Prospective employers

Prospective employers check your credit report. How does yours look?


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Budgeting

Budgeting an irregular income is harder than budgeting a set amount income. But, it doesn't get you out of having to do it.

Remember, while the income may bounce around your fixed expenses don't. Housing, utilities, food, gas and oil remain pretty constant. Tackle those first and the others will fall into place.
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Sensibility Saturday and Sunday

When you're car shopping scour the private sales in the paper. There are a lot of people selling cars they can't afford. You get a good deal and you're helping them address their debt. Win/Win.

If you're upside down on your car and the payment is killing your chances of success then get rid of the car. Price it for private sale and move on.

Your next car may be a clunker, but it will be yours free and clear.
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Don't spend what you don't have

Sensibility Saturday and Sunday follows Black Friday.

This is when you take back those things you bought on credit on Black Friday.

You’ve had your fun buying them, but it’s time to take them back.

They aren’t yours and you know better.
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Black Friday

"Black Friday” is so named because it is the day retailers make their money. If you are participating it is only with cash and with a set budget on what you are going to spend. The day is full of pitfalls to get you to spend more than you have. So who’s going to win here? You or them?

Don't spend what you don't have!
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Rigged games

You walk by the booths at the carnival because they are rigged games, but yet you use credit cards.

Do you get what I’m trying to tell you here?
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Credit provisions

The Conquer Debt Calendars have been criticized because they lack complicated formulas and spreadsheet equations.

Critics say it's boring, mundane common sense that covers nothing more than the importance of staying out of debt by living on less than you have, working from a budget, saving for emergency funds, and having a financial plan.

To my critics I say . . . “YOU BETCHA!”
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Don't fall for credit card tricks

An 18% credit card is 1.5% interest per month.

If you owe $1,000 your interest will be at least $15 for the month. If your minimum payment is 4% you send in $40, of which $15 is interest. Next month your interest is figured on your new balance which is $975.

Do you see what I’m getting at? Don't be blind to the amount of money you're paying over and above what you actually used. Don't fall for their tricks.
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Forever

How long will you have to budget, maintain an emergency fund, keep car and home maintenance funds, and always be thinking about personal finance?

Answer: Forever

This new way of thinking isn't a one and done type deal. However, changing your mindset to succeed in personal finance only has to be done once.

Change the way you think, get your financial life in order, and keep it there!
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Dig your way out

No matter the size of your debt you can dig your way out. If it's large you just need a bigger shovel. There's no telling how long it will take, but it will never happen if you never start.

Don't let the amount of debt be an excuse for not starting the process. Don't let how you got into debt be a deterrent, and don't let friends or family talk you out of starting the process.

This is yours to fix so get started.
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Conquer Debt Year Round

The only time it's acceptable to borrow money to get out of debt is when you sell that car you can’t afford and take out a loan for the difference between what you got for it and what you owe on it.

Remember to borrow a little more to buy a clunker to get you back and forth from home to your numerous jobs.

You'll hate having to do this, or at least you should.
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Emergency Fund

If you're living on a single income, or have an irregular income (like a sales job), your Emergency Fund must be a minimum of six months of living expenses.

If you are in a dual income living arrangement and both jobs are stable you may lean more toward the minimum of three months of living expenses in your Emergency Fund.

However, make no mistake. You must have an Emergency Fund. No exceptions.


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Do the right thing

Being debt-free allows you to truly enjoy good fortune when it pays a visit. But, if you're in debt and get lucky you know what to do with every cent of good fortune, right?

Let's say you inherit $10,000 and happen to owe $10,000 on a credit card. Do the right thing; pay off the card!
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A house of cards

You can’t live in a house of cards (pun intended) forever. Eventually those living a life fueled by borrowing will crash and burn. Stay focused on getting out and staying out of debt.

You can't get ahead if you are in debt.

You can't borrow your way to prosperity.

You can't keep moving debt around and make it disappear.

You can't ignore your problem and hope it away. Take control, fix YOUR problem.
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Reach out for help

Don’t be afraid to reach out for help.

There may be programs available to help you out of your financial problems provided you didn't just blatantly create them. I am told many hospitals will work out financing for healthcare, but you have to ask for that help first.

Being too proud can hinder your financial freedom. Being proud is different from being stupid. Ask for help.
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You get the idea

If you get paid weekly, budget for a week. If you get paid every two weeks, budget for those two weeks. Monthly? You get the idea.

You can string weeks together if it makes sense to you. Don’t get frustrated and think you have to budget a perfect month, that doesn't exist for most of us.

Budgeting takes months, if not years, to get right. Don't get frustrated and don't think it's a one time and done deal.
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Thank you Veterans

Our Veterans didn't sacrifice their lives so we could live in debt. They sacrificed so we could live in freedom. To do otherwise is to do them a disservice.

Thank you Veterans, past and present.

Read up on The Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act (SSCRA) and pass along the information to anyone you think it can help today.


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Credit card companies

Credit card companies make money when you spend. Don’t get all excited or think it’s a sign of responsibility when they give you access to that money. Take more pride in not participating in their scheme at all.

They couldn't care less about the principal being paid. They want the interest, fees, and late charges. That is free money to them.

Don't play this game 'cause you'll lose.
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Paid-for vacations

Paid-for vacations are even sweeter when you get to return home in your paid-for car to your paid-for house and sit on your paid-for furniture and watch your paid- for television and . . . oh you get the idea, don’t you?
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Pay as little as possible

Walk in a store, look at the salesman, hold up your checkbook and say, “The full amount for what I want is right here. Only you can mess this up.”

Oh ok, be nice about it, but remember their game is to get you to pay as much as possible for what you want. You may want to let the salesman know you're playing your own game -- to pay as little as possible for what you want.

Then you can both go from there . . .or not.
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Make more money or reduce your expenses

If the problem is that there isn't enough money to pay your expenses then you either need to make more money or reduce your expenses. It really is that simple.

As you look for income opportunities, remember to be very wary, very afraid of scammers. They just want your money!


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Be up front about debt

Don't let frustrated creditors send you to collections.

Be up front about your money problems with those you owe. More can be solved by engaging them in conversation than can be accomplished ignoring the problem.

Know your rights before the creditors abuse them. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is required reading. Know it, study it, use it. You still owe the money but you can control the situation.
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Ask it often

"Will it matter 20 years from now?"

This question pertains to every aspect of your personal finances, to every decision you'll ever make about them. Ask it often.
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Be realistic about expenses

Be realistic when you calculate the amount needed in your emergency fund for monthly living expenses. Don’t factor in the lattes.

Sit down and list what you really need. Dave Ramsey calls them the four walls: Food, Utilities, Housing, and Transportation.

Cable, booze, cigarettes, concert tickets, internet, and clothes shouldn't be on the list.

Get real. If you're in emergency mode, you aren't eating out.
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Finances - simple vs. complicated

$120.00 - That's the minimum amount you agree to pay for putting $100 on a credit card at 20%. If you only pay the 2.5% minimum payment each month it will cost you over $300.

Finances are complicated when you factor in interest, double cycle billing, grace periods, transfer fees, APR's, APY's, amortization, monthly payments, etc.

Finances are simple when you don't spend what you don't have and use cash.
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Romans 13:8

Romans 13:8 explains it this way: “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.”

Love is one debt that's never paid off. No matter how much we have loved, we are obligated to keep loving one another and, more importantly, God for all He has done through His love for us.

However, FINANCIAL debt should not remain outstanding.
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