Monday, August 30, 2010

"Whether you think you can or can't, you're right" ~ Henry Ford

Sometime back, The Wall Street Journal published an article about the significance of our beliefs and the mental models, or mindsets that shape our behavior. According to the psychologists interviewed for the piece, we act and perform in accordance with the beliefs these models tell us is true.

For example:
If you think something is not possible or out of your reach, you're probably not going to commit much energy and resources to accomplishing that goal.  Getting out of debt, for example. Most Americans tell themselves that they will never save any money, and will always have a car payment. Thus making it their reality.

In order to change this, we need to change our mindsets.
  1. First, begin by specifically identifying the results you want. (ex: "I WILL be debt Free.")
  2. Set goals to accomplish those results.
  3. Finally, examine your beliefs about those actions to determine if they are holding you back. If they are, you need to change your beliefs.  This is where Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking," comes into play.  

The Power of Positive Thinking, is just another way of saying the same thing that Henry Ford said in the Quote above (in the title). Basically, if you want to accomplish your goals, you need to create a mindset made up of beliefs that support the truth you want in your future. That is the secret to becoming Debt Free, it is hard work and won't happen overnight, but if you think positively, and work hard, it will happen. The same is true, for other goals in your life to.





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Sunday, August 29, 2010

Knights Inn - The worst Excuse of a Hotel Ever

As many of my regular readers know, I had planned to stay in Embassy Suites, but because of finances I went to Hotels.com and found some lower cost budget hotels. Well, that may not have been the best thing. In Oklahoma City the hotel, that was prepaid for was a Knights Inn. That hotel was the dirtiest, nastiest hotel I have ever seen. Especially for a hotel that was still in business. The hotel was so horrible, that it gives the brand a horrible name in my mind. Such a bad name that I will never stay at another hotel displaying that name.




Take a look at these pictures and judge for yourself









mold/dirt near shower in upper corner of restroom
another shower view. See spot just left of the shower? That's the closeup in the 1st photo.







water stain around air conditioning vent.
Graffiti on the wall, just inside the front door.





yet another picture around the shower.









base of the shower.  How can this place even remain open?

another water stain picture


That doesn't include how horrible the box springs looked.   If I owned the brands name, I would not want this franchise affiliated with me in any way.  If I was the Oklahoma Health Department I would want this place shut down immediately.  It is absolutely horrible.  And this was just room 129 of the hotel in the Edmund area of Oklahoma City.  The address of this horrible hotel is 11900 N I-35 Service Rd.   It should be avoided at all costs, no mater how low your budget is, it is not worth staying at this filthy excuse for a hotel.


















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Saturday, August 28, 2010

The Royal Wedding Ceremony (Video)

Below is the video from my personal video camera of Pat's and my wedding last Saturday. For those of you who were unable to attend, now is your chance to see the wedding.




Wedding cards and/or gifts may be sent to


D. Kevin and Patricia Surbaugh
PO box 170670
Austin, TX 78717



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Thursday, August 26, 2010

Websites Annual Expenses

I wanted to know, how much I was really paying for this blogging hobby, so I set down and figured it up. Using new figures from my new address, here are the results that I came up with. In some areas, I was a little surprised. What I wanted to know is much how I needed to earn to make it pay for itself, then I would know how much I needed to earn to transform this hobby into a profitable business.

Annual Expenses $$$
7 domain names $174.65
PO Box (paid semi-Annually) $100
PrinceOfThrift.com Hosting $23.40
Internet (AT&T) $234
Cable (Time Warner) $ ??
Total Annual Costs $532.05
The results:

In most cases, this blog will pay for itself. However, it is a long way from being profitable, as a sole business interest. I won't say it's not possible, because anything is possible. However, it will take a lot more hard work to get to that point. Right now I have site revenue from various sources of $500-$700/year. In order for me to do this blog full time, I would need to earn three (3) times that amount (or more) each and every month. Thank you to my loyal readers, who have made this blog what it is. Now, it is time to reach out for additional readers to make this blog (and the related sites) even more interactive.

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Tuesday, August 24, 2010

5 Ways to Minimize Your Holiday Expenses

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.


It’s an indulgence we owe ourselves at least once a year; we slog it out at the office or at our business for the better part of a year, and when it’s time for a vacation, we’re glad to leave hustle and bustle of daily life behind. There’s just one hitch however – holidays tend to cost a lot, especially if you want to go abroad and see new places every time. However, if you’re cost conscious and willing to plan ahead, there are ways to minimize the amount you spend, from the time you leave till the time you get back:
  • Book your tickets and hotel well ahead of time:
    This is easy enough if you know when exactly you’re planning to take a vacation. If you have kids, it’s going to be during their vacation, and even otherwise, you and your spouse could plan to take time off work at the same time. Plane tickets cost less when you book them ahead, as do hotels and resorts. You can save up to 30 percent or even more when you plan a few months ahead.
     
