Recession Proof Living

New Blog Address

2011-11-28T10:58:00.000-05:00

Until we get the blog tab redirected, here's a link to the new blog. http://www.samburtononline.com/

Guess We Are Still Relevant

2011-05-26T05:54:00.000-04:00

Sometimes, I get discouraged and think that the whole IOU NO MORE thing is out of date and out of touch. Perhaps our ship has sailed. Maybe our message is just not needed in 2011.

When these feelings come on me, I seriously consider throwing in the towel, closing down the website and just focusing on our sustainable farming project.

Two thinks happened in the last week that help me keep going. The first was a young man who told me how important the book has been in helping his family develop a plan to get financially on the right path. The second was something I heard on the radio.

I was in the car yesterday, driving home from work early, because I was violently sick to my stomach (I'll spare you the details). Anyway, the radio host was referring to a recent study that said 50% of Americans said that they could not come up with $2k in a month to cover an emergency.

From that snippet I realize that millions of people are still living hand to mouth and that they don't even know what to do about it. Unfortunately, many don't really want to fix themselves, they want Govt. to bail them out. Others have given up, but there are still millions who are looking for solutions. Solutions we got.

I've got to stop trying to goad people who don't want to change and start looking for those who do. There is a huge difference. One will drive me to drink. The other will motivate me to win.

Credit Card Companies Are At It Again

2011-05-19T06:46:00.000-04:00

Not surprising, really, but the linked article says that credit card companies are creatively looking for new ways to squeeze more interest and penalties out of us. By all means, read the article HERE.

I have found that the best way to beat them at their game is to NEVER carry a credit card balance. Use a debit card, pay cash, write a check. These methods avoid penalties and fees EVERY TIME.

Why I Don't Invest In Commodities

2011-05-18T22:42:00.000-04:00

The temptation is great. Some days it's almost irresistible. But I manage. I'm talking, of course, about investing in commodities. Right now, things like oil, gold, silver, corn, cotton, etc. are rising like kites in a March breeze.

Commodities are in. They are hot. If you listen closely you can almost hear them sizzle. People who bought gold last year are laughing right now. Same for corn. Commodities are interesting. From my chair, they are always on a bubble. It gets bigger and bigger then pops and starts over. I don't have the stomach for that kind of roller coaster. Besides, I'm not smart enough to know when to get in and out.

For metals and crude, the volatility alone is enough to keep me out. Besides, I've got an investment that's way better than all of them put together.

My reasons for staying away from corn, soy beans, wheat and etc. are tied very closely to my core values. The companies behind these soft commodities push the morality envelope too far for my liking. Companies like Cargill and Monsanto, and their ilk, are involved in more than producing crops. They are involved in genetic engineering of crops, which could be good or bad, but too risky for my taste. The big gripe I have is their efforts to patent life and use of heavy handed methods to strong arm and subjugate farmers. I can't put money into their pockets just to put money into mine.

There is a way for you to invest in commodities that will NEVER lose and could gain you a small fortune. You won't find it on the Dow, Nasdaq or S&P. The method I've discovered is part insurance and part investment. I spell it out in my e-booklet, "The Joseph Principle". You can order it from our website.

Geez, that sounded like a commercial.

Hand Wringing or Heart Searching

2011-05-10T07:20:00.000-04:00

We all feel the change. It's not just in the air, we feel it in our wallets. Life is getting more expensive by the hour. Gasoline prices, food prices, air travel, education, everything.

Some of us have been shouting from the rooftops for at least a year, pleading with people to prepare. Some did, millions did not. So now that things are worsening rapidly, is it too late? What can we do to stop the spiral?

First, stop the hand wringing. I won't suggest that we stop complaining, that's an American pastime. I love to do that as much as the next person. Complaining, though, won't change anything. Neither will hand wringing and fretting. It's time to take ACTION.

First, make a written budget.....TODAY! If you need a form to help you get started, email us at info@iounomore.com and we'll get you one.

If you have debt beyond your mortgage, pay it off as quickly as possible. I don't mean to sound like a salesman, but go to the store page at iounomore.com and order the ekit and get started right away. The kit will cost less than a combo meal and will give you the tools to start a new financial life NOW.

Begin an emergency fund with a long term goal of storing up a full year of staples and 6 months to a year of cash flow. Yes, you can do it, it just doesn't feel like it right now. We call it the Joseph Principle.

Grow some of your own food. It's easier than you think and will save you a ton of cash over the coming years. For tips, ideas and moral support, go to Our Edible Suburb.

This is not the time for panic. It's time for action. Our economy is in decay, we get that. It doesn't mean your economy has to collapse. Take charge. Be smart. Win.

Where Has Civility Gone?

2011-05-01T07:23:00.000-04:00

This is going to be one of my 'wondering out loud' posts. It has little to do with budgets, or debt reduction, or living sustainably. But I wanted to post my thoughts somewhere, so my apologies for going off topic.

I read quite a few news and opinion websites. I try and read a cross section of left and right leaning pages. I never want to be guilty of falling for propaganda. BTW, if you are someone who only reads FoxNews or MSNBC or Drudge or Huffpo, you really should get out more. Start by reading all the above. It's amazing how the same story can be interpreted so differently depending on your political world view or core values.

The disparity in viewpoints of columnists and reporters does not disturb me. We all view the world through the prism of how we, or our editors, see things. Freedom of the Press allows for debate. It challenges us to think for ourselves. The internet is a wonderful tool because it overcomes the potential filter of censorship. It's much harder these days to have only one side of a story told.

I am disturbed, however, by the vitriol and disgusting behavior of many of the individuals who comment on open boards and feedback sections of articles. Web 2.0 has allowed for open feedback and discourse. Nearly every article and blog offers a place for readers to comment. Be careful what you wish for.

The anonymity of the internet has opened the door for a lot of ugliness and anger to be expressed. I've read death threats, profanity laced ad hominem tirades and some things that are so nasty they are best skipped over. There is a great deal of anger out there. Name calling is not an argument. Wishing disease and death those who disagree with you does not further your cause. It only polarizes.

There are still some excellent examples of grace, mercy and civility in the world, but on the whole I fear we are drifting and the current is quickening. The resolution of our decline will not come from political parties or an economic turnaround, nor will it come from tighter internet regulations or fairness doctrines. We need a heart transplant. Three thousand years ago, King David of Israel, wrote: Create in me a clean heart, Oh God. And renew a right spirit within me." (Psalm 51). We could use a whole bunch of that heart cleaning about now. We are angry and bitter. A social storm brews just beneath the surface. I know of someone who doesn't just predict storms, like the national weather service, He calms them. We need His help now more than ever.

Generosity is superior to Taxation, Self Suffiency Trumps Entitlement

2011-04-21T06:56:00.000-04:00

Despite the title, I'm not planning to wade into the deep and muddy waters of our current political dilemmas, though the subject matter would allow it. Instead, I'm going to try and keep my comments on a personal responsibility level. We'll see in a moment whether or not I manage to succeed.

I was reading this morning in the book of Leviticus in the Old Testament. Leviticus is a difficult read for most people. It's not exactly what most of us think of as a page turner; chapter after chapter of rules and regulations for the ancient Israelis. But I've found some fascinating insights into the principles of sound financial management in it's pages. One of them jumped out at me today.

I was reading in chapter 23. Among the rules about the Jewish feasts, there is a harvest reminder. God tells the people not to harvest to the very edges of their fields and not to go back and catch what they miss. They are to leave the corners, edges and 'gleanings' for the poor and the immigrant. Wow. Planned, deliberate generosity.

Do you get it? The Israelis weren't to wait for the Government to tax them or for State assistance program to take care of the poor. There is no set amount or percentage. Each person decides what 'corners' and 'edges' means. I'm sure some were more generous than others. But the point is, generosity was assumed and was proactively built into the Jewish society.

Are we proactively generous? I'm not talking about our tithes? That belongs to God. Is giving built into your budget? Entrepreneurs, is generosity a plank in your business plan?

This coin, BTW, has two sides. Leviticus 23 is far from an entitlement program. Notice that God instructs the people to leave the corners and gleanings rather than take part of the harvest to a place where the poor can come and pick it up. There is a built in assumption that the 'poor' and the 'immigrant' are expected to do their own harvest and threshing. This is no hand out. The recipient is expected to work. Handouts, or 'alms' were for the blind, the crippled and others who were not capable of working. Later in Paul's letter to Timothy in the New Testament, the Church was to look after truly destitute widows who had no family to take care of them.

The Bible's teaching is very clear. The principles are not hidden. 1. Greed is bad. We should build generosity into our lifestyles. 2. The responsibility of providing for the poor is; a. for the able bodied to do their own work in providing for themselves even when relying on the generosity of others, b. the families of the truly destitute or sick or crippled or physically challenged, c. the Church to look after those of their number who have no family. Take note, Government programs are nowhere on the list.

Well, I came close to staying out of politics. I tried, I really did.

IOU NO MORE 2.0 Ready For The Publisher

2011-04-20T06:49:00.000-04:00

Some last minute changes include a minor name change. The new book will be called IOU NO MORE 2.0. It is now as ready as I can make it. We don't have a publish date yet, but watch for it, because it will be out soon.

The Latest Price Increase Story

2011-02-14T05:06:00.000-05:00

I know, I know. Sam can't get off his inflation soap box. I just want us all to plan ahead. We are soon going to be spending a larger percentage of our budgets on FOOD. If we want to eat in a more healthy manner, it's going to be a considerably larger percentage.

The latest cause of our grocery pain is the recent deep freeze that hit the Southwest U.S. and Mexico. You can read all about the effect on produce prices HERE.

Coming to a Supermarket Near You - Higher Prices

2011-02-11T05:24:00.000-05:00

Gasoline has topped $3 a gallon here in North Georgia (10 days later than I predicted). Gold and silver have sky rocketed. Corn has doubled in price over the last few months. Oil is over $100 a barrel.

Those last two sentences are the keys to rising food costs in the store. It takes rivers of oil to get produce and processed foods from farm to plate and corn is in virtually all of our processed foods (in one form or another). It's the core feed ingredient for commercial meat animals from beef to chickens to tilapia. The rising costs of ingredients, processing and transportation make inflation inevitable. Get ready. Read a recent article about foodflation from Omaha.com right HERE.

I realize my last several posts have been variations on this theme, but that's because food is so critical to our survival. Rather than fume, or panic, I want you to prepare and overcome.

Some steps to minimize the pain are: 1. Stock up now, while prices are lower. Some things are already going up, so there's not a lot of time to waste. 2. Eat more whole foods. It's healthier and, if local and in season, is still a good value. 3. Grow some of your own food. 4. Budget for the coming changes.

As I keep saying, the cost of living is headed UP this year. But we can still win the war by creating a plan and by working that plan.

Still Want a Credit Card?

2011-01-29T05:47:00.000-05:00

If ever I saw a case for getting rid of Credit Cards and Credit Card Debt, it is THIS ARTICLE from CNN Money. It is plenty scary. All I can say is, "Back away from the application. Turn around and RUN!"

Latest Sign of the Apocalypse...

2011-01-25T05:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, just a follow up to yesterday's inflation rant. Even the Golden Arches are yielding to the higher cost of commodities. Those McNuggets may soon be costing you more. Read it HERE.

Just Another Inflation Warning

2011-01-24T06:30:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed it? Prices are going up. It's obvious at the gas pump. The place I buy most of my gasoline has fought like crazy to avoid topping $3 a gallon. I'm thinking they will lose the fight sometime this week.

Groceries are certainly on the rise. I've noticed the prices on some items have risen considerably. There has never been a better time to use coupons and watch for specials than right now.

On a related note, the cost of animal feed and things like day old chicks has also started to move in the wrong direction. Packets of seeds are increasing in price as well. That means that the cost of food production for small producers may well impact the prices of fresh produce in farmers' markets.

It is not time to panic. It's time to prepare. Budget well. Spend wisely. Grow some of your own food. Buy in bulk and preserve some. Shop judiciously at consignment shops. Frequent yard sales. Plan your trips out to manage your fuel consumption. We can win! We can prosper!

Franchising Opportunities

2011-01-19T06:32:00.000-05:00

Most people who have some entrepreneurial inklings, at least consider franchising as a path to consider. I know I have. In my case, I've just never found the right fit. I haven't had the cash flow, either.

This morning, I found a fun little article on forbes.com regarding the top 20 franchise opportunities for 'beginners'. I thought some of you might like it, so click HERE to read it for yourself.

Discouraging Headlines

2011-01-07T05:55:00.000-05:00

Have a look at these headlines from this morning's Drudge Report:

Census: Number of poor may be millions higher; 1 in 6...

Retailers report surprisingly weak December...

Jobless claims rise more than expected...

GALLUP: Broader underemployment worsened to 19% in December -- up sharply from 17.2% at end of Nov...

Wow! These are not encouraging words, to say the least. We CAN take steps to insulate ourselves against tough times. We can't always escape them, but if we do the right things we can 'self insure' so that any economic impact we feel from downturns, recessions and depressions only affects us minimaly. I'm serious. IOU NO MORE 2.011 is coming.

IOU NO MORE 2.011 Closer by the Minute

2011-01-03T20:02:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I'm playing a bit with the title of the updated version of the book. I started with "The All New IOU NO MORE", but yuck. Then it became, "IOU NO MORE 2.0". Finally, with a tip of the hat to the publication year, it is now, "IOU NO MORE 2.011". We'll see if it sticks.

The new material is all written. The next phase will be to edit it and to update the forms. Then, it's off to the publisher.

Won't be long now.

Just Rambling

2010-12-29T21:42:00.000-05:00

Wow, I can't believe how bad I am at paying attention to this space. That's about to change....sort of.

I'm in the process of developing a monthly newsletter. I hope to have the first issue out in January. I'm not sure whether that will link to this spot or whether it will replace this blog. Decisions, decisions.

IOU NO MORE 2.0 is nearing completion. Well, it's nearly ready for editing anyway. I had hoped to have it finished by now, but work, farming and life in general keep getting in the way. The core of the book is the same, but there are some nice additions and a few other changes that reflect the current economic conditions and some changes in my thinking. The new version will be larger and some of the budgeting and saving sections have more detail and will be even more practical than before.

Now is a great time to take advantage of some great bargains in our store, before the end of the year. Of particular note is the extremely good buy of going to Amazon and downloading the Kindle version of the book. It's a rock bottom price and will only be available for a few more weeks.

It's looking like I will begin offering the Budget Boot Camp Home Study Kit around the end of January or beginning of February. That should be a lot of fun. It will include all the Starter Kit information and 6 audio lessons just like in a live Boot Camp. I'm really excited about it.

Another piece of random news is that traffic to our website has boomed recently as have requests for information. We've heard from, teachers, govt. workers, universities, single parents, pastors and many others. It's quite a good feeling being able to help others take their first steps towards financial fitness.

Have a Happy New Year everyone. We'll talk to you soon.

The Coming Foodflation

2010-11-18T06:03:00.000-05:00

I've been warning my friends for months that inflation is coming. I've certainly posted it on facebook more than once. Now it's starting to hit the headlines. For example, Read this article from the Financial Times that I found on Drudge this morning.

I have interrupted the writing of IOU NO MORE 2.0 to write a short e-book, "Simplify Your Way To Prosperity" about how to thrive during the coming inflation. I believe preparing NOW is urgent and I want to help.

Glenn Beck is making similar suggestions on his radio show. He has a very large platform, I have a handful of readers. He will get the word out faster that I will, I imagine.

There is one fundamental difference between Beck's views and my own. He would suggest that gold is an excellent hedge against the coming tsunami. I would say that gold is secondary to FOOD.

Those who know me well, know I keep saying, "You have gold, I have food. If things get really bad, I will have your gold in exchange for some of my food." I don't say that to be ugly, I really believe it.

Consider this passage from the Bible in Revelation 6:6 "Then I heard what sounded like a voice among the four living creatures, saying, "A quart of wheat for a day's wages, and three quarts of barley for a day's wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!" WOW!

I'm not against gold, in fact I strongly recommend saving up a year's worth of living expenses in cash. Keep it in a jar, or in an easy to access money market account. But I even more strongly recommend putting aside 6 months to a year of basic food stuffs and necessities.

B and I have a room loaded with beans, rice, coffee, wheat, sugar, home canned goods, powdered milk, mustard, toilet paper, soap, etc. We didn't buy the 'survival food storage' stuff off the internet, because I'm not really interested in eating MREs for a year. Call me crazy. But if that's the way you and your family want to do it, I'll not argue. Just PREPARE.

After you have your CASH and your FOOD, if you want to invest in some gold coins, go right ahead. But do is as insurance, not as an investment. In a real crisis, investments won't matter a hoot. What you have in hand WILL matter.

Watch this space or the website for "Simplifying Your Way to Prosperity". But don't wait, start preparing TODAY. I'm not suggesting the end of the world. I am suggesting trouble ahead. The bridge is out and I don't want anyone to fall.

Feel free to send your questions.

Preparing for Inflation

2010-11-16T14:02:00.000-05:00

Inflation is coming. I feel it in the air. Commodity prices are insanely high. Oil prices are rising. That all means the cost of producing and transporting basic necessities like food and clothing are going to go up dramatically. Sooner or later, manufacturers and producers have to pass that cost on to the consumer. When you add in the effects of a weak and watered down dollar, the coming inflation could be pretty dramatic.

The best thing we can do is prepare. We don't panic. We don't hide. We get ready. If you do not already make storing up 6 months to 1 year of basic food a part of your emergency fund, then please begin to do so now. You will be glad you did. I will discuss the subject in more detail in IOU NO MORE 2.0, which should be out early in 2011. But for now, if you have any questions about starting a Food Bank, then send us an email and we'll be glad to answer them.

I recommend buying some extra clothes as well. Watch for sales, clearance racks, etc. and buy some extra jeans, jackets, sweaters, sweatshirts, shoes and the like. This is especially true for articles made from cotton. Cotton prices have shot through the roof and are headed to the moon.

