“Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets. The buck not only stops at their desks, it starts there too.”

~ Victor Kiam, CEO of Remington

Today, let’s look at a few things we can do to better our finances, our goals, and perhaps our attitudes as we tackle the remainder of the week ahead.

Overcoming Procrastination

First up, Steve Olson shares keen insight into beating procrastination. What does procrastination have to do with being an entrepreneur? If you’re like many of us… everything! Putting things off until the ‘perfect’ time often means they won’t get done in a timely manner, if at all.

If you find yourself procrastinating, this guide will help you learn why you do it and how to change it. Also, if you have a procrastinator in your life, a child, an employee, a spouse, you can turn to this guide to help you understand why they do it and how you can help. Read the full article here…

“Never leave that ’til tomorrow which you can do today.”
~ Benjamin Franklin

Attitude Adjustment

Author Keith Harrell with Success Magazine says one of the most important steps you can take toward achieving your greatest potential in life is to learn to monitor your attitude and its impact on your work performance, relationships and everyone around you.

He outlines 10 strategies for improving our attitudes:

1. Self-Coaching Through Affirmations
   Affirmations repeated several times each day, every day, serve to reprogram your subconscious with positive thinking. An affirmation is made up of words charged with power, conviction and faith. You send a positive response to your subconscious, which accepts whatever you tell it. When done properly, this triggers positive feelings that, in turn, drive action.
2. Self-Motivation Through Discovering Your Motives
   Discover what motivates you—what incites you to take action to change your life. Basic motives include love, self-preservation, anger, financial gain and fear. Self-motivation requires enthusiasm, a positive outlook, a positive physiology (walk faster, smile, sit up), and a belief in yourself and your God-given potential.
3. The Power of Visualization
   Studies of the psychology of peak performance have found that most great athletes, surgeons, engineers and artists use affirmations and visualizations either consciously or subconsciously to enhance and focus their skills. Nelson Mandela has written extensively on how visualization helped him maintain a positive attitude while being imprisoned for 27 years. “I thought continually of the day when I would walk free. I fantasized about what I would like to do,” he wrote in his autobiography. Visualization works well to improve attitude.
4. Attitude Talk for Positive Internal Dialogue
   Attitude talk is a way to override your past negative programming by erasing or replacing it with a conscious, positive internal voice that helps you face new directions. Your internal conversation—that little voice you listen to all day long—acts like a seed in that it programs your brain and affects your behavior. Take a closer look at what you are saying to yourself.
5. The Power of Words—WOW
   Once released to the universe, our words cannot be taken back. Learn the concept of WOW—watch our words. What we speak reflects what is already in our hearts based upon all the things we have come to believe about ourselves. If we find ourselves speaking judgmental and disparaging things about our circumstances or those around us, we know the condition of our hearts needs to change. You can create a direct path to success by what you say.
6. The Power in a Positive Greeting
   When people ask me how I am doing, I say, “Super-fantastic.” Most people enjoy working and living with others who try to live life for what it is—a beautiful gift.
7. Enthusiasm: Vital Tool for Staying Motivated
   Enthusiasm is to attitude what breathing is to life. Enthusiasm enables you to apply your gifts more effectively. It’s the burning desire that communicates commitment, determination and spirit. Enthusiasm means putting yourself in motion. It’s an internal spirit that speaks through your actions from your commitment and your belief in what you are doing. It is one of the most empowering and attractive characteristics you can have.
8. Connecting to Your Spiritual Empowerment
   The ultimate level of human need extends into the spiritual realm. Just as we feed our bodies in response to our primary need to survive physically, we need to feed our spirit because we are spiritual beings. Many people find powerful and positive motivation in their faith. I happen to be one of them.
9. Lighten Up Your Life with Humor
   Humor is a powerful motivator. The more humor and laughter in your life, the less stress you’ll have, which means more positive energy to help you put your attitude into action. There are also health benefits to lightening up.
10. Exercising Will Help Keep You Motivated
    One of the best ways to move to a more positive and motivated frame of mind is to exercise. A regular exercise routine can provide relatively quick positive feedback in the form of weight loss, muscle development and a sense of doing something positive for yourself.

