Monday, December 30, 2013

The Lottery, It's Just Not Worth It


The Lottery, It's Just Not Worth It

By Keith Bunn Jr.
December 30, 2014


A few weeks ago, during a break at work, a friend of mine asked if I had bought a Mega Millions lottery ticket for that half a billion dollar jackpot ($636 million to be exact). I told him, no. He knew how I felt about the lottery. That it is a big waste of money. Then he asked, "Don't you think paying $1 is worth a chance to win a half a billion dollars?" (1 in 259 million chance then). I still said, no and here's why I said that.

Why Playing the Lottery is Not Worth It

The reason I think it's not worth playing is because if it is worth spending $1 for a chance at a half a billion dollars, then it's worth spending $5, $10, $20 or more, and people do spend that all the time, just for a "chance" to win. But what they are really doing is robbing themselves of their own futures. Let me explain...

Let's say the people who play the lottery, spend on average $10 per week. That's $40 per month. If they were to take that same amount and invested it, getting a 10% rate of return from age 18 to 65, they would have $463,931 by the time they retired. And if they did that in a Roth IRA, that would be about a half a billion dollars! TAX FREE!! This happens every time! Not in 1 in 259 million tries!! 

And we know that people do this. These numbers are not that far off. We see people do this all the time, especially during the huge jackpots like we saw a few weeks ago. This is why I think playing the lottery is a waste of money and is not worth playing.

Now, if you play the lottery, and even continue to play it after reading this, that's fine. It's your money and we can still be friends. But just be aware that you are only hurting yourself, and perhaps your family by playing.

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If you like my postings, I'd be honored if you follow me, so please sign up. You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me there too. Thank you!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe & Happy New Year! See you in 2014


Monday, December 23, 2013

A Christmas Prayer



A Christmas Prayer 

By Keith Bunn Jr.
December 23, 2013



This week's blog is going to be extremely short. In fact, all I have is a Christmas prayer I want to send to you and your families.

Lord, as we all prepare to celebrate your Son, our Savior Jesus' birthday. I ask that you watch over everyone reading this and their families. If they are hurting in any way, please give them the strength to to overcome their pain. Bless them so later they can be a blessing to someone else, and fill them with hope and love the way only you can do.
In Jesus' name amen.


We here in the Bunn household wish you all a Safe and Merry Christmas! I also want to thank each and everyone of you for continuing to follow me over the years. I really can't do this without you. Thank You!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Inspiration From A Christmas Carol


Inspiration From A Christmas Carol

By Keith Bunn Jr.
December 16, 2013

A Christmas Carol

Last night my wife and I watched one of the many versions of the classic Charles Dickens' story, A Christmas Carol. If you don't know this story, it is the story of a old, greedy, bitter man named Ebenezer Scrooge. Because of his awful ways, the ghost of his dead business partner pays him a visit and tells him that he will be visited by 3 other spirits, the ghost of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. After being shown the error of his ways, he has a change of heart just in time for Christmas.

I have always loved this story, but what caught my attention this time around, was toward the end of Scrooge's visit from the Ghost of Christmas Present



Scrooge noticed something under the ghost's massive robe and he asked what it was. When the ghost pulled his robe back, there stood, what looked like 2 poor children. The boy, the ghost explained, represented Mankind's Ignorance, and the girl, represented Mankind's Wants, and the ghost warned Scrooge of both.

That part really fascinated me because we all still suffer from this to some degree. So let's go over each one of those topics for a bit.

 Ignorance

The root word for Ignorance is ignorant, and this has been a very sensitive word for some people because they think it means, Stupid. It doesn't. The Webster's dictionary says it means lacking knowledge. So it doesn't mean stupid at all. It simply means that you and I don't know something. And I think we can all agree that there is some bits of knowledge in this world we don't know about.

We can't know everything there is to know, but there is some ways to increase our knowledge, and it is to continue to learn all we can. By either taking some classes, going to workshops, listening to podcasts, or just simply reading books. The best thing about learning is, some of it can be done with little to no money. So get in the habit of being a constant learner.

Wants

Let's just face it, we all want something, whether it is some kind of material thing or some kind of knowledge like we talked about above. The key here is, we don't want our Wants to over take our lives. We have to have a balance with our wants and what we can afford it get. It is when we are out of balance that can get us all into trouble, both financially and relational. I say relational because it can and will affect your relationships if things fall out of balance.

