Extra Extra Read all About it.

Extra Extra Read all about it!  Back in the day when there was special breaking news we did not have the 24-hour news channels, so newspapers would print a special extra edition to the newspaper.  

They could include all the details that were known up to that point.  We wanted to get out an Extra edition to How To Manage Your Monkey because of a special Breaking News Item.

Just the other day, our youngest son announced that he was getting married.  I wanted to share with our audience part of our advice to him and his future wife.

The number one source of relationship strife is differences in financial goals and attitudes. Therefore, it is essential that before getting married, or as soon as possible if you are already married, the couple sits down with all their financial information and works out an agreement regarding finances.

The couple should take a look at all their financial resources.  What are their assets?

Do either of them own a car?  Do both of them own cars? Are both cars paid in full? 

Later in this course, we will discuss the wisdom in purchasing pre-owned vehicles versus buying a brand new vehicle that depreciates the second you sign the agreement.  We will also discuss the real wisdom in paying cash for the vehicle, etc.

If both members of a couple have their own homes established, who will move in with whom?

How much income does the couple have between the two of them?  Do both of them work?  If only one of them has an income, what are the expectations of the couple for the non-income earner?  Does the income earner expect the non-income earner to handle most of the chores at home?

Who will do the shopping, cleaning, cooking, etc.?

What are your current combined bills?

Rent, Utilities (Power, Water, Internet, Cable/Satellite, Garbage, Gas/Propane, etc.), Insurance, Car Payments, Student Loans, Credit Cards, Furniture, Department Store Cards, Jewelry Store Payments, Pawn Shop Payments, Loans, Payday Loans, etc.

Do both parties have checking or savings accounts?  In the beginning, it is probably best that all accounts be left alone.  That is, don’t open or close accounts to start with, other than one joint account for paying bills.  You may suddenly realize that once a year direct deposit has no place to go and there is no time to get the information to the company that will make the deposit before the deposit is sent.

In the beginning, it is probably best that the couple sets up one joint account where they deposit all the money they have budgeted for paying all the monthly bills. 

Each month the couple should sit down and review all the bank statements together to try to get a handle on what expenses they actually have between them. 

Also, by keeping the rest of the money separate, the couple can see a little better the spending patterns of the other.  Does one like to spend as a recreational activity while the other wants to save?  Do both parties like to accumulate wealth?

Does one party like to buy designer this and name brand that while the other feels okay with the store brands? Does one feel the need to eat out and go clubbing while the other would feel perfectly fine cooking something in the crockpot and watching something on NetFlix? 

These things are important to know early in the relationship and not after the couple is sitting in front of a bankruptcy judge waiting on the assessor to come to their house and liquidate all their stuff.

Each month at bill paying time, the couple should sit down together and pay the bills.  Both parties should know which bills need to be paid and when.

It is not necessary for a couple to start out with a brand new house or apartment with a complete set of furniture.  The couple can start out with some basics like a kitchen table and two chairs that can be purchased for about $100 from your local big box store. 

In time, the couple can save the cash to make purchases like a bed, couch, chair, television, etc.  Remember, if you can’t afford to pay cash, you cannot afford it at all.

It is extremely important for a couple to be on the same page. If you are contemplating marriage or some similar type of commitment, pray about your situation before you go all in. 

If you would like for me to pray for you, please drop me an e-mail by clicking prayer.




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I respond to all approved comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals.

Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.


Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends.  We thank you so much for all your help. 

Disclaimer

The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional.

Please be sure to consult your attorney, accountant, and/or other professionals with any specific questions.

There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances.

Bankrupt to Six Figures

We were sent a copy of this book free so that we might review it for our readers. It is our policy to “Call ’em like we see ’em”.  This means that, no matter how we get a product to review, we will give our honest opinion.

Previously, we had been contacted by Mrs. Saxman’s publicist and asked to promote a webinar she was giving.  We found that she had a book available and offered to review it.  Many of our readers asked us, “How did she become bankrupt?”

That question is answered in this very short (only 70 pages) book.  This is not a how-to guide about how to go from being bankrupt to having a six-figure income.  She does give a little insight to that though.

The author tells her readers about her journey from having it all to hitting rock bottom and learning how to climb back to the top.  She tells us a little about the journey and more about the mindset that God gave her along the way.

This book is slanted towards the Christian point of view and she gives us a  little glance at learning how to rely on God.  The author emphasizes God First. 

