Archives For personal finance education

1+1 & 2-2: 251 DSR

May 20, 2018

Getting out of debt is simple math.

The Simple Math of Getting out of Debt
Simple? Yes. Easy? No.
The going into debt side: $1 of debt plus $1 dollar of debt = $2 of debt.
Fast, easy, and debt can stick around a long time.

The getting out side: $2 of debt minus $2 of debt = $0 dollars of debt.
Can be time consuming, slow, and sometimes seemingly endless.
No magic, just simple math.

Your biggest enemy in this process? Your mind (ie: your habits, what/how you think about money).

What is debt?
You selling your future labor today. Contracting your labor into the future. You sign the contract (note, credit card agreement, etc) promising to make future payments. Those payments are a result of your labor.

Not only do you repay the principle balance (purchase price), you repay interest payments on top of that.

Wrap:
Before borrowing the money ask yourself, “Is there another way to get what I want without borrowing?” Wait longer, save the money, trade, barter, etc.

Food for thought: When animals hunt the food they need, they don’t stock up for future use. They typically gather what they need, eat, and then hunt another day. No stockpiling, which is what borrowing is.

Resource:
The Richest Man in Babylon – George Clason

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved

Just because you pay taxes to the government doesn’t mean it’s employees “work” for you.

Local Gov’t – police officers. Do they work for you? Try telling them what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. That’s what they tell you.

Your taxes pay their salaries, yes. And you don’t pay taxes voluntarily. You pay them by force of law. Punishment up to and including incarceration. That’s taxation by force. They’ll take your home and anything else they can legally seize (cash, cars, RV’s, etc).

Close:
Question your assumptions. Question what you’ve been taught. Question what you think and why.

Resource:
www.dnb.com
Dunn & Bradstreet. Business search. These are registered corporations. Type name of your local gov’t entity. “District Court of…” “State of….” You’ll be surprised what you find. Every city, county, and state is a corporation. You may live there but the gov’t. Employees don’t work “for” you even though your taxes pay their salaries.

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved

“The less money you have, the more wisely you need to manage it because you don’t have as much room for error.” – Dave Ramsey

Dave Ramsey – How The Lottery Can Ruin Your Life

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved.

401 contributions. It’s never too late to start.

3 years on job, $7,500 in 401k no contribution from me. 3% contribution from me at next enrollment. Auto deduct from check.

IRA rollover:
Quit job, another employer, another 401k company. They make money off fees and investing your money.

You contribute pre-tax dollars to the account.
When you withdraw at retirement you get taxed.

Close:
Earlier you start, the more it grows.
Get used to the deduction and you won’t miss it.
Talk to your 401k rep. Charts on how much can expect to have at quitting time. Don’t just guess.

Resources:
Finance and Markets – Casey Stubbs

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.

Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved.

I talk to Andrea. A single mother who, for the very first time, is coming into her own financially speaking.

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved.

How to protect your financial privacy.

Let’s start at home:
Shredders –
$45. Cross Cut not strip cut. Don’t let it pile up. What to shred? Bank statements, documents with acct #’s, SSN, picture ID. Once trash is on the curb, it’s open game.

VPN – Virtual Private Network
vyprVPN software. Free download, 3 days free. Low monthly fee. Fast install on desktop or mobile. Masks your IP address (street address of your computer). Blocks malicious sites like virus protection software. 100% Anonymity online? No. But greatly increased security and privacy. Bank app iPhone check deposits. Use it with VPN software installed on your mobile device.

Out in the world:
At The Bank –
Don’t write acct # on piece of paper and then throw it in the trash. Dumpster divers. People look over your shoulder. Cameras on phones. If you speak your SSN, lower your voice. Don’t lay any docs down and walk away even for a second. Direct deposit, can still get to know your local bank.

Personal story:
I’ve had my Visa Debit card # stolen at least once or twice in 18 yrs. Card Security Services called to verify transaction and I canx the card. $350 charge in CA.

Closing:
Financial Privacy is your responsibility. Not paranoid, just increased level of awareness. Use a PO Box for physical mail.

Resources:
VyprVPN (VPN software)

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved

WWGD? – 245 DSR

March 24, 2018

What Would your Grandparents Do, financially speaking?

Leave a legacy, not just an inheritance. Talk to your kids/grandkids about money. Make it normal conversation at the dinner table, etc. Remove the emotion from the equation.

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved.

Do your kids have a say in the financial decisions of your household?

The importance of turning 18 years of age in The USA.

Get Your Mind Straight. Get Your Money Straight.
Copyright 2018, Debt Shepherd, All Rights Reserved