Calvin & Hobbes and the financial crisis

CLICK COMIC TO ENLARGE
Anyone find it interesting that this comic is 15 years old, yet depicts our nation pretty well right now?

Debt-Free is the new rich

I read an article this morning and it really got me to thinking about values and such. My wife and I had a good 2008 financially, unlike many in America. Our 2006 & 2007 was most every body's 2008. We had it rough (by American standards) with job loss, foreclosure, etc. Thank God we didn't go hungry and our marriage stayed in tact ... got stronger as a matter of fact.

But coming through a 2008 that was stable financially (compared to previous years) and reviewing what we want, and in some cases need to do in 2009, we are making some adjustments and being more disciplined.

Going through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University twice was great for us - Fall of 2006 & Spring of 2008. Some of our thinking about money has radically changed. Some of our thoughts haven't. Information is great ... putting it into practice is best! We have more to practice.

We have made a fresh commitment to adjusting our spending in '09 - cutting out fluff like cable, etc. and saving more, eating out less. Our goal is to be better managers of what is given to us.

The Crossroads is offering it's third session of FPU session at the beginning of February. I hope many will put into practice what they learn.

What financial adjustments are you making in 2009? Please share

Here is the article I read.
DaveRamsey.com

Advent .... Conspiracy (and other ways to give)

We heard about this last Christmas and participated a bit. This year we want to do more. (the video is about 2 min). Check it out.


God loved ... He gave. I just don't want to give stuff! We've been really doing our best to buyless and live/give more! Here are some of the ways we've pursued to be less consumer driven.

BuyinglessLivingMore
Junky Car Club
FPU
Couponing

What ways have you been able to manage money a little better?

Giving and Getting

I agree with some of the talk lately about our society over extending ourselves in so many ways, especially financially.  We've forgotten about delayed gratification and to revert back to character building principles seems so ... so ... lame!  We want and we get!  Bunch of getters we are.

Ben Arment works for Catalyst. I really like his blog. Challenging and to the point. A few days ago he wrote this about Giving and Getting ...

"Moving from a getter to a giver is the best way to achieve what you want.

Let's say you want to be mentored by somebody. You want them to share books, ask how you're doing, pray for you... but they're not biting. So reverse it. Pour into them. See what happens.

Let's say you want to build a network. You've got goals, and you need contacts. Try not asking for anything for a while. Instead, only give out. Watch how often your calls get returned.

In the social economy, givers always end up the biggest getters."

What do you think?

Want to feel rich today?

Our concept of being rich is really messed up. Most of us in America, have a "keep up with the Jones'" mentality - although I do think that is early 2000's - and it keeps some of us from truly living in our means.

If you want to feel rich today . . . Check out this site.

I know it's all relative but we all can live with so much less.

The best financial advice I've received: "When your outgo exceeds your income, your upkeep will be your downfall!"

What is the best advice you've received financially?