Many of you know that I have a house cat named Kiki.  My daughter was given this nice kitty cat four years ago for Christmas, and it has been a great cat.

Until we moved back to South Carolina and bought an older home.  An older home that used to have other animals in it.  The smell of the other animals has ignited the stupid instinct to spray and mark its territory.

The cat has peed all over the tile floor of the laundry room.  It has peed all over a box of shipping envelopes for my book.  (Don't worry - I threw them away.)

It has pooped all over the new carpet.  And we decided that the cat was going to get ONE MORE CHANCE to stop being instinctive with its pooping and peeing.

Well, it seemed as if our cat was behaving and things have went OK for a couple of months.

Let me stop that story to introduce a new storyline.

A new kitten showed up on our back deck two weeks ago.  It was emaciated with its ribs sticking out and it had no tail.  Melea immediately fell in love with it and started nursing it back to health.  Me, being the sucker that I am, agreed that after a trip to the vet this new kitten could move in with us last Thursday.

Last Wednesday, the day before the kitten was going to move in, Jenn discovered that Kiki had been spraying FOR MONTHS in an undiscovered area.  The undiscovered area?  On our brand new carpet and TWO BOXES OF I Was Broke. Now I'm Not.!!!!!!  Now, I know some budget-haters would love to do what Kiki has done, but THAT WAS IT.

Kiki has been kicked outside.  The new kitten is not being allowed in the house.  I wanted to see if Kiki could fly through the floor at a very high rate of speed, but I kicked her out instead.

In spite of ALL of that, this was still a very hard decision.  You see, Kiki slept next to Melea every single night.  Snuggled right up next to her, purring so nicely.  Ever since Melea can remember, Kiki has been bounding around the house with her.  Now, Kiki sits outside in tropical storm Faye, meowing forlornly and totally confused as to why she can not come inside.

In spite of the fact that the stupid cat had ruined two boxes of books.  In spite of the fact that our new carpet smells like cat pee.  In spite of the fact that it had sprayed an entire box of shipping envelopes.  In spite of the tremendously annoying damage, it was still a very difficult decision.

It made me pause.  This situation helps me understand just a little bit more why some people can not bring themselves to make the decisions necessary for them to win with their money.  They KNOW that the car payments are peeing all over their ability to gain financial traction.  They KNOW that the credit cards need to be chopped up because they are stinking up their ability to win with money.  They KNOW that their finances are continually being trashed because they are unwilling to make a tough decision.

Folks - throwing out your eight year old daughter's cat is a difficult decision.  So is selling a car and taking a second job.  But I will tell you this - the relief I feel now that the decision has been made is AWESOME!

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Purchase an un-peed-upon copy of I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. or a Home Group Study Kit.

So I have this ability to track downloads of various tools on this wildly popular website, and I see that (as of this writing) the I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. Group Study Guide has been downloaded over 200 times!

So …  Who is using this for their home group/small group study?

A group in Rhode Island was among the first to complete the study.  In fact, they beta-tested it and helped me make some major improvements to the final product.

My goals when writing this study were for it to:

• Be PRACTICAL
• Be applied IMMEDIATELY and EASILY
• Generate real and authentic conversation amongst home group members
• Provide HOPE
• Be low cost

If you are using this study right now, I would love to HEAR YOUR FEEDBACK.

If you have not downloaded your FREE COPY of the Group Study Guide and are interested in using this for your next home group study, click HERE to get your copy!

A copy of I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. is required as part of the study materials, and right now if you purchase a copy through THIS LINK you will receive a professionally printed copy of the Group Study Guide FREE!

I had a BLAST at Graystone Church today!

Telling the story of how Jenn and I were able to stop being B-R-O-K-E never gets old.  I am so PUMPED UP about it, and I can't help but yell about it to anyone who will listen!

I was able to speak during the two morning services at 9:30AM and 11:00AM.  Immediately following the  second service, lunch was served and the Financial Learning Experience was set up.