Read Ken’s full article here…

Receive instruction in wise dealing and the discipline of wise
thoughtfulness, righteousness, justice, and integrity…
Proverbs 1:3 AMP

Young Entrepreneurs Are The New Norm

As the following video from Fox News illustrates, young entrepreneurs fresh out of college are becoming the new norm. (Click here to view on Fox News.)

Goals or Objectives?

At first glance it may seem that goals and objectives are one and the same. But as Andrew Smith points out, if you want to convert creative ideas into concrete results, there is an important difference.

An objective is a specific description of what is required to be achieved. They are usually described using “objective” language. In other words, precise and non-emotional terms.

A goal is a softer and more general description. It is something that you would like to achieve that can be described “subjectively”. The big difference is that there is no pressure to be specific. And, it’s perfectly acceptable to use emotional language.

“My goal is to be very happy and financially independent,” is quite non-specific, but still qualifies as a goal.

To some this may be unacceptably loose. However, for many, it may be their first stepping-stone on a pathway to success.

To learn more about the difference between goals and objectives, read Andrew’s full article here…

Business Headlines

• Building a (Nearly) Million-Dollar Brand on a Startup Budget
• Startup Boot Camps Seek Army of Entrepreneurs – BusinessWeek
• Stop Waiting for Permission To Reinvent Yourself

The argument against man begins with population control, which is in direct opposition to God’s original intent.

The second argument is closely related, suggesting that man is the cause of “global warming,” or now, since pseudo-science fraudulently “cooked the books” (pun intended), the proposed argument is “global disruption.”

The claim that man is destroying the Earth is another attempt to control the increase of man economically.  The claims that we are using up the resources of Earth are simply out of step with the evidence.

God’s original intent for man was to dominate the Earth, which means we are to steward and care for the Earth.  I believe that we must properly manage our cultivation of the Earth.  We should develop and manage our resources with wisdom and responsibility; however, we must continue to draw upon those resources for our use and for the expansion of mankind.  The resources of Earth are placed on deposit for our use and increase.

God is wise enough to create the world in which we live with more than enough to sustain, and even prosper, mankind throughout our existence.

Next:  Work Is an Original Intent of Man

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This article is an excerpt from the book Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood by Neil Kennedy.  To learn more about Fivestarman or to order your copy of Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood please visit www.fivestarman.com.

You are free and welcome to re-publish, re-post, and in general share this article with any and all, so long as you keep all credits and links intact. For reprint rights, please contact us at info@fivestarman.com.

Within every man are purposes and passions that are uniquely male, yet we are being told that there is nothing inherently special or purposeful about manhood.  Women, liberated from dominated positions, have increasingly taken a lead role in society.  By September 2010, there were more women employed than there were men.  Touting this fact, the cover of the Atlantic Journal headlined this bold title, “THE END OF MEN.”

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t blame women for stepping up to exercise their liberty from oppressive or ignorant men who have abused them, or from lazy men who have not provided for them; however, radical feminism has violently attacked any semblance of a men’s uniqueness, rather than embracing their own special feminine identity.

Some men have surrendered their roles and special assignments, even taking on the mannerisms and roles of a female.

We are doomed to repeat the failed patterns of life if we do not discover the truths of authentic manhood.  Insecurities will overwhelm us if we do not gain the confidence that comes from purpose.  To become an authentic man means that we need to find the original intent of manhood.

First of all, we must have the foundational belief that we were created with the Intelligent Design of purpose.  Without a Creator, we are meaningless; our existence is flatulence in the wind.

If man is designed and purposed by a Creator, then the Creator defines him.  We must start at the beginning to discover His original intent for man.  Anything less is the ultimate arrogance.

How can the creation mockingly respond to the Creator, “Why did you make me this way?”