So Let's Review...

The only way to fight ignorance is to live a life of constant learning. Don't just learn about topics you like, but learn about topics you need to know too, like perhaps, your finances.

You have to have a clear balance in your life between what you want and what you can afford to have. This is so important in both your relational and financial life.

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If you like my postings, I'd be honored if you follow me, so please sign up. You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me there too. Thank you!


Monday, December 9, 2013

There is a Difference Between Being Frugal and Being a Tightwad


There is a Difference Between Being Frugal and Being a Tightwad

By Keith Bunn Jr.
December 9, 2013

Which are you? Frugal or a Tightwad?

I know a bunch of people, that others have classified them as either frugal or a tightwad, but which are they really? 

Well, the Webster dictionary defines Frugal as: [a person who is] careful about spending money or using things when you do not need to : using money or supplies in a very careful way. 
It also defines Tightwad as: a person who does not like to spend or give money.

Now either one of these types of people can be very smart when it comes to their finances. They can know where every penny is going, what its doing, and how much they have, both in liquid and non-liquid funds. But if you look at those two definitions closely, you can really see the difference between the two. 

The Tightwad is a hoarder of money. They bring it all in, in various forms, but it rarely goes out. To them, they can't have enough. This is a Spiritual Disease. The only joy they get is by getting more money. They don't have many friends and rarely go out and do anything for fun. And they will never feel the joy of helping others who are in need.

The Frugal person, even though it looks like they don't spend money, do spend and give a percentage of their money, but not to the point where they harm themselves by either being the tightwad or by over spending. They do go out with friends, take trips, and give to their church and/or favorite charities. But they plan these things out. Again, this is a type of person who knows what every penny they have is doing, and where its going. They enjoy life and know that whatever they are doing, they still have enough to cover emergencies or for the next event on their calendar when it happens.

So, do you now know the difference between a frugal person and a tightwad? Have you called a frugal person a tightwad before or thought a tightwad was just being frugal? Chances are, you have at one time or another. 

If after reading this, you discover that you are a tightwad, you don't have to stay that way. We can all change for the better. You could talk to a family member, a friend, or even a local pastor about making these changes in your life. But be careful! If anyone of those people want you to do something that favors them more than you, get way from them. A good and trustworthy person will always want you to make changes in your life that betters you more than them.

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If you like my postings, I'd be honored if you follow me, so please sign up to do so. You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me there too. Thank you!


Monday, December 2, 2013

What Would You do if You Lost $18,000?



What Would You do if You Lost $18,000?

By Keith Bunn Jr.
December 2, 2013

What would you do if you lost $18,000? Would you cry? Would you be angry? Or all the above? Believe me, that is exactly what Julie and I felt when we lost that. Let me explain what happened...

Two years ago, Julie and I moved closer to our jobs. We were both traveling about 2 hours each round trip and using a quarter of a tank of gas per car, per round trip. So needless to say, the amount we were paying in gas, not to mention the wear and tear on the cars were costly. So we moved. It seemed like the best solution to our problem. But after some time, Julie lost her job she had been working in for over 20 years. It was like the rug was pulled out from underneath her. But after the tears dried up and the anger subsided, she got busy filling out applications, taking tests, going to interviews, and after weeks and weeks of hard work, she got the job she has today.

Now when all the dust settled, Julie figured out what the difference was from what she was making and what she's making now and it came out to be $18,000 a year less. Now I don't care who you are, that's a lot of money!
But before we even knew what the difference was, we had an Emergency Budget Meeting. We decided that with some saving we had, we would pay off some of our debt early & the rest of the saving, plus my paychecks, unemployment, and tightening our budget even further, we could make it until she found a decent job.

Fast forward to today, I can happily tell you that we are doing fine. We are still paying all our bills, paying down on our one and only debt, and still able to pay for Christmas with cash
I have to tell you though, if we would have gone into Pitty Party Mode instead of Emergency Mode, like a lot of people do in this situation, we would have been seriously hurting financially by now.

I'm telling you all this because I know we aren't the only ones who have been in this situation. You can survive this at any time of the year. Even if you went into Pitty Party Mode, you can turn things around! You can do it!! With help, guidance, and prayer, you can do anything!! I know you can because if we (Mr. & Mrs. Spend A Lot) could do it, you can too.