  • Get the best rates possible:
    Ask for discounts –most hotels and resorts are willing to offer discounts if you book package deals or if you book through certain online portals. Check for the best deals online – some portals offer instant cash back offers while others let you take along a child for free when you book a package tour for two adults. And as much as possible, take advantage of off season rates for two reasons – you save money, and you beat the crowds. 
  • Don’t go shopping:
    When you visit new places, enjoy the weather, the location, and the sights and sounds that the place has to offer. And other than the odd souvenir or two, don’t spend all your money shopping for things you probably won’t use when you’re back home. Explore the place you’re visiting, take long walks, laze in your hotel, eat good food, see all there is to see, and experience your holiday thoroughly instead of wasting time hunting for bargains and hopping from store to store. 
  • Don’t use your credit or debit card abroad:   
  • While it may seem like the most convenient thing to do, when you use your credit or debit card abroad, you end up having to pay a large amount by way of fees when you get back. So before you go abroad, buy foreign currency either as cash or as travelers’ checks – take a little more than necessary because you always have the option to come back and convert it back into dollars (or your home currency). 
     
  • Minimize transportation costs:
    When you’re on vacation, walk or cycle as much as possible and avoid hiring private transportation because it could turn out to be a costly proposition. Use public or mass transport where available, but on the whole, your vacation turns out better when you’re willing to walk or cycle as you explore the vicinity and go to places that are far off the beaten path – you get to enjoy locales without a crowd in tow.

Vacations don’t have to be expensive to be enjoyable; it’s the little things that make a holiday memorable and satisfactory.

By-line:

This guest post is contributed by Omar Adams, he writes on the topic of online accounting degree . He welcomes your comments at his email id: omaradams47@gmail.com.


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Monday, August 23, 2010

Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.

Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap
It is easy
to get loans these days. While the easy availability of credit has made
it easier for us to realize our dreams much earlier but can at times
also lead to serious problems. A significant part of the population
in the country is today reeling under severe Debt pressure. Availing
credit is not a problem, but borrowing it beyond capabilities is. If
you too like many other people have fallen on to the
Debt trap then it’s high time that you
bring in some financial discipline in your life and avail a debt consolidation
loan.

A debt consolidation
loan is a large loan, equivalent to your total debts, availed at a lesser
rate of interest and for a longer repayment period. There are many benefits
of these consolidation loans. First, you pay lower interest which reduces
the debt burden considerably. Credit card debts are usually highly charged.
If you replace that debt with a consolidation loan then your burden
will get lessened considerably. Secondly, by availing this loan, you
would replace your multiple debts and now have only one loan to serve.
Serving a single loan will bring financial discipline and will enable
you to come out of your debts very easily. And, most importantly, the
consolidation loan can be availed for longer repayment periods and hence
the repayment amount will be lesser. The various benefits offered by
consolidation loans make it an excellent and easy way to repay your
debts and end your miseries.
The Debt Consolidation
Loans
are very
popular and hence are offered by most of the lenders in the country.
It is better to first check out with the current lender to find if he
would provide you a consolidation loan. If not then apply with other
lenders. Lenders charge interest rates variedly depending on the profile
of the borrower and the loan amount. You will have to look around in
the market and negotiate with many lenders to get a good deal. You can
also seek advice from loan experts who will guide you and help you get
a consolidation loan on better terms.
Author Bio
Lusi Smith
is one of the best writers in the field of Debt consolidation loans.
She has been appreciated for some quality work



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Sunday, August 22, 2010

Royal Honeymoon - Night 1

Last night was our last night in Kansas as we left our previously undisclosed location (Paola, KS) this morning and headed for our next location. Tulsa, OK! Our itinerary will take us from Tulsa, to Oklahoma City (Monday), then on to Dallas (Tuesday) before we arrive at our new home in Austin. While we are enjoying this time together, we will not be posting. This post was actually written before our wedding, for posting at this time. Through out our trip, there will be a number of guest posts and/or pre-authored posts to fill in the space while we are away.
Once we arrive at our new home and are set up, we will post pictures of the wedding. Hopefully the video of the wedding itself will already be up for your viewership by the time this post is posted. Although we can't promise that. If for some reason we are unable to get it posted our first night. We will work on getting it posted after we arrive in Austin. God bless you all, and looking forward to hearing from you all, in our new digs.

Wedding cards and/or gifts may be sent to
D. Kevin and Patricia Surbaugh
PO box 170670
Austin, TX 78717



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Saturday, August 21, 2010

The Royal Wedding

By the time this posts, I will have already had my internet disconnected (won't have internet again until Aug 26). However, today is the big day. The Prince of Thrift is getting married. Some of the comments, have been negative in regards to the planning. That's OK, I am a big man, I can take it. I am open and honest about my finances and there is certainly going to be some that think they have a better idea (and maybe they do). Sure, I think personally that some of the things can be cut, but the bride doesn't think so. And you know, it is her day, I want this day to be special for her. We have cut costs, by only inviting 50 people, instead of 100-200 (or more). We have done a number of things to make this wedding cheaper, including buy a used dress. The groom, one of the grooms man and the future step son (who will give the bride away) already have tuxes, thus saving expenses there. As for the best man and the other groomsman, we are renting tuxes for them. I would have been happy with just the best man, but again the bride (whose day this day belongs to) wanted something different, something more special. I love her, what can I do, but make some concessions.

