Archive - May, 2012

It’s Too Hard To Budget

May 31, 2012 in Budgeting with 0 Comments

“It’s too hard to budget!”

This has to be the top statement that I hear from people.

My response – “It’s much more difficult to be BROKE!”

Here is what I know from personal experience:

  1. I was BROKE when I did not have a budget
  2. I stopped being broke the very day that I prepared a budget and FOLLOWED IT
  3. A budget took my marriage to the next level
  4. I have found no better way to maximize every single dollar that I am blessed to receive
  5. A budget is nothing more than telling your money where to go instead of wondering where in the world it all went
  6. I have seen tens of thousands of people begin to prosper as a result of preparing and living by a budget
  7. My dreams have been and are being fully funded as a result of my budget
  8. My budget has made me a much better money manager

You CAN have a budget that really works!  Check out our FREE BUDGET TOOLS to get started.

My book, I Was Broke. Now I’m Not., can help you learn to live and operate with a monthly budget and begin to fund your dreams. Purchase your copy today and get started!

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Plan Before You Start – Luke 14:28-30

May 28, 2012 in Biblical Financial Lessons with 1 Comment

This is a series that appears on a regular basis here at JosephSangl.com – “Biblical Financial Lessons”

Luke 14:28-30

28 “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? 29 For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, 30 saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’

There are several key financial lessons we can learn from this parable that Jesus told.

  1. It is important to plan when preparing for a large task  In this parable, an attempt to build a tower is referenced. Your great task will be different, but it will still require appropriate planning. You might want to build a business, an office building, or a home, but to attempt it without a plan will lead to disaster.
  2. Money is an important part of the planning process  “Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?”  It can’t be any clearer than that! It is essential and necessary to have a financial plan to support the major work you are setting out to accomplish!
  3. It is clear to others when we attempt to accomplish something large without planning first  Have you ever seen a building project that was stopped in its tracks because the money ran out? I have seen literally thousands of these examples across the United States when the economy came to a screeching halt in 2008 and banks pulled their financing and individuals ran out of cash.

Most people wrestle with this issue. We want to move right away and start accomplishing the goal! The idea of stopping to prepare a plan seems to be too cumbersome and time-consuming. After all, we can make these decisions “on the fly.” Planning ahead seems too abstract, and it seems to hurt the brain too much to consider all of the potential issues and plan for them ahead of time.

But it is the planning process that differentiates good from great, bland from phenomenal, and uninspiring to life-changing. It is a cornerstone of financial freedom – “There must be a plan!”

QUESTIONS

  1. Have you ever attempted something great without a plan? If so, what was the result? What lessons did you learn that you would be willing to share with everyone?
  2. How should you go about preparing a plan for a future project?

Read the series

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Financial Comparison

May 21, 2012 in Dreams with 1 Comment

People often compare their financial situation with that of others around them.

They won’t say it out loud, but here are some of the things they are comparing:

  • Do they make more money than I do?
  • Do they have better cars than I do?
  • Is their house better than mine?
  • Do their kids have better toys than mine?
  • Do they have a better job than me?

All this can do is lead to an endless spiral of depression because there will always be someone who has something “more” or “better”. ALWAYS.

A better, more life-giving approach would be to ask the following two questions:

  • Is there some way I can serve this friend?
  • How can I help them accomplish one of their dreams?

When you choose to serve others, it cuts the comparison game out at the knees.

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We’re Hosting A Webinar For I Was Broke Now I’m Not Group Study

May 17, 2012 in Event with 0 Comments

I’m excited to announce that the I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. team is going to be hosting a webinar called “Leading A Wildly Effective I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. Group Study” on Thursday, May 24, 2012, at 11:00am Eastern Time.

I am hosting this webinar in MAY because believe it or not – SUMMER can be a great time to launch a study!

In this webinar, I will cover:

  • The best times to launch the study
  • How to promote the study
  • Different ways to host the study
  • Who your target audience is for each season
  • Tips for facilitating great conversation
  • Practical steps you can take to help people DO THIS – not just learn this
  • Why a six week study works so well
  • Why it makes sense for church leaders to offer this study

One lucky participant will even win a “Start Your Group NOW! Kit” which will allow 10 families to go through the study!