The reason I write this blog, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and/or creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Steward & Stewardship



Steward & Stewardship

By Keith Bunn Jr.
November 25, 2013

I don't know about your church, but once a year our church has what is called a "Stewardship Series". It is at this time our pastor and other church leaders talk about and teach our congregation about what the bible says about giving and that we should give a Tithe to our church. 
What is a tithe? A tithe (or 10% of our income) is what we Christians are asked to give back to God. "Bring the whole tithe into my house - 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.

The Real Meaning to the Word "Steward"

Unfortunately, when a lot of churches say Stewardship Drives or Campaigns, it normally means that they want your money to do some sort of ministry the church is involved with. So when most people hear the word stewardship, they really hear "Fund Raiser" and that couldn't be further from the truth of what that word means. 
Stewardship or Steward is nothing more than being a Manager for someone else's stuff. That's all. So when the bible talks about being a good steward to God, it really means that you and I, or someone, is to be a good Manager of all God's stuff. "The earth is the Lord's and everything in it." Psalms 24:1.

So What Does That Mean?

So, because everything on our planet is God's, and we are all supposed to be good stewards for God, then we should manage God's stuff, God's way. And that also means we should give our tithe or 10% like God tells us to. 
Why, do you ask? Because "... For God made human beings in his own image. ..." Genesis 9:6. So if we are made in God's image and He gave is only Son to die for our sins! "He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32. Then in every single one of us is, woven in, a giver.
God also wants us to give because it takes the focus off us and puts it on others. Taking us from being selfish to selfless. Giving also reminds us that the time and/or money we give is not ours, we are just managing it for God.

I hope I explained this well enough that you could understand what a steward really is. I'd also like to take this time and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving. If you are traveling, please be safe!

The reason I write this blog, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and/or creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!


Monday, November 18, 2013

Dave Ramsey's Examples May Not be Right



Dave Ramsey's Examples May Not be Right

By Keith Bunn Jr.
November 18, 2013

Is Dave Wrong?

A few weeks ago, at the beginning of an Financial Peace University (FPU) class that my wife and I coordinate at our church, one of the class members told me that after the class on insurance, they looked all over and called a bunch on insurance brokers but none of them quoted them the dollar amount even close to what Dave Ramsey's example was in the video they had watched the week before.

The part of the class they were talking about was about life insurance and in Dave's example, he was talking about a made up 30 year old guy named Joe, who got Term Life insurance anywhere between $13 to $21 per month. The class member's issue was that out of all the insurance brokers they contacted, none of them gave them a quote anywhere near the $13 to $21 Dave had talked about and wondered if Dave was wrong.

Life Insurance is Based on a Few Things

The truth is, the example Dave talks about in class is an average of a healthy 30 year old male. The cost of life insurance is based on a few things...

1) Are you healthy? If you have a medical condition of any kind or are taking medications prescribed by a doctor, chances are, your premiums will be higher.

2) How old are you? If you're middle aged or older, the cost of any kind of insurance will go up the older we get, especially life insurance.

3) Do you smoke or use any kind of tobacco products? We've all heard the studies over the decades that 1 in 3 smokers die of cancer. I don't know the statistics about chewing tobacco, E-cigarettes, etc... but I'm sure you're chances of getting or dying of cancer are greater than if you didn't use those products all. And we are talking about life insurance.

4) How much do you weigh? Again, the more we weigh affects our overall health.

I'm sure there are more things I missed, but I'm sure you get the picture on what effects the cost of life insurance. But if this has got you down and you think there is no way you can afford life insurance, there is hope.

There Are Things You can do to Lower the Cost

The truth is, we're not able to go back in time to change our past. All we have is today to start from. We can't change our age, but there are things we can all do to lower our life insurance cost...

1) Lose weight. Just by losing 5 to 10 pounds could reduce our dependency on prescriptions and improve our overall health.

2) Stop using tobacco products. This is a big one! This will greatly lower the cost of both life and medical insurance.

The thing is, Dave Ramsey's examples may not be right... For You! You have to go out into the market and try to get the best deal you can find that best suits you and your family's situation, but you DO NEED LIFE INSURANCE! And the only one I suggest is Term Life insurance.

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!