“Let us make man….”

After the formation of Earth and the gathering of waters, dry land appeared.  Before God released the agrarian system of provision, He designed the purpose of the Earth.  The Psalmist said, “The Earth was made for man.”

God used clay to mold, fashion, and frame the shadow of His image into a piece of living art.  Then He breathed into man’s nostrils the element of life.  Man became a living being.

The very first statement that God spoke over man gives us insight into His original intent, “Be fruitful and increase.”

Within your genetic code is the drive to succeed and increase.  Within you is the purpose of reproduction.  Within you is the increasing desire to grow your numbers.  As Solomon said, “No man is ever satisfied with his income.” It is diametrically opposed to the original intent of man not to want increase, numerically or economically.

It’s not greed to desire increase; it’s God’s original intent.  Greed is born out of covetousness, which is the desire to have another man’s possessions at his expense.  Greed is born out of a narcissistic attitude that fails to understand God’s provision.

The flaw in covetous thinking is the basic economic theory that my gain comes at the expense of another person.  Modern economics is built upon the idea that the pie is only so big for a few elites to eat of it.  Society does not trust the God of Creation to be wise enough to deposit within the Earth enough resources to sustain and prosper all people.

Solomon said, “As goods increase, so do consumers” (Ecclesiastes 5:11, author’s paraphrase).

God repeatedly declares over man His intent to populate the earth.  Yet, if you listen to the arguments of the fringe, they espouse controlling the increase of man, claiming that we are overpopulating the Earth.  Their idea is that man is inherently bad for the Earth.  Abortion becomes a sadistic means of controlling populations, just as euthanasia will soon be an acceptable means to serve their purpose.  Abortion is called, “choice.”  Euthanasia will be called, “mercy.”

It is always interesting to see the hypocrisy of the living argue against more people “living.”  They love only themselves.  If they really believed that mankind was bad for the Earth, they could easily eliminate at least part of the problem.  Their argument is silly.  Claiming to be wise, they are fools.

Next:  Man Is The Economy

===========================================================

This article is an excerpt from the book Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood by Neil Kennedy.  To learn more about Fivestarman or to order your copy of Fivestarman—The Five Passions of Authentic Manhood please visit www.fivestarman.com.

You are free and welcome to re-publish, re-post, and in general share this article with any and all, so long as you keep all credits and links intact. For reprint rights, please contact us at info@fivestarman.com.

Washington (CNN) – Trevor Bayne may have won the Daytona 500 on Sunday, but a small charity he name-dropped will share in the spoils of victory.

The 20-year-old NASCAR driver was racing in just his second Sprint Cup competition and is now etched in the record books as the youngest driver to win the sports’ biggest race.

“I never thought in a million years we were gonna win our first one,” Bayne told CNN Monday morning. “It’s incredible.”

During his post-race news conference, Bayne was asked how he would spend some of the $1,463,813 purse he won from the race.

“I don’t know if I will splurge. I am definitely not putting it up for retirement yet, I am going to stay around for awhile,” Bayne said.

“Hopefully this money will help us get some more races, and there are a lot of foundations and ministries that need support. Back2Back ministries in Mexico is one, and there are a lot of good organizations that need some help, and we will help them out as much as we can.”

In a sport that has ads plastered over nearly every inch of the drivers and their cars, it was a big deal for Bayne to namedrop the Christian charity.

Trevor Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

Back2Back is an independent Christian charity working with orphans and the needy in Mexico, Nigeria and India. Bayne was introduced to the charity by Lonnie Clouse, a former chaplain for NASCAR with Motor Racing Outreach, who is now on staff with Back2Back.

“I assure you it was nothing short of miraculous.  Trever called me yesterday from the media center after the win with tears in his eyes and we prayed together over the phone,” Clouse said by phone from Monterrey, Mexico.

“This was part of God’s script and God’s plan for him.  He’s using his platform to talk about those with no voice and [about] orphan awareness.”