One more thing, while I'm thinking about it. Plan now to grow at least some of your own food next year.

B and I have already begun our 'storehouse' and are mostly done. We feel very good about our readiness.

Back to Basics

2010-10-29T05:54:00.000-04:00

B and I have made the decision to go back to the beginning of our financial journey and start again so we can save to pay cash for farm land. We have built our budget around the survival plan and are even going to use envelopes again.

This is something we want very badly and are taking the necessary steps to help us stay focused. It's always nice to have a goal.

Bankruptcy and The Crystal Cathedral - Pathetic or Prophetic?

2010-10-19T09:39:00.000-04:00

The Crystal Cathedral has filed for bankruptcy. I have no doubt that critics, skeptics and naysayers are smirking in their cheerios this morning. My heart aches. My hypotheses and philosophies of the future of Church finances have been supported by this event, but I find no pleasure in it.

Please, let me explain. First, I love Robert Schuller. In the early years of my time in full time ministry, his book, “Your Church Has Real Possibilities” was very influential in helping me form practical direction for British Isle Evangelism. I have been to the Crystal Cathedral a couple of time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. I’ve never been a big fan of “The Hour of Power” and believe it has painted a terribly incomplete picture of the ministry of Robert Schuller and life of the congregation there in Garden Grove.

Despite my fondness for Robert Schuller, I do have some rather strong doctrinal variances from him. It is not, however, doctrinal, but practical and financial weaknesses that have brought this crisis upon the Crystal Cathedral.

All living organisms reach maturity, then age and die. A local congregation is not exempt. Even a mega Church will eventually experience the phenomenon. The death may be slow, even very slow, but eventually, regress happens.

Real estate (at least the buildings), are subject to the laws of science (eg. Thermodynamics). Buildings, parking lots, fixtures, and the like, wear out, atrophy, eventually to the point that repair is no longer viable. Restoration or replacement can be extremely expensive. The Crystal Cathedral was once the cutting edge of Sacred Architecture, now it is a dated, aging monument to days gone by.

Even great ministries and their campuses reach a plateau. Some, especially those which are legacies to a single man’s (or woman’s) vision, are likely to survive little more than the lifespan of the founder. Those with the vision and savvy to create a succession plan, will live, and can even prosper for generations. But, time and circumstance happen to us all.

The churches that last the longest continue to morph and reinvent themselves by moving campuses, changing formats and maintain a certain balance between longevity and turnover of staff. Some even change their names as a part of the metamorphosis.

I have nothing against those things, but I submit that those changes may actually mean that a new congregation has been birthed rather than a simple location change. Some of the core may be the same, but the differences are significant enough to suggest the organization is different.

Churches are also subject to the laws of economics. When we spend less than we earn, when we avoid debt, when we budget wisely , give generously and when we save appropriately, with an eye to the future, we prosper. When we run up debt, spend ahead of our income, expand too quickly and have no financial cushion, we risk much.

Our current economic crisis in America (and the world), has highlighted a fundamental crack in the traditional financial thinking of many congregations. A large number of ‘boom’ Churches are in serious financial trouble. As the communities around them blossomed under the economic and housing bubble of the 90s and early 00s, congregations grew and expanded. Following the example of their members, large numbers of Churches built McMansions in the suburbs. Using easy credit, they took out huge mortgages and built oases of peace and faith that were reverent and (often) simultaneously flamboyant.

These relocated congregations frequently experienced a huge burst of activity and growth when they moved into their new facilities and added staff and ministries accordingly. We justified our extravagance by pointing to “God’s blessings” and our noble purpose. We convinced ourselves that we were “casting our bread upon the waters”. Oh, what a grand time it was.

Then, like the children’s chorus, “the rains came down and the floods came up”. The American economy collapsed. The bubbles burst and all Hell broke loose. Businesses closed or laid off employees by the train load, unemployment exploded, banks failed, the stock market crashed, the housing market melted, money vanished.

Amidst the rubble of foreclosed homes, unemployment lines and broken dreams, we see church after church struggling to stay afloat. Offerings in many places have dropped by nearly half. Attendance has taken a hit in those places where families are being forced to leave in order to find work elsewhere.

It is a bleak reality, where once thriving Churches are faced with cutting staff and programs. Churches born with the best of intentions and the most Holy of goals, are finding themselves struggling, or unable, to pay their mortgages. Banks don’t want to foreclose of places of worship. That’s not good PR. Despite the efforts of everyone involved, both borrower and lender, Churches are defaulting on loans at a record pace. The Crystal Cathedral is simply the most high profile example to date.

The future requires a paradigm shift, a radical change in the way churches operate financially. I pray daily that we awaken and make the necessary changes before it’s too late to do so.

For Churches that are in financial crisis, it is imperative that we begin immediately to budget like a family rather than like a corporation. Most congregations may be structured like a business, but we function like a household. We would be better off to budget that way.

On a high level, that means:

1. Repent

2. Pray

3. Stop borrowing.

4. Establish a perimeter (it looks a little different than for a household, but essentially the same)

5. Create a Budget (a zero based budget)

6. Develop a baseline emergency fund

7. Eliminate Debt

8. Have a fully funded emergency fund

9. Pray

There will be some tough, heartbreaking decisions in the process. It may mean some salary reductions. It may mean some staff cuts. It will most likely require the cutting of some ministries and services the congregation provides. It may mean selling the building or some of the land (if you can find a buyer). It will certainly mean scaling back on opulence.

Budget cuts do not have to mean quality cuts. It is better to do a few things well, than offer many things poorly done.

Restructuring will not be fun. It will not be easy. Feeling will be hurt and some may even leave over it. If that happens, so be it. We have to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences.

I’m going to interject a very personal frustration here. Typically, one of the first cuts congregations make in times of financial difficulty is to the Missions budget. I find that both bizarre and counterproductive. Our prime directive is to disciple the world. If the first financial cutbacks we make are related to evangelism, then we really have some mixed up priorities.

A better way might be something like this (it’s only an example): We say we have to cut 10% across the board. After cutting all the fat we can find, we ask the staff to take a 10% cut and we share our situation with our mission partners and explain that we are doing the same with our off campus staff. We let them know that as soon as the crisis is over, we will return to our normal level of giving.

Let me spend a moment offering my unsolicited and unwelcome advice to recent or future Church plants: Don’t do debt! The economic landscape has changed, maybe forever. The tectonic plates of our financial basis have shifted. The Church is not in the real estate business. I urge you to stay in rented or borrowed facilities either permanently or at least until you have cash to purchase.

If you feel you must take out a mortgage, only ever do so on your first structure, and absolutely NEVER of future expansions. Did I say NEVER? Good. Build the minimum that you can get away with. Make sure that your mortgage can be paid with the current income, and do not rely on any projected future income that will come from wished for growth.

Make absolutely sure you use a zero based budget. Each ministry, each service, each program, must justify its existence. Do not expand in either staffing or campus until there is cash flow to do so.

Focus on ministry rather than facility. The Great Commission says, “GO!” It says nothing about “Invite”. We can be more effective and more involved if we take our work to the hurting rather than finding a way to get the hurting to us. I think of ministry more like ‘search and rescue’ than an emergency room where the wounded are carried. I’m all for emergency rooms, I just think a pro active role is more Biblical.

I intend to flesh these thoughts out in a future book (working title, “Paradigm Shift: a Quest for Revival, Reformation and Revolution in the Church”), but for now, I hope this rant get you thinking.

I am cross posting this in “Recession Proof Living” and in “Paradigm Shift”.

Freeze on Reposession - Sounds Compassionate, but is Bad Business

2010-10-16T07:26:00.000-04:00

We're all pretty much aware that home foreclosures are at an all time high and the number just keeps on growing. You may even have followed the story of the family in Denmark, ME who refused to pay their mortgage for years, but had the foreclosure fail because of shoddy paperwork by the bank.

As that story unfolded, the world discovered that the subprime loan debacle was not the only skeleton in the closet of the embattled mortgage industry. We have learned of falsified signatures, 'robo' signers, clerical errors, and more. The banking world has given itself another black eye. I've even heard stories of people who were current (and always had been) on their loans, being foreclosed on!

Now we have another mess at just the time we need some stability. What we don't need is a knee jerk reaction that cripples the already wounded housing industry. But what we're getting is a knee jerk reaction. Go figure.

There is talk of a moratorium on foreclosures and some lenders have enacted voluntary freezes. On the surface, that sounds compassionate and responsible. In reality, it has the potential of hurting everyone who is trying to sell a house or even buy one. Here's why I think so.

First, if I'm a title insurance company, I am much less likely to risk underwriting anything. No title insurance, no mortgage.

Secondly, if I'm a lender, what motive do I have to loan money? If there is no guarantee and I must bear all the risk, I have no incentive to put my money out on the table.

If I'm a homeowner, I'm tempted to to say, "Hey, why should I pay my mortgage? The guy down the road hasn't paid his in 2 years and nothing has happened, why am I being punished for being responsible?"

If I'm trying to sell my house, I'm stuck because even if someone wants to buy my house, the buyer's trouble in finding title insurance or a willing lender may kill the deal.

There is no excuse for the shoddy business practices that have led to this mess. The perpetrators should be uncovered and dealt with accordingly. But let's not damage our economy more, by over reacting. In my opinion, the suggested moratorium is a political move rather than a financially sound one. Deal with each case, each mortgage and each lender on an individual basis. Grant assistance where assistance is required. Dole out justice where justice is required. Repossess where appropriate, and fine or close up those businesses who have done wrong. But don't, please don't, risk us all.

The Fed is Making Me Nervous.....AGAIN!

2010-10-11T05:50:00.000-04:00

I'm not an economist. I don't want to be one and I don't play one on T.V. I'm just a guy who wants to live on less than I earn, avoid debt, build enough wealth so that I don't have to worry about economic down turns and upticks and help others do the same.

Like I said, I'm not an economist, but as I watch our Federal Government and the Federal Reserve pile bad decision upon bad decision, I grow concerned that sound economics is an endangered category. I read this morning that the Fed is considering printing more money, with the intent of driving down the dollar and driving up inflation.

To my simple Hillbilly mind, that sends the wrong message. First, driving prices UP via inflation just before the Holidays, in a time of high unemployment, does not indicate a concern for the welfare of the average American. The focus appears to me to be on foreign investment, by making it less expensive to invest in America; kind of like a big sale.

Perhaps it will work, but it's just as likely to make foreign investors run for the hills. It will not spur borrowing, which is another desired outcome. As long as people remain out of work at a near 10% level, we are not going to see the spending that the Fed keeps wishing for. Creating inflation will not do that, either, though it may ward off deflation.

It seems to me that we should look to ourselves, rather than to the outside to solve our economic uncertainties. Lower taxes, cut spending and let the markets take care of themselves.

For the average individual or family, the way to face the future is increasingly clear; eliminate debt FAST, put God first, live on less than you earn, grow and emergency fund of 1 year of living expenses, store up one year of staples, save at least 10% and slowly increase that to 20%. Everyone who works this plan for the next 7 years will find themselves secure against whatever the future holds. I am convinced of it.

Moving More to Facebook

2010-09-20T07:16:00.000-04:00

As some of you know, I am trying to maintain (poorly) three blogs, three websites and two facebook pages. That's kind of silly. Especially in light of my current efforts in getting some new books and home study courses created. So, in order to manage my time, yet try and stay in touch, I'm going to cut back on my blogging for a while and increase my facebook presence. Please encourage your family and friends to follow the IOU NO MORE facebook page. And stay tuned for an announcement regarding a brand new newsletter coming this fall.

An Inconvenient Fee

2010-09-15T06:39:00.000-04:00

It's Property Tax time in Georgia. Oh, joy! Regardless of any resentment or questions about value for money, it's time to pay. As I normally do with bills, I went online to pay my property taxes. Our local Govt. has a nice page so we can pay without the bother of writing checks or affixing stamps to envelopes and walking out to the mailbox.

I went through the usual routine of entering all my information and debit card number. I hit enter and get a 'review payment' page. Nice touch. It is there I noticed that there was a significant difference between the total I was paying and the actual tax bill.

Reading through the darned thing, I discover a $58 'convenience charge'. Convenience Charge? $58? I think not. I already feel gouged by taxes and now they hope to get more with a convenience charge? No, thank you. I cancelled the order and am writing a check.

The moral to the story is, always watch for hidden fees. Some of them are doozies.

In a related note, Suntrust Bank, where we keep our farming account has just announced the end of our free checking program. We will be assessed a monthly fee if we don't maintain a minimum balance. The problem is, we don't maintain anywhere near a $1k balance in that checking account. We opened it for two reasons; 1. we want to keep our farm business as separate from our personal accounts as possible and 2. they offered us 'free checking'. Well, now they've removed the 'r'.

I have great news for Suntrust, we are going to make their administrative duties a bit easier. We are closing our account. That way they don't have to do all that adding and subtracting and fee assessing. I'd rather have an account. But I'm not paying fees for such a small regular balance. So, we're going cash.

Decision made. As the radio commercial says, "Day one, living solid". Much more solid without Suntrust fees.

Falling off the Wagon or Just Getting Lazy?

2010-09-08T05:56:00.000-04:00

As some of you know, I'm working on an updated edition of IOU NO MORE and a BUDGET BOOT CAMP audio and workbook home study workshop. As I've worked away on the project, I've become aware at how lax I've become in financial matters over the last couple years.

It's not like my Bride and I have started ringing up credit card debt again, or took out a car loan or something, but a lot of cash has flowed through my fingers in frivolous spending. I'm sad about that. I've been really good about the big things, but little leaks have meant that we have not saved as much as we should.

So, while I haven't fallen off the wagon, I have certainly become somewhat financially lazy. I wanted to share it with you for a couple of reasons. First, by making my own foibles public, I add a layer of accountability to my life. Secondly, I am hoping that it will help others will understand that money management is a lifetime commitment like our health. We all make mistakes. I am a fellow traveler. On beggar showing another where to find bread.

In some ways, being debt free (except for the mortgage) has been more difficult that trying to become debt free. It's been easier to lose intensity. So I'm it the process of trying to refocus and get back on track with my financial goals. And my goals are lofty ones.

Having Fun on New Curriculum

2010-08-28T06:48:00.000-04:00

I have been working the last couple weeks on a new Budget Boot Camp home course. I'm having a ton of fun with it. It will essentially be a home based version of a Boot Camp live event. It will have an audio presentation (available in both electronic or cd formats) and a workbook with forms, instructions and other helpful materials. I'm confident that this project will take 'the simplest money management plan on earth' to a whole new level. Instead of taking weeks to get through a system, imagine being able to get the whole program on a single cd or mp3. Now, imagine getting a 'realistic budget plan' (as one recent email to us said), at a greatly reduced financial investment from other programs on the market. It works. It's fun. Its simple. It costs less. I love it.

We're also working on a newsletter. I think the newsletter may be ready by the end of the year. The Budget Boot Camp Home Version may not be complete until near the end of January.

Lottery Fun....

2010-08-20T16:11:00.000-04:00

As I often do, this morning I stopped by the gas station to fill up the car. At the cash register, I had to wait in line behind the lotto crowd.

I am amazed that otherwise sensible, ordinary, hard working men and women would stand in line to throw money away. They could have handed it to me out in the parking lot and saved themselves the time and energy of walking all the way into the QT and waiting in line. I’m just sayin’………

The appeal of the lottery escapes me entirely. It is the ultimate impulse buy. For multitudes, it is an irresistible Siren Song. For the managers of the lottery it is a never ending cash cow.

I was thinking about the sheer volume of potential combinations of numbers that could come up and had to get online and see what the odds are. According to the official Georgia Lottery website, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 175,711,536. If you buy 2 tickets, you don’t reduce the odds by half, as some people think. The actual odds in that case are 2 in 175,711,536. The odds of winning the Powerball Grand Prize are 1 in 195,249,054. The odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 280,000.

If you take that $1 you spend on the lottery and stick it in a jar, the probability of having $52 at the end of the year is 100%.

Conclusion, the best way to guarantee winning at the lotto is to save the money instead. Now THAT’S what I call FUN!

Getting Radical

2010-08-08T21:35:00.000-04:00

I found this article on ways to get serious about money management, so I thought I should share it. Have Fun.

Integrity Tests

2010-07-22T06:30:00.000-04:00

I don't travel on business as much as I used to. I'm ok with that. But this week I had occasion to travel out west to a business conference. I was reminded just how many integrity tests business travellers take every day. There is little accountability on the road. There are many opportunities to hedge, fudge, accomodate and compromise core values. I will share a simple one that relates to money.

Two of my colleagues and I shared a taxi ride from our hotel to the airport. Our driver was a pleasant woman who seemed to enjoy her job and chatted politely about the usual surface topics that accompany these kinds of routine shuttles.

When we arrived at the airport, I paid the fare and tipped her generously (for the record, I am a pretty good tipper. Good service deserves good rewards.). She thanked me and asked if I needed a receipt. When I replied in the affirmative, she pulled out the company receipt pad a proceeded to tear off a copy for me. She handed it to me and thanked me again for my generosity. As I took the slip of paper, folded it and put it in my pocket, I noticed it was blank. I smiled, somewhat saddened.

Our company will gladly reimburse me for the cab fare, but not the tip. I have no problem with that. A blank receipt provides me a perfect opportunity to put whatever number I choose on that pink piece of paper. No one in my company will question the amount I write down.

Integrity tests. We take them daily. Who are we when no one is watching? Some are big ones. We've all heard, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Some a little ones, like fill in the blank taxi receipts.

