Extreme Home Makeover Home in Forclosure!

Wow! Give someone a paid fore $450,000 home and see what happens! This is why financial counseling is so important. 60% of lotto winners are bankrupt in 5 years.

To see the article just click on this blog's title or go to:

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/16980412/detail.html

Very Sad. . .

Advantages of FPU

Taking this class has provided all of us with tools to gain control of our finances and it's given us a measure of peace in knowing that we're doing our best to manage our money in a way that's pleasing to God. I would venture a guess that each of us, having gone through our own financial struggles, is sympathetic to others who are in financial distress. We can't always reach into our own wallets, but now we have another way to help, don't we? We can introduce others to FPU so they can learn how to improve their own situations. To me, it's similar to the axiom where you don't just give a man a fish; you teach him how to fish.

At first when we mentioned to others that we were taking a financial class, people looked at us a little oddly. Nobody wants to admit that they need help with their financial situation! We've begun stressing that the class affirms some of the common sense things we've all done to manage our money, but it goes further than that and teaches us how to think from a different perspective, especially in areas where our knowledge is more limited. It's worth the effort to tell others so they have the chance to learn and grow, too.

Another advantage is in having the chance to meet so many new people. Jim and I are both enjoying every aspect of the class! (I know he'll be happy to rejoin the class when he returns from his business trip!)

When is a Good Deal Too Good?

Tom sent this to me. Nice timing Tom...

When Is a Good Deal Too Good?
By Michael Masterson
When negotiating a deal, how hard should you push for an advantage? Should you play the competition game and get as much as you can? Or should you "take care of" the other guy, even if he isn't taking care of himself?
What should you do if you discover a benefit or cost in the deal that the other guy isn't aware of? Do you bring it up? Or figure "If he's too stupid to notice, he doesn't deserve to find out."
If your resources and position in the marketplace give you a substantial negotiating position over the other guy - if he needs you more than you need him - should you take advantage of it?
Let's answer these questions today.
I do business with a lot of very accomplished businesspeople - entrepreneurs and executives who understand how business really works. They have learned the importance of going after new business, and have developed the personal skills to apply themselves aggressively toward that end.
Some of these people, however, allow this virtue to become a vice. When they negotiate deals, they focus all their energy on themselves and their goals. If they think of the other guy at all, it is only to discover a weakness they can take advantage of.
These guys can be great family men and loyal friends - but when it comes to doing business, they believe in taking care of Number One. And for them, because of the way they see business, taking care of Number One means caring little or nothing about the other guy.
Some of these guys are just plain evil. They like screwing people and take pleasure from giving others pain. But many more see themselves as just and moral but with a "realistic" view of the business world. For this group - let's call them the self-righteous sharks - business is an "either-or" proposition: "Either I get the gold or he does."
Self-righteous sharks tend to act selfishly in all facets of their business life - in sharing information, in deciding at whose office a meeting will be held, in determining who sits where at a business dinner, etc.

Networking

I'm enjoying the FPU classes! Watching everyone learn together, share their stories, laugh, and offer encouragement to one another is as beneficial as watching Dave's videos. We're on a journey together, aren't we?

Since Alex encouraged us to network through the use of the FPU blog, I'm going to ask you all to keep me in mind if you know of any job openings. While I haven't worked outside my home in years, I have worked on projects from my home computer and actually prefer that flexibility. I am, however, perfectly willing to go out to work. I've built a sales training manual, developed a hyperlinked spreadsheet that provided easily accessible product information for a sales team, and have also put together PowerPoint presentations and monthly newsletters. I enjoy researching via the Internet. If I don't know how to use software or perform a particular function within it, I work at it until I learn it. Someone recently challenged me to learn a web design software program and I've just managed to upload a simple (and not quite complete) website onto the Internet. I enjoy writing, particularly to bring laughter to someone's day and to encourage others in their walk with Christ. I'm currently helping to build and administrate a prayer ministry at our church and also am a co-leader of a small group.

If you know of a way for me to use these skills, please advise! Thanks for your consideration!

Blessings,

Debbie

America's Money: Debt Crush

CNN Money has some interesting articles written by regular folks about their debt.

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2008/news/0805/gallery.real_people_debt/

Maybe one of us should post our story too?

Just click on the title above (America's Money: Debt Crush) and it should take you to
CNN Money and the articles.

Planning Your Work, Working Your Plan

So yesterday around 7am Stacie and I were having breakfast and crunchin numbers. Not so much the August or even the July budget, but the 2 year plan and exit strategy. Talking about the what-if scenarios and the best and worst-case scenarios. It was exciting, tiresome and sickening all at the same time. The emotional rollercoaster ranges from the excitement of having a plan that will work and where the progress can be measured, to the sickening questioning of how we ever allowed this to happen in the first place.

