Challenge for Best Question Money Testimony

A few weeks back I posted a couple post about a serious on “The Best question asked” that our pastor gave us along with a challenge.  I’ve taken the challenge on taking my health into top priority (thank you kettlebell work outs and Green Smoothies for breakfast).  The following week I posted about his challenge on money. I posted this on facebook and wanted to share my testimony with all my friends here. 

I'm a big believer in testimony and today I'm on my knee's thanking God! I accepting the challenge at church to move giving the top of my list instead of the bottom. I re-prioritized & set my % to higher and changed the way I view money etc. I was then blessed with a bonus that paid for both boys registration into school. I gave back more with the bonus (even though inside I thought no I should keep this). THEN TODAY I get an email from my bosses that they are SENDING MY WHOLE FAMILY TO DISNEY! I am overwhelmed with love and faith. What a gift I have been given and the reward will be something to last a life time! Thank you God!

Yes you read that correct my amazing bosses are sending my family to Disney.  My bosses are located on the East Coast and they will be taking the office to Disney in Florida.  Being the amazing people they are they knew how hard it would be for me to fly there and find arrangements for the kids and Rick.  So instead of just saying oh well they sent me a surprise email to let me know they are sending my whole family to CA.  NOT only do we get to take the kids to Disney (which I didn’t think I would ever be able to do) but they get to MEET their grandmother.  Rick’s mom lives there and they have NEVER meet her, with health conditions she hasn’t been able to come here.  This is a blessing beyond blessings.  As I’ve said that I have the most giving bosses and I can’t ever thank them enough for all they do for us!

We leave in just a few short weeks, so we’re in planning mode.  My bosses have taken care of the hotel, the flight and even the passes!  Rick has been in overdrive finding us a way to get to the hotel, our hotel doesn’t offer a shuttle.  We’ve been weighing a taxi vs renting a shuttle vs a car.  I’m thinking we may rent a car just for that night then we can go grocery shopping and then return it in the morning (just find a way back from the car place about 1 1/2 miles away).  Then we may rent it again on Saturday so we can drive to visit Rick’s mom.  I’ll leave the freak out to Rick on that part! LOL

The best Question … Money Series

Last week I posted about the best question series we are doing at church.  This past Sunday was about money and I actually took notes like no tomorrow. Usually I’m not a big note taker but I was looking for more paper to keep writing.  With Caden about to enter Kindergarten meaning that our monthly school tuition is going to double.  I need to find ways to pay off bills and get that extra monthly budget. So DON’T get scared that I say church I think really this is something that can apply to practical life again!

BEST QUESTION ASKED:

In light of my financial past, my present financial circumstances, and my future financial hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do?

“Of What use is money in the hand of a fool, since he has no desire to get wisdom?” Prov. 17:16 = Hmmm makes you think right?

1. Asking the WRONG Questions.  Example

1. Can I afford it?
2. Can I make the payment?
3. Is it on Sale? (I do this a lot)
4. If I can make it work, then I should get it.

2. Assessing your financial Priorities

Currently how we use our money:

1. Spend it
2. Repay Debt
3. Pay Taxes
4. Save it
5. Give it

What is wise from my financial past?  Priorities, Knowledge & Self Control mandates how we do it.

The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower becomes the lender’s Slave. Proverbs 22:7

Leaned someone money and it changes the relationship!  When you’re in debt to someone (friend, creditor, etc) means your in slave to them!

Dave Ramsey gives you this acronym “F.I.X G = M”

FOCUSED INTENSITY X GOD = MOMENTUM

Adjusting your Financial Focus

Live like no one else!  If you’re living like a Rock Star it will lead to being upside down.