One thing that struck us is that along the way she has not learned to be humble.  She implies at least twice that she thinks that she is prettier and more talented than most women. 

Upon glancing through the other reviews listed on Amazon, we found that there are 15 reviews and all of them are five stars.  We are sure that these reviewers felt like the book warranted that high of a review.  Unfortunately, we do not share the same opinion.  The most we can honestly give the book is three stars.

The reader will probably prefer the Kindle version of this book. The value for the money in the Kindle version is about right.  The reader may feel like they did not receive their money’s worth if they purchase the more expensive paperback.
If you would like for me to pray for you, please drop me an e-mail by clicking prayer.
Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog

Other posts you will love:

I respond to all approved comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals. Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.
Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends.  We thank you so much for all your help. 

Disclaimer The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional. Please be sure to consult your attorney, accountant, and/or other professionals with any specific questions. There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances.

Tithing Part 3. Why Is Our Preacher Always Talking About Money?

We have shared with you a little about the tithe.  One thing you will notice is that it is a very touchy subject at most churches.  If the preacher speaks of the tithe from the pulpit, few people will be appreciative of it.

Many people will come away from the sermon saying, “He is always on about money.”  Fortunately, How to Manage Your Monkey is NOT the storehouse and is NOT interested in getting you to contribute to us.

This means we can tell you like it is.  If a preacher is not telling you about the Biblical instructions to pay your tithe, you may remain unaware of the instructions given by the Bible.

God does not need your money to further His work, but many churches have to fold up because the members do not fully understand giving.

Let's take a look at our fictitious church, Flint Rock Baptist Church. Remember all the people mentioned are made up.  They do not actually resemble parts of any real church anywhere.

Let us say, for instance, that Flint Rock Baptist Church has 100 members.  Assume that the average family in the church is made up of a husband and wife along with their three kids. We have a total of 20 families in the church.

If each family is living right at the poverty level for a family of five, this is $28,440 per year, or $2,370 per month. We will assume that none of the families have any other income.  They do not receive SNAP (food stamps) or any other money. 

If the families were to pay tithe based upon their GROSS income ($2,370 per month), then each family would give $237 per month.  This would mean that the church would receive $4,740 dollars per month in which to pay its bills. 

Some families will make more than this; some will make less than this.  No matter what the size of the church or how much it receives in support from its members, it must be as frugal with its money as possible.

Even a very small church that watches its money very closely can easily have monthly budget requirements of $20,000.  This is one reason it is very important that each person do their fair share.  But that is not the main reason for the tithe.

God entrusts each family with a certain amount of income.  He wants each family to work together to be good stewards of the income He provides.

It is ALL God’s money. He just lets us manage it for a while so we can grow.

Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog

If you would like for me to pray for you, please drop me an e-mail by clicking prayer.

I respond to all approved comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals. 

Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.

Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends.  We thank you so much for all your help. 

Disclaimer The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional. Please be sure to consult your attorney, accountant, and/or other professionals with any specific questions. There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances.

Tithing Part 2 The First and the Best

Last time we spoke about the tithe.  This time, we will continue with this discussion.  We once heard a Christian say that she was going to send part of her tithe to help a particular animal.  Whereas this is a very worthwhile cause, this is wrong-minded.

Our tithe goes to the storehouse. That is the local church, period.  There are so many worthwhile organizations out there that we could never support them all.

Countless books on personal budgeting speak of working towards being able to give.  If by giving they mean giving above and beyond the tithe, they are spot on.  However, if they mean we do all these other things they list before we pay the tithe, they are simply wrong.

It is not just important that we tithe. It is also important that we tithe with a happy heart.  When Abel gave his offering to God, he gave with a happy heart.  He gave of the very best he had.  In ancient times, the fat of an animal was considered to be one of the very best parts.

Let’s face it, fat tastes good.  That is why we love it.  It is too bad it is bad for us.  But when the fat of an animal is mentioned along with tithes, offering, sacrifices, etc., it is meant to signify that the really best part is given.

The Bible does not spell out why God liked Abel’s gift but was not happy with Cain’s gift.  However, it is most likely that since the Bible points out that Abel gave of the firstlings and the fat thereof, Abel gave the first and the best.  It appears that Cain really did not try to give the best or the first.  He made a half-hearted effort at giving.  Most likely Cain was giving just enough to get by.  His heart was not in the giving.

And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord.

And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.