Ultimately we realize the amazing peace you get from having a plan, working your plan, tweaking your plan, and re-working your plan. Never before FPU did we have a plan.

Having a plan is great, but I am continually reminded of what the Proverbs tell us..."The heart of man plans his path but the LORD directs his steps."

Praise God, and keep fighting the good fight!

Tell a Friend

We are now officially at the half way point of the 13 week course. Seems like only yesterday that many of you were wondering if just how painful this 13 weeks was going to be.

On Wednesday night we had our first true 'guest' attend the class to check out what FPU was all about. She called me the following day and was very complimentary about the course and said she will be taking FPU at the next offering. What a great way to build the word of mouth advertising that we need. Ads will attract some, but as most of you know, it's typically word of mouth and invitation by someone that you know that has the greatest impact. I would like to challenge each one of you to bring someone to class with you. Have them check out what we are doing so that the next class grows to an even larger size. Imagine the impact that we can have on the community by helping others learn how to manage their money and get out of debt! See you all next week.

"Pain = Intensity"

Pain is a good thing. It's God's way of getting our attention. If you are as dense as me then you need a lot of it to change. Like they say in the 12 step recovery groups, "Until the acid of your pain eats through the wall of your denial, you will not change." I see FPU as financial recovery group. My wife and I have certainly felt the pain of our dumb financial mistakes. Like Dave says we have done stupid with zeros on the end of it.

So we are intense about getting out of debt because we have felt the pain. Debt hurts. Then why are so many people still walking around with crushing debt? How come our friends and relatives don't get it when we tell them we are working to be debt free? Not enough pain. You have to "hit bottom" before you get it in most cases. Or, as God tends to do, he brings the bottom up and hits you. Because if you wait to hit bottom with debt it may be hundreds of thousands of dollars. So I find the best way to get people I know out of denial is not by telling them how messed up they are, but by telling them how messed up I was (and still am). We have lost over $40,000 over the years by leasing our cars. Dumb. We took a lot of vacations that cost over $6,000 a week. dumb, dumb. I could go on, but I'm crying too hard. Made any mistakes?

Credit Cards

One of my goals in taking FPU is to make my wallet a lot lighter with very few (if any) credit cards. I've closed several accounts...American Express, Discover Card, Bank of America, and Macy's. I still need to close a few more. I was a department store credit-aholic. I like this new simplification in my life. How about you guys?

Bank Reviews

As a number of you may be aware, one of the local banks in Southern California, Indymac, was recently taken over by the FDIC. Since my funds were located at Indymac, I am now considering moving them to another bank, once I have access to them come next week. Although I plan on reviewing websites and talking with other banks about the services they offer, I would really appreciate hearing from FPU class members regarding the banks you use, the quality of customer service you've received at your bank, and the positive and/or negative experiences you've had with a bank. Thanks so much, as this information will be helpful in my decision making process.

Accountability Partners

As many of you know we have quite a few singles going through the class. One of the ways that you can improve your focus is to have an accountability partner. I am writing this for you singles. Reply here if you are interested in having an accountability partner from this class. You both are going through the same class at the same time which may be helpful. I suggest that you comment and leave the following information.

You name, email or phone and your intensity level (see below)

Intensity level 1 - I have given up borrowing money, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am Gazelle intense and willing to do whatever it takes to get this done!

Intensity level 2 - I understand what I need to do and I am doing most of it, but really I could use a kick in the pants.

Intensity level 3 - I agree with what Dave teaches, and i believe it works, I just haven't done much with it yet and I probably should.

Money Saving Tip / Understanding Your Edison Rates

Thanks Debbie for sending this to me. Here it is.....

Hi, Alex…with the high temperatures and our reluctance to use air conditioning any more than necessary due to the cost, I visited the Southern California Edison website to see what I could learn about reducing the electric bill. This link (http://www.sce.com/CustomerService/UnderstandingTieredRates/ ) takes you to the Edison website, where you will find an explanation of how much higher our bill will be when we exceed the baseline. You can read about how much a “bucket” of energy costs. Click on Money Saving Tips in the last paragraph and you can learn more, including how to get $50 for an old working refrigerator.

WARM Regards,


Debbie

Super Savers Revisited...

Week 5 has now come and gone. Many of the questions in the small group discussion have turned to budgeting, saving, and just plain squeezing more out of the budget. This is great! So, to aid in this process, I thought it would be a good idea to re-visit the super saver lesson and ask everyone to post their money saving ideas. We could all learn from what you have to say so please don't be shy and post away.