The wedding was held at 1 pm Central Time in the Gage Park Reinisch Rose Garden, with the small private reception in the Snyder Cabin, also located in the Park. By 3 pm, we were on our way to the first hotel (an independent, not connected to any national brand) for our last night in Kansas. Aah, that hot tub, in our suite feels nice.

Once we get to Austin, TX and get the office set up and internet connected, I will post pictures and video of the big day. So stay tuned. In the meantime, I have several Guest posts that will be published each day while I am absent. Some days, I will have articles, that I myself wrote ahead of time. Overall, there will be 3 Guest posts and 4 posts authored by me (counting this one) that will post between today and August 26. Hopefully, sometime on the 27th, I will have the pictures and videos posted (no promises). In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the blog, as it goes on autopilot. I will respond to any comments, upon my return to the internet.See you all when we arrive in the People's Republic of Austin.  God bless, you all.




Wedding cards and/or gifts may be sent to


D. Kevin and Patricia Surbaugh
PO box 170670
Austin, TX 78717





---
go ahead share your thoughts with me now, my ears are open. I'm always eager to hear what you think.







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Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.

Debt Consolidation: Way to come out of debt trap
It is easy
to get loans these days. While the easy availability of credit has made
it easier for us to realize our dreams much earlier but can at times
also lead to serious problems. A significant part of the population
in the country is today reeling under severe Debt pressure. Availing
credit is not a problem, but borrowing it beyond capabilities is. If
you too like many other people have fallen on to the
Debt trap then it’s high time that you
bring in some financial discipline in your life and avail a debt consolidation
loan.

A debt consolidation
loan is a large loan, equivalent to your total debts, availed at a lesser
rate of interest and for a longer repayment period. There are many benefits
of these consolidation loans. First, you pay lower interest which reduces
the debt burden considerably. Credit card debts are usually highly charged.
If you replace that debt with a consolidation loan then your burden
will get lessened considerably. Secondly, by availing this loan, you
would replace your multiple debts and now have only one loan to serve.
Serving a single loan will bring financial discipline and will enable
you to come out of your debts very easily. And, most importantly, the
consolidation loan can be availed for longer repayment periods and hence
the repayment amount will be lesser. The various benefits offered by
consolidation loans make it an excellent and easy way to repay your
debts and end your miseries.
The Debt Consolidation
Loans
are very
popular and hence are offered by most of the lenders in the country.
It is better to first check out with the current lender to find if he
would provide you a consolidation loan. If not then apply with other
lenders. Lenders charge interest rates variedly depending on the profile
of the borrower and the loan amount. You will have to look around in
the market and negotiate with many lenders to get a good deal. You can
also seek advice from loan experts who will guide you and help you get
a consolidation loan on better terms.
Author Bio
Lusi Smith
is one of the best writers in the field of Debt consolidation loans.
She has been appreciated for some quality work

Friday, August 20, 2010

Overdrawn Fees: How to Avoid Them and Negotiate Them

Note from the editors: The following is a quest post. As such the owners of this blog may or may not agree with the topic matter. We will see you all, when we get back from our honeymoon. In the meantime, we hope you will enjoy this guest post.


Exception fees making billions of dollars every year for the banks when do you use your account outside of the terms and conditions. Exception fees can be charged if you bounce a cheque, miss the credit card repayment or go over your credit card
limit and while these fees can seem minimal at the time, as they are
often only around $20 each time, these costs can add up. but don’t
worry because if you do slip up and mismanage your credit card balance
it is possible to negotiate your way out of overdrawn fees.



Therefore learn more now
about how to avoid overdrawn fees when you go over your credit card
limit as not only are these exception fees often some of the highest
they are also the worst kind for your credit rating.



1 Make an automatic
monthly credit card repayment




If you use your credit
card regularly every month, whether for bills and expenses or for an
indulgence here and there, you will know the average amount of your
monthly credit card repayment and can therefore set up an automatic
direct debit from your transaction account to your credit card for the
due date. This means you don’t half to remember to make the payment
and you don’t have to worry that interest charges applied to your
purchases will put your balance over the limit, incurring overdrawn
fees.




Plus if you are working
to repay a rolling credit card balance you can set up a direct debit
to your credit card of an amount which you know will be more than a
monthly repayment so you can repay your balance sooner.



2 Know your credit card
balance



There is no doubt that
credit cards are a convenient way to make every kind of purchase big
or small, online, in person or automatically. As a result there can
be charges coming out of your credit card account left right and centre
to cover other monthly bills or everyday purchases. Therefore while
you set up these automatic payments from your credit card account so
you don’t have to think about them it doesn’t mean you can forget
about your finances entirely, instead make sure you know about the other
charges which are coming out so you know how much you have to spend
up to your limit.




Also get into the habit
of thinking before you make a purchase on your credit card and check
your balance regularly, you probably have the application on your mobile
phone to allow you to do just that wherever you are. If you’re not
sure how much credit is available before you reach your limit and your
account becomes overdrawn then wait to make the purchase unless it’s
an emergency.