Monday, November 11, 2013

Chore Money vs Birthday Money



Chore Money vs Birthday Money

By Keith Bunn Jr.
November 11, 2013

You have heard me say plenty of times, that we as parents, have to teach our kids about money. It is not the school's job to do that! 
If you are new to this blog, I have said that we need to teach our kids that money comes from WORK! Not from our pockets, & differently not from the governments. They also need to learn 3 things right from the start. How to Save, Give, and Spend. The sooner we teach them these things, and they get it, the sooner they can become productive, and self reliant adults when they get older. 

Commissions, not Allowance!

We put our kids on commissions when doing chores. Work, get paid. Don't work, don't get paid. This is so very important these days, because there are tons of people today that think they should get money while sitting on their butts watching TV. And then complain when they don't get any money. 
We made up a Commission Pay Sheet where we listed a bunch of chores and put the amount of money we would pay for that chore right next to it. Once the child was done with the chore, they would then put their initials in the box provided. 

Commission Pay Sheet

Now, if we checked to see if the chore(s) were done and done right and they weren't, then they would have them do it or do it again for FREE. At the end of the week, we would tally up the amounts and then pay them whatever they earned. This amount would be split up in the 3 categories mentioned above... save, give, and spend.

Birthdays and Gift Money

Now there is a difference between chore money and birthday or gift money. If your child receives money from a relative or friend for a birthday or just as a gift, that is separate from the chore money. Meaning, give your child the choice of what they want to do with it. If they want to divide it up in the 3 categories  then divide it. But if they want to put it all into just one category  including spending it all, then that is their choice. This however does not mean you have no say in what they do with it. Let's say they want to spend it all on a toy or something that is cheap and will probably break in 2 days, talk to them about it. "Johnny/Susie, I'm not sure that you spending all that money on that thing is such a wise choice because its not made very well and it will probably break quickly." You get the point. The same goes with just doing one of the other categories  If you don't see an issue, then let them do it.

I hope this was helpful and I hope this gives you some ideas on how to teach your kids about money. If you want, I can send you copy of the Commission Pay Sheet we made up and used with our kids. Just send me an e-mail with the word "Commissions" in the subject line and I'll send you a copy of the Word document we have for FREE. With it being in a Word document, you'll be able to make changes to fit your family's needs.

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!

Monday, November 4, 2013

Sometimes You Just Have to Replace It


Sometimes You Just Have to Replace It

By Keith Bunn Jr.
November 4, 2013


What to do Before Making a Purchase

As frugal as I am, there even comes a time where I have to say, "Replace It!" And there even comes a time where even buying brand new stuff is except-able, but not always.
Let's come right out and say it... buying something new or just new to you, can be emotional. You get excited about getting the item. Chemicals are naturally released into your system causing both physical and emotional responses, and if we're not careful, those responses can cause us not to make wise decisions about a purchase. Knowing this about ourselves is the first step in protecting ourselves from either being ripped off or just spending too much on the item. With that being said, there are 5 simple rules we all need to follow to have power over our purchases.

1) Wait overnight before making purchases.

2) Carefully consider our buying motives. No amount of stuff equals contentment or fulfillment.

3) Never buy anything you don’t fully understand.

4) Consider the “Opportunity Cost” of our money.

5) Seek counsel of our spouse or accountability partner.


Brand New is Not Always the Answer

Again, we would all like to get brand new stuff when it comes to replacing things that break down in our lives. But buying brand new is not always the answer. Like cars for example: buying a brand new car doesn't make sense unless it is a very small part of your overall net worth,  because they go down in value so quickly. And if you have been following me for 30 seconds, you know I'm not going to tell you to make payments on the purchase or to put it on a credit card. If you have to do something like that to buy it, you can't afford it.
But there are other options out there that are almost like buying brand new without the brand new prices. To give you an example: if you need to replace an appliance of some kind, you might want to check the scratch and dent sections of the store. You can find awesome deals there at times and sometimes you won't even see the scratch or dent after you get it in place at home.
There are even rare times you can get awesome deals on cars after a big storm. Years ago, before I moved down to Georgia, they had a huge hail storm, and all the cars at all the dealers looked more like golf balls than cars. It would have cost the dealerships tons of money to fix them all, so to move the cars quickly, they greatly discounted them. Even back during the recession, while gas prices were through the roof, car dealers greatly discounted all their pick-up trucks to get them off their lots.

Pawn Shops

Pawn shops are also a great place to find great deals. Most of the time, items there have been greatly reduced because they are not brand new, but they can be in new like condition. As an example: you can get awesome, high guilty jewelry there at great prices. Way better prices than at a retail jewelry store, but you have to be careful that you know what you're buying, so do your homework before making a purchase there.

