keeping with the government actually help your situation?
Any questions please ask.
Until next time, be smart. Be frugal. Be a better YOU.
Richard
Ever play roulette?
You have a big huge table with numbers all over it, green red and black spaces and this big huge wheel with the same numbers green, red and black spaces on it. You bet some money on one number or color and hope to win the big one!!!!
You lose. You lose a little bit of money. Your ego goes for a nap for a while.
Russian roulette.
You are raising the stakes. You are risking your life. Your livelyhood. You have a revolver. You place one bullet in the chamber. Then you spin it then quickly CLOSE IT! You sit at a small table with a lazy Susan. Usually with someone else across from you. People all around you betting on which turn will be your last or his.You take turns putting the gun to your head and squeezing the trigger until BAM! your life is at the end of the road. No detour, dead end.
For some of you, you treat debt in this type of manner. You get a job. Hmmmmm good. You go buy some electronics but you don’t pay for it you get that free money with 90 days same as cash. You get a new car! Financed. You still are probably living at home with your parents. So, rent or mortgage might not be an issue at the moment. Giving you this false reality that is telling you “Hey, I am a success!”. You are slowly spinning that lazy Susan with every debt you sign up for.
These are habits that you are developing over time. Bad habits for the record will come up and bite you. You will eventually move out. Still with the love of financing. Working many hours to pay for your 2012 brand new car. Your $5,000.00 tv stereo system. Maybe it is new appliances for your kitchen that is your vice. Time passes. You have a mortgage, car payments, toys that are paid by borrowing money until one day. The bullet is in the next chamber.
What is your bullet?
Is it the loss of a job?
Is it your smoking/drinking habit?
Is it your Child screwing up and you feel the need to bail them out over and over and over?
What is your bullet you have in your chamber?
Basically something happens and all of a sudden “BAM!” you cannot afford this lifestyle you are living anymore.
This came to mind watching some tv show. There was a scene in vegas and the roulette table just stood out to me.
Don’t gamble. Gamble with your future. Gamble with all these companys wanting you to sign up for financing. They win. You lose. The house always wins in the end.
Be smart. be Frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
Thought of the week to my class……
Hope you like it.
Definition of frugal.
Hey guys,
I am done with lesson 2 and working on preparing for lesson 3. I wanted to share with you a thought.
Do you ever recall getting annoyed when you were constantly reminded about certain things in your childhood and teens. Heck! Even with your spouse or Boy/girlfriend? “I know I know!!!” But really you didn’t know or else you would not have been told AGAIN in the first place.
They remind you to do things you need to do. They stop when you hold yourself accountable and become responsible enough to do it on your own.
Accountability!!!!!!
This is one of those missing puzzle pieces when it comes to handling your money.
For some of you it is hard being responsible and keeping track of every dollar you spend. Some of you might not even know where your last paycheck went.
Well, if that is you, maybe it is time to get that talking to again periodically.
Time to find an accountability partner to remind you of when you are screwing up.
This is someone who will love you enough to hurt your feelings when you are acting STUPID! Because I can speak from experience that I was STUPID when I was younger and I needed to be reminded when I was STUPID as well.
So, when it comes to money and accountability partners
-you need to find someone who is not a pushover.
-It needs to be someone you respect
-It needs to be someone who loves you and wants you to win with money
-and finally, it needs to be someone you won’t mind ordering you around
Because being responsible takes time and training. It does not happen overnight. If you hired a trainer what would they do if they knew you had chocolate cake before you met with them. They would drill you a new a-hole that’s what! That’s what you hire them for. So, this is a necessary step in winning with money and living a debt free life.
I use this bible passage as a guidance for this method. Proverbs 22:6
6Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
So, with that! I am calling it a night. Sleep well everyone.
Be Smart. Be Frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
Good evening everyone,
It has been a wonderful week and lesson one for financial peace university seemed to me to be a success.
The lesson was on saving. Learning to save to train yourself away from debt.
What are some ways to increase some savings is what I am brainstorming right now.
Here is what got me started.
1. couponing
2. Ate in more ate out (fast food) less
3. Gave myself some reasons (winning marriage, kids, better future)
Those three things got me to where I am today. A pretty good life. And only getting better with every goal we reach.