3 Know the type of card
you have




The type of credit card
you have can determine whether you will send your account over the limit
with an emergency purchase if you can’t check your balance. For example
if you need to make an emergency purchase to get your car back on the
road or pay a doctor’s bill for example but you are not sure if you
have enough credit available using an American Express credit card for
example will give you several days to cover the cost of the purchase
as the credit transaction will not be processed right away, allowing
you to avoid overdrawn fees if there is not enough credit available.
However with a MasterCard or Visa card for example the money is debited
from your credit account at the time of the purchase and if there are
not enough funds available your account will become overdrawn.


4 Budget for your credit
card use




If you make purchases on
your credit card up to only the value you can afford to repay with your
wages from that month then you will avoid going over your credit limit
and being charged a fee for an overdrawn account. Managing exception
fees is about managing your finances and while Internet banking and
mobile phone applications make it easier to automate your banking there
is no substitute for following a detailed budget and scheduling your
credit card repayments as a priority bill.


How to Negotiate Overdrawn
Fees
Once a fee is charged to
your credit card account it can seem like the process is finalised however
it is possible to be credited for overdrawn fees if you are able to
successfully explain the situation and negotiate with your credit card
provider. While it is not a foolproof plan tried these negotiation tips
for a refund of overdrawn fees on your credit account:
  • Remain polite and
    calm. Regardless of the reason your account is overdrawn – you and
    your wife both scheduled payment for the same deal at the same time,
    or you both thought the other had made the repayment this month –
    be polite when you call your credit card provider to ask for a refund
    of the overdrawn fee.
  • Admit you were at
    fault. If you take the time to explain the situation to your credit
    card provider chances are they will be willing to let you off the hook
    for this overdrawn fee. Take responsibility for mismanaging your account
    and explained what happened, whether you thought a cheque was going
    to clear in time or you paid too many bills from one account.
  • Make sure they know
    who you are. When talking to your provider make sure you mention that
    you are a long-standing customer, and that you have other accounts with
    the bank. Sometimes banks need to be reminded of this in order to give
    you what you want, because for a bank it is cheaper to keep you as a
    happy customer than to find a new customer to replace you if you leave
    in disgust over an overdrawn fee.
  • Make your request
    firmly. While still being polite be confident in your approach, saying
    ‘I’d like to have the fee removed’ rather than ‘Is there any
    way you could possibly have that fee removed at all?’ Also don’t
    ask questions which will give your bank the chance to say no so rather
    than saying ‘can you help me?’ ask ‘what can you do to help me?’
  • Call back later.
    If you are denied a refund of an overdrawn fee when you call your provider
    try calling again because chances are you will get a different representative
    who may have a different feeling about your situation and will credit
    your account.





However, don’t rely on
being able to talk your way out of overdrawn fees every time you go
over your credit limit because credits on your account and fee waiver
requests will show up each time you call and if you do so on a regular
basis you will simply be pointing out to your credit card provider that
you are not their most responsible customer.

Alban is a personal finance
writer providing tips and advice on how to compare
credit cards online






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Thursday, August 19, 2010

All Utilities Connections Scheduled

I now have all utilities either on or scheduled to be connected.
Electricity with the City of Austin was connected yesterday.
Cable will connect Aug 26
AT&T internet will connect Aug 23

In the mean time gas, electricity, water and internet will disconnect in Topeka on Aug 23. Satellite service was disconnected Aug 2 (and boxes were mailed back last week).

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New Insurance for a New State

My current insurance company, Kansas Farm Bureau, cannot sell insurance in Texas. As such I started calling around for quotes. In the end, I decided on Geico. They had the best auto rate quotes, and along with the renters insurance, through Assurant, I was able to use one agent for both of the insurance needs. My car insurance ends with Farm Bureau on August 23, and begins with Geico the same day.

The renters insurance, has now started. I hate these expenses, but they are a necessary evil.

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Extend the life of your vehicle in 10 easy steps

Millionaires drive older cares, because they don't trade their cars in every 3-5 years, like so many of Americans. Which means they have to take care of their cars, to make sure they last longer. Last year, the Today Show, had ten (10) tips to extend the life of your vehicle in 10 easy steps. Perhaps, if we follow these tips, we can keep our cars longer, like the Millionaires do.



1. Don’t let your owner’s manual sit neglected in your glove compartment.
Instead, crack it open and spend a few minutes reviewing the recommended maintenance schedule for your particular vehicle. “Follow it religiously and use quality oil, fluids and parts,” Csere advised.
- Today Show

2. Don’t overwork a cold car.
“You don’t need to engage in a lengthy warm-up, but drive moderately until the engine is approaching operating temperature,” Csere said.
- Today Show


3. Check out your “check engine” light.

It’s quite common for drivers to ignore “check engine” lights when they turn on. People also can go into prolonged states of denial about strange noises and smells coming from their vehicles. Even if money is tight, it’s worth it to get these issues checked out by a reputable mechanic. “None of these things will go away by themselves, and a repair later is likely to be more expensive than a repair now,” Csere said.
- Today Show

4. Protect your car from the damaging effects of the sun.
On the Today Show, they suggested that it is best to park your car in the shade or a garage as much as possible. Doing so they said, would help protect your cars finish.

5. Check your oil and coolant regularly.
Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.
- Simple Car Maintenance Tips
The Today Show says, that by doing this you can find any leaks sooner, and prevent any problems caused by low fluid levels.