Change the way we use money, instead of how we currently do it. Do this:

1. Give – Now that doesn’t mean to church if you don’t go.  Give to others in need.  It comes back 10 Folds.
2. Save – Have an Emergency Fund of $1000 or at least $500.
1. The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets. Prov. 21:20 – AGAIN HMMM makes me rethink what I’m always doing!
3. Repay Debt - Instead of Funding Someone else's future fund your own – I LOVE THIS!!!
1. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender. Prov. 22:7
4. Pay Taxes – Remember if you GIVE and Save you PAY less taxes! Hello you can write off charitable giving!
5. Spend it – What ever is left spend that!

I know it is a crazy way to do things but we have been given the task of trying this for 3 months and see what happens!

I thought really hard and prayed on this. I’m on board I gave double what I usually give last Sunday (not close to 10% but a % that works for us).  Then I wasn’t sure what was going to happen this week but I knew it would work out.  THEN today my boss emailed me that a surprise BONUS had been given to me!  I’m telling you I fell off my chair!  I automatically put a portion in savings and then was able to enroll both boys for school and pay the registration fee!  All I can say is I’m blessed and I’m putting this new practice forward!

Something else our pastor talked about that made me stop dead in my tracks.  Take ALL your bills write down from smallest amount owed to largest amount owed.  Then take the SMALLEST bill you owe on, double what you minimum payment each month this will help pay off this bill faster.  WHEN that bill is paid off then take the money you have been sending to that bill to the next SMALLEST bill and so on.  It’s called Debt snowball, pay off smallest to largest payment and then retire that bill.  It makes it more manageable and not so over whelming to take care of your debt!  With my bonus I made a triple payment and hope to have this bill paid off by next month and then on to the next smallest bill!

This may not be easy but it is the wise thing to do!  Wish me luck but I think I may have just had my “Ahh Haa” moment and will take control of my financial life!

The Best Question ever Asked …

We’ve started a new search at church, ok for you non church people don’t run away =D.  I think this is a “PRACTICAL” idea you can input into your life.  Almost like a resolution but I really think it is so much more than that.

The Question:

“In light of my Past, my Present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do”

At first I was like oh boy this is another resolution I won’t follow threw with.  But then I sat on it and really started thinking.  Our pastor gave us 4 Areas to look into our life.

1. Physical
2. Relational
3. Spiritual
4. Professional/Education

So of course I look at my Physical which I know hinders my Relationship.  When I feel frumpy, well you know the rest.  So on to bettering myself.  I feel this is so much better then a resolution.  I put my butt (literally) into gear.  I broke out my Shred it Video by Jillian Micheals and my Kettlebell and here we are today will day #4 of the work out and let me tell you my legs are like jello and my arms feel like I’m an ape and they are hanging down and no way are they coming above my head!

Some other things with this lesson I think also can be PRACTICAL in every day life are:

1. There is cumulative VALUE to INVESTING small amounts of time in certain activities over a LONG period of time.
1. My Goal: working out a few minutes per week! Also spending special time with the boys (playing Wii Games, instead of sitting on my arse). And praying nightly with boys.
2. There are rarely any IMMEDIATE consequences for NEGLECTING single installments of time in any AREA of life.
1. YES it won’t hurt if I miss one day of the above Goal, but it becomes easier and easier if I “SKIP just this one day”
3. NEGLECT has a cumulative EFFECT.
1. My Goal: There will be no weight loss, special time or night time rituals if I NEGLECT these items!
4. There is no cumulative VALUE to the URGENT things that we allow to interfere with the IMPORTANT things.
1. My Goal: NOT allow myself to say I just need to check facebook or make this call etc instead of doing what is important to my health which is the working out!

Last on my list is I NEED to get insurance for myself.  When Rick changed to current job the insurance went from being affordable to no way jose!  I think I found a place that I can get me and the boys for $150 a month.  NOW to find the extra money and I can do this!  I MUST go to the doctor I have been off my Thyroid Medicine for a LONG time which is NOT good and I know is effecting my health and with my motivation.  Thyroid controls so much in your body including your weight and energy.

Thank you Google Images for the picture above.