Motor Racing Outreach (MRO) provides weekend church services and Bible studies for NASCAR drivers and their teams who can’t get away from the track on race weekends. Clouse was MRO’s traveling chaplain for the NASCAR Nationwide series.

“Bayne was a faithful attendee at all our Nationwide Bible studies.  He would sit in the front row.  He would get up and read scripture or open in prayer, whatever we needed,” Clouse said.

Bayne traveled to Mexico to work with Clouse in November. “He was down here in Mexico staying with us and serving along side us helping with orphans,” Clouse said.

“We went and visited orphanages. He made quite an impression here. He was out playing soccer with the orphans.  We huddled them all around, and Trevor got to talk to them about what he did.  They were asking him how fast he went.  Most of them had no clue who he was and what he did,” Clouse said.

Bayne visits with an orphan on a trip to Mexico in November.

After the race Clouse gathered the orphans together and filled them in on Bayne’s big win. “It was exciting for them to hear how well he did.”

Clouse was ordained in a non-denominational church. MRO pulls chaplains from many different denominations. Clouse said Bayne is member of a church near his home but gets most of his spiritual nourishment on the road from MRO.

For the former chaplain, all those Bible studies at the race track paid off when Bayne was in the winners circle.

“He summed up the two greatest commandments, ‘Love the lord your God with all your heart’ and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  He got up on that stage and he was able to articulate those things beautifully.  It was a very very proud moment for me and for MRO.”

1. Have a Plan

Write a clear, concise plan of action for your money. Give your money an assignment. Money is nothing more than the ability to make exchange. You worked hard to have it transferred into your hands, now consider what you want to exchange it for.

The first step in your plan should be to free yourself from debt. Debt is the most destructive force working against you. The gravitational pull of debt is much greater than the numbers or amount alone would suggest.

Consider using what I call the Division of  Ten Principle. Every dollar is divided into ten:

• The first dime is the Tithe. I worship the Lord with this dime.
• The second dime is my investment. This dime will never leave my life. It is now forever in my employment.
• Dimes three through nine is for present living.
• Dime ten is surplus. This dime is reserved so that I never have to borrow a dime.

2. Start Small

Do not despise small beginnings. Solomon said, “When you gather money little by little you will see it grow.” If you are faithful in a little you will be made ruler of much. Consider your management of a penny as a qualification of a million.

David Green, founder of Hobby Lobby and related companies started his multi-billion dollar private corporation with a $600 investment!

3. Multiple Streams

Create multiple streams of income. Abraham was made rich in eight different streams of income (Genesis 24:35). Solomon said, “Give portions to seven, yes to eight, you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.”

If you have a fixed income – unfix it. You may have a good job at a secure company, yet you should always be in training, sharpening, and educating yourself for promotion. Start a business. Develop an idea. Invent something.

4. Be Consistent

Successful people do daily what others do occasionally. To gain the inertia of successful investment you must be consistent.

5. Think Long-Term

Secular people think only in terms of quarters and fiscal years. You have an eternal mentality; therefore, you naturally think long-term. Solomon said, “A righteous man leaves an inheritance for his children’s children.”

There will be seasons of great increase and seasons of decline but overall your investment will succeed as long as you don’t stay invested.

6. No Schemes

Do not get involved in schemes. There are a myriad of fraudulent people who use crafty schemes to make money. If it promises “that you will get rich with no effort” it is a lie. Walk away.

7. Protect Reserves

Store up don’t hoard up. Storing up reserves are important. It is suggested to have three to six months of reserves that would meet your basic living expenses if needed. You could even build it up to a year. Hoarding is stingily keeping money out of fear of loss or for the sake of pride. Hoarders become delusional and lose all they have.

8. Know What You Own

The Bible says, “Know the condition of your flocks and herds.” You should have specific knowledge of what you own. If you own stocks, you should know the company. You should never purchase what you don’t know.

