Joesixpack asks--If you could go back and change one thing over the past year, what would it be? Explain your answer.
It’s a New Year—A time when folks say—I’m going to change! Ya right! You know how hard it is to change. Most folks think they want to change but don’t. Most folks don’t have any self-discipline. They are fakers to themselves and finally say—I guess that’s just the way it’s goin’ to be! I can’t change. But you can, yes you can. Everyone can change if they really want to. That’s the key, do I really want to change. How much effort do I really want to put in. I know of an acquaintance who says he’s going to change but never does. I don’t think he’ll change until he dies (i.e. now that will be a change). I really do think that being in the AZ sunshine helps a guy with his thinking (i.e. my opinion). The other day I went to play ping pong and the guys were not as excited I thought. When I got home I told Arlene that and she said—It’s partly cloudy today and it 60 degrees—that’s why. I think she is right. We had weeks of high 70s and completely sunny—now that will affect a guy’s attitude! Such is life.
We are hearing a lot about change from some government leaders—Sorry to tell ya, it ain’t goin’ to happen folks (i.e. things aren’t bad enough yet). They all say they are going to change but then say--but I want this and the next one says, I want this. At the end of the day, it’s the same as before or maybe we end up spending more. GeorgeTheCrook says--I’m a sucker in thinkin’ it’s goin’ work this time (i.e. no one wants to give up any benefits and actually want more). Yabut, I have been a sucker many times; it seems I fall for all those tricks every time.
MissPerfect says—Doc, I’ve gained 30 pounds in two months! I’m short of breath…I get dizzy and my clothes don’t fit!!! Be brutally honest doctor…should I go on a diet?
Change is hard folks; we usually want to do it the same as we did it before even if it didn’t work. My hat goes off to folks who can change without being forced toooooo! Two Minnesotan hunters got a pilot to fly them to Canada to hunt moose. They managed to bag 6. As they were loading the plane to return, the pilot said the plane could take only 4 moose. The two lads objected strongly. 'Last year we got six. The pilot let us take them all and he had the same plane as yours.' Reluctantly, the pilot gave in and all six were loaded. However, even on full power, the little plane couldn't handle the load and went down. Somehow, surrounded by the moose bodies, Sven and Ole survived the crash. After climbing out of the wreckage, Sven asked Ole, 'Any idea where we are?' Sven replied, 'I think we're pretty close to where we crashed last year.'
We are going to a church Sunday where we attended a Christmas concert. This church intrigues me. ANYWAY they have a Classic service as they call it and a Current serviced as they call it! That’s funny in itself I think. Change is hard folks. Something else that is funny to me is that the pastor gives the same message in both services, only the foreplay is different! Such is life.
New Year is a time we talk about money changes a lot. Oh yes money! I read in the AZ Republic that Bowl games’ expected impact on Valley: $420 million. Da-ching! Wow! Some of that $420 million will be IA money. That’s why they like IA to come—toooooo spend money! The bowl committees (i.e. cities where they are held) really don’t care who the teams are or who wins as it’s all about the $$$$$$! I know that but there are a lot of things I don’t know like—Why do my fingernails grow faster than my toenails or why do the nails on my thumbs or my big toes grow faster than their neighbors? Iowa vs. Missouri in the Insight Bowl set a new crowd record of 53,000 folks. I bet the committee was happy! Such is life.
Here's quite a money story. I went to the Suns game last night (i.e. Arlene didn't want to go). I scalped a ticket from this guy--he wanted $60--that's too much; I won't pay that much--how about 50--no way, I walked away--he followed me and said, okay 40--I'll give you 30--I can't do that; what are you thinking! He followed me and said okay--upper deck middle section 4th row. I get in their and he got me--it was not middle section but on the corner. But it all worked out--the section I was in was selected to get a coupon from Frey's Grocery Store for a dollar worth of groceries for every 3-pointer the Suns made in the game. The Suns made 12 3-pointers and the kid next to me left his on the floor sooooooo I got $24 worth of groceries. Such is life.
I have the opportunity to play golf and make friends with Ken a.k.a King Kong and Wayne the Knuck. These guys are very wise and know all the tricks to save money. I just ask and they know. And you know what, it cost me nutten for all this advice! You may think that maybe I talk too much about money. Well, I was reading my devotions one day this week while eating my oatmeal with a half of banana on it and read this— God’s Word can help you organize our financial life in such a way that you have less need to worry and more time to celebrate…It’s easy to determine the importance money plays in God’s plan as there are more than seven hundred verses directly refer to its use. Sooooooo…! Hey, these guys taught me what a Knuten Valve was. I never heard of it before. Do you know what a Knuten Valve is?
ItchieBitchie says—Ya have to have a starting point to change; New Years is a good starting point. I have friends and know of other folks who are really trying to make major changes their lives. I try to change my life daily. Change is hard. Most folks can’t change. I talked to a social worker at Quakerdale (i.e. a facility for trouble youth) recently. He has done this for 20some years; he says the young folks don’t respond as much anymore. They don’t respond to rules and authority near as much. He said—they get to be 18 and have about 5 kids from several relationships and the chain continues. Ouchy ouchy! Oh breaking that chain (i.e. change). I know of some folks who have broken that chain of their family history. I think these folks are heroes! Yes I do. I read this while eating my oatmeal with a half of banana on it—Each new day brings an opportunity to do some little thing that will help to make a better world…take each day’s happenings as opportunities for something you can do for God. So throw those chips away, get your butt off the couch and do something (i.e. it doesn’t have to be something great—most of us aren’t given that opportunity that will be in the paper—just a few—so be humble and do that one little thing). Do you get it? AverageJoe says--There are folks who need help and they don’t need to call 911 but just need you!