I just want to ask, what are some ways that help you save?
Leave a comment (ID or anonymous) and share with others trying to be better off financially. With a gradual change to a debt free society, our country should be more prosperous. We are on borderline financial collapse (this is my opinion and I am sticking to it) So, answer the question and let me know what you think.
Be smart. Be frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
Hello guys…..
I just want to give you a heads up.
I will be teaching another Financial peace university course.
As the weeks go by I will share a little something that might help you financially throughout these next nine weeks. It might be small. It might be HUGE!!!!!
So, I hope starting next week you will tune in. And if you have any questions please send me a message. I will answer on here in the hopes it helps more than one person.
Until next time,
Be smart. Be frugal. Be a better YOU.
Richard
Everyone is looking for the BBD. The Bigger Better Deal. But can you honestly get 18% growth on your money. I have learned one way.
Credit Cards!!!!!!
No, don’t get confused if you use them you will not gain 18% growth.
The staying away from using them will encourage you growing your money automatically by 18% on average. Because you will not be giving the banks that 18%. You automatically keep 18% therefore growing your money by……18%!!!!!
Let’s look at the marketing of these card companies…….. They promote rewards(mileage, cash back, free underwear, other items) Do your own research and that will be about 3 percent or less of the amount you charge. They use words like perks points and other similar words. But look at the math.
They give you 3 percent of your purchase back. Then you pay back 18%-25% interest back to all of these companies. SO! Looking at that in dollars for those of you who are not very good in math. I am buying a 1.00 item on credit. They will be giving me 3 cents back. Then if I don’t pay it back, I will pay the bank .18 cents to .25 cents back to the bank. I hope that explains rewards to you. They spend Billions to flash marketing into your face from every direction. What’s in your wallet? Not their cards I will say. :)
If you have a credit card balance, you need to get that sucker paid off!!!! And learn to establish savings for all of your purchases. In your lifetime if you continue to borrow money, you will throw away hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest fees. Who wants to do that? Well most of you eagerly charge it so apparently a lot of you.
Look at your downtown area. What are the names on the towers in your downtown area. They are companies that take your money. Banks and Insurance companies. I explained the banks. Now, Insurance companies!! I have too much in my head to share in one entry but I will say this.
If you are in one of those whole life policies universal life policies basically any of those policies that have a savings account setup in them. STOP IT!!!! Why are you going to pay someone to have a savings account for you? Do it yourself. They are right up there with the banks in your downtown for a REASON!!!!!!!
You can argue with me if you like, I will just smile and walk away. I am just sharing the knowledge I know and products from these two estabishments take your money. THEY DO NOT MAKE YOU MONEY!!!!!
So, start growing your money by a minimum of 18% by staying away from them. Educate yourself on insurance you should get to transfer your risk. But stay away from cash value. You are losing more money than you make.
Be Smart. Be Frugal. Be a better YOU!
Richard
I woke up to watch the olympics this morning and I see a payday lender commercial.
They were advertising a 500.00 loan with a 35.00 fee to be paid back in 2 weeks.
For a month that is 70.00 in interest
For a year, that is 840.00 in interest fees
For 500.00!!!!!!!!
That equals 168% interest……………….
Do you really need that 500.00 or can you find a better plan other than borrowing?
Please! Learn to stay away from these predators.
When you need money, remember…….. You cannot get yourself out of a hole by continuing to dig deeper. You’ll look up and soon miss the light above.
Draw that line and make the necessary sacrifices. It might hurt but it is only temporary. Quit lining the pockets of these lenders. They win and you lose. You are better off getting that small loan at a bank. Even then, I would not do that either.
Ask for help. Seek non-profits. Talk to your priest or pastor. Help is out there. Seek guidance. Learn from your situations.
As long as you were better off than you were the day prior, you are going the right way. All it takes is a commitment to become………….better.
