There is nothing more humbling than updating a web site and realizing that the road you were previously on was much better than the path you are currently taking. There was a time in which we had such vigor when it came to our bills, finances and savings. Sadly though it is a wakeup call as I look at the rising amount of debt that my family and I have accumulated and man do we have a task at hand. Now granted where we are sitting is not nearly as bad as what others may be dealing with so this is definitely something that I am thankful for.
I have updated the Debt Snowball with the most accurate information I have and believe it is pretty reliable. Now with all that said our debt comes in just a little over $88,000 with no money in savings, living paycheck-to-paycheck and that buck stops here. No more am I going to be stuck where we’ve been and the time is now.
Can you feel the motivation? Can you since the excitement in my voice? I look forward to being able to successfully sign off on the $1,000 Emergency Fund. I am ready to be done with the first baby step as we’ve been here before. Now though I must concentrate upon getting from zero to one thousand and as stated before….energy flows where attention goes. $1,000….here we come baby!
Let’s see here…it is November 11th, 2012, and the last post that I have on here came back in January. Doing some simple math here it has been over 300 days since my last post and I am going to make a conscious effort to get my gazelle intensity back when it comes to our finances. There have been some changes in our family that I will address later as I initially just want to make sure this post gets posted.
There is going to be some changes made and it’s going to be brought forth through this blogging site and unfortunately I have been absent with my presence on this site as well as absent when it comes to making my family’s finances a main issue that we can beat. Anyways, there will be more to come….just not tonight.
I love the fact that I control my own destiny. The decisions we make today affect the circumstances of tomorrow. Our society in the U.S., throughout the world will never see everyone try to reach their potential. Never. Look around now and I’m sure you can name several people who are fine with barely getting by and not interested in bettering their situation. I know people like this and I know you do too. If everyone became exceptional then the next step would be to raise the bar.
Look around at the horse and buggy industry, it’s been put out of business by people who raised the bar higher and developed a better system known as the automobile. Look at the advancements in that industry seems to me the exceptionable accomplishments keep getting higher. This is one example but when you reach one plateau start going towards the next. People fail to be exceptional by becoming content with where they’re presently at.
Again a person will never be self sufficient waiting on other people to provide for them. What’s it teach? Depend upon others to get what you want? It’s just not my view of the world and everything that I have is because I have earned it. At the end of the day no one can take that away from me. I’m proud of what I have accomplished and I have had obstacles that I had to endure earlier in life that prepared me for the future.
I’m thinking back to a post that I wrote in December of last year about the excuses people make regarding student loans. Almost 11 months later and I am still just as puzzled today as I was back then as to why people continue to make excuses as to why they cannot pay back on their educational loans. I think the biggest reasoning is that too many people want to be the victim when it comes to dealing with their student loans. The victim, are you serious?
Recently there was an article that came out detailing how student loans have now taken over as the largest debt owed in our country as $830 billion goes to student loan debt with $825 billion being that of credit card debt. A person has to wonder truly what the big deal is as our society has turned to one where it is important to get an education. If we traveled back in time 40 years ago the ideology of going to college was a luxury as it was not uncommon to land a good job with just a high school education.
Flash forward to the times of today and in this economy it is crucial in having a degree to be able to land good employment. I’ve been approached in the past by parents telling me how their children are over qualified to work at McDonald’s, or any other fast food restaurant. I cannot believe that parents are so naïve that they would actually believe this. Any time I have needed a second job I have been able to walk into a fast food establishment and land a job shortly after completing the application. For these parents believing their kids that they (the kids) are overqualified is completely asinine.
The problem with our country is that nobody wants to step up to the plate and take ownership for their actions. Not too long ago a college professor shot up her department heads during a meeting and defense attorneys were quick to call insanity. This is yet another case where people are too afraid to admit their actions. The beds we sleep in today are from what we made yesterday and the beds we’ll sleep in tomorrow are being made today.
Even though student loans may be a larger debt in America than credit cards the difference is the advantages given by having the degree. Failing to pay a student loan back is part of the instant-gratification attitude of those graduating today. Amazing how no one wants to pay their bills compared to the days of our grandparents. What will the future of this country look like as these people become the leaders of tomorrow?
What do I want to do when I grow up? This is a common question that we pose to children on a frequent basis. The answers vary and if you were to ask my children what they wanted to be when they grow up the answers too would vary from being Dora the Explorer, a Princess, a Mermaid, to even being a mommy. When the answers are given though the common phrase is based around the ideology that a kid can be whatever it is they want to be when they grow up.
