Recommended - Dave Ramsey

Being prepared for emergencies can be costly. Which makes money an item we need to discuss. If you have money it is easier to deal with situations. Car breaks down, get it fixed. Lose your job, live off of your savings until you find a new one. Money takes some of the worry out of life. I've used some of these guys ideas and have seen them work for others. If you need to get your money squared away I highly recommend Dave Ramsey's idea of how to do it.

Having listened to his radio show for awhile I really like the way the way the guy explains things in words everyone can understand. He does not try to "wow" the audience with his use of big words and seems to really try and help folks when they call in. He will call people out on their BS when they call in to the show and try to say they can't get a handle on things. I also have a couple of his books and the ideas of his I have put into use work!!! No I do not do everything he says........

Here's a link to his website
http://www.daveramsey.com/store/index.ep
I also found his books at Barnes and Noble if you prefer to shop in a store.

Having your finances in order is a big step in helping yourself to prepare for a bad day. having money also helps with the day to day of living!!! You do not think of having to choose between paying the rent and buying a needed jacket for the little one once you have things in order. You can do both!

 When we are talking about food storage or other items you should build up you can go from a box of top ramen noodles to filling a pantry. 

Heck if you really get your act together you might be able to do things you never thought possible. Maybe you can decrease the amount and types of emergencies you need to think about all together? You might be able to go from living in some really bad area, where you have to think of dealing with all of the crime, lack of opportunities, etc etc etc. 

To living somewhere your kids can play outside, you rarely hear a siren and you wondering if your plants are getting enough water.......................

Or you can reach whatever your perfect living condition could be. Seems as if a lot of this ability starts with making a budget, living within your means and planning for the future instead of living for today. 

If you have time, take a look at some of Dave Ramsey's stuff. Maybe an idea or two could help you out and better your position. Something we all should be trying to do everyday..........

As Always,

Stay Safe.

Greece Crisis - On $66.00 a day

This morning the news was filled with stories of the Greece Financial crisis, of course every talking head had a different idea of what the situation meant. For this post I will stay away from the politics (for the most part) of the situation, instead let us talk about what we should do to help ourselves and our family if we are caught up in a situation like this.

The news stories pointed out banks in Greece were only letting people withdraw the equivalent of $66.00 USD. Not real sure what the prices of food, gas and other items are there but take a minute and see if you could live on $66.00 a day…….. Quick math….. $462.00 a week?...... $1,848.00 a month?..... $22,176 a year?!?!?! Reports are already stating the banks cannot guarantee how long the paper money can be found to keep “letting” everyone withdraw $66.00 a day. If the banks can keep paper money flowing into and out of the ATM machines? This means even if you have a hundred thousand in the bank you only get $66.00 a day, welcome to the other side of life!

Yes for some of us this is a bizarre thought; you go to the ATM and the only amount you are “allowed” to withdraw of your own money is $66.00. To all of us living in the USA, yes this can happen here also! YES IT CAN!!! That means you have to work with $66.00 a day or you have to work with what you have on hand and the $66.00. No your credit cards will not get you through this one as Greeks are finding out.

When we are discussing planning for emergencies we are not focused only on the end of the world zombie attack or an asteroid showing us how it felt to be T-Rex seeing the big fire ball coming down from the sky. We plan for everything we can by having a solid foundation. If we have some money put away the money could really help out if the car breaks down, one of the kids gets thrown in jail or the financial system you live under collapses! Having extra in the fridge and pantry would really make a difference for people in Greece right now. I watched and read reports of hoarding already taking place this morning.

“Some of us are barely making it check to check and cannot put any money away?” Yes you can, we all can. Fixing your financial situation at home should be a priority, before you spend any money ask yourself “Is this a WANT or a NEED?” but that concept is for another day. For right now think about all the change you have around the house, collect the change, the money you find in a pair of jeans after they are washed. Toss all of it into a jar. Then put the jar somewhere you cannot see it, if you can see it you will spend it. In most cases the money you collect is already been budgeted in and ‘spent’ so you should not miss this money.

If your budget allows $6.00 a day for a pack of cigarettes, they cost $5.50, you now have $0.50 to put in the jar. The next day you toss in the $0.50 for that day and now you have $1.00! You get the idea. We add the $1.00 to the $66.00, when the crisis hits, for $67.00 and just maybe this is enough for your family to make it through the day? Over time you will be surprised by how much money you can collect this way. SIDE NOTE: no judging here, some of us still smoke and you are not allowed to judge!

We all know at some point the crisis will lead to violence if the powers that be cannot come to some sort of agreement. With hoarding already taking place, people will not be able to find what they need; this will also lead to violence. If you have planned ahead your ‘NEED’ to go out and expose yourself to the situation will be decreased.

Having planned ahead will give you more to work with. You will have more options when the options start to be limited. $66.00 a day will go further if you do not ‘need’ to go to the store every day for the days meals. Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance.

As Always,

Stay Safe!!!