Well, I hope I gave you something to think about. Don't forget about the 5 rules to have power over your purchases, and don't always think that brand new is the way to go when replacing things. Shop around and find the best deals!

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Don't let Divorce lead you to a path of Financial Ruin



Don't let Divorce lead you to a path 
of Financial Ruin

By Keith Bunn Jr.
October 29, 2013


I've said it many times, the number one cause of divorce in this country is because of money issues. And if you have ever gone through a divorce, you know it is one of the most stressful times you can go through. And if we're not careful, we can turn this stressful time into a financial disaster.

In 1998, I went through a painful divorce myself. I felt hurt, ashamed and a failure. On top of that, my then wife had the kids and were living several states away, so I couldn't even see the kids as much as I'd wanted to. So I did what most people do in that situation, I medicated my pain with spending. I spent tons of money on myself to make me feel better, and on my kids to prove to them that I was still thinking about them and that I still loved them.

What to do if this is you

As you read, I didn't do so hot in this category when I was going through my divorce, but there are many things we can do to prevent a huge financial mess during a divorce. 
If you have kids that are old enough to understand what is going on, let them know this isn't their fault and that you're still there for them. 
If your kids are young, again just be there for them. They just want to see & be with you. The point is, with both older and younger kids, you don't have to spend tons of money to prove that you love them. Play games or watch movies you already have with them at home, instead of going out for entertainment every time you get to visit with them. Also, you don't have to go out to eat every time you get them either, cook something simple at home. Again, it is the time you spend with them not how much money you spend on them.
Another thing you need to do, if you're not already doing it, is get on a budget and stick to it! I know how much people hate the "B" word, but if you're not doing one, you can't believe how much it helps you financially. Think of it this way. If you manage your time better, you have more of it. Well the same thing goes for a budget. It causes your money to go further, perhaps further than you thought it would.

Child Support

This is a sensitive subject for most people, but paying or receiving child support can either help or bust a budget. If you are ordered by the courts to pay child support, then PAY IT!! Even if you aren't ordered by the courts, you should still pay some child support. Like it or not, you helped make that child, you need to help support them!
If you are to receive child support, that money is meant for supplementing the income you should already have or soon to get, to help care for your child(en). It is not a free ride! So treat it as such. If you are not receiving child support, but should, you need to start getting it! Make an appointment to get one set up today.
If there is a reason why either parents think that the support is too much or not enough because someone has a job change, or something else changed in their lives, then go through the proper channels to get it reviewed and possibly changed. But be careful! By having your income reviewed, you may not get the results you intended.
The best thing I did when I had to pay child support was to have it directly taken out of my paychecks. I never saw the money so I never missed it. On top of that, I had a paper trail that said I paid my support.
Also, it never hurts to do a full audit on your support record or account at least once a year, whether there is something wrong or not. You never know, the audit may uncover something wrong you didn't know about.

I hope this little bit of insight helps you out. I sure do wish someone told me this stuff when I was going through my divorce.

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!


Monday, October 21, 2013

Credit Cards for Gas Usage



Credit Cards for Gas Usage

By Keith Bunn Jr.
October 21,2013

I was asked a question the other week if using credit cards for gas usage was a good idea or not, if you get the 5 to 10 cents off per gallon and pay them off right away. Well, if you've following me for 30 seconds, you'd know that I absolutely hate credit cards! I think credit cards are nothing more than legalized "Loan Sharking".
But I have to admit, I really didn't have a good answer to the question other than, "I hate credit cards!" So seeing that the person's question was about a specific, local grocery store/gas station credit card, I went and got the application and read it over.

Information Found

After reading over the information on the application, I came to find out that there are 2 different cards. A regular one that is nothing more than an in store credit card that could only be used in the grocery store or gas station. The other one is a Platinum Master Card which can be used anywhere that takes a Master Card
The in store card has an annual percentage rate (APR) of 26.99%, but the application also says, "This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate." 
The Platinum card has 2 different types of accounts, which are based on your "creditworthiness". Type #1 has an APR of 19.99% and type #2 has an APR of 23.99%. And again it says, "This APR will vary with the market based on the Prime Rate."
And just like any other credit card that is out there, there are fees you must pay if you're late making a payment. And for both cards it could either be a $25 to $35 late fee. 
I know what you're thinking, "This is all fine and dandy, but you won't have to pay any interest or fees if you pay it off each and every time it's due, like the question was asked." And you would be right, "IF" people paid the cards off when they were due each and every time. And that's a big word, "IF".