6. Check your tire pressure regularly.
I check mine, not less then once a month. Here is what others say about this specific tip.

If safety isn’t a big enough concern, perhaps money-loss will be. Low tire pressure can be costly. Edmund's estimates that that for every 3 psi below spec, you burn 1 percent more fuel (and add 10 percent more tire wear). It’s not uncommon to be 10 psi below spec, which would waste 3 percent more fuel and increase tire wear by 45 percent.
- 20 Something Finance


7. Pay attention to the way you drive.
The tip they gave on the Today Show here, was to avoid these things, while driving.
Aggressive driving, hard stopping, accelerating to stops and riding the brakes or clutch can make almost everything on your vehicle wear out early and also can hurt your fuel economy.
- Today Show

8. Reduce the number of short trips you make.
This tip, is heard repeatedly, especially since the cost of gas went up. However, it is also great to extend the life of your car.
“Cold starts cause the most wear on your engine,” Csere noted. One way to avoid an unnecessary number of cold starts and save fuel at the same time is to run errands with efficiency. Try saving all your errands for one morning or afternoon and planning out your trip ahead of time. Consolidate drives to locations that are close to each other. If possible, park your car in one spot and walk when you get there.
- Today Show

9. Do you have a brand new vehicle?
If so, it’s a good idea to follow its break-in recommendations with care. “An oil change at 1,000 miles, whether recommended or not, is a good idea to make sure that any impurities left over from manufacturing don’t spend too much time in your engine,” Csere said.
- Today Show
Others agree,
Seriously follow the break-in procedure. Either that or name one major sports car manufacturer that recommends you "drive it like you stole it" straight off the lot. Would you start up your car on a cold day and floor it right out of the driveway? Probably not either... If you take care of the machinery, it should take care of you
- MB World Discussion Forum


10. Keep it clean.
“Keeping your vehicle clean by frequenting a professional car wash every 10 days is one of the best defenses in protecting its finish,” said Mark Thorsby, the International Carwash Association (ICA) executive director. “Professional car washes are gentler to auto finishes than the hose-and-bucket method, and cleaning solutions used are specially formulated for clear coat and other new car finishes.”
One of the most critical times to wash your car is immediately after rain. Even after the lightest rain the acids remain on your car surface. Of course, you can’t prevent acid rain but you do can protect your vehicle from its negative impact by removing acids from the finishes at a professional car wash.
In some regions of the country mud makes a real problem for cars and their owners. Unfortunately few of drivers realize the importance of cleaning mud from the undercarriage. Undercarriage washing, suggested by most car washes, removes caked-on mud that holds moisture to metal and causes rusting.
Snow, sleet and road salts result in the same damaging effects as acid rains. To prevent this damage we highly recommend washing your car during winter. This is especially important in those geographic regions where snowfalls are frequent and heavy.
- Auto Tips and Advice
The Today Show also noted that cleaning also meant cleaning the inside (not just the outside). They also noted that, regular waxing also can help your paint job hold up nicely and can stave off rust and other unsightly blemishes.


Some simple tips from Simple Car Maintenance Tips



  • Regular oil changes are very important to keep your engine in a good shape.



  • Wash your car regularly, wax it once in a while to keep the car body shiny and free from corrosion.



  • Take care of any minor concerns as soon as you can, so it won't cause serious problems and an expensive repair later



  • Use only original parts
    - Simple Car Maintenance Tips

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    Wednesday, August 18, 2010

    Going Against The Grain

    Mutual of Omaha isn't the first or largest insurance company to venture into banking, but it could soon be the most visible.
    - US Banker
    That's because while other insurance companies rely heavily on the Internet and their own agents to generate deposits and loans, they are going with brick and mortar. Mostly through acquisitions Mutual of Omaha has grown to $4.1 billion in assets and nearly 40 branches (and 3 loan only offices) in nine (9) states.
    Jeffrey Schmid, the bank's chief executive, says his goal is to create a brick-and-mortar franchise stretching from Washington State to the Carolinas, and with the backing of a deep-pocketed parent, he has the resources to do it.

    "We're in a position now where we can look at every deal that becomes available," Schmid says.

    Still, building a nationwide banking franchise one deal at a time is one thing, managing it profitably is another. Mutual of Omaha Bank's strategy is less about establishing critical mass in a handful of states than it is having small branch networks in multiple states. That's not always the most efficient way to run things, as several banking companies have painfully discovered.

    And the bank's long-term plans to cross-sell banking products to insurance customers, and vice versa, is also easier said than done, observers say.

    Yet perhaps more than most acquisition-minded companies, Mutual of Omaha can afford to be patient; as a mutual owned by its policy holders, it's under less pressure than publicly traded firms to generate profits quickly.
    - US Banker

    One of the states they are located in, is Texas, However, there won't be a location in the Austin area, where I am moving. Instead the closest branch, will be in Houston (Dallas being the city with their other two Texas branches). Sorry, I already have internet banking, when I move (as I will still have my credit union account, in Topeka). What I need, is a local brick and mortar, for my day to day needs. So while, I am intrigued by Mutual of Omaha having bank branches around the country, it just won't meet my needs.



