In the movie, The Bucket List, one of the two individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness writes down his “bucket list” – the things he wanted to do before he “kicked the bucket.”

Call me crazy, but I believe that writing down one’s bucket list AFTER being diagnosed with a terminal illness is usually bad timing.  Of course, if you have a terminal illness and have not yet written down your bucket list, it is never too late!

So today, I am challenging you to write down your bucket list.  If you already have one, pull it out and update it.

Perhaps you would share some of your bucket list with all of the readers below. Once you have submitted your ideas, you can see everyone’s submissions by clicking the link provided that states “See previous responses” – Maybe you can get some more ideas to add to your list!.

By the way: We ALL have a terminal illness – it is called “being a human”.  The last I checked, the mortality rate was 100%.  So let’s get FIRED UP and LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST while we can!

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My daughter regularly makes ridiculous requests.  She will ask, "Dad, can we buy five rabbits?"  The answer, of course, is an immediate, "NO!"

However, there are some requests that she has made that are less ridiculous.  For example, she has wanted a treehouse for quite some time.  I promised her for her birthday (back in November) that I would build her one.

I told her that not only would I build her one, I said that it would be AWESOME and that we could camp out in it if she wanted.  She thought that this was the best idea she has ever heard.

In December, there was no tree house yet.  Not even a sign of it.  I told her that I would get started in January.

I did.  I put posts in the ground and put the floor on it.  Then it sat for awhile.

I won't bore you with all of the details, but it was finally completed last week.  We now have a treehouse that is over seven feet in the air, has three windows, a door, electrical power run to it (via extension cord), a fan in the window, and a front porch.  In all it is nearly 100 sq ft of awesome space that she and her friends are having a great time with.

And last Saturday night, I made good on the camping out promise.  It was so awesome that we camped out there again on Monday night – this time with one of her friends.  We got to experience an awesome lightning show and torrential rain this time.

The treehouse cost us money, time, effort, and some serious frustration, but the end result is worth it!

It feels great to have kept a promise.

Have you made some promises that are yet to be fulfilled?  Will those promises cost money?  Are you actively saving money for them?

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Have you ever started something new that you really wanted to stay committed to?

Diets, budgets, exercise, prayer, earlier bedtime, more time with spouse/children.

We start off so great.  We can't be stopped.  In the gym by 5AM.  No chocolate for a month.  Asleep at 10PM.  Prayed every day for a week.

THEN life happens.  Our favorite show is on with a one-hour special.  The ice cream truck came by.  The snooze button was found.  We get busy, life happens, and we fall off of the wagon. 

I regularly counsel folks who have fallen off of the wagon with their finances.  They are so crestfallen.  So sorrowful.  So frustrated.  Maybe even depressed.

"What should we do?" they ask.

Get back on the wagon!

Put together a new spending plan.  Recalculate the debt freedom date.  Figure out what caused you to fall off of the wagon in the first place and seek ways to prevent it from happening again.

I know that YOU CAN DO THIS!  I was able to do it.  You can too!  Anyone who has read I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. knows that I include a line at the end of each chapter that says "I believe in you!" You CAN do this.

Here are some common reasons for wagon bruises (develop when one falls off of the wagon).

• No emergency fund. This is the number one cause of wagon bruises.  If there is no protection from "life happens" events, one will be highly susceptible to wagon bruising.
• Not saving for KNOWN, upcoming expenses.  We know that Christmas is coming.  That property taxes will come due.  We know that the car WILL break down and that the tires will need replaced.  Whether one saves for these expenses or not, the KNOWN, upcoming expense will still occur.
• Spouses not on the same page.  If both spouses are not on the same page financially, it can really lead to some severe wagon bruising.
• Bad case of "I-Want-This-Now-Itis".  If one can not say "NO!" when tempted to blow the spending plan, it will cause a financial mess.
• Lack of accountability.  This really affects single folks a lot.  There is no one to say, "Maybe you should reconsider that decision."  It is really easy to overspend when there is no accountability.

Have you ever fell off of the wagon?  Share how bad the wagon bruises were and what you did to get back on the wagon.

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What a year 2007 was!  It was my first full year on this crusade to help people win with their money, and I still can't believe what I have seen.

Here are some facts:

• 470 people received one-on-one financial counseling – FOR FREE!
• Wrote the Financial Freedom Class (5 session class)
• Taught the Financial Freedom Class 5 times!
• 413 people attended the Financial Freedom Class!
• Developed the Financial Learning Experience (2 hour class that travels the nation!)
• Taught the Financial Learning Experience 10 times!
• 1,209 people attended the Financial Learning Experience!
• Completed my first book "I Was Broke.  Now I'm Not!"  (being released in February 2008)
• Started a weekly newspaper column called "Money Help" in the Anderson Independent-Mail
• Initiated a weekly podcast called "I Was Broke.  Now I'm Not!"  (Listen to the iTunes version HERE, the non-iTunes version HERE)
• Spoke/Taught at NewSpring Church, Revolution Church, Crossroads Church, Barefoot Community Church, Lifepoint Church, 5 Point Fellowship, Oak Leaf Church, Word of Faith Christian Ministries, Little Steps, and Peachtree Community Church)

All of that – IN JUST ONE YEAR!!!

