How long has it been since you checked out the FREE (HERE) financial tools available via the I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. website?  Chances are pretty good that there are several tools that can really help you take your finances to the next level – and they are FREE!

It is our passion to help others accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances.

This passion is the reason we offer the free tools.  It is the reason I write a blog post about personal finances every day.  It is the reason that I write a weekly newspaper column.  It is the reason I travel the nation speaking and teaching.  It is the reason that I wrote I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. and its related Group Study.  It is the reason that I am writing a book directed toward those young people who are about to embark on their big adventure into the real world.  It is the reason that we offer free financial counseling through over twenty churches (and increasing!).  It is the reason that I have been training team members at every single live event.

I'm FIRED UP and sold out to this God-given call on my life.

However we can serve you, it is our honor.

Do you know how much money you will need to retire well (independent of Social Security)?

There are many ways to calculate an estimate, but I really like the Retirement Nest-Egg Required calculator that we have placed in the FREE TOOLS section.

To calculate your number, you will need to know two numbers:

• The annual amount you want to live on at retirement (in today's dollars)
• The number of years until you retire

Suppose one wants $50,000/year (today's dollars) during retirement and plans to retire in thirty years.  Punch the numbers into the Retirement Nest-Egg Required calculator and this is what you will see:

Because inflation erodes the spending power of money, the annual amount we want must be adjusted.  Using an assumed inflation rate of 4%, one will need $162,170/year in thirty years to have the same spending power of $50,000 today.

At different rates of return, you can see different amounts that need to be saved.  Eight percent is a common rate of return on investment that financial planners use.

What is your number?  Are you going to achieve it?

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I am pleased to announce that we have added a new Pay-Off and Savings Spectacular for a Harley Davidson motorcycle on the "Tools" page and on the "Next Steps" site.

Thanks to Jessica M. in Orlando, FL for the idea!

Click HERE for the Pay-Off Spectacular.

Click HERE for the Savings Spectacular.

We love hearing ideas from the tribe of folks who are yelling, "I was broke. Now I'm NOT!"  If you have a suggestion for a pay-off or savings spectacular – send it in HERE.

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I was asked by a reader of this wildly popular blog (his name is Jeff from Cheyenne, WY) to prepare a Savings Spectacular for Disney.

So my team got on it – and it is HERE!

There is NOTHING like going to Disney and paying cash for the entire trip!

Saving up for something?  See if we have a Savings Spectacular for it HERE.  If we don't have it, send us an e-mail and ask for it!

I saw that title on an article link at CNNMoney's personal finance website, so I clicked on it.

The link leads to a great tool that helps you evaluate your current financial condition – then it gives you a report card grade.

Check it out HERE. 

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The IWBNIN team has upgraded the "Actual Cost of Debt" tool.

The upgrade was made to include the "Debt Freedom Date" in its calculation as well.

Do you know how much your debt is costing you?  Use this tool to find out, and then work to reduce the interest rates by restructuring your debt! 

I was recently asked for a list of common Known, Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses, and I thought I would share the list with you.

• Christmas
• Vacation
• Car Maintenance and Repairs
• Home Repairs
• Property Taxes (House, Cars, Boats, etc.)
• Medical Insurance Deductible
• Annual Membership Dues/Fees
• Annual/Semi-Annual/Quarterly Insurance Premiums
• Home Schooling Expenses
• Gifts (Anniversary, Birthdays, Weddings, Babies)

I save all of this money in an On-Line Savings account that pays great interest, has no minimum balance, and is FDIC-insured.  I have money in three different on-line banks.  You can check them out HERE.  You can even set up these accounts to automatically draft you checking account on a monthly, weekly, bi-weekly, or bi-monthly basis!  NICE!

What other Known, Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses would you add?

Related Tool

• Known, Upcoming Expenses Calculator on the Next Steps page

I ran across a "Does It Pay To Refinance?" Calculator at CNN Money recently.

You can access it HERE.

This is an excellent tool to use if you are considering refinancing your mortgage! 

I am PUMPED to be carrying the crusade to Greensboro, NC this coming Saturday, November 1st!

I will be teaching the Financial Learning Experience at Saint Pius X in Greensboro.

You can register for the FLE by calling the Saint Pius X church office at [336] 272-4681.

If you are in the Greensboro area, I would love to see you there!

See other Upcoming Events where Joe will be speaking HERE.

If you are a leader or are developing yourself to be a leader, I highly recommend you jump over to Amazon.com and pre-order Tony Morgan's new book – Killing Cockroaches.  Tony serves as the Chief Strategic Officer on the Strategic Management Team here at NewSpring Church, and he is freakishly smart when it comes to leadership and strategy.  As a plus, he is a funny.  I would also subscribe to his website.  His blog is on my short list of every day must-reads.

Oh, and this other no-name guy named Andy Stanley wrote the foreword for Tony's book.

Watch a GREAT introduction to Tony's book by clicking on the YouTube video below

While you are at it, you might want to pick up Tony's other three books on strategy that he co-authored with Tim Stevens.

Find other great resources at the I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. Amazon.com Resource Center.