Friday, July 31, 2009

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Online games to teach kids about Money management

Check out /The Great Piggy Bank Adventures, online games produced by Disney and T. Rowe Price to help teach kids about money management. /HERE> is an article about it. If you have kids that already play online games, they may really enjoy these and learn something at the same time!

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Cash for Clunkers Program

The government is offering a discount program for people who trade in cars for a new car which is more environmentally friendly. More information is available at Cash for Clunkers. The program is suppose to run until November but there has been so much interest that I heard on a TV program last night that it probably won't last that long unless they add more money to the fund. They are discussing adding funds to the program since there is so much interest.

The CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS) is a $1 billion government program that helps consumers buy or lease a more environmentally-friendly vehicle from a participating dealer when they trade in a less fuel-efficient car or truck. The program is designed to energize the economy; boost auto sales and put safer, cleaner and more fuel-efficient vehicles on the nation's roadways.

Consumers will be able to take advantage of this program and receive a $3,500 or $4,500 discount from the car dealer when they trade in their old vehicle and purchase or lease a new one. Consumers you do not need to register anywhere or at anytime for this program. However, to find out eligibility requirements

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Paying Our Fair Share

Following is a letter from Dave Ramsey's website. It shows the importance of paying attention to how you spend your money. If you are careful in the beginning it will pay off BIG in the end.

Paying Our Fair Share

By Mike in NE
We married in 1969 at 19 and 21 with no money but no debt. Our friends had student loans, but I worked a full-time job, and it took me five years to graduate.

Our friends bought new houses with big mortgages. We built our house and borrowed only what we needed. Our friends bought new cars with financing. We bought used cars for cash. Our friends bought vacation homes at the lake (with mortgages). We invested the $5,000 we had in a business (which now pays more than $750,000 per year in salaries). Our friends went on expensive vacations with their credit cards. We bought investment properties for cash.

So in 2009, we have a net worth of more than $6,000,000 and are cash flowing about $1,000,000 per year. Now we have several homes. We go to Europe whenever we want. We buy whichever new car we want for cash, but only one for each of us about every five to seven years because of our conservative nature. We paid about $300,000 in 2008 for state and federal income tax. Tell me why we should feel guilty for being too "acquisitive." Do you think we are "stepping up to the plate" and "paying our fair share"?

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Free Mary Hunt Book

Following is an email I received from Mary Hunt. If you subscribe to her online membership, she will give you a free copy of one of her money saving tip books.

Debt Proof living
Dear Friend,

I love getting emails from my readers who tell me they're making progress in cutting their daily expenses, even as costs on just about everything seem to be going up. But I want to do more. I want to help you make financial progress so you can get out of debt sooner and build your emergency fund faster. I know you can do it and I've been racking my brain for ideas for how we can do this together.

I came up with an idea and convinced my husband and staff that we should offer you this deal: I will send you one of my books--the hardcover edition of "Live Your Life For Half The Price," FREE (plus shipping/handling) when you buy, give or renew a one-year Debt-Proof Living Online membership ($29). I hope you agree this is a win-win situation!

This hardcover book that retails for $23.99 is jam-packed with tips, tricks, resources and how-tos for slashing the cost of everything you spend money on in your normal day-to-day living.

There are so many reasons that you need to become a part of my Debt-Proof Living family. Whether you're deeply in debt and worried about the future, or doing well and want to make sure that continues, we offer the help you need to get out of debt, the community you need to make sure you are not alone and the resources and tools you need to make sure you are successful.

Do this: Go to the DPL Bookstore, put a One-Year DPL Online Membership and one copy of "Live Your Life For Half The Price" into your shopping cart. Before clicking checkout, use this COUPON CODE: LYLFREE in the discount code and you will get a credit for $23.99 (the price of the book) as you complete the transaction. That's it! You can also get details on my webdesk.

This deal is available for one week only, so don't delay. And yes, you can share the coupon code freely. Help us spread the word!

Have a great week.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Pay It Forward

Here is a link for a story I saw on the national news last night, Pay it Forward. About a Pay it forward chain at a coffee shop. At the time of the story over 1,300 people had kept it going and it was still going.

Along with paying what they would have paid for their coffee, many people are donating more and they are starting a fund to donate to people in need.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Stores No Longer offering Back to School shopping Lists

There is an article in the Prosperity 4 Kids newsletter about stores not offering shopping lists for school supplies because of the chance of referring items containing lead paint. The article gives suggestions of school supply lists.

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Financial Education

On the Suze Orman Show on Saturday night there was a 28 year old with $210,000 in credit card debt. He has also filed bankruptcy twice before. When asked he thought he had $100,000 of debt. Suze said when they added it up, it was $210,000. His parents have bailed him out twice before and 90% of the current debt is in their names.

Between his 2 previous bankruptcies and the current debt, the total amount is almost a million dollars.

He has 65 credit cards, which half have balances. Half of the credit cards are in his parents names.

His parents are both 63 years old and retired, so it is getting difficult for them to continue bailing him out. When he runs up the credit cards, his parents take an advance on another credit card in their names to pay off his debt.