I am so blessed and humbled to be a part of this great crusade.  I am overwhelmed by the blessings I have in my life.

Thanks be to God for making my life's work imminently clear!  I LOVE what I get to do!  I am truly living my dream!

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Tomorrow morning, my first book is headed off to the printer.

I am FIRED up!!!

The title of the book?

"I Was Broke.  Now I'm Not!"

Author:  Joseph Sangl

How weird is that?

In just a few weeks, I will have realized one of my life dreams – "To author a book and sell at least one copy!"

Anyone want to buy at least one copy?  Your opportunity is coming up! 

Jenn are going through a season where we are SICK of paying mortgage payments.  We have been debt-free except for the house for nearly four years, but this stupid house mortgage makes us angry!

If we paid the regular monthly payment for a thirty year mortgage at a fixed rate of 6% interest, only 17% of the principal & interest payments made in the first year go to principal!  Where does the other 83% go?  To the mortgage lender!!!

No wonder people aren't winning financially!

So, Jenn and I are attacking the mortgage.  This translates to the fact that we are boosting income and cutting spending.

As part of the "cutting spending', Jenn and I are having to have the Wants vs. Needs discussion.

I have got to tell you, it is BRUTAL!

Here is what is up for cutting or eliminating in our budget:

• Cable TV
• Spending Money
• Babysitting Money
• Internet
• Entertainment Money
• Gasoline Money
• Christmas Money

Here is NOT what is up for cutting or eliminating in our budget:

• Vacation Money (we save for it monthly)
• Retirement Savings
• College Savings

I need some great ideas for saving a boatload of cash.  Anyone have any great ideas?

Another edition of the Weekly "I Was Broke.  Now, I'm Not!" Podcast was released yesterday!  To subscribe to the podcast via iTunes, click HERE.  If you do not have iTunes, you can download an mp3 by clicking HERE.

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I am starting to invest in a mutual fund for my non-retirement dreams.

I thought I would share some of my non-retirement dreams.

• A LONG trip to Australia and New Zealand
• A LONG trip to Europe – starting in England, including Denmark, Germany, Austria, and ending in Poland.
• A LONG trip to Israel
• My daughter's wedding (whether I like it or not, she will probably get married some day)
• A really nice ski boat
• A really nice fishing boat
• A 100 acre farm
• A LONG trip around the United States

What are some of your dreams?

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Dave Ramsey is an official www.JosephSangl.com Financial Hero.

Dave just signed on to a primetime show on the new TV channel – Fox Business Network, and I am pumped up for Dave and his team.  I had the chance to visit with Dave at his Brentwood studios in August, and he mentioned that this deal was on the way.

Congratulations, Dave and team!  This is yet another result of staying the course, not being denied, and facing up to the challenges all along the way!  You guys ROCK! 

So with Dave's announcement, I thought I would list some of my favorite "Dave-isms"

• "I like the way I've built wealth better than the way you haven't."
• "Live like no one else so later you can live like no one else!"
• "Here is how you spell 'paying too much' => M-A-L-L"
• "I'm debt-free!"
• "Listen to someone who has won with money.  Not your broke brother-in-law."
• "Sell the car.  Just sell the car.  Get rid of the car."
• "Amputate your debt.  Sell so much stuff that the kids are afraid they're next!"
• "I've been broke, and I've been rich.  I prefer rich."

Way to go, Dave!

By the way, one of the biggest dreams of mine is to teach at a personal finance conference with Dave!  I am using the most powerful tool on earth to make it happen – PRAYER!

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Another story of life-change was released on the podcast today!  Have you listened to the Podcast from Joe?  To subscribe to the podcast using iTunes, click HERE.  If you do not have iTunes, you can download an mp3 by clicking HERE.

A great personal finance blogger at MyTwoDollars has written a great response to the question: "Do You Spend Money On Anything?" HERE.

Check out the cartoon!!!  I've seen people like that!!!  I think I WAS that person once!

FUNNY!

Way to go MyTwoDollars!

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After an unbelievable quantity of requests, I have posted my snake drawing for sale on Ebay.  I will donate all proceeds from this phenomenal artwork to NewSpring Church's GameTime.

You can view the artwork and place your bid on Ebay HERE.

When you look at the listing on Ebay you will note the SUBJECT I have selected to list this artwork under is "Music, Instruments" in the STYLE of "Pop Art".

Under the description, I have stated that the item will be:

• Sold as is
• Possibly wrinkled
• The snake may or may not still be sticking its tongue out at you
• The "Christmas" animal may or may not be dead yet
• The snake may or may not smile at you – it depends if it likes you or not
• This is a SNAKE – not a dinosaur!

So let the ENORMOUS quantity of bidding begin!

By the way, I wouldn't be surprised if this artwork sold for $1,000,000 or more.

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Do you live near Anderson, SC?  Sign up for the Financial Freedom Class at NewSpring Church – class begins TONIGHT, September 19 and costs only $20 per household – childcare provided!  You can sign up and pay on-line HERE.