For the record, in case you're wondering, I passed. This time. But each new day has fresh challenges. I tremble at the prospect of facing the constant barage of attacks upon my character. I am flesh and flesh is so frail. I try and follow two simple rules, that are framed by questions; 1. Would I be embarrassed if my wife or Jesus walked in on me right now? and 2. What would I do in this situation if my wife or Jesus was standing beside me? Since both are always with me, one in my heart by a commitment we made before God and witnesses, and one quite literally omnipresent, it's hard to get away with much. :-)

Have a great day. Good luck with your test.

Protect Us From The "Consumer Protection Bill"

2010-07-16T13:03:00.000-04:00

Yesterday congress passed the "Financial Overhaul" or Consumer Protection Act bill. But who will protect us from Govt. As with the Health Care Bill, the 2300 page bill was not read and passed with the help of three liberal Republicans.

The short version of what happened is, this bill will grow Govt. but not the economy. This was bad for America and it's very sad.

All these things remind us that we must each take charge of our own financial lives. Pay attention, live within your means, avoid debt like a plague. Use cash. Trust God. Win.

Back Online

2010-07-12T06:01:00.000-04:00

Twice now, I've tried to lay this blog to rest. Twice now, it's been resurrected because of demand and need. Perhaps I should learn my lesson.

Thank you to everyone who has emailed me over the last few months. It seems that the IOU NO MORE revolution still resounds with many people. I am touched and blessed.

In the spririt of full disclosure, some of my money management views, especially regarding wealth building have changed in the three and a half years since IOU NO MORE was published. Those changes will probably require a rewrite of some portions of the book. But since discretionary time is an endangered species with me, I'm not sure when that writing will happen.

The final incident that drove me back to this blog came in two steps. Working backwards, I read an article last week of the continual growth of bankruptcy claims in the USA. It seems that even with all refinancing of delinquent mortgages and low interest rates, people still can't get a handle on their debt and are giving up.

That article instantly reminded me of a conversation I had with an attorney from the midwest who said that he has become overwhelmed by the sheer volume of bankruptcy cases that have come to his office. He said the number of files in his drawer is staggering.

With those two pieces of information nagging at my mind, I feel God is leading me to reopen this door. I don't know what will happen once it's open, but here goes.......

A New Look at How Americans are Addressing Economic Conditions

2010-03-29T15:27:00.000-04:00

Found this interesting article from Forbes.com. Thought I'd share it.

When Faith and the First Amendment Conflict

2010-03-26T11:08:00.001-04:00

An interesting storm is brewing in Texas. And we know what kind of dust and mud can be kicked up down there........

A college in Stephenville (SW of Ft Worth), is planning a performance of the 1998 play, 'Corpus Christi' which portrays Jesus and many of His disciples as gay. You can read about it by clicking here. In the play, Jesus and Judas share a passionate kiss and Jesus performs a gay wedding for two of his followers. Ultimately, Jesus is crucified under a banner that reads, "King of Queers". Alrighty, then.

Is anyone surprised that this little play might ruffle a few feathers and incite a mob scene or two. Somebody wire Arizona and get the Earp brothers to Texas in a hurry. There's gonna be trouble.

In 1999, some Muslim clerics, upset that Christians did not take what they considered a strong enough stand against the play, issued a fatwah (death warrant) on the author. I remember the tempest at the time.

Meanwhile, back in Texas...... conservative Christians are lining us, crying, "Blasphemy. Shut that play down," and the college administration is throwing up their hands, claiming, "First Amendment". It's High Noon.

Nobody wins when something like this happens. The college comes off looking like rabble rousers and the Christians come off looking like wild eyed extremists. How very sad.

I am one of those conservative Christians. 'Corpus Christi' is in direct conflict with what the Bible says about Jesus, the Gospel and Biblical morality. My convictions require me point out the affront. My heart is broken that Jesus is presented in this light. My God is mocked and I ache over it.

The letter of the law may very well be on the side of the college. Christians must allow alternative, even contradictory views to be expressed. Sometimes those views will sting. Sometimes they will offend. But we must take the high ground.

We are outraged when Christians are persecuted in other countries. We decry the absence of freedom of expression in certain religions and nations. We must not become what we loathe in others. We need to occupy the high ground. The eternity of millions is at stake.

Why in the world would we expect those who don't share our belief system to conform to it? On the other hand, why would those who demand 'tolerance' of Christians deliberately incite? That is disrespectful. But let's face it, there is no greater example of iconoclasm than the American college campus. There is something about youth, higher education, restlesnness and the first amendment that bring out the rebellion in our young bucks and does. Has it ever been different?

Dear Christians in Stephenville:
You are justified in your sense of indignation and hurt. But I urge you to reply by speaking the truth in love. By all means, confront the issue head on. Do so, however, with reason, dignity and grace. Let the force of your argument and the power of the Holy Spirit be your plan of action. Leave the flailing, video bites and castigating to lesser groups. Jesus is Lord, even of the First Amendment of the Constitution. The Truth will win out. I guarantee it.

Dear Tarleton State University:

You are correct. You are entitled to host a public performance of 'Corpus Christi'. But is it wise? Are you being true to freedom of expression, or hiding behind a technicality to deliberately offend your neighbors? Sometimes wisdom directs us to subjugate our rights for the sake of community and good will? Your coice. Exercise your rights or demonstrate discretion? Tough call.

Dear combatants:

You are in the public eye now. Choose your words and actions wisely. We are watching. You are each, both, in a position to win the argument and lose the war. You are all in my prayers.

The Irony of Expensive Bargain Grocery Shopping

2010-03-23T07:04:00.001-04:00

Anyone who has read this blog or flipped through IOU NO MORE, knows that I really believe in bargains. Saving money, spending less than you earn, are mantras I've chanted for years. But I've modified one of my long held tenets, bargain groceries.

The more I study, the more disturbed I become regarding what we're putting into our grocery carts, and ultimately into our bodies. Have you read the ingredients label on a can of tomato sauce or a box of cereal lately? If you were to take a few items in your cart, sit down and google the list of ingredients, you would be horrified at what you are ingesting yourself and feeding your loved ones.

I can't help connecting the dots and finding a link between our desire for cheap food and our ever increasing health care costs. Common sense tells us that we can't fill our bodies with all these chemicals and avoid the consequences. Ever wonder at the growing numbers of colon cancer victims, ADHD in children, obesity? We're killing ourselves with food. And not just at the dollar menu (Why is fast food cheaper than fresh food? That's another story).

I don't really want to throw blame, we all, the grocery chains, manufacturers, big agra, big government, big pharma, consumers, carry some of the responsibility. And we all can play a role in changing our diets, our health and our future. But it will have an associated financial cost at a time when many, most, families are living on budgets so tight the cash can hardly breathe.

Our cheap groceries are making us unhealthy, yet we can't afford to pay the prices for healthier choices. What are we to do? This is what you might call, a conundrum.

I am a proponent (and participant) in what's known as the 'slow food' movement. I believe in eating fresh, eating local and 'eating with the seasons'. B and I drink only raw milk, eat pastured eggs, grass fed meat and even make our own cheese and butter. We grow nearly all our own fruits and vegetables. We are on a plan to remove ourselves from the current retail food system. I hope millions will join us.

If you are on a budget, you probably can't do it all at once. I get that. Eating right, is expensive. It is a tragic reality. I recommend small changes. Every bite of something good for you means that many fewer bad things are entering your body.

Try buying a pound or two of grass fed hamburger. Maybe a dozen pastured eggs from a local farm. Support your local farmers' market. Grow a single tomato plant, or bell pepper plant. Make a window box for herbs or plant some in your flower bed. Many herbs are as pretty as they are healthy. Get creative. One or two small changes are a GREAT start

Read. Research what you eat. Investigate. Start slowly if your budget requires, but by all means start. Drop us a note for more information if you have questions. Alternatively, check out our other blog, "Our Edible Suburb". I truly want to help you save money, but spending a little more up front on groceries, might just save you a ton of money in medical bills. Chew on it.

Random Thoughts on the Health Care Reform Vote

2010-03-22T06:48:00.000-04:00

I was disappointed to see the result of the Congressional vote on the Health Care Reform Bill. It is unquestionably another step in relinquishing our rights and responsibilities and having them handed to our Government. That is always a poor choice, even when the motives may be noble.

Governments botch everything they touch. New infrastructures will be built, new taxes levied and ever increasing layers of bureaucracy formed. It is inevitable. And the bigger these things grow, the less efficient (read, more expensive) they become. Look at Social Security, which has become nothing more than a Ponzi scheme that is on a path to leave tens of millions of baby boomers (and subsequent generations) out in the cold.

I believe it is a tragic mistake to allow Government to take over health care. I pray that this fails quickly or is repealed by the next congress. It is bad business. There are less expensive, more effective ways to lower health care costs and improve coverage. Tort reform and and opening the door for interstate insurance competition are just two things that would create dramatic change overnight without added cost to the American people or the American Government. But we wouldn't expect a room full of trial lawyers career politicians to push a plan like that, now would we?

Having said that, I would suggest that the Church has been somewhat culpable as well. It seems to me that conservatives and evangelicals have often been so caught up in a right wing political agenda that we have neglected our responsibility to preach and teach God's word in a way that brings such a revival to America that our society changes from the inside out.

Sometimes, I can't tell the difference between a church service and a Republican National Convention. I see more tears and emotion at Memorial Day and Fourth of July Services than at Easter. I get the feeling that we are more excited about the freedom symbolized by the flag than the freedom bought on a cross.

Liberal and Mainline denominations have become virtual spokespersons for the Democratic platform. I am often dismayed at the emphasis on 'Social Justice' replacing a call to repentance. It's honorable to be concerned for the poor and disenfranchised, but it is cowardly and unbiblical to hand our individual responsibility over to secular government. What a waste of resources and a travesty of stewardship I see coming from the Christian left.

My heart aches to see Christians take up the Bible in one hand and a trowel in the other. I long for a day when we preach with revival fervor and work like crazy to change the culture at the same time.

I have a vision of health care, sustainable agriculture, education and commerce driven, not by political direction, but by devotion to the God of the universe and His great command to "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself."

I would love to see God's people on the left and on the right ask for a 'Mulligan' and start over using God's Word as a guide for our behavior and doctrine. If we would return to Him, we will begin to see this country change, one life at a time. It will spread to homes, communities, States and finally national level. We can see crime reduced, poverty banished, needs met, divorces abandoned, literacy improved and justice roll like rivers.

Imagine a future that does not require Republicans and Democrats, but leans on something we used to call, common sense. It sounds crazy. But I still believe.

One more random thought: while I think the health care reform vote, if implemented, will be bad for America, I don't believe it will usher in the Apocalypse. I have lived under Socialized Health Care before. It is inefficient and ineffective. It is demoralizing to doctors and nurses. But it is not the end of the world. It is not even the end of America. There are bigger battles, greater needs.

Wake up, Church! Stop being the puppets of politicians left or right. Don't be distracted by the good, when you are called to do the great!

I have more rambling thoughts and even some practical solutions, but not today. It's time to get ready for work.

I am frustrated, but I cannot despair, because Jesus is Lord!

Iditarod Finish Eerily Similar to Quest

2010-03-16T21:24:00.000-04:00

The top two finishers of this years Iditarod are the same as the top two in the Yukon Quest, only this time Lance Mackey finishes first and Hans Gatt is second. Well done to both of them. And I suspect we are going to see a lot more Iditarod hopefuls begin competing in the Quest as well.

I'm lovin' it.

The Man With Two First Names

2010-03-10T06:49:00.002-05:00

I’m terrible with names. Heck, I’m terrible with anything requiring memory these days, but I’m especially bad with names. Having said that, I’ll likely remember the name, Oliver Chester, for a long time to come.

Frankly, I never should have met the man. I owe the introductions to my beloved bride who has a soft heart and the ‘gift of hospitality’.

Last evening, after a particularly stressful day at work, I arrived home and we sat down to a quick dinner before B would have to rush out to a neighborhood Bible Study she attends on Tuesday nights. We had just finished the blessing, when the doorbell rang. I sighed and made a face. I was quite prepared to ignore the intrusion and do what I do best, eat.

Brittan, normally the shy one, said, “I’ll get it,” and disappeared.

For the next ten minutes or so, I grumbled into my plate while muffled voices wafted my direction from our front porch. The door was open and I could tell the visitor was male. The tone and cadence suggested the conversation was pleasant and non threatening. So I remained in my chair and pouted.

Hunger finally overcame my patience and I was just about to get up and dispel the interloper when I heard, “Sam, we have a guest for dinner. We need to set another place.” You cannot begin to guess my innermost reaction. At least I hope you can’t.

Enter Oliver Chester; single father, door to door salesman, dinner guest.

Oliver is unremarkable in appearance. He is average height and marginally above average in weight. He is soft spoken, enjoys laughing and wears his after shave a little too heavy. I noticed that his finger nails could use a trim and that he loves his daughter very much. He demonstrated a gentle spirit and was somewhat apprehensive about sharing our table. He is a fairly new Believer in Christ and in case it needs to me mentioned, he is African American.

As his story unfolded, I was smitten afresh with the magnitude of the Grace of God. God’s grace in Oliver’s life, and in mine.

Oliver was taught to cook, cut and sell drugs when he was seven years old. His teacher was his own father who also advised him that school was a waste of time and that he needed to make money.

Needless to say, his slope was slippery and facing decidedly downhill. His slide ended him in jail. It was there that grace worked its strange magic.

As a reward for his good behavior, our penal system allowed Oliver conjugal visits from his drug addicted girl friend. Those visits rewarded him with a daughter, whose name I believe is, Olivia. The drugs took the life of the girl’s mother and Oliver became a single dad. A single dad behind bars.

Fatherhood, despite his incarceration, was Oliver’s wake up call. There, in the bowels of the gray bar hotel, he became a man. And along the journey to manhood, he met Jesus. Between the brown eyes of his baby girl and the nail scars of his Savior, Oliver’s fate was sealed. He is a man redeemed. He is not in search of redemption, he has arrived.

We listened has he described his sales job, which he is using to get on his feet. His dream is to open a BBQ restaurant, “OC’s” where he will cook up ribs slathered with his own signature sauce. I have a sneaking suspicion his dream just might come true. And I hope one day to have a dollop of OC bbq sauce stuck to my own chin.

After supper, my soft hearted wife looked at me doe eyed and convinced me to grossly overpay for subscriptions to two magazines we will never read so that the Chesters can chase their dreams. Then she loaded our guest down with doggie bags of stew, rolls and diet Doctor Pepper (with cherry). I signed a copy of "IOU NO MORE" and stuck it in his hand as well. I have no idea why, it just seemed right.

As he left, Oliver said, “It’s going to take me all evening to wipe this smile off my face. Please remember OC and pray for the Chesters.” I will not quickly forget.

The book of Hebrews says, “Remember to welcome strangers. By doing so, some have entertained strangers, unawares.” I don’t know whether or not Oliver Chester is an angel, but I’m pretty sure he has one on his shoulder. And I’m darned certain I am married to one.

Amazing Grace. How sweet the sound.

A Different Taking on Creative Saving

2010-03-08T06:47:00.001-05:00

At my local bank, they have a giant banner of an attractive professional woman beaming her broadest smile while containing the slogan, "Saving is the new spending."

That's a great sentiment. Unfortunately, it is merely wishful thinking. My research indicates that with high unemployment, anemic interest rates and high debt levels, saving is at virtually an all time low. That is an unfortunate reality.

For my money, I think David Bach is one of the best sources for creative saving. I've read all his books and while I don't agree 100% on some of his priorities, (eg. he says 'pay yourself first', while I advocate giving to God first), I really like his ideas on ways to save and making it 'automatic'.

I also stumbled on an article over the weekend that has a slightly different take on saving. So in the spirit of offering a wide variety of viewpoints to encourage thinking and good money management, I'm linking to it here. I want to send up a big thank you to Yahoo Finance for posting it in the first place.

Sleddog Diversion Continues - Iditarod Starts Today

2010-03-06T06:51:00.000-05:00

Ok, so mushing has nothing to do with money management and frugal living. I get it. But it is, and probably always will be, my favorite sport and hobby. Today, not one, but two of my top 6 races of the year get under way.

First, The CanAm Crown in Ft. Kent, Maine. I lived less than 50 miles from Ft. Kent, I have driven my dogs on parts of the trail, I've owned several CanAm finishers and I've worked as a volunteer there many times. I have wonderful memories of the Portage Checkpoint, where I have spent many a first Saturday in March unloading drop bags, tending to dropped dogs, checking sled bags, inflating air mattresses and I don't know what all. I would love to be there today. On the other hand, it's going to be sunny, warm and downright Spring like in Georgia, so I think I'll manage to cope.

The other big event, probably the best known sleddog race in the world, the Iditarod, kicks off in Anchorage, AK later today. Saturday is just the ceremonial start, but the hoopla is circus like. I've never been, but I would dearly love to take a long vacation and be in Anchorage for the Fur Rendezvous and stick around for the start of the Iditarod. That would be a dream come true.

So, dear reader, you can expect a few more mushing posts over the next couple weeks. But fear not, sleddog season will end soon. Then I'll move on to something else..............horse racing! :-)

Streeper Wins Rondy

2010-03-01T06:17:00.000-05:00

The Anchorage Fur Rondezvous final results found the top three finishers in the same order they finished after day 2. Blayne Streeper is this years winner (well done, Buddy). Arleigh Reynolds was a solid second with Jason Dunlap finishing third.

One of the really coolest things for me, was seeing Jeff King finish fourth in his first major speed mushing event. King was driving the Streeper Kennel's second string. His finish says a great deal about his versatility as a musher and says remarkable things about the athletic depth of the Streeper Kennel.

Well done to everyone who finished and to all those who made the race happen and to all the media outlets who kept fans like me informed.

On a personal note, I am really longing to stand on the runners again. Seeing Jeff King, who is a few months older than I am, do so well, inspires me to think that I can still get this old body in shape to race again. Other commitments conspired against me this year, but one last race WILL happen. Of this I am certain. My Bucket List demands it.