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    Tuesday, August 17, 2010

    10 Exuses Not To Save

    Recently Frugal For Life had posted an article, "4 excuses to not save money." I thought I would expand on that idea and also get reader input. So please at the end of this article, use the comment field to ad your suggestions on excuses to not save.
    1. Don't Know How
    2. As Frugal For Life pointed out we make ourselves happy by collecting different items, such as stamps, hats, artwork, comics, etc, all we truly have to so is change our attitudes and save cash in a good savings instrument. A high yield mutual fund would be best, but you may have to start out with a simple bank savings account. - Frugal For Life
      The excuses won't bring you the savings that you hope for. You have a mind and a will, use them to your advantage and, not to bring yourself down.
    3. Don't Have Enough Money
    4. It may not be much, but you can find a way to save something. In fact MSN makes this suggestion:
      In order to make sure you save that amount, have it automatically taken out of your account before you pay anything else for the month. "The first check you write every month should be to you," Stav says. "That should go to your savings. Start with 5%; hopefully you can get to 10%. When you get a raise, put half of your raise in savings." - MSN
    5. Don't Have Any Time
    6. Really? It takes no time at all to save, if you put saving on auto pilot.
      Saving money is one of the least time consuming areas of personal finance. You can set up an automatic withdrawal from your paycheck to go to a retirement fund or a savings account. The time in setting this up is usually smaller than 15 minutes because companies have all the information ready to help you and banks are more than willing to talk with you on the phone to get you started with a paycheck deduction plan. - Frugal For Life
    7. Don't Have the Education
    8. What kind of education do you think you need to save money?
      Saving money doesn't need to be about stocks, bonds, CD rates or best banks. Just the fact that you are stuffing $20 in a jar and not spending it means you are $20 smarter than the person who isn't. - Frugal For Life
      It's your future. Do something about it.
    9. I deserve a little luxury in my life
    10. Really? What about luxury in your retirement years? Or maybe you would rather spend your "Golden Years," working at the "Golden Arches," while you eat dog food. Come on people, this is a lame excuse. Start thinking bout the future.
    11. Someone else will take care of it
    12. Really? Someone else will take on the burden of your finances, because you were to damn lazy to plan ahead? Who is this imaginary person in your head, and how are they going to take care of you? Get off your butt and start planning for your future.
    13. This item or service will pay for itself
    14. One of the main reasons people give for blowing their savings is because they're buying intangibles that are worth more than money over time. While there are some items that fall into this category, such as an education, it's easy to rationalize that something is worth more than it is. "People say 'I should buy a vacation because I will learn about the world,'" Bennett says. That may be true, but "you have to compare financial freedom to the benefit of the trip around the world." A better idea would be to save for that vacation. It may take longer before you can go, but you won't be compromising your financial future in the process. Once you stop making excuses, you'll see your money add up. At that point, something interesting will happen, Bennett says. "After you've gotten serious about saving for six months, what you'll find is you actually like it. Spending is addictive, but saving gets addictive, too." - MSN
    15. I’m saving through my 401(k)
    16. That's good, at least you are saving some. Do you really think that is all you have to save? However, you need to max out your 401k, and then have your own IRA (or other retirement plan) in place to save for your future. MSN puts it this way,
      Yes, it's crucial to save as much as possible for retirement, but if you don't have additional savings for emergencies and life's occasional luxuries, you're going to end up having to dig yourself out of debt. "The reason people get themselves in trouble financially is because they don't have anything in savings," Stav says. "They think that because they own a home and they're building equity or they have money in their 401(k), that's enough. If there's an emergency or the car breaks down, then they start borrowing money." A savings plan should have a multilayered approach: Savings should be allotted for retirement, emergencies and the evolving needs of life. - MSN
    17. I’ll start saving when I am older
    18. Really? Statistically, if you won't do it today, tomorrow never comes. Plus the younger you start the better.
      Witness the magic of compounding in the 2 instances below: Mary invests $2,000 at the beginning of each year between the ages of 21 and 29, for a total of $18,000 over nine years. Assuming a pre-tax return of 8%, by age 65, she will have $398,805 in savings. Lynn also invests $2,000 at the beginning of each year with the same pre-tax returns, but starts later at age 30. To get near Mary’s total savings by age 65 ($372,204), Lynn will need to invest nearly four times as much - $70,000 over 35 years. - DailyMarkets.com
    19. I deserve to have what my neighbors have
    20. Why? So you can go deeper into debt?
      We’ve all heard the phrase “keeping up with the Joneses”. Although few will admit it, a lot of people feel they have to have every gadget and gizmo that their neighbors have in order to feel good. People who feel this way will have a hard time saving and they often end up with debt issues. There’s nothing wrong with having material things but it’s important that you can afford them and that you maintain a rainy day savings in case something unexpected should come up. - Penny Saver Blog

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    Monday, August 16, 2010

    Texas Economy

    There has been so much press of late about the economy in Texas, and how cities in that state are the cities to be in. I thought I would take a look at them, seeing as, I myself will soon be living there.

    The Lone Star State is known for the do-it-yourself gumption that goes along with cowboys and wide open spaces -- and low taxes are part of the package. The Texas Constitution actually forbids an income tax.

