Rethinking the Way We Shop

Grocery and gasoline prices are going up at nearly unprecidented rates. Our gas and food budgets are stretched pretty darned thin. According to this article groceries are rising at the fastest rate in 17 years. It is more important than ever for us to budget accordingly. We can beat this recession and even thrive. It will take some work, planning and priority juggling. But we don't have to despair. I'm going to include some ideas and tips along the way in this column. Please feel free to write in and share your own ideas and solutions.

If you didn't use the link above to read the article on food inflation, click here.

Potatoes a Key to Beating Inflation?

From our "Waging War on Recession" files; Check out this article about the mighty money saving Spud. Click here

Still think you can't save money on groceries?

Check out the link below.
If it won't play, try copying and pasting into your browser

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=7391823

Coming Soon!

I'm working on a NEW book that will be very exciting. The working title is "Recession Proof Living". The purpose of the book is to flesh out some of the principles in IOU NO MORE to specifically address some of the issues confronting people during this current economic downturn. I'll be looking more at prioritizing spending, saving and giving than dealing with debt. But there will be at least one chapter about coping with debt during financially trying times. The sudden influx of requests for spending plans and budget questions has prompted this change of plans. I had recently started an inspirational book called, "Life Lessons from a Lead Dog". But I feel compelled to put that project on hold because of the current national economic circumstances.

At the risk of sounding like an infomercial, if you'd like to pre-order a copy of "Recession Proof Living: a quick start guide to surviving and thriving during financially difficult times" you can do so. The pre-publication price will be $10 and will include shipping.
But wait, there's more.... (I just had to say that!) If you pre order by April 30, I'll send you .pdf versions of our IOU NO MORE forms library. The library includes, the Quick Start Guide, Debt Assessment, Basic Spending Plan and the Cruise Control Plan. And that's not all! (ok, I'll cut the corny stuff). I'll also include a .pdf copy of my personal testimony, "Clay Pots and and Splattered Yolks". I believe it will bless you. Honestly, the forms and testimony would cost as much as the new book. But I'm serious about getting the message out and beginning a financial revolution in America (and the world).

To Pre-Order, send check or money order for $10 to: Recession Proof Living, c/o 2002 Haydenbrook Dr. nw, Acworth, GA 30101. Please include your return mailing address and your email address for the .pdf documents.

Recession Proof Church

I have been reading a thread on a discussion board I wander in and out of (there are many) where Christian leaders are talking about how the recession had affected Churches. I feel really bad for them. The principles outlined in IOU NO MORE, would go a long way in recession proofing our families and congregations. I'm not just plugging the book, either. Since this blog is read by maybe double digit readers I don't thing the commercial will be too effective.

This stuff works. I've got to find a way to get the message to more people.

Grocery Bills

Brittan and I were discussing the rising price of groceries a few days ago. Actually, we were complaining about it. It has changed our buying practices. I saw a news article earlier today saying that the same thing is true for most American families.

Now, more than ever it's important to create a shopping list. We normally plan the week's menu out before shopping so we know what to buy. Our menus are becoming more basic and we are cooking more from scratch. Well, Brittan is. She hardly lets me cook anymore. So sad.

An Economy Built on Sand

I have always been fond of Jesus' story of the wise and foolish builders. Perhaps you remember it. A foolish man built his house on a foundation of sand. The wise one built his house on a foundation of rock. When the storms came, the house built on sand collapsed while the house built on rock stood firm.

The story was about building our lives on solid spiritual foundations, but it is also a fair analogy to use about economies as well.

The American economy, at least for the last 30 or 40 years has been built on debt. By extension, so have the economies of most households. It's borrow, borrow, borrow. Think about it, our credit reports are among our most valuable assets. We are often even offered or denied jobs based on our credit scores. How mixed up is that?

Currently, our economy is in a pickle. Mortgage and credit card delinquencies are at all time highs. So what does the government do? They pass out a little cash so we will spend more, and they lower interest rates so we can borrow more. That is twisted.

The result of all the interest rate cuts is to lower the price of the dollar(which can't take being lowered much more), thus raising the price of oil and other commodities, fueling inflation. That results in families having to pay more for gasoline, groceries and such, leaving them unable to pay their mortgages. Pretty soon, even things like groceries are going on the credit cards and before you know it, you have a genuine crisis on your hands. Now multiply that by millions.

We don't need to borrow more. We need to borrow less. You can't borrow your way out of debt any more than you can dig your way out of a hole.

Imagine another scenario. What would happen if we all started spending less than we earn. What if we stopped using credit cards? What would your life be like if you had no car payments and no credit card payments? What would you have then? Money! That's what. Now, carry it another step. What if you used some of that extra money to pay down your mortgage and pay it off early. What would happen then? You could become wealthy very quickly.

Look at another scenario. If you had no debt, would it worry you if gas went up in price? Not as much. You'd hate those low low interest rates, too, because your money grows faster with higher interest rates.

If Americans would commit to becoming debt free, the future would be so bright we'd have to fear going blind. We would have money to spend, to save and to give away. Charities would be better supported. Churches would be more adequately funded. We'd have more relaxing vacations. In short, we would flourish.

I'm determined to make it happen in my life. I want to spread the word. I'm still trying to start the new revolution.