The staff and volunteers did a fantastic job preparing for this event!  At 12:30PM sharp, the Financial Learning Experience started and so did the life change.

I KNOW that there were people who came to the FLE hopeLESS and left hopeFULL.

I KNOW that there were people who came in overwhelmed by their finances and left equipped to face their situation.

I KNOW that there were people who wondered whether they would learn something that could help them take their finances and left with several tools that will absolutely help them do just that!

I LOVE teaching the FLE because the tools that I teach are PRACTICAL and immediately applicable and are THE TOOLS that Jenn and I used to become debt-free and win with our money.  We STILL use these tools every single month, and we will use these tools until the day we die or until we learn of an even better way to manage our money.

Pastor Jonathan has posted some of his thoughts about the day HERE.

Graystone Church:  Thanks so much for your kindness!  My family is so thankful for the opportunity to share on this subject that we are so passionate about.  Thank you! 

Wow.  All I can say is, "Wow."  After reading all of the terrific comments, there was absolutely no way I could choose any single one of them.  So I ended up resorting to the old-fashioned "names in a hat" technique to choose the winner of Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson.

The winner is Casey Morgan who submitted the second comment on the review I wrote up about the book.

Congratulations to Casey, and for those who did not win the free copy, I highly recommend that you hop on over to Amazon.com and pick up a copy.  You could even bundle it with a copy of I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. and qualify for free shipping!

Congratulations again to Casey Morgan for winning the free book!

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I read several blogs every single day.  They are on my every-single-day list because of various reasons, but one of the blogs is on there because it regularly stretches me with thought-provoking stuff.

The blog is called Evotional.com (subscribe HERE), and it is written by Mark Batterson.

Mark Batterson is the lead pastor of Washington, DC's National Community Church, widely recognized as one of America's most innovative churches.  NCC meets in movie theaters at metro stops throughout the city, as well as in a church-owned coffee house near Union Station.  More than seventy percent of NCC'ers are single twentysomethings who live or work on Capitol Hill.  Mark is the author of the best-selling In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day.

Well, I am honored to say that I was given a preview copy of Mark's latest book, Wild Goose Chase, which will be released on August 19.

I read it in its entirety in less than three hours, and I think every single person who has spent time wondering what they have been put on earth to do should read this book.

Mark writes, "Most of us have no idea where we're going most of the time.  Perfect."  So true.

As you read through this book, you will understand that the journey is way more important than knowing your future destination.  Mark writes about six cages that can leave you feeling disoriented, disillusioned, and frustrated with life.  He is spot on with his observations.

In his mission to provide next steps for folks, Mark and his team have created a web site called Chase The Goose.  I love it when ideas are moved into practical application.

You can pre-order your copy today at Amazon, and it will ship on August 19.

By the way, I was given one extra copy, and I will give it away FREE.  Who will receive it?  The person who provides the most compelling reason in the comments section of this post.  I will be the sole judge of the most compelling reason and will mail the book out on August 18th.

Introduction

This couple is THROUGH with debt!  It has now been eight months since they announced that they were breaking up with debt.  They have agreed to share their Debt Freedom March with everyone in the hopes to inspire others to do the same!

Here is this month's update.

If you have been following me on my Twitter posts, you know that I have been talked into running a full marathon again.

Perry was unwilling to run again.  He might be the smart one in this deal.

A full marathon.  That is 26.2 miles of non-stop running.  It is four months of training runs including individual runs of 14, 15, 16, 18, and 20 miles each.

My last marathon was two years ago in San Diego.  This one is in Houston.  In January.

As I trained for my last marathon, I did a series of posts relating how a marathon was similar to management of my personal finances.  You can check out those posts HERE. 

The biggest benefit of running a marathon?  The fact that I can eat whatever I want and STILL lose weight.

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Introduction 

Couple #1 is THROUGH with debt!  They have been married for many years and have two children.  They are now ELEVEN months into their Debt Freedom March.