    "The state has made a concerted effort not to be stringent," says R.J. DeSilva, spokesman for the Texas Controller's Office. "The spirit of entrepreneurship is inherent in the Texas business community."
    - CNN Money
    In addition the same article says that Texas, specifically, McAllen, Killeen, Houston, Austin, Abilene, El Paso, Midland and Lubbock are among the best places to launch a new business.

    While the Lone Star State has no corporate income tax, it does have what's called a "gross receipts" or "franchise" tax, charging businesses 0.5% of revenues if they are in retail and 1% of revenues for non-retail businesses. But small businesses are exempt from the franchise tax -- and to help companies weather the recession, the state legislature recently raised the revenue exemption level to $1 million, up from $300,000. The change will take effect in January 2010, according to DeSilva.
    - CNN Money
    According to the article, low taxes make the state fertile ground for starting and growing a new business.

    Regarding the Texas economy, the campaign of Governor Rick Perry, had this to say,
    While the nation remains in an economic slump, there are emerging signs of recovery in several Texas cities.

    Eduardo Martinez, senior economist at Moody's Economy.com, praised Texas for its relative economic strength:

    "In Texas, it was a relatively mild recession," says Martinez. "All our projections are for quite a bit of growth. In terms of job creation, more people are moving out there, and families are getting bigger. The fundamentals for Texas are a lot stronger than those of other peer large states."

    Indeed, seven Texas metro areas [Austin-Round Rock, Brownsville-Harlingen, Dallas-Plano-Irving, El Paso, Lubbock, McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr and San Antonio] are reported by Moody's Economy to be among the first cities in the nation to emerge from recession.

    Late last week, Forbes also named all four major Texas metropolitan areas (Dallas-Ft. Worth, Houston, Austin, and San Antonio) among its top 10 of "America's Recession-Proof Cities To Retire In."

    For those looking for a reason why Texas is performing better than the nation as a whole, CNN Money named Texas the number 2 tax haven in the country. Texas has also been praised in recent days for our innovative and successful lawsuit reform.

    So, if Texas was named the number two (2) tax haven by CNN Money, what state was number one? That distinction would be South Dakota. However, it is to cold for me up there, and that was never a state for me to consider. Although, it is beautiful up there. So how did they get the top spot? Like Texas, No personal or corporate income tax.

    Forbes had a list of the top Recession-Proof Cities To Retire In.
    These affordable metro areas offer sunny weather, plenty of seniors and rosy economic outlooks
    - Forbes Magazine

    Three (3) Texas cities were among the top 10 on the list. Those metro ares were Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington (metro population 6.3 million) at number 2, Austin-Round Rock (metro population 1.7 million) which tied with St. Louis, Mo for the number 5 slot and San Antonio, TX (metro population 2 million) which came in at number 10.




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    Sunday, August 15, 2010

    Reader Having Difficulting Keeping Up

    I would like to resume a feature, that had started once before. That being the Readers ask feature, feel free to email the Prince of Thrift your questions. For now here is one from July 10, 2009.


    Sometimes readers, will write the Prince Of Thrift with questions. Such was the case when Cheryl (not her real name) recently wrote and asked:

    My DH and I are thinking of restructuring our debt so we can get out of debt and afford our current payments. Right now it's more than difficult to keep up. Do you have any suggestions about where we should start. There are so many companies, it's hard to know who to trust.
    Thanks for any info you can share.
    - Cheryl


    As I always do in such situations, I am thoughtful of what they are are asking and answer to the best of my ability. Since, I am not a certified financial counselor nor do I have any other licenses, I have to be careful with what I say. I do try to refer them in the right direction. Below, is my answer to Cheryl:

    Thanks for the email. Do not mess with any of these debt settlement places that advertise on TV or the net. If you can't get a debt consolidation loan through your bank or credit union, there is only one place to trust in Topeka. Consumer Credit Counseling. They are trustworthy and if I remember correctly the fee is only $20. The only thing is they can't do anything with your secured debts. Only your unsecured debts, will they be able get lower payments (paid through them) for you. It will however, put a ding on your credit report.

    As for the debt consolidation, option, Dave Ramsey calls it debt CONsolidation, and for good reason. Most people that go that route, ends up using the freed up money to get more debt and then they are in worse shape then before. If you use debt consolidation, you must give up all other credit. The only debt you should have would be the one debt, that now has a lower payment and should have lower interest to.



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    Thursday, August 12, 2010

    D-Day

    It's financial D-Day here and it is tight. For one I forgot about the quarterly insurance premiums that are also due this month. I have some money in savings, which I hope to keep there for our arrival in Austin.
    Currently I have sent payments

    Wedding Expenses $$$
    T-Mobile $90
    Chase $200
    Hotels along Route $224
    Dress Alterations/Cleaning $150
    Balloons/Decorations $37
    Ceremony Music $125
    Todays Totals $826

    I ended up canceling the Embassy Suite Hotels in Oklahoma City and Dallas, and using Hotels.com reserved rooms (and prepaid) at Knights Inn or Days Inn, saving a lot of the budgeted cash. Now 3 of the 4 nights paid for in advance. I hate the idea of not being at Embassy Suites, but I had to cut expenses somewhere and that was the only place I could find. I will still have to pay for the first nights hotel at a little budget hotel in Kansas, where they are the only hotel in town.