How far is this from the truth? The older I get the farther away from what I wanted to be when I was kid I become. With age comes a sense of reality and that reality is that bills need to be paid, food needs to be on the table, and the American dream will always be just that…a dream. What causes us to go from believing in our children to suddenly stifling out and killing their childhood dreams?
Now granted there are certain responsibilities that we take on as adults in trying to make it through the day-to-day grind. Simply put more Americans are merely trying to survive than live out their dream of what they want to be when they grow up. Instead of being a doctor kids take the easier road and become a business major. Instead of being a nurse kids decide to be secretaries. At some point in time we go from believing in the impossible to living for the path of least resistance.
My goal is stop that cycle within my own life. I’m here to dig deep and find out what that dream was of what I wanted to be when I grew up. Now granted I know what my responses were in the past but I now understand throwing a baseball 110 mph on a major league field is not feasible. What I need to do is find out who I am, what my dreams are, and how I can amply apply my abilities to living out my dream. It sounds simple. I understand where I’m at right now and I know the end destination that I want but the hard part is going to be finding my way from point A to point B. In discovering my inner ambitions I expect to find out more about who I truly am. I expect to learn more about what motivates me, what excites me, what I am truly passionate about. In doing all of this I expect to find the answer to the common question of what I want to do when I grow up. When I get where I’m going I am positive there will be a “new” me living the life I have always wanted. I’ll finally being living the life I dreamed about, finally living the life I was destined for.
After writing the previous post the entire thought process behind everything reminded me of the song “Why Don’t You Get a Job” by Offspring. For what it’s worth I have added the link below for your viewing pleasures…
In surfing the Internet over the past couple of days I have been searching. Searching for people who are in debt and instead of making excuses they are actually doing something about it. I recently came across an individual who is unemployed, stated he owes more than $60,000 in student loans and cannot get on at McDonalds. I find this hard to believe. This person said he is waiting on a call back, waiting to hear from them, and I believe he is waiting and holding on to the same excuses.
Yes the job market is down. Truthfully it sucks but there are jobs out there. It is times like these that we are living in that people need to be thankful for having employment and making for damn sure they are doing whatever necessary to stand apart from the other employees. I work in a production based non-factory atmosphere with a lucrative bonus structure for hitting numbers and exceeding budgets. Before I was in management my motto as an employee was I was not there for the regular paycheck, I was there to make bonus checks. This mentality helped me achieve more bonus money and paved the way for the company advancements I have earned.
With that said I have employees who openly admit to being satisfied with the regular paycheck and it’s not that great of money so it’s not like these people are receiving fat paychecks. The drive and mentality of people are different with each individual spoken to and what motivates me is different than what will motivate you. I grow increasingly tired of hearing people say they cannot do this or they cannot do that.
Folks it is time to take the word “Can’t” out of the vocabulary banks. If a person says they cannot doing something then they will never accomplish the feat unless by pure chance and coincidence. Show me a person who uses phrases such as “I will”, “I can”, “I have” and I’ll show you someone who is more likely to be successful than the person who constantly gives up.
As for that $60,000 person in debt who cannot get a job even at McDonalds I have to call bull shit. Jobs are out there it takes being proactive not reactive and sometimes we have to do jobs that are below us. Until you have done everything in your power and exhausted all options do not say “I can’t get a job” be honest with yourself and everyone else and say the real reason, “I don’t want to work at XYZ place.”
Normally this is not a forum to discuss politics but transpiring events from Iran’s president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has resulted in this post. Apparently the Iranian president is dismissing the year-end deadline set by the Obama administration for Tehran to accept a U.N.-drafted deal to trade enriched uranium for nuclear fuel.
Let’s break this down even more…without a doubt Ahmadinejad gave an “F- You” statement to President Obama. Our president was foolish enough to think those who oppose us actually want to sit down and have these chats with the messiah. It’s not going to happen. As Ahmadinejad stated that the international community can give his country as many deadlines as they want but they simply do not care.
Ahmadinejad wants talk where mutual respect is given and this is merely the same test a two year old gives their parents to see exactly what they can get away with. Ahmadinejad is the child and Obama’s administration is the adult. The question remains will the discipline be firm or will it be worthy of “Nanny 911”? I’m leaning more towards calling help in as I do not think Obama can be firm with our opposition. I can already sense Obama quivering at the thought of having a debacle after he pledged his campaign on sitting down and having peaceful talks with these vigilantes.
Mr. Obama wake up and realize that the American people are not buying into what you are saying and neither is the world. The campaign promises that built the “Yes We Can” platform are quickly crumbling on the “what do we do from here” standpoint. Leadership reflects attitude and when you dissect Obama he’s merely just another politician. Here’s to the Hope and Change we can believe in…I’m still waiting.