Good/Bad This Month

We are really struggling with the economy right now. We are in sales and am currently way below last year's figures.  For the first time in twenty years, we laid off people in our home office. Things are really scary. On the bright side, we are not carrying near as much debt as this time last year so we are not creating new debt which to me is the most important thing.  I thank God for all we have and pray for those who are struggling way more than my family. Thanks for all of your help and wisdom.

Updated Debt Freedom Date

Month By Month Progress

Sangl Says

Another debt has left Couple #1's household!  The American Express has been kicked out forever.  Nice!

Here is what is so incredible - Couple #1 began attacking their debt just eleven months ago, and they have paid off $20,462!  Way to go Couple #1 - I can't wait to see where you guys stand at the end of your first full year of attacking your debt!

Readers …

How is your own Debt Freedom March progressing?

In my book, I Was Broke. Now I'm Not., I share the story of my Debt Freedom March and teach the exact tools that Jenn and I used to become debt-free.  You can do it too!  You can read the book's introduction HERE.

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I had an amazing Monday.

First, I had an incredible weekend teaching the Financial Learning Experience and the Financial Counseling Experience at NewSpring Church.  Then, I got to hear Perry deliver an amazing message on Sunday.

And then Monday showed up.  As I walked out of the door, I saw a FedEx envelope wedged in the door.  It said it was from "First National Bank".  I was not expecting anything from FedEx, especially from a bank.  Then I noticed that it was from First National Bank of Omaha.  FNBO.  As in FNBO Direct.  As in the on-line savings account provider that is currently paying 3.50% interest.

Let me set this up before I tell you what was in the envelope.

A couple of months ago, a reader wrote me saying that I should enter a contest being sponsored by FNBO Direct called "Pay Yourself First".  All I had to do was prepare a video that shared a major savings obstacle and why I was focused on paying myself first.  I did that and uploaded it to YouTube as instructed.  A few weeks later, I was awarded a $10 Amazon.com gift card for being one of the early entrants.

Well, here is where Monday and the FedEx envelope rolls in.

The letter inside stated that I have been selected as one of the twenty semi-finalists and that I have been awarded $500 for reaching the semi-finalist level!  FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS!!!  I am BLOWN AWAY!

From the twenty semi-finalists, FNBO Direct will select five finalists who will compete in a six-month savings journey.  FNBO Direct will match the savings dollar-for-dollar up to $5,000!  FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS!  Are you kidding me?!  I am so blessed.  SO BLESSED.

You can check out my YouTube entry HERE.  In the video, you will see/hear me mention the Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular.  I am so focused on eliminating our mortgage that I provide monthly updates on our pay-off spectacular.  You can read all of them by clicking HERE.

What a great Monday!

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Saturday was incredible!  INCREDIBLE!

We had THIRTY ONE people representing FOURTEEN churches here for the Financial Counseling Experience training.  They came from South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama.  The St. Arbucks coffee was fresh (too holy to be Anderson, so we have to import it), the Chick-Fil-A sweet tea had hummingbirds seated on the edges of the cups (that's how you KNOW it is good), and I was able to share the process we have used to provide one-on-one counseling for over 400 people a year here at NewSpring Church.

It is my passion to help others accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances so that they can go do EXACTLY what they have been put on this earth to do!

I am so excited about the Financial Counseling Experience because these people have been equipped to start their own financial counseling ministry at their own church or to take their existing financial counseling ministry to the next level.

Here is what really FIRES ME UP - In effect, I was able to teach THOUSANDS of people on Saturday.  These people are going to go back to their home church and impact hundreds and thousands of people in their own communities.  That FIRES ME UP!

By the way, this would not have been possible without some incredible volunteers who make this financial counseling ministry ROCK here at NewSpring.  Josh, Amy, Paul, Amy, Gracie, and Jenn - THANK YOU!  You ROCK!

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