Fur Rondy Update

2010-02-28T06:53:00.000-05:00

After two days and 50 miles of racing, Blayne Streeper has a 33 second lead over second place, Arleigh Reynolds. Jason Dunlap is holding down the number 3 slot. Looks like an exciting finale later today. I'm hoping to be able to tune in on some of the action as it will be streamed live.

Strong Field For Anchorage Fur Rendezvous

2010-02-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

Three exciting days of sleddog races begin today in the Fur Rondy Open World Championships. And this year we have an exceptional line up, including the usual suspects of Buddy Streeper, Egil Ellis, Bill Kornmuller and Arleigh Reynolds. But those four are not the only powerful teams in the race. The entry is exciting from top to bottom. This year's rookie class includes 4 time Iditarod (and past Quest champ) winner, Jeff King. I love it when mushers cross disciplines like this. It is quite exciting from a fan perspective.

I am a huge fan of all the drivers mentioned, but I'd be remiss if I didn't give a shout to my sentimental favorite, JP Norris and his Alaskan Anadyr Siberians. I love all sleddogs, but Siberians still own my heart.

I have no idea who will win. I know that Egil Ellis has had a pretty good start this season and that Bud Streeper is fresh off a huge win at the International Stage Stop. I know that Kornmuller and Doc Reynolds can never be overlooked and that there are a few mushers just behind who will take advantage of any misstep made by the favorites.

You can follow the race via Sleddog Central.

Still Think Student Loans Are A Good Idea?

2010-02-17T05:57:00.001-05:00

Then check this out.................

Something You Thought You'd Never Hear From Me... A Compliment For Obama

2010-02-16T19:45:00.000-05:00

As a Christian, Conservative with Libertarian leanings, I have strong opinions about big government and leftist policies. I have offered my share of criticisms of our current President. But I also wrote a post commending his very public high regard for his wife and daughters.

Today, I'm going to compliment him again. I read that the President is backing the building of a nuclear power plant in Maryland and that he is supportive of continued research and development of nuclear energy. I am so pleased to read that. I have been critical of cap and trade, and will continue to be. That is a competitive and economic losing hand. But I'm all for advancing our nuclear powered energy options. I'm also for 'drill here, drill now', shale oil, developing ANWR, wind energy, hydro electric, solar energy and even a bicycle built for two.

So, Mr. President (I'm sure he reads this blog ), I tip my hat (with my right hand, of course) to you on this one. Thank you, sir. Now, all you have do do is change all your other policies...........:-) If you need any advice, I'm here to help.

Congratulations, Hans Gatt, 2010 Yukon Quest Winner!

2010-02-16T06:21:00.000-05:00

What a fun race. What a great finish, with two of the Quest's legendary competitors dueling it out to the very last day. From the Dawson City halfway point, Hans Gatt and Lance Mackey, along with Hugh Neff, had taken and given the best each other could throw. But on the home stretch, Hans pulled away and arrived in Whitehorse 57 minutes ahead of Lance and roughly 2.5 hours ahead of third place Hugh. Thanks, gentlemen, for a week and a half of great fun and exciting racing.

Here's the kicker, sports fans, all three top finishers as scheduled to line up in Anchorage the first Saturday in March for the other 1000 miler, the famed Iditarod. Several other Quest participants will also enter the Iditarod. The are truly the iron men (and dogs!) of the mushing circuit.

Next up for this race fan is the Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Feb 26-28. The "Rondy" is a three day Speed and Stamina event that will highlight some of the fastest and fittest canine athletes in the world. I would love to be there in person, but at least I will get to listen to some of it on the radio, thanks to the World Wide Web.

Yukon Quest Update - We've Got a Race on Our Hands

2010-02-14T14:28:00.000-05:00

At the Carmacks checkpoint, with only the Braeburn checkpoint left before Whitehorse and the finish line, a mere 5 minutes separates the first three places held by, Lance Mackey, Hugh Neff and Hans Gatt. These are three gutsy, savvy mushers and anything is still possible. This race is a fan's dream come true. I'm pulling for all three of them.

Grocery Bills

2010-02-13T22:45:00.000-05:00

B and I made a tough decision this week that will significantly increase our grocery bill. We have decided that we will only buy meat, poultry, eggs and milk that have been raised on pasture rather than in a feed lot or on a corn based diet. The reasons are partly nutritional and partly moral. Financially, it means eating less meat and paying higher prices. But this is a case where doing the right thing trumps doing the less expensive thing.

I must admit, it was a difficult decision. It probably shouldn't have been, but it was. And if we were still in debt, we may have had an even tougher time. Fortunately, being debt free allows us to think and see more clearly. We are happy with our decision. We have been discussing it for a while at "Our Edible Suburb", if you feel like hearing more.

Yukon Quest Reaches Halfway Point

2010-02-12T06:31:00.000-05:00

The mighty Quest is half over now and the real racing begins. At the Dawson City checkpoint, Hans Gatt holds a slightly less than three hour lead over second place Lance Mackey and a three hour lead over Hugh Neff. Folks, these are three mushers who can just plain get it done. I'm really getting excited now. Follow the race at www.yukonquest.com

Introducing........The eKit

2010-02-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

(Caution: Unabashed Commercial Ahead)

The simplest money management plan on earth just got easier to acquire, too! Today, we are launching our, e-kit at only $4.95. This represents the best value anywhere for a world class money management program. We cut out the frills and all 'physical' product for this offer. The eKit includes one copy of the eBook version of IOU NO MORE and a reproducible .pdf of the Transaction Register, Debt Assessment, Basic Spending Plan and the Cruise Control Spending Plan.

The IOU NO MORE eKit is your Declaration of Financial Independence. Join the revolution today.

Only available at our online store.

The Grocery Store: Is Bargain Hunting Killing Us?

2010-02-08T09:51:00.000-05:00

Most of us scour flyers and the internet looking for bargains at the grocery store. We know that Food is a basic necessity, and we want to feed ourselves and our families in as healthy and as inexpensive ways as possible. We clip coupons, we rush from store to store in search of the best deals. Grocery shopping becomes a road trip where we visit multiple shops to complete our lists with the least possible damage to our bank accounts. I've done as much of that as anybody. But is there a hidden cost to our bargain hunting? Why is 'organic' and 'local' so much more expensive than 'non organic'? Are eggs just eggs? Why is one chicken $.79 a pound while another is more like $2 or more a pound? C'mon, it's a chicken, right? Maybe. Maybe not.

Last year, I read "The Omnivore's Dilemma", "Fast Food Nation", and "The Vegetarian Myth", which all opened my eyes to different problems and issues related to our food chain and food consumption. Some issues are nutritional, some are political, some are moral. I recommend them to you, with the warning that they are not easy to read or digest (pun intended). I did not agree with some of the world views or conclusions I read, but I do agree with the well researched facts and issues.

Over the weekend, Brittan and I watched "Food, Inc." which is kind of a synopsis of the issues identified in the above mentioned books. A kind of 'fast food' version, if you prefer. There is a more detailed look at the movie at Our Edible Suburb. Click on the link and have a look.

Food is so important. Wise stewardship of our finances, our health and our world is also important. Balance is not easy. You and I will have to draw our individual conclusions. But it's a critical matter, so handle with prayer.

Yukon Quest Begins Today.......Yahoo!

2010-02-06T08:01:00.001-05:00

Mushing is a part of me. I don't/can't participate these days, but training and running sleddogs is never far from my thoughts. I suppose some people get over hobbies and interests, but this is one I will never shake. But then again, I don't try. I love the sport. And we are in the heart of racing season. There are a few dryland fun events in the late fall. The early season races get going in December in those regions with enough snow. Things heat up in January. But February and March is where the real muscle is. Apologies to the very good races that run in January and April, but my favorites, The Yukon Quest, Anchorage Fur Rendezvous, Laconia World Championships, CanAm Crown, Iditarod and Open North American all fall in the Feb/March Window.

Don't get me wrong, there's no such thing as a 'bad' race in my book. I remember some pretty sloshy, muddy messes back in Scotland and England, but I loved every single one. Those listed are simply my favorites.

And today, the Yukon Quest begins. 24 teams are slated to leave Fairbanks, AK today with Whitehorse, Yukon Territory as their ultimate destination. 1000 miles of mountains to climb, frozen rivers to navigate and innumerable adventures along the way. The Quest is a true test of fitness, strategy, stamina, speed and pure pig headedness. It is not a race I was ever even slightly tempted to consider. Those people are nuts! And I love every one of them.

Several good books have been written about the Yukon Quest. Two of my favorites are "Honest Dogs", by Brian Patrick O'donahue, and "Running North", by Ann Mariah Cook.

You can follow the Quest on the race's official website. Let the games begin!

And Also Available In A Handy Kindle Version

2010-02-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

I'm so psyched. I just got the notice that IOU NO MORE is now available for Amazon Kindle users. So there are three formats to choose from: paperback, Kindle and e-book. I love this country!

IOU NO MORE E-BOOK AVAILABLE

2010-02-04T12:19:00.001-05:00

We are making the e-book version of IOU NO MORE available for $1.95. I'm tired of messing around. I want this revolution to spread. Please order a copy and tell your friends to get one, too. You can order from our store. Any of the links in this update will take you to the store.

The Dark Side of Capitalism

2010-02-03T06:34:00.001-05:00

Don't misunderstand the headline. I'm a free enterprise kind of guy. I am, as I keep saying, a Christian, conservative, libertarian, capitalist. It is the first trait that holds the last two in balance.

Socialism and what I call, 'unfettered' Capitalism, have this in common; they are overseen by bullies. With Socialism, the bully is Big Government. The Govt wields its might, taking what it wants, from whomever it wishes without remorse, doling it out in measure to those it deigns worthy, while taking the lion's share to feed it's own ever growing appetite ("feed me, Seymour, feed me").

Capitalism, without moral grounding, has corporate greed as it's taskmaster. Giant corporations and their tycoons forcing their will upon others, without concern for anything other than profit alone. A moment arrives when the drive for profit exceeds interest in either customer or employee. "Humanity be damned! Feed me, Seymour, feed me."

For those of us more conservatively inclined, we find it easy to point out the sins of Socialism. We shout "Danger" from every rooftop, pulpit and soap box we can find. I have little problem with that. Socialism, if allowed to bloom, will poison our future.

But the liberal is not without argument when decrying Big Business. A case in point is right out of today's headlines: Rupert Murdoch and his ilk have targeted Amazon's pricing of Kindle Books because it is undermining their profits. They are demanding a new pricing model. Never mind that somehow the Kindle has people reading again. Never mind that real books may benefit from 'trickle down economics'. Yeesh.

I meet people almost every day, who say, "I love my Kindle. I've read more books since I got mine that I've read since I got out of school." And they do it because, a. the Kindle is cool. Never underestimate the wow factor of a product. And because the books are priced at the consumer's sweet spot.

Mr. Murdoch is not a fool. He didn't become a corporate giant by idiocy. But if they push this too far, and trust me, it won't be hard to do, and people will quit buying and reading again. Society will be better off for that, how? He won't care. He will have crushed the competition and regained market share.

I love my Kindle. I have always been a reader. But I read even more because the book pricing of Kindle books makes that possible. In fact, I have even bought several traditional ink and paper books lately, that weren't available on Kindle, but something I read in a Kindle formatted book inspired me to get it. Take the current Kindle pricing model away and I will go back to buying fewer books. The big winner...... my local public library, where books are FREE. Rupert Murdoch doesn't care.

Setback

2010-01-30T19:23:00.000-05:00

The scales are not my friend. Technically, they tell the truth, which is what friends do. But darn it, sometimes the truth hurts.

I knew I had gained a few pounds over the Holidays. Many people do. My clothes were a bit snug and I had to loosen my belt a notch. But we had thrown ourselves back into South Beach Diet mode a couple of weeks ago. Two solid weeks on phase 1.

I did not get on the scales before we started back. I didn't want to see. I figured that after two weeks I'd be back where I left off and the momentum would carry me on. Boy Howdy, was I in for a shock. I stepped on the scales and even after 2 weeks I was 12 pounds above the last time I'd weighed in. TWELVE POUNDS.

I was in a funk all day yesterday. I cursed my weight, my appetite, my genes and my grandparents who passed them on to me. I shook my fist in dismay. I prayed. But I didn't comfort myself with a Big Mac. Once upon a time I would have. That's the difference in me today from me a year ago.

The simple reality is, I will probably never completely win the war with my weight. I may one day be a normal weight. In fact, I fully expect to be. But my metabolism, body type and appetite will always ensure that I will never be able to lose vigilance. The fat man inside me will always be lurking, waiting to break free.

I had a setback. I messed up. I have to deal with it, pick up the pieces and move on. That's life. Actions have consequences. Etc. Etc.

It was not much different when B and I were working our debt snowball. We were very close to our goal and had a mutual brain fart (financially speaking). We made some stupid decisions that added nearly an extra year to our life in debt. We felt so stupid. But we picked ourselves up, cleaned up the mess and won.

I've had spiritual setbacks, too. There have been times, more than I wish to recall, when I have made some beyond boneheaded choices and stumbled from the path. Sometimes I've landed on my butt. On a few occasions I was flat on my face in the sewer. Not pretty. But God was always there to reach out, help me get up and point me back in the right direction.

Anyway you slice it; physically, financially, spiritually, I'm a klutz. I have setbacks. Most of them are my own creations. My choices: give up, give in or get up. I'm to competitive to stay down. I like to win. So, I'm up.

Had a setback lately? Over it yet? Don't you think it's about time to let it go? Let's go win something together. How bout today?

I Love My Kindle.......But...............

2010-01-29T09:40:00.000-05:00

I've had my Kindle (technically, Kindle II) from Amazon for about a year now. I really love it. Downloading books is simple, quick and generally less expensive than buying physical versions of them. It is, however, not cheap to buy, and even Kindle books are more expensive than the FREE books we can check out from the public library. In my case, the library rarely has the books I want to read, so my Kindle is an asset. In the first year I saved enough money on the purchased books (I'm a fairly active reader) to pay for the reader. So, it's all good.

The Kindle is not great for text books or graphic intensive books, but for novels and most non fiction, it's fantastic. It is also great for newspapers (remember those?) and certain blogs. The font size is easily adjusted and the entire experience is like reading a paperback, but without worring about the pages falling out, or losing your place, or having books pile up around the house. So, while it's not perfect, the Kindle is a fun asset and tool.

Yesterday, I got an email from Amazon announcing "Kindle for PC", meaning, I could download an app that allows my kindle books to be available on my laptop in addition to the actual reader. Just what I need, another distraction at work. But I eagerly downloaded it. The cool part is that the pc version and the reader, synch so that whichever one you open you are at the place you most recently left off. So, you can bounce back and forth smoothly. How cool is that?

Here's the but.......... But what does that say about privacy? The conspiracy theorist who lives inside me, sees 'Big Brother(s)' somewhere in the inner workings of all our new technological advances. If we use computers, especially if we use the internet, we have no privacy. Everything we do can be tracked to one degree or another. Keep that in mind next time you are surfing or downloading.

We applaud when a pedophile or terrorist is captured and incriminating evidence is located deep within his(or her) computer, despite attempts to wipe it. And rightly so. But the same technology allows our 'private' time to be made accessible also.

Technology is a boon. But it comes with a price beyond the one scanned at the checkout. I love my Kindle. I love the worldwide web. But in using it, I have compromised my liberty, or at least my expectations of complete privacy. I'm just sayin'...................

Budget Basics Refresher

2010-01-28T06:59:00.000-05:00

1. Budgets work. Call it a spending plan if it helps. Call it fantasy spending. Call it whatever psychologically makes sense to you, but do it. Money won't master itself. Besides, it's not really just the money you're trying to get control of, it's your life. Budgets simply help your order that part of your world.
2. Budgets have to be written. You can't 'do it in your head'. If I had a dollar for every time someone told me how writing stuff down became a revelation, I'd... well... I'd have a lot more money to budget, that's for sure.
3. Establish your perimeter: The following, in order, are the first things to budget. Everything else follows
   a. God - Non negotiable. He is first.
     b. Food - You gotta eat, and you know you're gonna eat. You can't pay bills if you're too weak to work.
     c. Shelter - Duh! Roof over your head, lights, heat, insurance, basic phone service, clothing (public nakedness is still against the law in most places).
     d. Transportation - Umm..... make that, 'reliable' transportation. You don't need car payments. But you do need a way to get to work, school, church, etc. Oh, and you need gasoline, oil, tires, that sort of thing. Budget for them. Plan ahead.
4. Use a good, simple budget template like the ones available at IOU NO MORE. They will help you remember to cover all the basis.
5. Have an emergency fund. Set aside an emergency fund of at least $500 to $1000 for the unexpected. If you are debt free, you should set aside at least 6 months of expenses (more on that in a couple weeks)
6. Put as many bills as possible on automatic bill pay. It really helps. I still have trouble remembering to pay the ones I have to write checks to and mail in. Auto pay and online pay are fantastic tools.
7. Write down every transaction in a ledger. Use a form or use the nice little registers that come with your checks. But make sure you do it. Check your account online at least twice a week. I'm sure you have online access because you're reading this online now.
8. If you're married, make sure you create your budget in cooperation with each other. Being on the same page is mission critical to your finances as well as your relationship.
9. Review your budget monthly. Tweak it when necessary. Do it in pencil, it makes changes easier and saves on paper.
10. Have fun with it. It's only money.

New Website Announcement

2010-01-25T06:39:00.000-05:00

For many people, Recession Proof Living means growing at least some of our own fruits and vegetable, or even meat. Brittan and I have made urban farming a lifestyle. Now we're going public to help as many people as possible add food independence to financial independence. Our new website, www.east-of-eden-farms.com will tell you a whole lot more. The site will also contain our food and farm blog, allowing you to access it either directly or via the website. We are so excited about the project.