You Have to do the Math

Statistics show us that only 55% of credit card holders pay their cards off each and every month. So that means 45% don't. So by someone thinking, "I'll get the card to save on gas and pay it off right away." doesn't always happen. I know we plan on doing things a certain way, but life sometimes steps in and screws up our plans. Job loss, car breaking down, someone gets sick, a death in the family, etc... can all happen and cause us to lose sight of our goals.
Let me explain it this way... On an average fill up, you'll be saving 75 cents (.05 cents per gallon) when you use either one of the cards talked about above. And if the grand total you had to pay was $40 and you put that on your gas credit card and didn't pay it off at the end of the month, at best, you would have to pay $75 for the same amount of gas that would have cost you $40. At worst, you would have to pay $86. Over double the cost for the same amount of gas. By not paying off that monthly credit card bill just that once, you'll have lost every once of savings you signed up for in the first place.
Now I don't know about you, but I get gas every other week. So if I were to use one of these gas credit cards, bought my gas for the month and forgot to or couldn't pay my bill at the end of the month, I would then have to pay between $121 to $137 for $80 worth of gas. Folks, that's just screwing up once. Imagine doing that month after month. You can see how much that adds up. So again, using credit cards for anything, even just for gas usage in my opinion, is not a good idea.

Something to think about

When any store, company, or institute offers you some kind of rewards program, look it over first before signing up. Do the math if necessary to really see if it is a good deal for you or for them. There are good deals out there if you look for them. They haven't all disappeared yet, even for gas usage.  So look for them and just don't take things at face value.

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!

Monday, October 14, 2013

Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet...



Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet...

By Keith Bunn Jr.
October 14, 2013

Do you remember saying that as a kid? "Trick or Treat, Smell my Feet, Give me something Good to Eat!" Those were good times! Halloween is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I would normally go all out and buy a ton of decorations for both inside and out, but it seems like every year, Halloween gets more and more expensive. And with today's economy, it is estimated that consumers will spend slightly less then they did last year.

Second only to Christmas

But don't worry, Halloween is second only to Christmas in terms of spending on decorations, consumers are still estimated to spend tons of money on this holiday. According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), Americans will spend billions on Halloween this year. In fact, the President and CEO of the NRF, Matthew Shay stated, “(Halloween is) Still one of the most beloved and anticipated consumer holidays, Halloween will be far from a bust this year. After a long summer, the arrival of fall will put millions of Americans in the spirit to partake in traditional and festive activities. Retailers recognize that when it comes to Halloween, consumers’ creativity abounds. We expect retailers to stock their shelves with unique costume ideas for adults, children and pets, a variety of candy options and never-seen-before home and yard decor.”

You Don't have to Lose your Head

Or your cash for that matter, when it comes to Halloween spending this year or the next if you plan ahead. There are tons of great ideas all over the place when it comes to decoration that are not too expensive. The pumpkins, gourds, corn, & corn stalks can be bought this year, but if you save the seeds and dry them out, you can grow your new and unlimited supply next summer. Other decorations can be made out of simple scrap material you may have lying around your home. Years ago, we took some scrap wood and made tombstones.


With some specialty paint and a little time, we had a small cemetery in our front yard. I even took a broken skeleton decoration and stuck it into the ground and made it look like the dead was rising.
As for costumes, you could always make your own. Again, there are tons of ideas all over the place, and with a little imagination you can make your own awesome costumes for both adults and kids alike. So whether you go all out for Halloween or not, there are always cost cutting steps to save some cash and still have a great time on Halloween.

Share your ideas! 

If you have done something on Halloween that saved you some money, please share your ideas. I'd love to see photos and read about them. I'll even post them on my Facebook page to help others save some cash too!

The reason I do this, is to give people hope and to try to inspire others. To make people think about their finances, whether they are young or old, so they can win financially.
If you have any questions for me about my posts or if you need help learning how to live on less than you make and creating a budget, you can call me at (616) 454-2046 or e-mail me at cavuscoaching@gmail.com. I’d be happy to help! 
You can also find more money news, facts and ideas, on my Facebook and/or Twitter pages. I'd be grateful if you followed me. Thank you!