I came across this post screaming the injustices of people having to pay their student loans back and I couldn’t help but laugh out loud. Scratch that, I started laughing maniacally when I read these excuses. I couldn’t help but respond to these morons and give some simple common sense suggestions:
-“If I didn’t have to pay my student loan debt, I would spend money I don’t have now visiting my elderly parents more often. So I’d be spending the money with Southwest Airlines. Not even having a job I don’t know when I can see them again and they’re in their 80s. People don’t last forever and you never know when ‘never’ will come.”
You’re exactly right and if you didn’t have to pay for your mortgage/rent you wouldn’t have to worry about having a place to stay. Spending money with Southwest Airlines, eh? Seriously? More than likely the person would find a new “expenditure” other than flying to see their parents. We all say we’re going to do something but primarily fail to do so. Beg to differ? Need I say New Year’s Resolutions? Anyone? Anyone? My other piece of advice for this individual would be to suggest they move to a closer location to their parents. Being unemployed what’s holding them back? Meaning there is no job that is keeping them there. If they’re married what about appealing to the spouse, I mean as the person said people don’t last forever and you never know when ‘never’ will come.
– “I’d spend at least $75.00 a month at Race Trac gas station so I could visit out of town friends. These are items I don’t get to purchase on account of owing so much to my lenders.”
They could spend $75 a month so this person could see out of town friends. Chances are they are connected to the World Wide Web and I would suggest video conferences, instant messages, or even email. Heck check out the applications on MySpace and Facebook and two friends or an entire group can enjoy a single martini and the cost is nothing. $75 per month, get over yourself.
– “I would shop at Target more often, for curtains and items I am really in need of but simply can no longer afford. Since the loan will take forever to repay, I will be curtailing spending for the [next] 20 years.”
My response to this person is that Target is not the only place to buy curtains and items that you “really” need. There are dollar stores, fabric stores, all over and worse case scenario if you cannot find what you’re looking for at a retail store do like in the olden days and make it yourself. Instant self gratification for you and you didn’t have to wait in line for it.
-” [It would nice to buy] action figures and baby dolls at Toys R Us.”
Yeah it would be but what about the days before Toys ‘R Us? I mean what did the pioneers before us do? Ah, then there’s Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, etc. for toys that are cheaper. An even better idea would be to use something that money cannot buy and that is imagination. Amazingly it will go a long way.
Speaking of imagination I have to laugh every time I hear these people get their panties in a wad. They’re complaining about paying back the debt but instead of making excuses how about be a problem solver? I mean do something with your life. If these people would spend more time focusing on how to pay back their debt compared to the time they spend complaining they would be debt free and would be able to fly Southwest, be able to visit out of town friends, be able to shop at Target and be able to buy from Toys ‘R Us. What’s next are they going to start going after these companies for their prices being too high?
The sad truth about the times we live in is that there are people out to make an easy dollar and do not care who stands in the way to stop them. As I am writing this I have in mind a particular site that comes to mind that involves Lynnette Khalfani-Cox who is a proclaimed Money Coach. I looked at her credentials and she has authored a few books and apparently has been featured in The New York Times, USA Today, Redbook, Essence, and on CNN, FOX Business, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil, The Tyra Banks Show, The Rachael Ray Show and on The 700 Club.
Not too shabby I would say but then I came across her web site that clearly states she is not a registered investment advisor and the information provided should be considered educational in nature, but it is not a substitute for legal or professional financial advice. After reading this disclaimer at the bottom of the web site which primarily no viewer makes it to this peaked my curiosity.
I found her blog and read how she is having a teleseminar today and the cost is just $19.95 for 90 minutes for Ms. Khalfani-Cox to inform individuals how to handle creditors, get out of debt, deal with collectors, etc. She is charging $19.95 per person for answers that can easily be found through simple search engine queries. I couldn’t help myself but respond to her post with the following:
I love how you have a disclaimer on your site stating The Money Coach is not a registered investment advisor and the information provided on this web site should be considered educational in nature, but it is not a substitute for legal or professional financial advice.
Yet you want people to sign up for a teleseminar for just $19.95. Are you kidding me? You make that disclaimer on the front of your .net web site and then you’re seriously asking people to pay money to hear information that is readily available on the Internet for… FREE!!! Wow!
Now I’m still waiting for her response but people use some common sense. A lot of the information that these so-called “Money Coaches” use can be found through searches on Google, Yahoo!, MSN, etc. Getting out of debt takes discipline, common sense and commitment. Discipline to control your spending and pay your bills, common sense not to get ripped off by bad purchases or buying items you cannot afford and the commitment to follow through with getting out of debt. There was no charge for that advice it was just simple “use your noggin” values.
Gazelle Intensity: The War On Personal Debt 