Reborn

2010-01-23T07:15:00.000-05:00

This weblog lives again. After looking at several other options, I've decided to resurrect the RPL blog. The attention to IOU NO MORE and BUDGET BOOT CAMP has grown so much since October that I feel I need a way to continue to communicate with the expanding base of people who want to truly prosper: in life, in finances, in spiritual matters. So I thought the best way would be to bring this space back and start to tweak it, broaden it, expand it. It's good to be home.

Time Gets Away

2009-10-24T07:09:00.000-04:00

I've been swamped with work lately. So much so that I hadn't even noticed that it's ten days since I updated this spot. Wow.

Gotta run. More work to do. Talk to you soon.

A Small Saving Goes a Long Way

2009-10-15T22:22:00.000-04:00

I'm an iced tea nut! I love iced tea. I start drinking it mid morning (after my two cups of coffee) and drink it all the way up till bedtime. On average, I drink a gallon of iced tea a day. I fully realize that information will give the caffeine police a coronary. Chill. I've tried decaf. It is expensive and taste like crap. Not that I've tasted... well, you get the point.

For the last 6 or 7 years I've been drinking 'Cold Brew' by Lipton. I like it. It tastes good. It's easy. I'm lazy. A perfect relationship. Until recently.

As some of you know, B and I have tightened the purse strings in order to save money to buy a farm. For those in the dark, you can read about it in earlier posts.

Like most people, one of the areas we are playing with is, groceries. Since we've become debt free, we've been rather extravagent with our food spending. So, for a while, we are cutting back. Anyway, I noticed that Wal Mart "Great Value" tea bags were a whole dollar less than the "Cold Brew" tea bags. Plus there were two more bags in the box. I use a box a week. Right off the bat, by being willing to boil the water, I'm saving $52 dollars a year. But it gets even better. After one pitcher, I discovered that I only need to use one bag of the "Great Value" tea versus two of the "Cold Brew". that's an additional savings of $52. That's over $100 per year with one small adjustment. I find that very motivating.

My House Smells GREAT.....

2009-10-15T16:34:00.001-04:00

.... but it's way too quiet.

Brittan left this afternoon for Kansas to attend her Grandfather's funeral. She's only been gone a couple hours and it's already quiet and lonely. Roll on, Tuesday.

To console myself, I am cooking up a batch of Chicken Phaull, my favorite quasi Indian recipe. The one that is impossibly spicy. I tried an experiment using all dried ingredients; garlic, onion, garam masala, cumin, ginger, etc. I even used habaneros and ghost peppers that we had dried in our dehydrator. We want to market the ingredients as a kit next year so I thought I'd try it out on myself first. As always, the tomato sauce also came from our garden.

The prep time was cut dramatically. I could toss all the dry ingredients in a small food processor and bam, it's done. I did have to add extra liquid as the dried spices soaked up all the extra moisture in the tomato sauce. Apart from that, it looks and smells great. I'll let you know later how it tastes.

Update: 10:00 p.m.

The results were very good. The heat was everything one would expect. Blazing! The dish was just a little dry. I added a quarter cup of water. Half a cup would have been better. It also needed more salt and more ginger. But adding more is always better than having too much of an ingredient.

I expect it will be even better tomorrow. Tomato based dishes are often better the second day (think lasagna).

The Bes Laid Plans Get Blown Up From Time To Time

2009-10-13T06:35:00.000-04:00

I remember one time, hearing James Dobson, founder of Focus on the Family, say that in the heat of an argument, his wife once quipped: "When are you going to start putting into practice that stuff you write about." OUCH!

Even after all these years, that story makes me smile, because its such a great reminder that we all mess up. We all fail and fall short of our own goals and dreams once in a while. It doesn't make the ideals wrong. It doesn't make us losers. Failing is not failure. We are human and we fumble the ball on occasion. It's what we do when that happens, that will determine our destiny.

In a football game, when a player fumbles, the object is to regain possession. Sometimes it means falling on the loose ball. Other times it means picking it up and running with it. Never does it mean, quitting.

B and I have dramatically changed our budget recently. We have tightened the strings just like we did when we are in debt. We want to buy some farm land and we need some cash to make that happen. One of the things we've cut pretty much out of the budget is Eating Out. We love dining in restaurants. Its fun, romantic and stress free. But it's not cheap.

Also, since we are on the South Beach Diet, we have some guidelines about what foods are best to eat to maintain our weight loss momentum.

This past weekend we blew up both plans in a huge way. First we at out Saturday night and for two meals on Sunday. Saturday's meal was loaded with carbs. Both Sunday meals were at burger joints. We spent coin and we ate big.

Here's the deal. We don't sweat the small stuff. Sure, there are consequences in the pocket book and on the scales. But it's not world peace. It's not sin. It's not a violation of a Geneva Convention. The correct procedure is, acknowledge the mistake, learn from it, and MOVE ON.

The key is, Learn From It. We will be better prepared next time the same set of circumstances converge.

We all mess up. Admit it. Pay your dues. Repent (that means change your behavior). Get back in the game. Grab the ball before someone on the other team does. Run. WIN!

President Obama Wins Nobel Peace Prize

2009-10-09T07:07:00.000-04:00

Now there's some news out of the blue. For me, it's a head scratcher. I didn't vote for him. Won't vote for him in the future. I disagree with nearly every policy the man promotes. If he is east, I am west. If he is left, I am right. You get the picture.....

But Barack Obama is President of The United States of America. And it's a win for the home team, so I congratulate him. Now if he'd just drop the Health Care Bill he'd likely win the American Peace Prize. But, that's wishful thinking on my part.

In my mind and in my heart the President has done nothing politically or diplomatically worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize. Except possibly in a leadership area that has gone mostly unnoticed by supporters and critics alike. Barack Obama demonstrably loves his wife and daughters. I truly enjoy watching the Obamas intereact. In this old right winger's eyes our President has set an example for the rest of the world leaders on what Loving your Wife looks like. Perhaps that in itself promotes a lost notion of Peace.

Congratulations, Mr. President.

"The Vegetarian Myth" - a Book Review

2009-10-08T07:00:00.001-04:00

"The Vegetarian Myth", by Lierre Keith, PM Press/Flashpoint, June 2009 is a disturbing, enlightening, frustrating read. I stumbled on it via a referral on the Nature's Harmony Farm Blog. I decided to read it as a part of my sustainable farming research. What I read challenged me on many levels.

First, Ms Keith and I have totally conflicting world views. I am male, Christian, heterosesual, right of center and capitalist leaning. Her positions are always contrasting and often antagonistic towards mine. Some pages dripped with bitterness. I found the tone frustrating at times.

"The Vegetarian Myth" describes Ms Keith's journey from Veganism to Omnivorism. She chronicles and documents her reasoning with great detail and passion. She rebuts the Political, Moral and Nutritional arguments of vegetarianism (primarily its 'extreme' expression, veganism) using case studies and scholarly research not often found on the front pages or top shelves of most media outlets.

Keith takes great pains to acknowledge the noble intent and sincerity of the average vegetarian, while attempting to pursuade them that they have been duped by 'Big Agriculture'. Her arguments are eye opening. Her modus operandi is 'follow the money'. Sometimes that trail takes the author (and reader) to some pretty frightening places.

I found the section on how commercial farming destroys the soil and environment to be particularly compelling. But my commitment to sustainable farming and gardening methods may cloud my objectivity.

I was profoundly disturbed by the discussion of soy. Ms Keith's documentation is there, she's done her homework. I will continue to research the subject. If what he says about the risks of soy is even half true, then we have a problem. Stephen King has never written anything as frightening to me.

"The Vegetarian Myth" is well written and, as mentioned earlier, passionate. I do not agree with some of her conclusions about the nutritional non value of grains. But her related arguments about the destructive nature of monocrop agriculture is compelling.

If you read "The Omnivore's Dilemma" you really must read "The Vegetarian Myth". You don't have to agree with either view, but the open mind demands point, counterpoint. I am an omnivore. My world view makes it a non issue for me. But that same world view drives me to respect the choice to abstain from meat. But we all must make good choices in what we feed ourselves. "The Vegetarian Myth" does for Big Agra what the animal rights people have done for factory farming. Ms Keith has pointed out the abuse, the lies and the all consuming drive for profit.

PETA and their ilk have not caused me stop eating chicken or beef. They have, however, opened my eyes to abuse and to devise a plan to provide my own meat via humane farming and hunting. Lierre Keith has not convinced me to stop eating wheat or oats. But I will learn to grow my own, organically and sustainably. I will make my choices differently.

After reading "The Vegetarian Myth", I have the strong impression that the author would not like me much. We are a galaxies apart in the way we see the universe. But I came away impressed and how many places our different philosophies converged.

Read "The Vegetarian Myth" at your own risk. But read it.

A Nice Reminder

2009-10-05T06:00:00.001-04:00

I saw a fun little article on Yahoo Finance this morning that I just have to share. It's a nice reminder of the 'miracle' of compound interest. Read it and SAVE.

Sustainable, Self Sufficiency - The Third Phase of the Revolution, Part 5

2009-10-02T08:49:00.000-04:00

I have an idea. Let's wrap this up. Even Doctor Zhivago eventually ended. Not happily. Nothing in Russia ever does, for some reason. I have higher hopes.

After realizing how much we were saving by growing our own fruits and vegetables, how much better they tasted and how great it felt not to be at the mercy of big agriculture and big government (even in this one small area), my mind turned to other ways to increase my sense of independence and to tell the world.

In researching ways to provide our own source of meat, I concluded that the best options for suburbanites are chickens (dual providers of meat and eggs) and rabbits (quiet, prolific, tasty and nutritious. With the downside being that so many people think they're cute). Goats made honorable mention (small, easy to maintain and dual providers of meat and milk).

Unfortunately, our HOA (big government, neighborhood style) does not allow chickens. Bummer. They were out. Goats were banned as well. I would have to settle for meat rabbits, only. Not so fast. Brittan discovered a paragraph in the HOA covenants that outlaws rabbit HOUSING. And bee boxes, too. Well, crap!

While I understand a subdivision not wanting the neighborhood turned into 'The Beverly Hillbillies', I was disappointed in the narrow mindset that can't grasp the concept of a well designed, well maintained, backyard operation. Properly designed, housing for 2 to three chickens and a buck and two doe (with offspring) would be neither an eyesore nor a source of foul odor. The noise would be less than comes from many suburban dogs and most children, the droppings would go straight to the compost bin and the housing could be quite appealing. But in a neighborhood that doesn't even allow garden sheds, I was just plain out of luck.

For now, we just stick to our veggies. And I intend to increase my hunting trips this fall. Hunting is a good alternative meat source. Especially in places over run with deer and hogs, like Georgia, or teeming with wild turkey, like many places in the midwest. Hunting also helps keep wildlife populations in balance.

In the long run, though, our change in priorities (at least my change, you'll have to ask B about hers) means we will plan to move in the near future. I can't take the HOA restrictions and I want to become truly self sufficient. My independent streak is too strong. Besides, we would like to 'downsize' our mortgage a bit. We're not stretched, but we can't save like we want, our used to, there are too many places available that are nice, cost less and have fewer restrictions.

As we got deeper into the concept of self sufficiency, the subject of sustainability kept appearing. Sustainability refers to growing methods and animal husbandry that do not strip the land. Much global agriculture is destroying the soil by the thousands of acres. In order to continue to use it, gallons of chemical, fossil fueled spiked fertilizers are doused on the land. These concoctions find their way via seepage and runoff into the waterways and are slowly poisoning them. I'm not kidding. I'm not being alarmist. I'm just sayin'.

It doesn't have to be that way. I am, unlike some people I admire very much, not opposed to all use of fossil fuel or fossil soil (think, peat). But I am all for moderation and renewable methods. In our own case, our raised beds and containers, use a soil that is a mixture of compost, peat moss and things like perlite or vermiculite. It is applied once and maintained annually, with added compost (which we are beginning to produce ourselves). We believe this is a fine solution for the average backyard gardener and small, hobby farmer. It saves space, and the environment.

Similarly, I have become a proponent of 'pasture based' animal husbandry. Raising animals that are close to the local ecosystem and using natural grasses and fodder rather than Big Ag produced grains. I full support those who use these methods and intend to do so, myself.

The final step in the 'evolution of Farmer Sam' is a desire to move to the country and put my hypotheses into practice. Green Acres really is the place to be. It's not practical for everyone, but it is for me.

Sustainable, self sufficiency, however, is practical, to varying degrees, for anyone and everyone. I encourage you to think on these things, implement what you can, and change the world. Or at least, change yourself.

Sustainable, Self Sufficiency - The Third Phase of the Revolution, Part 4

2009-10-01T05:44:00.001-04:00

Partly, I'm a control freak. Partly, I'm a cheapskate. Pretty attractive combination, I know. Whatever the motivation behind my thinking, it dawned on me that the average American (and Brit, as well) has become enslaved to big government and big business. Others control, or want to control, what we eat, wear, drive, what kind of, and how much health care we can have and how much we're going to pay for all of it.

In response to what I felt was an ever increasing encroachment on my autonomy, I decided to do something about it. Along the way, I've realized that some of the things I've discovered would benefit millions of others.

Phase 3, began merely as a baby step towards self sufficiency. Brittan and I developed a 3 year plan to grow all (or as close to all as possible) of our own fruits and vegetables. Because we live in surburbia, we didn't know how much we could accomplish. So we did our research. We soon discovered that our thinking about needing many acres and a tractor to supply our nutritional needs was out dated. It was good news.

We discovered raised bed and container gardening. In particular, we found the earthbox and the square foot garden. By using these systems, and supplementing with ordinary buckets, we have taken huge strides towards our goal. And we do it in a fraction of the space that one would expect. Visitors often comment, "Your garden isn't nearly as big as I imagined." That makes me happy, because that's the point.

Becoming self sufficient doesn't require a ranch in Montana. We can begin right where we are. We can do it at our own pace and fit it into our individual budgets.

We found that the start up costs were a bit steep, because we did so much at once. We started with three or 4 large raised beds, about 10 earthboxes and another 10 buckets. We more than doubled that for this year's garden. Next year we'll add a bit more, but not a lot. An individual, or family, could begin with just an earthbox, a square foot garden or even a couple of buckets. But be warned, it can become addictive.

We eased the pressure on our bank account by working the garden into our budget. When you don't have other debt, you can do things like that. So we built one bed at a time and bought earthboxes three at a time. While you don't need to use our timetable, I do recommend having a plan.

Somewhere along the way, we've had a couple of pleasant surprises. One is, we've discovered that 'slow food' has.... flavor. The stuff you buy in the store, even the fresh produce, simply doesn't compare to what we grow. It isn't even a close race.

We also discovered, nutrition. We are filling our bodies with nutrients and are exempting all the chemicals found in store bought food. Our diet is better balanced and more filling. And it tastes good. I said for years that I hated vegetables. Turns out, that's because I'd never tasted any. Heck, I even like squash (besides the fried kind. I always like that). Next year I'm giving eggplant another chance. That one will take a miracle.

Our plan is working, financially, too. We are saving money. As an example, red, yellow and orange bell peppers range in price from a buck ninety nine to $5.99 a pound at various outlets around our area. Green ones are a bit cheaper, but still are never less than fifty cents a piece. A packet of 30 bell pepper seeds is less than $2. A third of that seed packet will provide the average family more than enough bell peppers for the year. Plus, you'll have some to give away, or sell to recoup your costs. This is not rocket science. Do the math.

A plan like ours can be implemented almost anywhere. I know of urbanites who have their gardens on their roofs. Some use their patio's. Others carve out spaces in various parts of their yards and work the fruits, vegetables and herbs into the landscape. Many of the varieties are quite lovely.

The clock on the wall tells me it's time to get ready for work, so I need to wrap this up. I'll finish next time, by explaining the final step in the evolution of my thinking. I hope some of this is making you think, too.

Sustainable, Self Sufficiency - The Third Phase of the Revolution, Part 3

2009-09-30T05:58:00.000-04:00

Let's Review:

In phase one, we began giving 10% of our income to God, became debt free and started saving 10% of our income in various investments like mutual funds through our 401k. We also started an emergency fund.

Phase two has seen us start a process of raising our giving and saving to 20% of our income. In addition to a 6 to 9 month emergency fund, we are storing up a minimum of 6 months supply of staple household goods, also in case of emergency. The logic behind this is simple; if a time of long term income loss should strike, we will be able to survive and even thrive in those circumstances. The formula behind phase two is built on Bible passages in Genesis and Leviticus.

I freely admit, that phase two is easier for Brittan and me than it would be for some, because it is just the two of us. Two people require less income and fewer stored goods than a larger family. But it seems to my simple mind, that it is even more important for a larger family to think ahead. I'm just sayin'.

Phase two was still in formulation when a perfect storm came together to create phase 3; sustainable, self sufficiency. First, the economy was sitting on a 'bubble', which, as you are well aware, has burst. Second, political direction of this country became quite unsettling to me as I heard about a future of higher taxes and increased Government control of all areas life. I am not interested in any Government oversight of my life, aside from National Defense. Third, I began resenting the ever increasing prices, and ever dropping quality of produce and other supplies available from supermarkets and big box stores. Fourth, I started reading the labels on things I put in my grocery cart and grew disconcerted over the chemistry experiment that has become the American diet. Fifth, I began thinking about factory farming, both in terms of row crop agriculture and that of livestock. Sixth, my health was falling apart, including severe obesity and a variety of heart and nervous system disorders.

I looked at all these things and was not happy. I am not the kind to take adversity lying down. I'm a fighter. I have taken my share of 'beatings' in life, but I won't stay on the mat. It's not the way I'm wired.

I'm also a control freak. I need to be in control of my own circumstances, my own destiny (note: I freely, willingly, totally know that ultimately, God is in control. That fact comforts me. But God's control should liberate me to act, rather than medicate me into complacency or resignation). I have a few good years left before my 'sell by' date and I will not surrender the reigns to any man, organization or Government. If I want a better life, better health, better environment, it is my responsibility, and no one else's, to take steps to ensure that.

