Some Testimonies from People Who are Winning

I found this article this evening while surfing the personal financial pages and thought there were some encouraging testimonies in it. We're not alone. Millions of people are fighting to WIN. Read the testimonies HERE.

Common Sense is Still the Key to Financial Freedom

Recently, I stopped by on of the giant chain bookstores to pick up a book about gardening with self watering containers (very good book, btw). In order to get to the gardening section, which was about the size of a decent home sized book shelf, I had to pass the finance section. In contrast to the size of the gardening section, finance had several rows and hundreds of titles. Some looked interesting, many I've already read and a few were quite exotic and odd. It seems like everyone has an angle. P.T. Barnum said there was a sucker born every minute. By the looks of some of the money books out there, not much has changed since his day.

But the simple truth is; common sense will be your best path to financial freedom. No, you won't 'get rich quick', very few ever do with any scheme. But you will 'get comfortable eventually'. The rules are so simple: Work Hard, live on less than you earn, avoid debt, tithe, save 10 to 15% of your income, have an emergency fund, use a spending plan (budget).

If you are just starting out, or don't have debt problems, I guarantee that if you follow those simple rules, you'll end up just fine. If you have debt problems, then we have to add a few more steps. They are all described in detail in "IOU NO MORE".

Common Sense is still the key, and it's never too late to develop some.

Nothing to Fear From Peanut Butter

We've all heard about the salmonella outbreak that originated from a peanut processing plant right here in Georgia. It was quite the national scandal. But it has caused some unnecessary panic in the peanut consuming world. Peanut Butter sales are tanking. Peanut farmers say that they may have to reduce their plantings by up to 1/3 this year. Wow! If that happens, everybody loses. I understand the nervousness. Nobody wants to get sick from food. But, let's not over react, either. First of all, peanut butter was not affected by the outbreak. Secondly, the salmonella came from a single source. The source has been located and the problem is resolved. Thirdly, peanut butter is a tasty, nutritious, inexpensive food source. Brittan and I have a jar of it in our pantry. I think I'll have some this evening as a demonstration of support for peanut farmers everywhere, especially here in Georgia. Go ahead, spread! Creamy, crunchy or extra crunchy, they're all good. We have "natural" peanut butter in our house because the diet we're on demands it. But its all safe. It's all tasty. Indulge yourself. It's cheap, too.

A Good Conversation

I had a good conversation at work today with some young people who are really grasping the principles of recession proof living. We talked about budgeting, using cash instead of credit, avoiding debt and planning for the future. It was quite refreshing hearing that kind of common sense coming from young adults. There is hope!

Dieting and Budgets

My doctor put me on the South Beach Diet a couple of weeks ago. So far, I'm losing weight rapidly. But it may all be coming out of my wallet. Just kidding...sort of. Dieting is expensive. Fruits, vegetables, lean cuts of chicken and meat, etc are not cheap. Potatoes, pasta and junk food are. That's messed up. Of course, fasting is extremely inexpensive. And it's fairly effective. But not desirable. Except on rare occasions for prayer, of course.

The cost of fresh fruits and veggies is the primary reason we are learning to grow our own. That and if we grow our own, we know what we're actually eating. Sometimes, when I read the labels on foods in the grocery store, it's like reading the inventory of some chemistry lab. Now, I no raving hippie or anything, but some of the stuff we eat is scary. If I can't pronounce it, how good is it for me?

Cost aside, South Beach has been great so far. I like the food, I like the variety and I like results. But the cheapskate in me hates the price tag. In the long run, though, extra grocery bills are better than hospital bills, I guess. And I have no time for a heart attack. It does not fit my schedule at all.

More on Gardening and Self Sufficiency

Sometimes I rant. Occasionally I get on a soapbox, roar and don't come down until it thunders. But if even one person listens and joins the revolution, then it's been time well spent.

I've posted a few times regarding the value of growing one's own fruits and vegetables as a way of moving towards financial freedom. I'm sure I'll return to this theme repeatedly.

What's more, by producing some, or all, of our own food, we become self sufficient, and less susceptible to up and down turns in the market.

Advances in technology and gardening have made taking steps towards self reliance is easier than ever.

Let me share some examples:

1. The internet puts all the seed companies at your fingertips. I have a folder in my favorites of 8 or 10 of my favorite companies to do business with. I still love to get the catalogs and look through them, but when it comes time to order, I do so online.
2. Several companies make raised bed kits and "self watering" growing boxes. We are trying out several of them and I'll report back.
3. Back to the internet: a google search will help anyone find the best varieties to grow in any part of the country along with tips, tricks and discussion boards to share experiences and advice.
4. The variety of veggies and fruits available is astonishing. And many of them are able to be grown on patios, on roof tops and even indoors. We live in North Georgia and are trying our hand at growing dwarf lemons, tangerines, figs and even bananas. There are dwarf, self pollinating trees (growing between 6 and 8 feet tall, tops) that, due to grafting advances, will grow up to 5 varieties of pears, apples, or even "fruit cocktail" trees that grow peaches, plumbs and nectarines. We have ordered a cherry tree that produces wonderful fruit, yet grows only 6 to 8 feet tall.

These are just a few of the advances out there. I will add a few websites to the blog in the next couple days for you to look at. You don't have to try everything at once, but I hope you'll experiment and enjoy. Freedom is intoxicating.

Done Your Taxes Yet?

Finally got around to doing ours. Taxes are one of those chores that I dread every year. Ironic, too, because I work for a company that makes tax prep software as our primary product lines. Doesn't change my loathing of taxes, though.

This year, surprise, surprise, we're getting a small refund rather than paying in. Just one of the perks of moving from Maine to Georgia.

If you haven't done yours, do so asap. And avoid getting one of those "get your money now" offers. They cost a ton. Exercise a little patience and get your whole refund, if you you're entitled to one. It's good money management.