Be smart. Be frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
Frugal-guy is just a normal guy who learned the hard way how to handle money. By losing it. If you would like to donate to his cause of teaching personal finance and his church, please click the donate button and contribute .25 cents. If all his followers go to his main page (click on pic) and donate .25 a month he will reach his goal of having a classroom to rent out to teach more. Also clicking on an advertisement you like will also aid in his cause as well. All money will go to reading material for help desk and FPU class kits to be offered to members and abroad at a discount. The more we help others the more we will be rewarded. Learn generosity. It changes you for the better. .25 cents is not a lot. God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 If you have a question and wish to remain anonymous please send me an email to thefrugalguy@facebook.com I will answer your question in this blog and hopefully it will help a few more people. God Bless.
Quarter is over for Generation change.. .. .. .. .. .
I am honored to teach Generation change to my congregations teenagers. I had 11 kids sign up. At the end 9 finished.
They learned about
marketing how they want your wallet
learned about their personal value that they are more than their stuff.
Budgeting
balancing checkbooks
preparing for the workforce.
giving
beware of student loans
charge cards & credit cards. How they trap you.
investing for retirement
plus many more small details that were brought up by them in discussion.
Now it is time for me to prepare for the next quarter. Financial peace university.
Dave Ramsey refilmed his whole course reducing it from 13 weeks to 9 weeks. I am pretty psyched to teach this course again. He has guest speakers now in most of his lessons. I am looking forward to it. I strongly encourage everyone to take the course. I put a link where is says financial peace university click it watch the video.
These past three years to our debt freedom have been an interesting journey. Criticism. Motivating others. and so on and so on. I have been able to help so many people by devoting my time and just sometimes listening. I thank Financial Peace University in leading me in the right path. Now I am on my own journey led only by me. I hope to be that drop in the water I talked about so long ago (seems long) that makes those mini waves that hit other drops waves. Expanding. Growing. Reaching out to others that need a little guidance.
The more I learn the more I humble myself into the realization of how little I knew. Which encourages me to learn more. Take the course guys. It will change you.
Be smart. Be frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
The same man who predicted the 2008 crash is sharing his thought on a possible worse situation as early as 2013.
Richard
Living a debt free lifestyle is a hard life when you first start out. But with determination and hard work, you can become wealthy with good money habits.
Be smart. Be frugal. Be a better you.
Richard
P.S. Watch other videos on here for more ideas on how to save.
The stroke of your brush…………….
The amount of paint you apply to your canvas.
The different types of brushes.
Is it not even a brush at all?
Pencil?
Charcoal?
a 5 year olds crayon?
When it comes to money, how do you handle it? Is it just a unmanaged mess like when a young child first learns how to color?
Do you take the time to add detail to your piece of art?
How many tools are you using to make your piece?
Is your piece of art the only piece you will wish to do?
The art of Money is a very delicate subject.
Some fear making it. Some fear losing it. Others make it like a piece of art. They assess every situation learn the proper stroke. Their technique. As time goes by they master that technique and move on to another medium. Maybe they were good with crayon then moved on to marker because they could now stay within the lines. I personally like being the one who makes their own lines. Not copying but actually making something your own. Learning from others yes. But in time making it your own. Maybe now it is clay pottery. I hope you get my point.
What are you doing with money?
Do you make money just to spend it……
Do you borrow money to give your money pack to another in payments…….
If you invest, are you educated in the field you are investing in……….
Start your business……did you start small and cashflow the venture…..or did you borrow there with hopes you will make enough to pay it back……..
Bottom line what does your art work(money situation) look like?
Learn the techniques. Use the tools properly. One day, you will have a piece of art worth hanging.
God bless,
Richard
Frugal-guy is just a normal guy who learned the hard way how to handle money. By losing it. If you would like to donate to his cause of teaching personal finance and his church, please click the donate button and contribute .25 cents. If all his followers go to his main page (click on pic) and donate .25 a month he will reach his goal of having a classroom to rent out to teach more. Also clicking on an advertisement you like will also aid in his cause as well. All money will go to reading material for help desk and FPU class kits to be offered to members and abroad at a discount. The more we help others the more we will be rewarded. Learn generosity. It changes you for the better. .25 cents is not a lot. God loves a cheerful giver. 2 Corinthians 9:7 If you have a question and wish to remain anonymous please send me an email to thefrugalguy@facebook.com I will answer your question in this blog and hopefully it will help a few more people. God Bless.