He is still spending almost $1,000 a month on eating out, coffee, going out, etc.

This is another example of why I feel is it very important to teach children about financial matters and consequences of getting into trouble with debt.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Suze Orman on Oprah

On Wednesday, July 15th Suze Orman will be on Oprah with a Recession Rescue plan. This show first aired in April 2009 and gives ideas about ways to get through our economic times.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Kelloggs $10 Rebate

There is a $10 Kelloggs rebate. If you go to this link and click on save $80

Buy 10 participating products, get a $10 rebate check and a $70 coupon code for Dell by mail. Items must be purchased between 7/6/09 to 9/30/09. Purchase by 9/30/09 and get it in the mail by 10/9/09. You have to send in UPC symbols, form, and the original dated register receipt. All items must be purchased in a single transaction.



Participating products:

any Kellogg's Cereal (10 oz. or larger)
any Keebler or Austin Product (8 oz. or larger)
any Sunshine Product (8 oz. or larger)
any Eggo Product (4 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Cereal Bar (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Special K Cereal Bar (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Pop-Tarts Toaster Pastries (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Reice Krispies Treats Squares (8 ct. or larger)
any Kellogg's Fruit Flavored Snacks (6 ct. or larger)
any MorningStar Farms Veggie Foods Product (5 oz. or larger)
any 100 Calorie Right Bites (6 ct. or larger)


Most of the time when there is a rebate like this alot of grocery stores have these items on sale and sometimes there are coupons for these items.

Saturday, July 11, 2009

Book Review of The Noticer by Andy Andrews

The Noticer by Andy Andrews
I really enjoyed reading The Noticer by Andy Andrews. It is a quick read, I read it in a couple of evenings. It consists of various stories that merge together, so you can read it in stages if you don’t have time to read the whole thing at one time.

It is a story about seeing situations in different perspectives. The story starts with a 23 year old Andy who was down on his luck meeting an older man named Jones. Jones continues to unexpectedly show up various times thoughout the coming years.

Some of the stories are of Jones helping a couple having marriage problems and a young man that is having problems. He convinces an elderly lady that her life is not over just because her husband has passed away and her children have moved away. Just because things have changed there is a reason to keep going. The stories show different ways to look at things. They are common sense things but the book gives ideas of looking at different perspectives. How problems can be easily solved when you look at it a different way.

I have heard about Andy Andrews and read another one of his books. I was excited to read The Noticer really enojoyed reading the book. I recommend it and will continue recommending it to friends of mine. It is one of the many books I plan to reread many times in the future.

CVS deals

With sales and coupons I got about $35 of products for $18 plus I received $7 in Extra care bucks which brings my total down to $11.

Pantene products were on sale for $3.33. In sunday's paper there was a coupon that if you bought a shampoo/conditioner you got a styling product free. So instead of the regular price of almost $5 each I got 2 for $3.33. Head and Shoulders was on sale and you received $2 ECB for each one. Also in the Sunday paper there was a coupon if you buy one you get one free. I also got $4 ECB since I bought two. So instead of $10 regular price. I ended up getting 2 for $1.

This is another example of stocking up on items you use when you find them on sale. And to keep your eyes open for coupons and matching them with sales.

Thursday, July 9, 2009

Free Month Subscription to My Total Money Makeover

I was so excited to discover today, thanks to Shelby from Shelby Making Cents that you can get a free one-month subscription to Dave Ramsey's MyTotalMoneyMakeover.com right now. This is a website with massive amounts of helpful financial information including all three hours of the Dave Ramsey show, very active forums, articles, budgeting software, and much more.

To start your free one-month subscription, just click heretotal money makeover to get your coupon.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Should you Buy Extended Warranties

I have heard from different sources the cons of buying extended warranties on automobiles, electronics, etc. Most of the time you pay more for the warranty than you will get out of it. Some salespeople will try to talk you into it by saying it is insurance against things going wrong with the car. But they price them higher than the average cost of repairs to make a profit on it.

I have had the extended coverage on a couple of my cars. In one case the one thing that went wrong wasn't covered by the warranty and the other one what it cost for the repairs was about the same as the price I paid for the warranty.

Stores offer extended warranties on most types of electronics. About a month ago, I bought a battery for a spotlight flashlight and they asked if I wanted the warranty for it. In a lot of cases, with electronics, it pays more to fix it than to buy a new one.

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Do you Suffer from Money Delusions

There is an article on MSN about why many people may suffer from money delusions

Most brains get excited by large sums of money. Now when prices have gone up on many things the money doesn't go as far, but our brains don't comprehend that.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Financial Peace University

Financial Peace University is a 13 week program put on by dave ramsey. It is a dvd program that is usually sponsored by area churches. On the website you can enter your zip code to learn more about offerings in your area. It takes you through different aspects of dealing with your finances. You purchase the workbook materials and attend the workshops. Once you purchase the workbook and materials and you can attend it as many times in your lifetime as you want without any futher cost.

I have not attended the Financial Peace University but have heard great things about it.

There are offerings at various churches in the Fargo area.