    I still have to pay these items next week.

    Next Weeks Payments $$$
    Marriage License $80
    Brides Hair $25
    Brides Tan (Versa Spa) $30
    2 Tux Rentals $165
    U-haul Truck $600
    U-haul Gas $200
    Honeymooners Gas $80
    Upcoming Totals $1280
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    Tuesday, August 3, 2010

    Wedding and Moving Expenses Still To Come

    The amounts below are the amount remaining owed on each item. I expect $1700 to come in before the big day from our salaries and such.
    Wedding Expenses $$$
    Major Dress Alterations and Cleaning $200
    Ceremony Music $125
    Marriage License $80
    Brides Hair $25
    Brides Tan (Versa Spa) $30
    2 Tux Rentals $165
    Wedding Total $625
    Moving and Honeymoon Expenses $$$
    U-haul Truck $600
    Hotels along Route $600
    U-haul Gas $100
    Honeymooners Gas $80
    Total Honeymoon/Moving Expense $1380
    Over All Totals $2005
    Since this blog is about being totally honest about my finances, I wanted to let you know where I was at.
    The rest I am just trusting God to provide. That's all I can do.

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    Monday, August 2, 2010

    Better Prepare Now

    Are you worried about Social Security? A recent New York Times article, says "join the crowd."

    With the nation’s debt swelling, the pressure on Washington to cut spending will only rise. Social Security may not be the first place lawmakers look. But the program, which has provided a significant financial cushion for retirees and others since the first checks were mailed in 1937, will surely be part of the discussion.
    - New York Times

    Even though the program has it's own stream of income, it is predicted that it will pay out more this year, then it brings in. The funds administrators expect Social Security to be able to pay full benefits through 2037. After-which baring in changes, the income generated will be enough to pay only about 75% of the benefits through 2083.

    I mean imagine, full benefits can be paid by the fund for the next 27-years, then after that only 75% during the next 46-years.

    So while Social Security’s finances are stable in the short term, most experts agree that the program needs to be bolstered for the long term. Among the proposals circulating is one from Representative John Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, who recently suggested raising the retirement age to 70 for people at least 20 years from retirement.

    Other options include increasing Social Security payroll taxes, subjecting more income to the tax, reducing initial benefit payments or cutting cost-of-living increases (which would affect current retirees).

    But even if it’s not clear yet what, if anything, will be done to Social Security and when, we thought it would be useful to look at a worst-case possibility — to assume that benefits will not continue to be as generous. This is especially important as pensions continue to fade away.
    - New York Times

    So what should we do? Especially those of you still in your 20's and 30's, but all of us in general regardless of our ages. The simple answer is, put aside a lot more money to attempt to make up for any cut to benefits. Besides, wouldn't it be great, if we saved enough and didn't have to depend on social security in the first place?

    And while lawmakers may, in the end, not decide to make drastic changes in Social Security, many of the financial advisers and other experts we talked to said they were erring on the side of caution and were already recommending that their clients start saving more now.

    “People 50 and below should change their planning now to incorporate a benefit cut,” said Laurence J. Kotlikoff, an economics professor at Boston University who ran some numbers for us to see what life would be like if the retirement age were immediately raised to 70. That change would translate into a nearly 20 percent cut in benefits, because you would have to wait an extra three years to get the same amount of money, he added.

    Several financial planners told us they were assuming that clients in their 30s and 40s might receive just 50 to 80 percent of their full benefits. Or, the advisers say, they may figure that the cost-of-living adjustments applied to benefits won’t keep pace with inflation, or some other combination of adjustments. (For the record, executives from AARP said their polls had long shown that younger people were skeptical about receiving full benefits.)

    “It’s better to be conservative now than risk being underfunded for retirement,” said Jorie Johnson, a financial planner in New Jersey.
    - New York Times

    In the article, the New York Times looked at a couple that was 45-years old earning $140,000/year, with $255,000 in their 401k. If they find that social security were to be cut by 20%, they would need to save another $90,000.

    Isn't amazing these articles always seem to focus on hypothetical persons making extraordinary incomes? I certainly don't make that much, nor do I think most of my readers (even though, I know a few do). So what about us in the real world? The New York Times, does not address us and what we need to do. Obviously, we would need to save more to, but how much? If some one making $140,000 at age 45 needs to save an additional $90,000, how much does a 42-year old making less then $30,000/year (currently), with only $10,000 in all the retirement accounts.

    Whatever, the answer is as one of the financial advisers interviewed told the Times, don't rely on Social Security and think of any money coming their way as gravy. In-other-words, start saving today. Save early, the earlier the better. Teenagers and those in their 20's could easily retire rich, if they will set aside money now, when they are young, and allow that compounded interest work for them. For people, like myself that didn't plan when we were young, we will have a tougher time. It is possible, however for us to make something of our retirement accounts, it will just be harder. So, I will say, let's get stared today! Everyday we waste in saving is one less day of compounded interest and more dollars flying out the window.

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