Over time, a plan of action came together. I'll describe it in part 4.

Sustainable, Self Sufficiency - The Third Phase of the Revolution, Part 2

2009-09-28T06:55:00.000-04:00

During our last chat, more of a monologue, really, I described some of the thought processes that have been driving some of my decision making during the two years since the release of IOU NO MORE. The fact is, I have changed a great deal since then. The principles and outline for becoming debt free have not changed, my thoughts on "Life After Debt", have changed dramatically. I will probably elaborate on that a little in my upcoming e-book, "Debt Beat Dads". But I'll introduce the subject here, in hopes of stimulating some thought. BTW, we always love it when you share your thoughts.

I finished the last entry, with the fact that it was my Bible reading that has changed my views of wealth building and preparing for the future. Specifically, my new thinking comes from the first 5 books of the Old Testament. Even more specifically, from the latter chapters of Genesis and from the book of Leviticus.

Before I go into any detail, I might as well address all my Christian friends who will say, "We're not under the Old Testament Law, anymore. We're under Grace." You are exactly right. If you will stay with me long enough, you'll see that I'm not advocating a return to Mt. Sinai, but rather I'm adapting some PRINCIPLES gleaned from Joseph and Moses, that I believe give us insight into the heart of God and provide some COMMON SENSE approaches to our own times and finances.

Phase two of the Revolution most profoundly impacts the categories of 'Giving' and 'Saving'. Ok, I'll backtrack. In IOU NO MORE, I conclude that money is really only good for three things; Giving, Saving and Spending. That's it. That's the list. You could maybe add, burning, but the coins don't do that well. The 'Cruise Control' spending plan is divided into those three categories. You can see the plan in the Appendix of the book and it's available as a part of our 'Complete Forms Library' in the store.

In 2007, when I released IOU NO MORE, I promoted the traditional concept of giving 10% (tithe) and saving 10% (to 15%) of income. I still believe that's a great place to start. My Bible reading, however, has caused me to raise the bar. Note: If you are trying to get out of debt, I still recommend saving up a $1,000 emergency fund and putting all other saving on hold until after you're debt free.

As I was reading through the Old Testament last summer, as part of my daily devotional time, I was struck by the fact that the Israeli's gave much more than a 10th of all they had. While it's true that the tithe was the starting point, by the time you add up all the various offerings and sacrifices, the Israeli people were giving a minimum of 20% of their resources to God. How interesting. Most of us are not aware of that, because we rarely read the book of Leviticus. I freely admit, it's not a page turner, but it sure was an eye opener this time through.

Similarly, the same book, affected my views on savings. In several places, Moses describes the "interest rate" for buying back property, etc. as being 20%. That made me go, 'hmmmm....' The real kicker, though, for upgrading my views on savings came from the story of Joseph. In Genesis 41(first book of the Bible), Joseph, of 'Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat' fame, after a series of dramatic events, becomes a prominent leader in Egypt. He advises Pharoah to 'tax' the people 20% of their harvest for 7 years to prepare for disaster. When the disaster (famine) came, Egypt had enough for her people and surplus to sell to neighboring nations.

The implications of all those Bible passages was not lost on me. Common sense, a rare commodity in the 21st century, said that 20% saving and giving was not in the Bible by accident. God doesn't work that way. To me, they have come to symbolize wisdom and generosity. Wisdom, by saving 20% in order to be prepared for whatever comes our way, and to build wealth. Generosity, by giving 20% to relieve the suffering of others and to advance the Kingdom of God. I got very excited about it.

Here's how Brittan and I are working out phase 2 in our lives: We began by increasing our giving. We raised our weekly contributions to our local Church and we are giving to other causes, as well, mostly Christian Mission organizations. Our goal is to raise our giving to 20% of our income. We are at approx 15% now.

As for saving, we're doing that two ways. 1. We are saving from our income via 401k and a money market account. Our goal is to have at least 6 months living expenses in a money market account with easy access. This is not an investment, it's insurance. We're not trying to get rich off of the emergency fund, we're trying to make sure we have some security in time of crisis.

Additionally, we are storing up a minimum of 6 months (eventually, 1 year worth) of basic household supplies, like dried beans, rice, soap, toilet paper, etc. We don't make a big deal about it. We're not 'survivalists' or doomsayers. We're trying to be wise. We are not doing it all at once. We buy a few items each time we go to the store. We only buy things that have a long shelf life, and we buy basic or generic brands for our 'emergency store house'. We also have a 'rotation' plan that uses up things that are getting close to shelf life and replacing them with fresh. Again, our goal, through various methods of saving money and storing goods is to save 20% of our income.

I know it sounds crazy; give 20%, save 20% and live on 60%. But you'd be surprised what you can do when you are DEBT FREE. Can you imagine how the world would change if the debt free revolution really catches fire. Just think about how much cash would flood the economy, how much money would be out there for charitable causes and how much less stress would be felt by the average family. The pressure taken off of Government agencies would be enormous. I believe. Oh, yes, I believe. And I'm doing my best to live out my convictions.

Coming up: Phase 3, "The Road to Self Sufficiency". Stay tuned.

Sustainable, Self Sufficiency - The Third Phase of the Revolution, Part 1

2009-09-24T06:27:00.001-04:00

My financial journey has been a scenic one. It has taken many twists and turns. Some of the views have been breath taking. Others have been rather terrifying. But I have enjoyed every minute. I love sharing my story and my vision for universal financial freedom with anyone who will stay still long enough to listen.

Now that we are debt free (except mortgage, but that will be soon enough), I have turned my attention to what it means to live a 'debt free lifestyle'. I thought I would move down a path of 'wealth building', but that one is well worn, having been travelled by many who are far more knowledgable than I. Two of the great ones are: Dave Ramsey and David Bach. I love their wealth building ideas. Since they've already done the heavy lifting, and since my name isn't Dave, I took another path. Fortunately for me, my bride has been willing to walk this new trail with me. I am a lucky man.

As you might guess from the title of this weblog, I call it "Recession Proof Living". The website will be, www.recessionproofworld.com. The space is reserved, but not yet built.

If you read IOU NO MORE, you know I introduced the subject of putting your finances on 'Cruise Control'. If you haven't read the book, get a copy right away. If you can't afford a copy of your own, borrow one. I'm serious. The plan will change your life.

Turns out that for and ADD charged, Type A male, like me, 'Cruise Control' was boring. Smart, but not satisfying. So I began to investigate why I was feeling unsatisfied. I came up with several answers. Some were spiritual, some were political, some were personal.

Politically, I am very concerned about the direction of this country. Both parties worry me. I see Govt. getting bigger and the American wallet getting smaller. My 401k hit the tank like everyone else's did. I have no confidence in the future of Social Security nor in taxation. I began to ask myself what would happen if this country had a total meltdown. What would life look like? Would a 3 to 6 month emergency fund be enough? Were others wondering the same thing?

Personally, I am a control freak. I need to be in control of my own destiny. And I felt at the mercy of the Government, my employer and the big industries that dominate supply, demand and pricing of commodities and other necessary goods and services. I look down the road and am bothered about what I see.

I'm not a Global Warming believer. I hate fear mongering politics disguised as concern for the earth. Bah. Humbug! But I do have some things in common with the environmentalist fringe. I don't like the way we're mishandling resources. Traditional farming methods are destroying the soil quality of our planet at an alarming rate. We are washing tons of chemical fertilizer waste into rivers and streams, poisoning the water and the life dependent on those waters. And whatever you do, don't get me started about commercial animal production....Oh, by the way, have you looked at the label on a can of pretty much anything we put in our shopping carts on a weekly basis. We are pretty much ingesting the entire periodic table. I'm thinking that might not be a good thing. And we're paying for the privilege.

On a final personal note, I was born to live in the country. I need room to roam. I need to work in the soil with my hands. I need the fresh air, the livestock....the manure. Green Acres is the place to be. Living in the suburbs, spending hours of my day in commuter traffic, punching the clock, is not 'cruise control'. It's torture.

But it was reading the Bible that changed my whole perspective. God has a way of grabbing hold of me, shaking me like a rag doll and pointing out my obvious blindness. What I discovered about saving and giving was life altering. It was also liberating. Phase two of the Revolution came directly as a result of my Bible study. Phase three is, I believe, a natural consequence of phase 2. I'll start explaining myself next time.

Budgeting 101 - Part 6, Transportation

2009-09-22T06:11:00.000-04:00

So far, we've completed 3 sides of our perimeter; God, Food and Shelter. The West wall will complete the circle. The final side of our perimeter is, transportation. You have to be able to get to work, school, church, grocery store, etc. So figure it into the budget. Plan for it so you're not surprised:

car payments (though, these will be temporary)
gas and oil (including oil changes)
insurance
license and registration

Later on, we'll budget for maintenance and repairs, but for now, we're taking care of the basics.

As you can see, I'm only describing BASIC transportation. I highly discourage automobile loans. They are not necessary. If you've read IOU NO MORE, you know I've outlined a plan so that you'll never have to make a car payment again......ever.

On a side note, I can't even begin to describe how much I loathed the recent "Cash for Clunkers" program. The memory of it, still makes my blood boil. Millions of Americans now have new debt they can ill afford.... Ok, Sam, relax. Have a coke and a smile.

There are still a few things we can do to save on transportation costs.

Sell your car and buy a 'cash car'. It's the only kind I drive. I rent nice ones on vacation, but I drive paid for older ones for every day. It saves, by eliminating payments and reducing insurance
Increase your deductable on your insurance
Car Pool
Whenever your job allows it, work from home one day a week
Walk, or ride a bicycle to things that are close enough to do so. This saves money and improves health at the same time. I love multi tasking.
Change your oil every 5k rather than 3k miles. Many studies have shown that this is optimal. But, DO change it. Changing your oil costs a little at the time, but will save on costly repairs in the long run.
Put a little thought into your excursions so that you accomplish multiple tasks on a single trip, rather than taking multiple trips out.
Use public transport whenever possible. When I lived in the United Kingdom, I used bus and train services frequently. There are places here in the States where this is still a valid option. Take advantage of it. It could save you a bucket full of cash.

Saving money on transportation is not as easy, or as sexy as some of the other boundary items, but it's critical. Transportation costs can be real budget busters, so plan carefully, write it down and stick to the budget. Your wallet and your future will thank you. And remember, we'll happily provide you with a FREE Basic Spending Plan. We're here to help.

Really Cool New Website

2009-09-21T21:12:00.000-04:00

I want to thank Tim and Liz over at Nature's Harmony Farm for introducing me to Veggie Trader.

Veggie Trader is kind of like Craigslist for fruits and vegetables. It's a buy, sell, swap site. The site hasn't been out long and doesn't have many subscribers yet, but I hope it catches on. It could be a fantastic way for those interested in supporting and enjoying local produce to communicate and do commerce. I signed up right away. Don't be surprised if you see ads from "Recession_Proof" (my user name) appearing in the near future. Check it out. I hope you enjoy it.

Interruption

2009-09-21T06:15:00.000-04:00

We interrupt the current series Budgeting 101 series just to say that these are exciting times for the revolution. We have two new websites under development as well as a bi-weekly newsletter. The 'store' is receiving a total makeover and we are designing a line of organically grown products to be sold fresh at local farmers' markets, with jarred and dry ingredient options being available via the internet.

For example, let's suppose you go to your local farmers' market (which you should), and you see a 'kit' that has all the ingredients for a wonderful marinara sauce, beautiful Roma tomatoes, garlic bulb, onions, fresh italian herbs, already measured out and bundled together with a nice recipe. How much better would that be than opening a jar of preservative laced junk food, or even than making something from the flavorless factory farmed vegetation sold at most supermarkets. We're talking, fresh, local (if you're in Georgia), organic, chemical free, natural goodness.

Ok, so you can't make it to a Georgia Farmers' Market, what if you could buy that same kit online. Even better, what if a marvellous cook like Mrs. B had already prepared the sauce and canned it just for you? Mouth watering yet?

We're also considering a line of jams, jellies, spice rubs and curries. Several books are in various stages of production. I'm just so excited about the future. It started out as a little paperback called, IOU NO MORE, and this revolution is about to introduce millions to a Recession Proof World!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled Budget.

Budgeting 101 - Part 5, Shelter

2009-09-18T06:56:00.000-04:00

We have two walls of our budget perimeter in place, God and Food, so now we turn our attention to the East boundary, which we call, 'shelter'.

Again, without trying to become too repititve, the walls of our perimeter come before ANYTHING ELSE. We budget and pay these things first, regardless of who screams, calls, threatens or postures. We're going to pay ALL our debts, to be sure, but one of the fundamental behavior modifications in Recession Proof Living, is correcting our priorities and sticking to them. It will be hard, sometimes, especially if others are hounding us for payments, but if we do the right things, and do the right things right, everything will turn out right.

Ok, back to the East boundary. We want to keep a roof over our heads, we want to keep the lights, on, stay warm and dry, etc. so our third priority is, shelter. Under shelter, I include, electricity, heat, house payment and basic phone service.

Let's take them one at a time:

Electricity: We are fairly dependent on Ben Franklin's discovery these days, so paying the light bill is high up our priority list. We use electricity for light, running appliances, powering our telephones (in most cases) and sometimes even for heating our residences. Therefore, I recommend staying current on the electric bill.

I also recommend doing all we can, to keep the electricity bill as low as is reasonable. There are many things we can do to save on electricity:

as light bulbs burn out, replace them with the new energy saving flourescent kind. They are more expensive to buy, but consume only a fraction of the power and last for years. You will start saving the very first year
turn lights off when you leave a room
use window air conditioners rather than central air (where practical) and only cool the rooms you're in.
set air conditioning at something like 78 rather than 68.
open windows and use electric fans when weather permits. It's much cheaper. Besides, I'm sure you're mother told you, "Fresh air is good for you!"
lower the thermostat on your water heater
run dishwashers and clothes washers and dryers only with full loads. Better still, air dry (when possible and practical)
unplug computers, televisions, printers and other non essential appliances when not in use, to save on 'electricity leak'. I don't recommend unplugging the refrigerator. I'm just sayin'.....

Hopefully, these tips will get your creativity cranking and you'll think of other ways to save.

Now, let's look at heat. The best way to save on heat is to set your thermostat lower. Brittan and I are famous now, for setting ours at 62 degrees in the winter. People think we're crazy. We think we're crazy like a couple of foxes, when our heat bill is a fraction of those of family and friends. We do turn it up when we have guests, because not everyone is acclimated to our world.

We stay warm with layers. It's a little trick I learned living in Scotland, where frugality has reigned for centuries. Americans want to be able to run around the house in our gym shorts in January and be comfortable. And that's ok, if you have piles of cash somewhere, but most of us don't, so we shouldn't act like we do.

I like to wear sweat pants, or similar, on winter evenings. I complement those with comfortable slippers and a nice ankle length house coat that Brittan bought me some years ago. And I promise you, I am never cold. Brittan, dresses similarly. She accessorizes with some nice throw blankets that we have on our sofa and chairs. She usually has a dog or two sitting in her lap as well, which helps.

The point is, we are comfortable and save a bunch of money. Anyone can do it. It's all about common sense and behavior change.

If you have a wood burning fire place, use it. But don't buy wood. Go out to the woods and pick up your own. Spend some time in the summer splitting logs and letting them season. You need the exercise, anyway. You know you do.

We close the vents and doors in rooms we don't use, to avoid wasting heat on empty spaces. Again, there are lots of ways to save on heat costs.

House payments. Really, the only way to save on these is to make sure you don't have 'too much house'. If you're a home owner, your payment should not exceed 25% of your take home pay. I know that some lending institutions will loan higher, but that's because they have their own best interests, rather than yours, at heart. You should have a fixed rate mortgage. Any other kind will do you more harm that good in the long run. If you're renting, make sure you look around and get the best deal possible.

Keep in mind, that being a home owner also means things like, property taxes, water bills and etc. that must also be budgeted. I recommend using the same formula that we do for everything else. Using property taxes, take the annual tax bill and divide it by your number of pay days. In my case, that's 26. By doing so, you'll know how much to set aside in each pay period. Use a simple money market account or savings account for this. It's not an investment. It's merely a place to set the money aside to pay it when it's due. I don't recommend wrapping your insurance into your mortgage payment. All that does is loan the money to the mortgage company. I'd rather pay......ME. I don't get much interest from my little savings account, but at least I'm in control of it.

Next is, basic phone service. We need to be able to stay in contact with family, friends and emergency services. These days, most companies offer unlimited long distance in the basic service for a pretty low price. In fact, telephone service is cheaper now than it was when I first got out of college many years ago.

Don't go crazy with a bunch of add on services that you don't need. And you'll notice I said nothing about cell phones, unlimited text messaging or premium cable. You don't NEED any of those while you're trying to save money. That is poor stewardship of your resources. The key word is BASIC. Sometimes, often, in fact, cable companies have some great deals on 'all in one' serivces for phone, cable and internet. Shop around. Do the math. Make good choices. The best financial choice may be basic phone, no cable and dial up internet..... for a while. When you need high speed, go the the public library. It's only for a while. I'm not talking forever.

In our case, we were able to maintain a great rate on an all in one package the whole time we were in our 'get out of debt' phase. So you might not have to go too spartan. But we were, and are, prepared to go that route to win.

We also got rid of some cell phones. While you are trying to gain control of your finances, some cell phones and certainly premium services, need to go. If you're on the road and need a phone, get a phone. Not a hand held computer/social networking connectivity recepticle, a PHONE. Consider a pay as you go phone. Remember, you're trying to win. Cool can come later. Besides, I think winning is cool.

Shelter is important. Be wise about it. Establish your perimeter. Victory is in sight.

Budgeting 101 - Part 4

2009-09-15T21:02:00.000-04:00

Establishing a perimeter, continued....