And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

Genesis 4:3-7 KJV

This is David speaking now; years ago I felt God’s conviction to give.  However, since we have been under a tight budget most of our married life, it was very scary to give the first tenth knowing there was not enough money to pay all the bills, even if we didn’t give the tithe.

I would give it and then worry about how we were going to get by.  And, most of the time, we did not.  Finally, Suzanne and I discussed this and prayed about it and we decided that it wasn’t that God was not holding up His end of the bargain, it was that we, (really me, David) was giving and not really leaving it up to God.

When we give and let God handle the details, somehow He works it out for us.  Somehow, there is an unexpected check.  Maybe the power bill is lower for some reason.  Maybe we get a rebate we did not even know we had coming. 

We discovered that God truly is in control.  He is very rarely early, but NEVER late. We must give with the understanding that God is very much like Uncle Milton from the story we shared with you.  He does not need our money to do His work.  But, it is ALL His money.  We only take care of it for Him.

Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog



Other posts you will love:





If you would like for me to pray for you, please drop me an e-mail by clicking prayer.

I respond to all approved comments on this blog, ideally within 24 hours.  Please check back here for a response to your comment.  Thank you!

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals.

Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.


Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends.  We thank you so much for all your help. 

Disclaimer

The opinions or advice listed in this blog or website should be used as a place to start only. It is not a substitute for the use of a professional.

Please be sure to consult your attorney, accountant, and/or other professionals with any specific questions.

There is no one right answer to any business question that will cover all circumstances.

Bring the Tithes into the Storehouse

Uncle Milton has attempted to give us an example of how tithing works. According to Merriam Webster’s Dictionary on line, "tithe" means to pay or give a tenth portion especially for the support of the church.

It is sad that in many churches tithing is rarely mentioned.  We are instructed in the Bible to bring all of our tithes into the storehouse.

 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.

Malachi 3:10 NIV

The storehouse is your local church.  You may give money to many worthwhile organizations and that is to be commended. However, your tithe, the very first part of your GROSS income, is to go to your local church. 

I have heard people say, "I give to hospice or to the rescue squad."  This is a very good thing.  But, it is not your tithe.  You may wish to consider these gifts or freewill offerings, but they are not the tithe.

We are instructed to give of the first and the best.  We cannot do anything about those pesky payroll deductions, but when we do get our pay, we are to pay our tithe first.  Our government and our employer may deduct from our pay.  However, when we do get our pay, the very first payment we should make is our tithe.

This may mean going to the bank and taking out an amount that would be equal to ten percent of our GROSS income and placing the cash for that amount into a tithing envelope to be given to your local church.  This might mean making sure the very first check written is one to your local church.

Remember, God wants our first and our best.

Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals.  Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.
Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends. We thank you so much for all your help.

Anecdote Uncle Milton

We are going to call one of the main characters from this story Uncle Milton.  We chose that name because the image we are using is the one my beautiful child-bride Suzanne drew to represent Milton Friedman in our Redneck MBA videos.

Milton Friedman was a leading economist in the United States of America and won a Nobel Prize in economics. His theories were used throughout much of the last half of the twentieth century and have influenced our economy today.

Let’s pretend that Uncle Milton is your favorite uncle.  You love him with all your heart and you trust him completely.  To the best of your knowledge, he has never lied to you.  Uncle Milton has more money than you could begin to imagine and, as far as you know, is always right.

One day, Uncle Milton calls you and asks you to stop by his house. When you arrive, his

butler escorts you to Uncle Milton’s private office in the house.  There, Uncle Milton sits surrounded by computer monitors and telephones.  He is making constant investment decisions.  He is an economic whiz.  You are hoping he is going to give you a stock tip.  What he does give you is worth so much more.

When you arrive, Uncle Milton is on the phone with a senator discussing economics.  He motions for you to take a seat near his desk and finishes his phone call. As he hangs up, he says to you, “I suppose you are wondering why I called you here.”

You agree that you are curious.  Then, he tells you.  He hands you a cashier’s check made payable to you for fifty dollars ($50).  He tells you that it is yours to spend any way you choose.  He then says he would like for you to cash the check at his bank and get ten five dollar bills.  He then tells you that before you spend any of the money you are to bring him the first five dollar bill out of it.

You think this is odd, but you know that Uncle Milton has a reason for what he does.  He does not do things just to pull your strings and you know he has your best interest in mind. 

You go straight to the bank and do exactly like he said.  You ask the teller to make sure he gives you one very new, very crisp, very clean five-dollar bill.  He looks through his till and finds you the cleanest, newest, crispest five dollar bill in his till and counts that one out to you first.