Here’s a different kind of top ten list—the top 10 reasons not to plan for retirement: Reason #10--I’m too busy #9--It’s too soon #8—It’s too late #7—I don’t need to # 6—I don’t have enough money to get started #5—My finances are a mess #4—The government will take care of me #3—Between my savings and my 401 (k), I will be fine #2—I don’t want to think about it #1—I don’t know how.
UncleGeorge always told me—erv, it isn’t what you make, it’s what you save! I learned this saving idea form a retired GM engineer last year. He wanted to buy a tv for his office down here at the Fountain of the Sun. He went to Goodwill and purchased one on Saturday for half price of the normal price (i.e. Saturday is half price day) for I think $9. Soooooo I wanted a folding table and a chair to make a sorta kinda office in our bedroom. I called Goodwill and yes they had a table and some chairs. Soooooo I went down there to look at them. They would work. They wanted $14.99 for the table and $7.99 for the chair. The guy told me—come back in the morning and they’ll be half price. Soooooo Saturday morning I get down there at 8:45 and there were about 100 folks ahead of me waiting for the doors to open. A guy on a big Harley who was all leathered up, tattooed, dark glasses, a long beard (i.e. a real tough looking guy) drove up. He parks and gets in line next to me. He says—I stopped yesterday and hide the stuff I wanted so no one could find it very easily! Soooooo the doors open and folks are running to their hidden stuff. I get to where the folding table was—no table. Then I remember what the Harley guy told me so I looked in the back of some other stuff. Bingo! Some one else hid it but I found it. Sooooooo I bought what I wanted for $11.47! Now I know why that GM Engineer from MI is soooooo rich! Such is life.
Arlene needed some 50 dollar bills for gifts so I stopped at a bank on the way back from Goodwill. I gave the gal at the drive-up two 100s and asked her if she could change them. She asked if I had an account with them—no—we normally don’t do this unless you have an account with us—oh, sorry, it’s Christmas!—okay just this one time. Such is life.
CableGuyBrian came to hook up our cable, internet and phone (i.e. a bundle). I really liked Brian. He was in his 50s and was in management for many years but with the economy slowdown, he lost his current management job and was a cable hook-up guy. He likes cars so also works at a auto parts store. Brian was a real guy with a massive huge heart (i.e. my kind of guy). We really had a good time. ANYWAY he told me about his kids. One daughter is very smart but didn’t graduate from high school, got married to a guy who makes about $12,000 a month doing something with cell phone towers. Brian has told them to save their money—they spend everything they make and live from month to month. Well, he will be loosing his job. Brian’s other son makes good money, works hard, but doesn’t pay his bills which results in all kind of problems. This other daughter is normal (i.e. what’s normal). She is completing her education to be a nurse. She enjoys life but is not a spender. Sooooooo Brian, how does your children’s money management ways affect you?—they drive me crazy but I can’t change them! I would hire Brian if I was in the need of an employee. This guy would be a dynamite employee—no question. The only thing I wonder if he’s normal or not is that he and his wife have 7 cats—they just have a soft spot in their hearts for cats! He told me last week-end one of their old cats didn’t look good so he took it to an animal hospital and $456 later they found out it had urinary track infection, got some pills and got it better. $456 for a cat, one of seven!!!!! Hey, we all spend our money differently now don’t we!!!!! Such is life.
I read in the paper so it must be right—Basic math is key to wealth accumulation: Study found that couples who score well on simple mathematical concepts have more money. If you can answer these three questions you have the ability to accumulate more money than the average dog I guess—They call it the “numeracy” test. Here are the three questions: If the chance of getting a disease is 10%, how many people out of 1,000 would be expected to get the disease? If five people all have the winning numbers in the lottery and the prize is $2 million, how much will each of them get? Let’s say you have $200 in a savings account. The account earns 10 percent interest per year. How much would you have in the account at the end of two years? Answers—100, $400,000 and $242. GeorgeTheCrook suggests that if you have trouble with answering these problems, you should let your spouse or someone else handle the money in your life. Ouchy ouchy!
I saw on a billboard this statement—Thousands of men will die this year from the stubbornness! It was referring to guys not going to a doctor for a physical or a colonospicy. SusieQ says--Men can be stubborn folks. Yes they can. They don’t change very easily. LuckieEddie says—Women are too!
WildWilie says—In our modern culture, you’re a redneck if you are a saver! Most folks are spenders. How things have changed. AverageJoe says—Why save if the government will give you everything and bail you out of any problems. All ya got to do is bitch and complain. It has worked. Yabut, at some point money is going to change that attitude. It’s not bad enough yet. It’s really got to get really bad first. When it gets to a point where there is just no other way, then something will happen. We’re not there yet. It’s really got to get bad first. We are still living very good..
JoeThePlumber says--You can't make things happen just by wantin' 'em! ItchieBitche says—Ya got to do more than just pray for it and then go and buy something! Uff Da! Ya gotta put some work into it (i.e. effort). Ya change is hard for most folks. If you want to change you personal financial situation, ya gotta have a written budget and stick to it (i.e. I read it in the newspaper so it must be right). Ya gotta have True Grit! All the good ones do it! One more thing the newspaper said--Without a plan, people will stay in the same situation. Such is life.
This might change your life in a very good way. Read The Ultimate Gift by Jim Stovall. I just did. It's not really a spiritual book, its not really a money book, but its really a wisdom book. Get it at the library (i.e. free) or on Amazon for about $5.50 used. It's about a 2 to 3 hour read. I think it could change your life in 2011. It's a good one folks (i.e. my opinion).
Have a FUN day my friends unless you have other plans. (-:
erv
MyFriendJean says—Praises to a child is as water to a thirsty plant!
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