Millions of Americans (and millions more around the world) will tell you that money is not just tight, right now, it's scarce! With unemployment growing and the dollar shrinking, it's more than difficult to make ends meet, it's difficult to get them to see each other. That's why creating a household budget is more important than it's ever been. This is war.

The first thing an invasion (or defense) force needs to do is, establish a perimeter. A perimeter represents the boundaries of their operation. Everything behind the line will be defended at all costs. The forces' very lives and future depend on it.

In our last post, we established God as our North boundary. The first thing we budget is our tithe to Him. Now it's time to take a look at the South boundary, which is food.

Many people are nearly as incredulous about prioritizing the South boundry as they are the North. For some odd reason, we think that food should be the last thing we budget. To the contrary, food is second only to God in a wise budget.

You have to eat. Your children, if you have them, have to eat. That is a fundamental fact of life. It is non negotiable. Master Card can wait. They might scream, but who cares? If they do, just chew louder.

In order to have the strength to work and earn the money to pay your bills and debts, you need nourishment. That comes from a little something I like to call.....food. It is not noble to put debts ahead of nutrition. It's foolish. God wants us to be wise.

Frankly, women find that last paragraph harder to fathom than men. I have known many women, including my own mother, who would go without food, but never be a day late on a VISA payment. Rarely, though, do I meet men with such a sense of honor. With us, it's "Feed me, Seymour, Feed me." I assure you, if you take care of your basic nutritional needs, you will be in much better shape to master your finances.

When I talk about food being our number 2 priority, I'm not saying it has to be luxurious or expensive. It has to be filling and nutritious. Mac and Cheese may replace Wine and Cheese, and Beanie Weenies may replace Steak and Lobster. You may very well have to give up eating out for a while. And cooking may become a brand new hobby. You might try checking out sites like Cheap Cooking for ideas to help you get started (in a fit of gratuitous self advertising, Brittan is currently compiling a "Recession Proof Cookbook" which we hope to have available early in 2010. Keep your eyes out for that.)

One of the ways we found that helps save a ton of money at the grocery store, is planning our menu out before we go to the store. By doing so, we know exactly what we need, how much of it and when we will need it. Then, we make a shopping list to help minimize impulse buying.

Some other things that will help reduce the cost of food:

use coupons
buy store brands
watch for 'day old' items on sale
buy in bulk
shop in the 'club stores'
use the internet to watch the grocery store sites
study the circulars that come in the mail
shop in the 'off peak' stores like Aldi and Sav - a - lot
grow some of your own fruits and vegetables (more on that in a few weeks)
buy fresh vegetables only when they are in season
incorporate pasta, rice or potatoes into your dishes (in my day, we called foods with those things 'casseroles')

There are many other things you can do. Hopefully, this list will get your creative juices flowing.

I also recommend going shopping at pretty much the same time each week, and don't go when you're hungry. Make grocery shopping a game. For Brittan and me, it's a fun time together. It's just the two of us and acres of food stuffs to choose from. It's great.

Remember, God comes first. After Him, as the old T.V. commercial says, "You gotta eat!"

Budgeting 101 - Part 3

2009-09-14T06:46:00.001-04:00

Now it's time to begin 'establishing a perimeter'. You have your pencil, Basic Spending Plan, calculator and recent bank statements? Good. Let's get started.

One of the FAQs I receive is whether to budget weekly or monthly? The answer is more complicated that I'd like. The simple answer is; whatever works best for you. Since most bills are monthly, that option is the one normally pursued. But some, like car insurance or property taxes are quarterly or even annually. That complicates things just a bit. Here's what I recommend. I recommend budgeting 'per paycheck'. I'll use house payments as the example. Take the monthly payment and multiply it by 12 which will give you your total house payments for the year. Then, divide that by the number of paychecks you receive in a year and you'll know how much to budget per paycheck.

I get paid every two weeks. So, staying with our example, and making the numbers easy, we'll say my house payment is $1,000 per month. I will multiply that by 12 and come up with $12,000. Next I will divide that by the number of paychecks I receive, which is 26. Many people assume that bi-weekly translates to 24, but there are always two months that get 3 checks. I love those months. Anyway, I take the $12,000 and divide by 26 and I get $461.54 (technically, it's a long decimal fraction, but rounds to to that.) So I put that amount down in the Spending Plan as the amount I need to budget each paycheck. Simple. And easy if you have a calculator.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled perimeter:

The North Wall of your perimeter is "God". On the Basic Spending Plan, I call it "Tithe". There are still an amazing number of people who remain bewildered at this being the first item budgeted. I, on the other hand, am bewildered that anyone would consider anything more important than God.

Let me explain my world view. I'm glad this is a blog rather than Twitter, because I'm going to need more characters.

I am a Christian. My relationship with God is the most important relationship in my life. I love my wife, my children, my grandchildren, with every fiber of my being. I have friends I hold very dear. I love my country. But nothing compares to my love for God and what He has done for me.

I won't bore you with the details of the triumphs and tragedies that are my life, but despite my numerous flaws and failures, Jesus loved me and spilled His blood on a cross, so that my sin could be forgiven and I could have a relationship with Him. It is a remarkable love story. And it has an extremely happy ending. After three days, Jesus rose from the grave. He conquered death itself. He is totally able to forgive my sin and give me a new life here on earth and eternal life later. I intend to make the most of the opportunity. The only thing that would make the end happier, is if you had a relationship with him, too. He is waiting and eager to welcome you into the family. You can read about it in the Bible. If you don't have a Bible of your own, you can borrow mine. Alternatively, you can read the love story of Jesus right HERE.

Brittan and I made a decision long ago, that God would receive the 'first of the best and the best of the first.' It's like laying the foundation for a building. If the foundation is good, the building has a chance at survival. If the foundation is bad, 'Lucy, choo got problems." So, if God is first, then He is first in our budget. Frankly, I don't believe the IOU NO MORE plan would work any other way. I'm certainly not going to test it. My mamma didn't raise no fool.

Tithe literally meant 10%. We give the first 10 percent of everything we make to God. The first check I write each week is made out to our local Church. If I get a bonus, or windfall, 10% of that goes to God right away. Bonus money gets split between the local Church and a variety of ministries we support. (Note: if you stay tuned till the end of this series, you'll discover a plan to raise your giving to 20%. Same thing with your saving. And you'll still have more than enough to live on, quite comfortably. But it's way too early for that.).

I don't want to get into a big, hairy debate about tithing on gross vs net. Just start somewhere. If you're afraid to start with 10%, start with 5% and plan to raise it to 10 when you see how amazing God is at honoring your faith. If you have questions about tithing or about how to begin a relationship with Jesus, drop us a line.

One more side note: Currently, the IRS allows Americans to take a tax deduction on our tithe. How cool is that? Give money to God, and then get to write it off your taxes. You should take full advantage of that. It's not unspiritual. I don't recommend giving FOR the deduction, but I don't think we should reject the offer, either.

The day may come when giving to God is no longer a tax deduction. My behavior will not change at that time. I give because I love Him. Everything I have ultimately comes from Him. Jesus is Lord of all. Even the tax code.

To summarize: The very first thing to budget is your tithe. Determine how much you will give. Write it down. There, don't you feel better already?

Budget 101 - Part 2 - Establish a Perimeter

2009-09-12T06:59:00.001-04:00

There are probably 3 keys to effective budgeting. Yep, only 3. This is not rocket science.

Create a Written budget
Create the budget in the right order.
Implement the budget

Of course, if you're married, there is a 4th key: Create the budget together.

In our last post, we discussed the importance of Keys 1 and 4. The next several installments will relate to Key 2, Create the budget in the right order.

Perhaps doing the budget in a certain order seems a bit silly, but I promise you, the whole process usually stands or falls on this step.

A typical budget process goes like this; A motivated individual, or couple, grabs a sheet of paper and starts jotting down all the bills: house payment, car payment, credit cards, electric bill, etc. Since the regular amount, or minimum payment is generally known, the numbers are fairly easy to come by. After all these bills are added up, the sum is subtracted from the monthly income. Finally, whatever is left over is written down, "for food". Usually, that number is pretty small. Already, the once motivated budgeter is a bit concerned.

Then its time to go to the grocery store. Its amazing, how we budget food last, but go to grocery shopping the most. Anyway, the once highly motivated, now somewhat concerned budgeter, goes to the store and buys groceries. At the checkout, he/she is hit right between the eyes with a bill that totally blows their written budget out of the water. Discouraged, the now disheartened, once highly motivated budgeter, pays for the groceries and trudges to the car.

As she/he loads the bags into the back of the car, the totally defeated, once highly motivated budgeter, says something like, "This is stupid. Budgets don't work. It can't be done. It's all a lie. Debt in inevitable. I wish I'd never bought that stupid book."

I know it happens that way, because I talk to people almost every day who've done it that way. Oh, and then there's the fact that I tried it that way..... several times. Hey, I never said I was a quick learner.

The order in budgeting is crucial for morale. But it also helps us align our spending with our priorities. And most of us need to get our priorities in order. Our spending patterns synch precisely with the order of what's most important to us.

I think of finances as a war. It's a matter of survival and conquest. And I'm determined to win. My family and my own life are dependent on the outcome of this struggle. So, just like a commander would be foolish to enter a battle without a plan, we would be equally foolish to expect to win the cash flow wars without a strategy.

The first step is to 'establish a perimeter'. Most of us have seen movies where the invasion, or defense, force does just that to determine and protect their base of operations. In the old westerns, it was, "Circle the wagons!" But it's the same idea; form a boundry that protects what is most important. Everything behind the perimeter line is mission critical and precious.

We want to build the 4 perimeter walls quickly and in this order (I'll explain the order later):

1. North Wall: God
2. South Wall: Food
3: East Wall: Shelter
4: West Wall: Transportation

These are the 4 categories that we protect with our lives. Once we have secured the perimeter, we can build a strong defense and later prepare for an invasion. Yes, I said invasion. Our long term goal is not survival, but conquest!

In our next post, we'll start building our perimeter walls. If you just can't wait, you can get all the details right here.

Oh, don't forget you can always write to us with your questions.

Budget 101 - Yep It's That Time of Year Again (First in a Series)

2009-09-11T06:49:00.000-04:00

Fall's here, footballs are flying, leaves soon will be, so it's time to start thinking about the Holidays and the New Year beyond. It may come as surprise to you but 2009 is almost over and Christmas falls in December this year.

The Holiday Season (From Halloween through New Year), does amazing damage to the American pocket book. We all know about Christmas and Thanksgiving, but it's quite impressive how much Halloween costs. Besides mountains of candy, we spend a fortune on costumes and decorations. Many communities are as extravagant in their Halloween decorations as they are with Christmas. We are Americans. We love lights. We love opulance, we love gaudiness (Think Time Square or The Vegas Strip). And apparently we love debt.

Well, it's time to kiss the whole debt thing goodbye. Kick it out of the house and let it join the circus or something. But we are through with it. Right? Right?......................

Ok, if you're still here, let's go over the basics of how we can accomplish all of our financial goals. First, we have to have goals. Let me suggest a few: 1. Live on less than we earn, 2. Get out of debt, 3. Build a nest egg for the future, 4, Give to worthy causes, 5. Stop having to WORRY about money.

Those will do. You might add some of your own related to vacations, education, buying a house, etc. But the 5 above pretty much cover the core.

In this series, We're going to focus on #1, Live on less than we earn. We'll touch on the other goals, but we won't stay long. If you want a step by step plan on all 5 goals, you should check out IOU NO MORE.

I don't know many people who get excited about budgeting; at least not not at first. But once we learn to do it right, budgeting is a lot of fun. Ok, a little fun. But, I guarantee you that it's not a drudgery.

Think of it as "Fantasy Spending". We all love to spend. Back when I was a phone rep in a Call Center, as a part of our offer, we entered prospects and customers into a sweepstakes with a grand prize of $1,000,000. We would ask people, "What would you do with ONE MILLION DOLLARS?" I loved listening to the far away sound in their voices and customers spent that money in their imaginations.

Think of a budget the same way. It's spending the money on paper, before we spend it at the store. Nerdy, detail oriented types love this part. I've seen some people's budgets that rival a major coporation in their granularity. I don't recommend that. Use something simple, but practical. We've already done the outline work for you and if you like, you can get a basic budget plan for free right HERE. Just tell us you want the free Basic Spending Plan and email it right out to you.

It's important to do a WRITTEN budget. Doing it in your head just doesn't work. As we say in the south, "That dog don't hunt." Writing it down will help you focus and it will assist you in making sure you cover all areas. If you are married, you should do this with your spouse. It's ok if one of you does the heavy lifting. But make sure you are both in agreement on the numbers and priorities. Marriage is not about dominance or dictatorship, it's about teamwork and mutual submission. You remember the ceremony right? All that 'putting the other person first' stuff. Well, budgeting TOGETHER is one way of actually doing what we promised.

Use a pencil rather than a pen. I know, now I sound like the nerdy, detail oriented type (which everyone who knows me knows I'm not). But I am practical. There will be a great deal of erasing. Pencils have erasers. They are designed for work that has to be done over. Ink pens..... not so much. They are all about permenance. Hey, what happened to my spell check. It's missing..... bummer. Ok, back to the subject.

You'll need a calculator and a copy of at least your most recent bank statement. Good news, both are probably availble on the computer you're using to read this article. You'll find the calculator under the 'accessories' tab in your start menu (if you are using a PC. If you have a MAC, I have no idea. I'm not cook enough for a MAC. You'll have to find it yourself). For the bank statements, go to your bank's website and log into 'online banking'. If you haven't yet set up an online banking account, now is the time to do it. If you already have one, you'll know that it's a great place to keep track of your spending patterns. I check mine every day. It's a safety thing.

Ok, you have a pencil, a budget form, some historical information and a calculator. We're ready to begin. In our next installment, we'll do just that. We will look not only and the categories, but which order in which to budget them. The order is mission critical. But that will have to wait till next time. I have to take a shower and go to work.

Things that make you go Hmmmmmm........

2009-09-09T14:27:00.001-04:00

I thought we were in an economic downturn that would rival the apocalypse? I thought credit was hard to come by? I thought the sky was falling? Then why the heck am I suddenly getting so many Credit Card Offers?

To be sure, these are financially tight times. I don't want to downplay the seriousness of things, especially for those who've recently lost jobs. But I find it weird that the credit card industry is cutting back with one hand and spreading their seed with the other. I have had two Discover and two Chase credit card offers in the last 4 days or so and it has really caused me to raise my eyebrows.

I know 4 doesn't sound like much, but considering we're on the 'do not solicit' list of all the major cc companies, 4 is a mountain. My assumption is that at least some of the companies are on a major push to get credit cards out in time for the Holidays. Not good. Not good at all.

I Don't Hate Banks......Really, I Don't

2009-09-08T05:45:00.001-04:00

Many readers of IOU NO MORE somehow come away thinking I hate banks. I'm not sure why and it couldn't be further from the truth. I don't hate banks at all. I hate debt!

I don't even hate bank fees. At least not all of them. For example, it doesn't bother me that banks have overdraft fees. Common sense dictates that if you spend more money than you have, there should be a price to be paid. Technically, it's stealing. The over spender has taken money that is not his/hers. The bank converts the theft into a loan, saving the (over)consumer embarrassment and making a little money on the service. It's called, Capitalism. It is not the bank's fault when we overspend.

Having said all that, I think that consumers should be very careful when we choose our banks. They are not all created equal. Many banking institutions really are reputable and sound. Others, are, shall we say, less so.

One change in at least some bank practices that really burns me up has to do with how they process transactions at the end of the day. Once upon a time, most, if not all, banks added your daily deposits before they subtracted your withdrawls and checks. It was thoughtful and customer focused. It was almost as if the institutions really did have hearts. Now, many banks do it the other way around. The reasons are fairly obvious, primarily the chance to find a fee charging opportunity. That's just not cricket! It makes a bank look like Snidely Whiplash from the old Penelope Pitstop cartoons. And it's just the kind of thing that will cause me to look for a new banking partner.

Banks are great places to store your cash flow. Brittan and I have a checking account in a bank. We use a bank for our mortgage. We use an online bank for our savings because rates are better. Since we don't do debt, we don't have to worry about fees or cards or minimum payments or much of anything else, really. It's a great relationship. We store our money in their computers. They use it for investments, loans etc. In return, they let me use their cash machines, provide checks and statements for us and let us have it back whenever we want it. As a result, we have a peaceful alliance. In the event our bank changes the game on us, we will find another home for our nickels. It's just business. I don't hate banks. But I'm not married to one, either.

Coping With Rising Unemployment

2009-09-06T07:34:00.001-04:00

Unemployment is set to hit 9.7% nationally. Many places are already in double digits. There are no signs of imminent turnaround in those numbers which means stress levels on millions of American families is going to remain at code red levels for a while. I know how it feels. I have experienced two long stretches of unemployment in my life. I remember the frustration, the hopelessness, the helplessness and the bewilderment. It's difficult to describe the attack on one's self esteem.

Here are some coping tips for those facing or experiencing unemployment:

Trust. First, trust in God. He has you in the palm of His hand, even when it feels like you're free falling. Secondly, trust in yourself. You have skills. You matter. You have strengths. You offer value. Far from worthless, you are a priceless treasure, created in the image of almighty God. But you may have to remind yourself of that from time to time.
Abandon Credit Cards. Statistically, many people use credit cards in times of unemployment for many basics like groceries and utilities. In the end, it makes the financial hole bigger. Credit Cards are not for emergencies. They create them.
Get on a written budget. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Now more than ever, you need to make every dime count. For budget help www.iounomore.com.
Create a routine. The despair from unemployment can easily turn even the most stout hearted individual into a couch potato. Face each day with a plan. Write it down just like you would if you were creating your task list at work. Formalize your schedule with set times for job hunting, resume work, exercise (I treated exercise like a part time job and got very fit. My only regret was not keeping that up after I found employment), yard work, house work, prayer time. Don't let life happen to you. Make life happen FOR you.
Get creative. Look at your skills and talents rather than just your resume as you seek the next phase in your career path. There are multiple options for you to pursue outside of 'what you've always done'. You can find some great tips, tools and resources at www.48days.com.
Make a game out of bargain hunting and finding ways to cut costs. Even after all this time, I still get a thrill out of finding a way to save a buck on anything, especially things like utility bills.
Stay focused. You will have times of great hope and times of deep hopelessness. Make sure you work your plan rather than allow yourself to be carried along by your emotions.
Help others. Nothing will help you take your mind off your own problems better than assisting another person with his/hers. Volunteer at a nursing home. Help out at Habitat for Humanity. Help out at your Church office. The opportunities are endless.