You take that bill and put it in a separate envelope and hot foot it back to Uncle Milton’s house.  You go into his office and he smiles at you and puts the envelope in his desk drawer.

Next week, he calls you and you go through the same exact thing again.  This goes on for the better part of the year.  Uncle Milton gives you a certified check for fifty dollars and you bring him back five of it and you get to keep $45 of it to spend however you choose.

After six months, he calls you and this time he hands you a check for $500.  He tells you to get it cashed in fifty dollar bills ($50) and that you are to bring him the first fifty dollars back. 

You go to the bank and go to the same teller you have been using for all these transactions.  He looks at the check and smiles.  He asks you if you know why Uncle Milton doesn’t just go ahead and get his part of the money when he comes in to get the cashier’s check.

You have to admit this is odd, but you figure that a smart man like Uncle Milton has his reasons.  You ask the clerk for all the money in fifty-dollar bills and ask him to make sure that at least one of them is crisp, clean, and new.

You head back to Uncle Milton’s house and go to his office.  Again, he takes the envelope with the $50 bill in it and puts it in the drawer where he has put all the envelopes you have brought him in the past.

It never crosses your mind to not bring the money back to Uncle Milton.  After all, it is ALL his money in the first place.  He has plenty of money of his own and would not miss any of it.  But you know that Uncle Milton has something in mind and you obey his instructions implicitly.

Time goes by.  Each week Uncle Milton calls you and each time he gives you a cashier’s check for an ever-growing amount and each time you are instructed to bring back the first ten percent in the form of the crispest, newest bill or bills you can find.

It soon reaches the stage where he hands you a cashier’s check for five hundred thousand dollars. You think to yourself, “Wow that is a lot of money”.  All while you are driving to the bank, you think, “I really can’t afford to give Uncle Milton back fifty thousand dollars.  Maybe he won’t miss it if I don’t give him all the money.  He just sticks it in his drawer without counting it anyway.  You decide the right thing to do is to give him the ten percent he asks for back to him.  After all, it is ALL his money anyway.  The money you get to keep is a gift.

Every week he calls and every week you bring him back his ten percent.  One day when you go in, Uncle Milton tells you he wants to show you something.  He takes you to the back of his house and the two of you climb on a golf cart.

 He drives you across his vast estate that has orchards, vineyards, fields of fruits and vegetables of all types.  He turns down a road on his estate that has mansion after mansion.  Some are completely built and some are under construction.

In some places there are vacant lots. There are stakes marking their boundaries but nothing else.

Some are huge and ornate and some are nice and large but not as ornate or large as the others.

He pulls up to a beautiful mansion and reaches in his pocket and pulls out a key.  He tells you that this key is the key to your new mansion.  You notice that some of the houses on your block are still under construction and look like construction has just stopped or has slowed to a crawl.

He tells you that those mansions are for some of your cousins.  He has been doing the same thing with them each week.  Each week, he gives them a cashier's check.  Each week, they bring back some of the money. 

Some bring back more than the ten percent he asked for.  The houses that are larger and more ornate belong to them.

The vacant lots are where the houses of the cousins who did not bring back any of the money would have been built but, since they did not bring back any of the money, nothing was built.

He explains that those houses that are not complete belong to the cousins who only brought back part of the money they were supposed to.

He says, “You see, I didn’t need the money I gave you to do what I intended to do.  It was all a test.  Each week when you brought back the ten percent, I had the builders add a little more to your mansion. For those who gave more than their ten percent, I added more to the mansion.  For those who brought back less, I only built a little more to their house."

"It was about more than building houses.  It was about building the person I wanted you to be.  I never needed that money to do my work.  I needed that money to help you to grow."

And that is how it is with God.  HE does not need our money to do His work. He uses the money we bring to the storehouse, our local church, to help us to grow spiritually

When we tithe our full ten percent, we are showing the stewardship that God is trying to build in us. 

Please Visit My Child Bride Suzanne's Blog


Watch this on YouTube

Please be advised that all the information in this course is provided to educate, enlighten, and broaden your views in life.  The information provided is not a substitute for medical, legal, dietary, financial/accounting, or religious professionals.  Always consult a professional before you act on any of the information you find in this course.  

Do you have a frugal recipe?  Please e-mail it to me.
Help us reach 1,000 YouTube subscribers. Please watch some of our videos. If you like them, please subscribe. Also, please share our YouTube information with your friends. We thank you so much for all your help.