I am participating as a co-host of a breakout session of the Unleash Conference today at NewSpring Church.

This conference has completely blown our minds!  We set an initial target of 100 people for this conference.  We have spent no money marketing this conference, and we announced it in mid-January on six blogs.

Yeah …  We are going to have close to 1,000 people here today.

Perry is going to teach on leadership.

My breakout session is focused on "Financially Equipping Your Congregation".

I can't wait to expand the crusade! 

NOTE:  Joe Sangl's non-scientific method was utilized to prepare this information.

1. Be born into it
2. Marry into it
3. Start a business
4. Real Estate
5. Invest in the stock market
6. Avoid debt
7. Budget your money every single month BEFORE the money arrives
8. Read www.joesangl.com everyday   Seriously, you need to continue to learn about finances everyday.  You can't afford NOT to!

My 7-year-old daughter is an investor!

When she receives gifts of money (birthdays/Christmas), we have a requirement that she must take at least half of it and place it in her college fund or her new car fund (Yes, we do have a car fund - driving is ONLY 9 years ago).

What is she investing in for her college fund?

• Aggressive Growth Stock Mutual Funds
• Growth Stock Mutual Funds

What is she investing in for her car fund?

• A miserable savings account.  This is changing next week!
• It will be moving into growth stock mutual funds.

You might think that I am a FREAK.  You might think that my daughter is being mistreated because Jenn and I are requiring her to invest her gifts of money.  You might think that we are robbing her of enjoyment of her childhood.

I would just say this - MY DAUGHTER WILL NOT BE B-R-O-K-E!!!  We are equipping her to WIN.  We are teaching her to PLAN.  We are demonstrating in the most tangible way possible that DEBT IS DUMB, INVESTORS WIN, BROKE IS HORRIBLE, DREAMS ARE ACHIEVABLE, A LITTLE INVESTED ALL OF THE TIME MAKES YOU WEALTHY.

Can you say "Paid-for 1st card?", "Paid-for college education?", and "Paid-for 1st house?"

If you are not teaching your kids how to manage money well, YOU ARE FAILING AS A PARENT!!!

So yesterday I received a package in the mail.  It was a 6" x 9" envelope addressed to me.

As you can see, the person had written "Debt is Normal … Be Weird!!" on the top of the envelope!

I opened the envelope, and here is what was in it!

Included in the package was the Debt Freedom Date Calculation that can be found on the "TOOLS" page.

Written on the paper was the following note:

Joe,

Enclosed you will find the results of our family's plastic surgery party.  10 credit card accounts … paid off and closed.  The only debt left is the car and the house.

Thank you for everything Joe … we are on our way to Debt Freedom!

God Bless

WOW!  Can it get any better than that?

When will you tell your success story?

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to teach the Financial Learning Experience at Barefoot Community Church in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

It was awesome to be able to share my crusade with the beach dwellers!  Clay, Jud, Chuck, and the entire team there have a great thing going!  I mean, they had 377 in attendance a week ago, and they are only 1.5 years old!  At the BEACH!

My daughter LOVED their children's area, the auditorium is great, they even have a Starbucks close by!!!  Jud's bride even bought me a cinnamon dolce (I'm not sure the rest of the title) sugar-loaded, caffeine-laden beverage!  THANK YOU!!! It was AWESOME!!!

My thanks again to BCC for the opportunity to share my passion for helping people with their personal finances!!!

Other News/Notes

• This POST generated some frustration between Mark and John X.  John X is a doctor and has stated that his rates are NOT NEGOTIABLE.  Mark does not like John's flat-out answer.  Where do you stand on the issue?
• Session Three of the Financial Freedom Class is tonight at NewSpring Church.  Tonight we talk about a true favorite subject of mine - INVESTING!!!
• Starbucks and Chick-Fil-A are currently two of my favorite organizations.  Starbucks - because they have great coffee.  Chick-Fil-A because their sandwich is incredible with two pickles, have fast service, and they say "My Pleasure."

A lady who went through one of my personal finance classes told me of her money-saving idea (and I laughed )

This lady did not have dental insurance, but went to the dentist for her semi-annual cleaning.  This is a good thing!!!

Anyway, during the examination of her teeth, it was discovered that one of the teeth had cracked badly.  As a result, a crown was needed for that tooth.

The dentist, unaware of who he was up against, informed her that a crown costs $650.

Her reply?  "No.  $275!" 

The SHOCKED dentist said, "$325."

THAT'S FUNNY!!!  Too many of us believe that a SERVICE provided by doctors, hospitals, lawyers, and other professionals is NON-negotiable.  WRONG!

You can pay full price and remain B-R-O-K-E OR you can negotiate.  Yes, it might be a little uncomfortable, but I'm not broke anymore!

I want to hear more FUNNY stories about negotiating.  Care to share one?  Click on the comments section below and share it!

There are moments in time where I just sit in amazement listening to how others are managing their money.   I see reflections of my past in many of their actions.

Sheesh-Type Observations (Self-Proclaimed!)

• People really believe that they can consistently spend MORE than they make and win financially.
• It is a flat-out oddity for people to have more than $2,000 in savings.  Most have made over $500,000 in the past 10 years, yet they don't even have $2,000 in savings!
• Most believe that their financial situation was destined to be that way.  Their mom and dad lived this way, their brothers and sisters live this way, and their friends live this way.
• Remember that "Keeping up with the Jones'" thing?  Yeah, it is still VERY alive.  Most will deny it vehemently, but call it what it is - that huge brand new truck and boat (finances 100%) was bought to impress the friends and family.
• People believe that they just need to earn more money to gain financial freedom.  This is the biggest lie in the book!  I know people who earn less than $20K/year who have money in the bank and are winning financially!
• People believe that math does not work!  This belief happens until the person actually puts their income and outgo on paper and INCOME - OUTGO = EXACTLY ZERO is applied.  When a budget is put together, they begin to see that it is basic 1st-grade math that drives whether or not they will win financially!

What are the "SHEESH" moments you see that drive you crazy?  Share them in the comments section below!

Negotiate the rates at a hotel

Find out what prices are at the hotel.  Look up the current prices on Expedia.com.  If the prices are cheaper on Expedia (almost always are), then call the hotel and tell them that you want the rate offered on Expedia.  Why do this?  Well, if you purchase using Expedia, it is a no-cash-back-if-you-cancel deal.  If you set up the deal with the hotel, you can usually cancel up to 4PM on the day of expected arrival and be out zero cash.  You get the cheaper rate PLUS the option to cancel if necessary.

Pay cash at a hotel

Tell them that you are paying cash and want a better deal Continue Reading »

www.JosephSangl.com proudly announces another tool - The Mortgage Payment Calculator!

Considering paying off your mortgage early?  Put in the information, and you will know how much your principal and interest payment needs to be to pay it off!

Considering purchasing a house?  Put in the information, and you will know what the principal and interest payment will be!

To access this tool, click on "TOOLS" at the top of this page OR click HERE!

Happy calculating! 

www.JosephSangl.com announces another tool to help you on your path to financial freedom!

It is "The Investment Value Calculator".

As you can see below, it could not be any easier!  Type in an "Annual Rate of Return", "Time Period", "Current Value", and "Monthly Contribution", and it will provide you with the "Investment Value"!  Even better, it will also return a snapshot of the value of such an investment in 5 year increments!

You can access this new tool by clicking the "TOOLS" link at the top of the page or by clicking HERE!

Happy calculating!!!