You will find work. Maybe it will take a while, maybe it won't. And you may find out that the next job is better than the last one, so don't assume that you will have to settle for less. That's exactly what happened for me. After a long period of unemployment, I found a job that put me on a career path that has been fruitful in more ways than I can count. It ain't over till it's over. You can win!

Introducing................................

2009-09-04T17:14:00.000-04:00

................... a brand new logo. IOU NO MORE and Recession Proof Living are a part of a larger world we call, "Sam Burton Presents...." Today we unveil our logo. Keep your eyes open, you may soon be seeing it everywhere.

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

2009-08-30T08:34:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine told me a great car buying story this week and I want to share the substance of it.

She and her husband decided a good used car (already a sensible choice) was in their future. They did their research, packed a checkbook and headed out to test drive. Once they found their ideal car, and did their negotiating it was time to close. The sales person said, "I suppose you'll be needing to arrange financing", to which they replied, "No, it's ok if we write a check, right?"

"What?"

"Write a check. We're going to pay cash."

The entire dealership fell into silence. As they handed over the payment in full, they were told, "I don't believe this has ever happened here before."

I love the revolution! Talk about a stimulus plan. Pay yourself instead of the bank. Then pay in cash for what you need. Everybody wins. Except those who feed off of debt, of course. What is it we call things that feed off of other things again? Oh, that's right............ parasites!

Fun Discussion Today

2009-08-25T21:44:00.003-04:00

I had a great time this afternoon discussing financial matters with a group of people I work with. We talked about budgets, saving for college, debt and the miracle of compound interest. We had some great laughs along the way. It was a refreshing change of pace from.......well.......work!

Just Some Shameless Self Promotion

2009-08-23T08:06:00.002-04:00

It's almost time to get ready for Church, but I thought I'd take a minute and introduce some projects I'm working on. I've mentioned some of them before, but they are worth talking about again, because I've been in the workshop with them this week.

First, as announced last week, "IOU NO MORE" is now available as an ebook. We are very excited about this development, because of the growth of popularity of ebooks and because with ebooks, readers have the ability to check out the references, materials and tools referred to in the book just by clicking on the active links in the text. With traditional books, you must lay down the book, open your computer and find the url. We plan to use both traditonal and ebooks going forward.

We have two other active websites besides IOU NO MORE. The first is, Sam Burton Presents, nicknamed, SBP. SBP will become the primary portal for all of our sub pages, books, materials, newsletters, etc. IOU NO MORE will become of of the service sites under the SBP umbrella.

The second is, Sam Burton Ministries, or SBM, for short. We felt that this was an essential step for the many services, products and information we develop especially for Churches and other Faith Based groups. SBM is very special to me and I'm looking forward to developing it.

Both those websites are just in development phase and really only have holding pages up. But go ahead and check them out, save them to your favorites and let me know what you'd like to see in them. There is contact information all over them. In fact, that's about all there is right now.

Besides websites, I'm currently adapting the "IOU NO MORE" material into a format and presentation especially geared to men. I'm calling it, "DEBT BEAT DADS: common sense financial and life principles for men (and the women who love them). There are some nice 'manly' insights added to the material along with some tweaking of the Spending Plans that will translate well to the 'male mind'. If all goes well, that will be available by Christmas.

My regular reader (yes, I think there's only one), will remember that I'm working on "LIFE LESSONS FROM A LEAD DOG: amusing anecdotes and heart warming tales from 30 years with sleddogs". The proposal is coming along nicely, as are the seminars associated with it. I want to shop this to some major publishers. People keep telling me this one has a populist appeal.

In early Spring, 2010, you should look for an ebook on vegetable gardening basics for urban and suburban dwellers. This project is being outlined, along with a seminar, and should be a lot of fun. It does not have a title as yet.

Finally, I have outlined a book and seminar (I've presented the seminar hundreds of times in the classroom) on optimizing your career as a call (contact) center agent. No point having all these years of experience if I'm not going to share what I've learned. Right now I'm calling it, "BYE, BYE, DILBERT: a quick start guide for turning the mundane life of cube world into an adventure and turning your headset into a gold mine." Can you tell I like subtitles? They help with search engine optimization, in case you were wondering.

Well, that's enough for the moment. Some of this is rerun. Some is new. Thanks for stopping by. Time for Church.

Fall Garden Planted

2009-08-22T20:21:00.002-04:00

This afternoon, Brittan and I put in our fall vegetables. We planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, snap peas and one last round of green beans. What else is a body to do on Saturday? Go golfing? Take a nap? Watch cartoons? Bah! Humbug!

I really do like vegetable gardening. It is therapeutic and productive all at the same time. I like prepping the soil, planting and harvesting. The tending to the plant in between is a chore, but there is always something to learn. Today, for example, we found squash bugs on our pepper plants. The weren't doing any damage, but since there is no squash for them, they are searching for new things to devour. Squash bugs have been a real nuisance this year. I hate them more than any other garden pest. The are prolific, destructive and they stink. I'm considering trying hydroponics for squash next year, just because there won't be any soil for the squash bugs.

Our pepper harvest just keeps piling up, as do the cucumbers. I have never been more sick of cucumbers than I am this year. Next year we're growing pickling cucumbers. Yummmm.

Watch for a Vegetable Gardening 101 ebook from Recession Proof Living and IOU NO MORE next spring. It's going to be fun to put together and a useful quick start guide for urban and suburban vegetable gardeners.

Read Em And Weep

2009-08-21T06:07:00.003-04:00

Just read an article describing the bad and the ugly that is coming out of the new regulations for Credit Card Companies. Notice, I didn't add, 'good' to bad and ugly. There is no good. Sure, the CC companies will have to be more transparent in disclosing their fees and rates, but many of them are using the opportunity to raise those newly clarified fees. Yeesh.

There is a level on which I don't care what they do, because I haven't had a Credit Card balance in years. They could raise the rates to 300% and it doesn't change my world.

One interesting thing that came out of all this, though, is I found out I still have an open Credit Card account I didn't know about. I got a letter from a particular bank saying my cash advance limit had been reduced. Oh, darn. I thought I closed that with the rest of my Visa an Master Cards years ago. I certainly haven't used it. Oh well, it's closed now.

The first rule in the IOU NO MORE revolution, is "STOP BORROWING". That means Credit Cards, too. Don't give me the 'for emergencies' line, either. The emergency will be trying to pay the darned thing off.

Gotta get ready for work now. You can read the article HERE.

Workplace Suicide Rates on the Rise

2009-08-20T20:39:00.002-04:00

I saw today that workplace suicides have risen 28% over the last year, while overall workplace deaths have declined. I find that quite disturbing; and more than a little disheartening.

There is little doubt in my mind, that the current economic and employment climates have played a significant role in the steep rise in on the job suicides.

After reading the article, I did some quick searches and found that suicide in general seems to be on the rise. I don't mean to sound crass, but that suggests to me that "Hope" and "Change" are not working out as planned.

I don't want to descend into politics. Government is not, and never should be, a solution to financial, career or personal difficulties. Certainly, money is no reason to take our lives over.

My first thought is to remind everyone that Jesus is our best Hope in all things. I would urge everyone to investigate Christianity before resorting to suicide.

Also, the overwhelming majority of people in financial crisis could gain perspective from a program like IOU NO MORE. There are answers. They aren't always easy. They sometimes require dramatic and drastic action, but what is more drastic than suicide?

Folks, things are not hopeless. Trust me on that.

What's in the Oven

2009-08-18T06:26:00.002-04:00

The clock on the wall tells me it's about time to get ready for work, but before I begin my ablutions, let me share some things that are coming down the road for IOU NO MORE and Sam Burton Presents.

First, we have a brand new product that will be available later today. IOU NO MORE is now an ebook as well as a traditional paperback. The electronic version has an expanded appendix which includes reproducible forms (and a larger set of forms than in the paperback version). The "New IOU NO MORE" also includes the details of our referral program. The referral program looks like, and even pays out like, a traditional Multi Level Marketing plan, with one exception, you don't have to pay to participate. Everyone who purchases a book, ebook or starter kit from our shopping cart is eligible.

Speaking of the shopping cart, it's in the process of receiveing a makeover. Soon, customers will be able to track their purchases and will be able to directly download certain products rather than wait for the mail or email.

I am currently writing a spin off book, "DEBT BEAT DADS: Common Sense Financial and Life Advice for Men (and the women who love them). It will take the principles of IOU NO MORE and add some content especially geared towards men (and their wives).

I also have outlined a project, probably an ebook, on Vegetable Gardening Basics those who don't live in the country. Brittan and I have learned so much the last few years and we want to share it with others who want to eat better and be more self sufficient, but who are stuck in suburbia. It doesn't yet have a name. How about "Vegieburbia" or "The Suburban Gardener"? I'm open to suggestions. If you come up with the title for me, I'll give you a copy of the book and mention you in the acknowledgements.

I'm also working away on my book proposal for "Life Lessons from a Lead Dog". That book and the study materials that could spin off from it, has the potential to make a big impact in the and on the world.

Ok, enough commercials for now. Must get moving.

New Magazine Coming

2009-08-17T13:38:00.003-04:00

Brittan and I are long time subscribers to, and even longer time readers of, "Hobby Farms Magazine" . Later this month, about the 26th, the editors of that publication will be releasing the first issue of "Urban Farm", a magazine designed especially for those of us stuck in town, but committed to self sufficiency, growing our own produce and reaping the rewards and savings of taking responsibility for our lives. I am very much looking forward to the launch of this magazine. I sure hope the publishers read this post and give me a discount on my subscription!

"Cash for Clunkers", A Trojan Horse of a Different Color?

2009-08-14T05:42:00.003-04:00

The President's Cash for Clunkers program has, by most reports, been a tremendous success. Big enough that Congress has 'gone back to the well' for more cash to back it. Where are they getting that cash? Oh, that's right, from the very tax payers who are asked to buy the cars. So in essence, we're being asked to pay taxes to support our tax credit. Anyone dizzy from this circular reasoning yet?

It is not the logic, though, that has me miffed. What has steam coming out of my ears is our Government bribing Americans to get into debt. As already mentioned, it is disguised as a tax credit. But it is a tax credit paid for by tax payer money. It is marketed as a call to 'save the environment, but is in reality an attempt to bail out the newly Government owned Automobile companies. It is billed as a way to save money at the pump, but is in reality a way to get Americans into debt. It may very well turn out to be the automobile version of the 'subprime mortgage'.

Oh, and because the 'clunkers' are all being destroyed, the inventory of cheap used cars is being dramatically reduced, forcing low end used car buyers to pay more. And, finally, the program is pushing up the prices of new cars, which were falling.

Debt is bad. But when it's debt on a depreciating item (I can't bring myself to use the words, depreciating asset, because that sounds like an oxymoron when debt is attached to it), it's doubly bad. If you have not fallen into this trap yet, I urge you to look away. Don't inhale that new car smell. Don't let the 'fever' weaken your resistance. Stay on your winning plan of recession proof living.

On the happy front, I found an article that says the 'Cash for Clunkers' program may be losing some momentum. We can only hope. Read it HERE.

The Harvest is Plentiful

2009-08-13T20:21:00.002-04:00

Each day brings a new sense of wonder at our bounty this year. We already have to buy a second freezer to handle the overflow. We're just waiting for the best deal. Tonight I brought in a plastic grocery bag brimming over with peppers of all varieties and a few tomatoes. We'll have another 20 or so pounds of tomatoes to process before long. And a new harvest of beans will begin within the week. Maybe as early as Sunday or Monday. We should have beans well into September.

I have only two real regrets this year; 1. not enough squash and zucchini, and 2. not enough cantaloupe.

We will do a whole post season assessment around October when we start designing next year's garden.

We let some of the beans from the first crop dry on the vine. Brittan brought them in and we are storing them in hopes that they sprout next year. We will start one or two in January to see if they do grow. If so, we won't have to buy bush beans next year. I love it. We are eating healthy, getting exercise and saving money all at the same time. If I ever get time, I'll probably write a book about it. Time.............. what a concept!

Time To Expand

2009-08-13T06:22:00.002-04:00

For the past few weeks, I've been exploring a number of ways to expand the reach of IOU NO MORE and SAM BURTON PRESENTS. I feel a real sense of urgency in getting a message of real hope out to the masses. I've had a couple opportunities to speak publicly in the last two weeks and it reminded me of where my gifts and talents lie.

So I'm looking at things like, ebooks, web infomercials, ezene, podcasts, You Tube and etc.

I'm also looking at adding materials on Divorce Recovery and Life Lessons From a Lead Dog. I'm excited, I just don't have enough hours in the day. And sometimes, my head is so full of ideas, that it's hard for me to focus on just one or two items. Other times, my head is just full of nonsense. Go figure.

Still Available on Amazon

2009-08-05T20:58:00.002-04:00

Although we are now selling IOU NO MORE on our website, the book is still available on Amazon.com, and all other major online book sellers. We have been very fortunate with the number of places that carry the book. We are blessed by the number of emails we get each week from people who are seeking help taking charge of their finances.

As we gear up for the coming Holiday Season (it's never too early to plan), we are going to do a fresh marketing campaign and kind of a re-launch of the book. After two years we're still excited about 'the simplest money management plan on earth.'

Are my eyes bleeding?

2009-08-03T06:28:00.002-04:00

I just got finished reading an article about a recent college grad who is suing her college because she does not yet have a job and she feels the college isn't doing enough to help her find work.

Even coming from ultra liberal New York, that's ridiculous. Colleges are for education and preparation. The fact that many of them have services to assist with job placement is a plus, a perk. While I can appreciate a sense of frustration when jobs are scarce and income is inconsistent, it is not, and has never been, anyone's responsibility other than our own to find work.

If this lawsuit somehow finds its way through the system and a decision is made in favor of the plaintiff, which I think it won't, then all bets are off for college coffers. Can you even imagine the can of worms that would open?

Read the article HERE.

The Thin Edge of the Wedge

2009-08-01T21:38:00.002-04:00

This week I have been following the tragic story of a Wisconsin man, who has been charged with murder in the death of his daughter. The short version is, the girl became ill and the family chose prayer over medical attention. In the end the girl died. Her family treated her well, comforted her and nursed her. But they would not take her to a doctor, believing that if they had faith, God would heal the girl.

Today, the man was convicted.

First, let me say that I disagree with his decision to fore go medical assistance. I believe in prayer and I believe in doctors. Medical treatment can be an answer to prayer. Sometimes God works through people and circumstances.

But I believe that cases like this will be cited as precedent in future litigation where the political and social views of the 'state' will run contrary to traditional faith. I see a time when Christians will be discriminated against and possibly jailed for things like public evangelism or publicly denouncing certain practices as sinful.

Do you know what you believe? How deep are your convictions? Are you prepared to lose your job, your home, your reputation or even your freedom over your beliefs?

Just one more nugget to chew on. I am convinced that this world is only a shadow of what is to come and not the end in itself. If I understand my Bible correctly, God did heal that little girl. If you will allow me to mix metaphors, I suspect she is healthy as a horse and happy as a clam.

I Do Believe in Ghosts!

2009-07-29T19:47:00.002-04:00

Ghost Peppers, that is. I brought in my first 7 Naga Jolokias tonight. That might not sound like much, but I promise you they supply enough power to light a small city. Imagine the spiciest curry or salsa you've ever had. Now double the heat. That's what these puppies will do. Yabba dabba doo!

I also brought in enough habaneros to make a very nice Jamaican Jerk rub. I will make that tonight and coat some pork with it. It will marinate overnight and tomorrow the taste buds will tingle with Caribbean joy.

The $45 band aid.

2009-07-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

About 4:00 this afternoon I received a very urgent call from my wife, asking me to come home right away, because she'd cut her toe, and it was gushing blood. I raced home to find her in the basement with her foot wrapped in a severely blood soaked rag. In order to maintain our G rating, I will not show photos of the rag.

It seems that one of the dogs knocked over a coffee mug which hit the ground and shattered. One of the shards flew across the room and hit Brittan on the big toe, slicing off about a third of her toenail and both slicing and puncturing the toe. The cut was deep and the bleeding was severe.

First I called the Doctor. They were closed. Then we went to the 'minute clinic'. We waited there about 40 minutes. The RN on duty said that the job was too big for her and we needed to go to "urgent care". We hobbled back to the car and I raced to the nearest urgent care, which, ironically is just a few blocks from my work. We arrived there at 6:00 on the dot. We left at 8:15 p.m. with a band aid and my wallet lighter by $45. See photo.

Actually, the Dr felt that since the bleeding was stopped by then that we'd do more damage by opening it back up. But she did give Brittan a tetanus shot. Which was why we went to the minute clinic in the first place. It's only two blocks from our house. But..... better safe than sorry.

That's enough adventure for one day. I was really quite concerned when I got home and saw all the blood. It was one deep cut.

On a related front, we met some of the nicest people at the Urgent Care clinic. Patients and medical staff alike wanted to see a demonstration of my Amazon Kindle. So I gave them a demo. What can I say, I'm a sales guy. I could have sold at least three of them, if I'd had some handy.