The Details

  • DATE: Thursday, May 24, 2012
  • TIME:  11:00 AM Eastern Time
  • WHO: Leaders who want to help people win with their money!
  • REGISTER: Use the form below (or click HERE or copy & paste this link: https://iwbnin.infusionsoft.com/app/form/may-gs-webinar  )

Can’t wait to share this time with you!
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The Race – Who Will Win?

May 16, 2012 in Debt Reduction with 2 Comments

As children, we’ve all heard the story about the tortoise and the hare challenging each other to a race.

We were shocked to learn at the end of the story that the slow-poke turtle beat the lickety-split rabbit.

Would it shock you to learn that people who choose the turtle approach with their finances usually end up much better off than those who choose the long-eared approach?

Those that choose the rabbit approach use the following two-step logic:

  1. “I wanted to buy a truck, and I was able to buy it that very day!”
  2. “Now, I want to get out of debt today, so I should be able to become debt free this very day!”

When their urgent desire to fix their financial situation wanes, the debt still remains and they give up.

Those that choose the turtle approach use the following two-step logic:

  1. “It was a series of decisions that put me in this financial situation.”
  2. “It will take a series of decisions that will take me to the financial situation I desire.”

Do you see the difference in the approach? Do you feel it?

I wanted to become debt free except for my house on December 2, 2002 when I experienced my IHHE Moment. But it took a series of committed decisions over 14 long months for my family to achieve debt freedom.

Which process will you choose? Or which process have you chosen?

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5 Things Every Student Should Know About Student Loans

May 16, 2012 in What Everyone Should Know About Money with 0 Comments

I could never have attended Purdue University had it not been for student loans. I began dating Sallie Mae right away, and it took years for me to break up with her. With that said, there are several that every student should know about student loans. Here are five of them.

  1. Go to school for 4 years for a 4 year degree Or for 2 years for a 2 year degree. Not six years for a four year degree. This can have substantial financial consequences. For example, if you attend college for two years more than required for the degree, you will have to pay for two extra years of school PLUS you will forfeit the salary you could have earned during that two year period. For many people this is a $100,000 financial swing!
  2. Obtain a degree that will help you repay the loan There are many people who go to prestigious private colleges to obtain a degree that is the equivalent to underwater basket-weaving. While I think that underwater basket-weaving would be amazingly cool, it probably won’t help repay the loans. My mechanical engineering degree from Purdue University and MBA from Clemson University certainly helped me repay my student loans.
  3. Tech or Community College for the first two years can really lower costs Most states have established programs that allow all credits earned during the first two years of community college to transfer directly to the state schools. I have seen the costs for community college. They are much lower than state or private universities. The local community college where I live is literally one-third the cost of the state school.
  4. Obtain subsidized loans if possible Subsidized loans do not accrue interest while the student maintains at least half-time student status. They also do not accrue interest while the loans are in grace periods or deferment.
  5. The name of the college does not matter nearly as much as the effort you put into your studies Many students fall in love with a particular college and feel that they just must attend only that institution. I have discovered that no one really cares about the fact that I went to Purdue and Clemson – all they want to know is if I can help them accomplish their stated objective.

Print this out and have a conversation about it with your student or future student. My bride and I have been talking about this with our daughter since she was six or seven. I know it might seem like boring conversation, but I promise you that it has had a positive impact on our daughter and the plans she has made for education.

I have written an entire chapter on this topic in my book for high school and college students – What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter The Real World – I promise you it will help financially prepare your student for the real world. You can purchase that book HERE or for your e-reader HERE.

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Featured Tool Of The Month – Known Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses Calculator

May 14, 2012 in Tools with 0 Comments

Do you ever feel like your finances have been side-swiped by a major expense, and that sudden expense causes immense stress and pain?

Chances are that you have, and it probably was a “Known Upcoming Non-Monthly Expense.”  The key word in that phrase is “non-monthly“.  Because it is not a monthly expense, it can tend to become an “out of sight – out of mind” item that seems to appear suddenly out of nowhere.

Think about it. Have any of the below items happened to you before and created a financial emergency?

