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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So on this lovely Friday, I want to start off this Labor Day weekend with a huge POSITIVE.  I want to hear what you do and why you do it!  Click on the “comment” link and share with us all.  Let’s share and read each other’s reasons and celebrate the fact that we get to do Life-Giving work!

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Here’s this month’s update!

Total Squares:  2,426

Paid-For Squares:  863 865

Squares Remaining:  1563 1561

% of House Owned By The Sangl’s:  35.6% 35.7%

% of House Owned By Wells Fargo:  64.4% 64.3%

Here is the updated “Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular”

A miserable two squares paid off this month.  We are debating major options on this home pay-off plan.  Options that may eliminate the mortgage entirely …   Things that continue to make you all say, “I wonder what Sangl has cookin’?”  Stay tuned …

How are you doing on YOUR house payoff spectacular?  If you do not have one, you can get one here => Pay Off Spectacular – House.

Read previous Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular Updates

I am PUMPED about our first ever Financial Coaching Experience training that we are going to be offering starting in September!  To be considered for this training, it is required that you participate in our on-line information meeting TUESDAY NIGHT (8/31/2010).

We will be covering the highlights of the training, participation requirements as well as registration and cost information.

Space is limited, so register HERE to reserve your spot.

You see, my life over the past 20 months has had the incredible potential to become a financial disaster.  Here are the issues Jenn and I have faced.

• January 2009:  One heat pump failed.  The other failed four months later.  Cost: $9,500
• January 2009: Attempted In-vitro Fertilization (IVF) after nine years trying for a second child.    Cost: $18,500
• June 2009: Started “I Was Broke. Now I’m Not.” as a full-time business Cost: Entire Salary PLUS had to obtain individual health insurance
• June 2009: Discovered that Jenn was pregnant (God works in wondrous ways!) – but we had been unable to obtain full maternity coverage – but we had to pay for our insurance plan  Cost: $4,000
  
• February 2010: Keaton Joseph Sangl arrives safe and sound  Cost: $13,500

Add those costs up.  It adds up to $45,500!!!

Why am I grateful?  Because we have not incurred ONE DOLLAR OF DEBT as a result of these MAJOR EXPENSES!!!

You want to know why I am so passionate about the financial principles I teach?  That’s why!!!  Because we gave. Because we saved.  Because we have had a plan.  Because we have been diligent, we have been able to avert COMPLETE FINANCIAL DISASTER!  We are LIVING THIS.  This is more than just some “good idea.”  This is a “way of life.”

Think about it.  I teach personal finances for a living.  Where do you think I will be tested the most?  In the management of my own money!

The bank saving accounts are definitely smaller.  I am still blessed.  It has been an emotional 20 months.  I am still blessed.

And our opportunities to serve people and help them become financially free are greater and more numerous than ever!  The passion I have for this crusade is hotter than ever.

I am so blessed.

QUESTION OF THE YEAR: Could you absorb a $40,000+ financial penalty over a period of 20 months and still avoid debt and be able to give throughout it all?

By a miracle of God Himself, I can answer that question with a resounding, “YES!”

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With that said, I want to share what I believe are the Top 5 Things People LACK In Their Financial Plan:

1. Monthly Written Spending Plan The old adage is true: “Fail to plan. Plan to fail!”
2. A “Get Out Of Debt!” Plan Debt robs us of our ability to go do EXACTLY what we have been put on earth to do!
3. A Written Will Statistics show that nearly sixty percent of people do not have a written will!  If you do not prepare a legal will, the government will decide who gets what.
4. Life Insurance Again, statistics show that a majority of people who have dependents relying upon their income to sustain their lifestyle do not have adequate life insurance.  Term life insurance is just too cheap for this to happen!
5. Health Insurance We know that it is EXPENSIVE, but it is way more expensive to not have it!

I hope that these help you take your finances to the next level!  Would you add anything to my list?

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Our team has put together a list of the Top 5 Ways To Save Money – Without Selling Anything! This list has certainly impacted our money in a huge way.  Hopefully, this list will help you save a ton of money too!

1. Auto/Home Insurance The average person saves $500 – $600 per year just by obtaining new quotes!
2. Life Insurance Chances are high that you are overpaying!  Find out more and obtain instant quotes (without talking to anyone!).
3. Zero-Percent Balance Transfer Credit Cards Move your high interest debt to zero percent interest debt!
4. On-Line Savings Accounts On-line banks pay five to eight times the interest that most local banks pay.
5. Groceries Cash envelopes and coupons really work!

In fact, I would LOVE to hear how much money you save by doing these five things!

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The IWBNIN Team is FIRED UP about the opportunity to train Financial Coaches on-line for the first time ever!  We travel around the nation equipping leaders to become 1-on-1 financial coaches, and it is just EXCITING to have the opportunity to train individuals who we would otherwise have no way of meeting or equipping!

The actual training begins in September, but we are hosting an on-line INFORMATIONAL MEETING on Tuesday, August 31st, at 7:00PM Eastern Time where we will cover the details of this training.  To participate in this meeting, you need to sign up by filling out the application below .  If you can’t see the form, click HERE to access it directly on the web.

FUNDED and FREE was written to help church leaders FUND their vision and FREE themselves of financial worry!  This book contains 50 chapters of practical and relevant teaching regarding the topics of Giving, Budgeting, Capital Campaigns, Personal Finances, and Church Financial Management.

Since we are in a festive “National Holiday” mood, we are excited to offer Chapter One absolutely free – “Understand 5 Reasons People Give” – which you can obtain HERE.

It is our prayer that this resource will help thousands of leaders fund their vision. In fact, we are SO FIRED UP that we are also offering an unbelievable one-day only sale TODAY, August 18th, on National “Funded and Free” Day – FIVE BOOKS for $50 – that is 50% off – by following THIS LINK!

If you are a church leader, grab some copies for your team.   If you are not a church leader, grab some copies for your church leaders!

Don’t miss your chance to take advantage of this special National Holiday sale!

National Debt as of 8/17/2010

$13,336,962,180,893

By the time this post was completed, the national debt increased by an additional $1 million.

Your thoughts?

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