  1. Car tires need replaced
  2. Sickness that created enough hospital bills to consume the entire insurance deductible (or worse yet – happened without insurance)
  3. Heating & Air went out
  4. Christmas
  5. Vacation
  6. Annual life insurance premium
  7. Annual property taxes

Just go ahead and say, “Yes, I have!” because we ALL have experienced one or more of these scenarios.

Here’s the solution – use the “Known Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses Calculator” to transform your “non-monthly” expenses in “monthly” expenses.  See the example below:

Do you see it?  By converting the “non-monthly” expenses to a “monthly” expense of $579 every month, you have substantially lessened the impact on your budget!  Instead of having to suddenly come up with $1,200 when the annual property tax bill arrives, the money will just be there!

TIPS:

  • Be sure to recalculate your monthly savings number at least once per year
  • Don’t forget more long-term expenses such as college, weddings, vehicle replacement, and major home renovations
  • Set your savings for these expenses AUTOMATIC – by establishing an auto-draft

NOTE: This tool and dozens more are covered in more detail in my book, I Was Broke. Now I’m Not.

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You CAN Do This!

May 10, 2012 in Hope with 1 Comment

Anybody who has ever participated in a Financial Learning Experience has heard me say, “You CAN do this!”

These words are throughout my books as well.

There is a reason for this – it’s because I truly believe it!

  • I know you have an excuse, but you CAN do this!
  • I know you have a reason, but you CAN do this!
  • I know you have endured struggles, but you CAN do this!
  • I know you have encountered unfair situations, but you CAN do this!
  • I know you may be old, but you CAN do this!
  • I know you may be young, but you CAN do this!

One of my brothers recently graduated college … he’s turning 50 this year.  It’s never too late to fulfill a dream.

Another brother went through significant challenges and military tours … he’s now a doctor.

I have a friend who was $85K in non-house debt and had received foreclosure papers on his house … he’s now debt-free.

I know a young lady who makes less than $1,500 a month, and will completely own her first house by the age of 25.

I KNOW that you may have a good reason/excuse for why you have yet to achieve a dream, but it does not negate the fact that you CAN still accomplish it.

QUESTION: What is the dream you need begin believing in again?

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This Monday – Financial Learning Experience – Spartanburg, SC

May 3, 2012 in FLE with 0 Comments

I’m FIRED UP to be teaching the Financial Learning Experience at Restoration Church in Spartanburg, SC this coming Monday!

The event is FREE (thanks to Restoration Church!), but registration is requested.  Here are the details:

  • WHERE  Restoration Church 6655 PotteryRd Spartanburg, SC 29303
  • WHEN  Monday, May 7, 2012 @ 6:30PM
  • COST  Free!
  • REGISTER  Register by clicking HERE (or copy and paste the following link in your browser: http://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/event?oeidk=a07e5t6whz58877d009&llr=yy4cltcab)
  • WHO IS INVITED? You are!
  • CHILDCARE  Provided (birth thru 6th grade)

Who’s coming?

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Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular – May 2012

May 2, 2012 in Home Pay-Off Spectacular with 1 Comment

Every month there will be an update of Joe & Jenn’s Home Pay-Off Spectacular!

Here’s this month’s update!

Total Squares:  2,426

Paid-For Squares:  1130   1150

Squares Remaining:  1296   1276

% of House Owned By The Sangl’s:  46.6% 47.4%

% of House Owned By Wells Fargo:  53.4%  52.6%

Here is the updated Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular (click to view large size)

We were able to color in another 20 squares this month!  That FIRES US UP!!!  Within the next three months we will “officially” own over 50-percent of the house.  That is an amazing day!  Even so, the interest component of our regular house payment still accounts for 60-percent of the overall payment!  Think about that for a minute – do YOU know how much of your payment is just going to pay the bank interest?  If you’ve just started out on a 30-year mortgage, chances are that it is 95-percent or more of your overall payment.  Just one more reason my bride and I are so hyper-focused on eliminating this note!

How are you doing on YOUR house pay-off spectacular?

If you do not have one, you can get one here => Pay Off Spectacular – House.

Read previous Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular Updates

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