Don’t compartmentalize your investments. I know a man who invests in “vice” stocks – those are companies who make their money on people’s sins and addictions. It is immoral to make money off the sins of people. I would never own tobacco, alcohol, or pornography companies. I won’t associate with them.

How do you get started?

Start small. Don’t despise small beginnings. Begin to read Dave Ramsey’s materials and attend his live seminars. I believe that he offers the best advise available for financial security, prosperity, and success. You will run into people who want to give you “free” advice which will ultimately cost you. Be careful to qualify those who speak into your life concerning money.

Be blessed and prosper.

]]> http://fivestarman.com/2010/09/eight-principles-for-strategic-investing/feed/ 0 http://fivestarman.com/2010/09/dave-says-september-20/ http://fivestarman.com/2010/09/dave-says-september-20/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 15:03:59 +0000 Dave http://fivestarman.com/?p=1115 Working Isn’t Child Abuse!

Dear Dave,

I’ll be starting college next fall. Is it okay to take out student loans if you have no other income to live on while you’re in school?

Mandy

Dear Mandy,

Wait a second! What do you mean you don’t have any other source of income to live on while you’re in school? Didn’t anyone ever teach you about a little thing called work? I worked 40 to 60 hours a week all through college, and I still graduated in four years. Nowadays, many people would call that child abuse. It’s absurd!

Don’t try to box me into a corner with the ridiculous notion that you have to take out student loans to go to college. You do not! Did you know that only 57 percent of people who start college actually graduate? That means 43 percent don’t. And guess what they have? Student loan debt and no degree!

Here’s what I want you to do. First, apply for every college scholarship you can find. Next, get a job! You may even have to take a couple of part-time jobs, but so what? Once you’re there, live in the dorm and eat dorm food, too. It won’t kill you. And a state college, where you can get in-state tuition, is always a good idea. If there’s one close by you can save even more money by living at home.

Is a college education important? Sure, it is. It’s a great thing, and I recommend going to college. But is student loan debt a necessary part of getting a degree and achieving success in life? Absolutely not!

— Dave

++++++++++++++++++

Dave’s Thoughts On Pre-nuptial Agreements

Dear Dave,

My fiancé is from a wealthy family. The other day, her father suggested a pre-nuptial agreement. I’m not sure what to think about this. What’s your opinion on pre-nups?

Jeremy

Dear Jeremy,

It sounds like her family values its money more than it values their relationship with you. That could be a problem. If your bride-to-be feels the same way, then you shouldn’t marry her. In most cases there’s just a really bad spirit that goes along with pre-nups. It’s basically planning your divorce in advance. And in most cases, what you set your eyes on is what you’ll end up getting. One of my daughters just got married, and I never even thought of suggesting a pre-nuptial agreement.

There may be one exception to this rule. If you’re fiancé was already wealthy on her own, I might change my answer. Extreme wealth has a tendency to attract a whole lot of weirdness and dishonesty. I’ve even gone so far as to tell my wife to get a pre-nup if I die and she marries again. This is different than just the potential to be wealthy, like your case.

You can still have a wonderful marriage, even if you don’t see eye-to-eye with her family on this. But both of you need to be on the same page and of one mind. That’s why I think it would be a really good idea for you guys to address this before the wedding with a heart-to-heart talk and some pre-marital counseling!

— Dave

++++++++++++++++++

Bogus Real Estate Offers

Dear Dave,

I’ve been seeing a lot of hand-made signs along the road here in Dallas lately. They say “Seeking real estate investor apprentice –$20,000 a month.” It also has a phone number listed. Do you know what this is about? It sounds too good to be true.

Jerry

Dear Jerry,

Of course it’s too good to be true! If someone’s offering a legitimate job making $20,000 a month do you really think they’re going to post it on a hand-made sign next to the road? I think your advertising budget will involve a little more than poster board and a stick if there’s really $20,000 a month involved. Give me a break!

It sounds to me like they’re trying to sell a questionable real estate seminar. A lot of these things are marketed as “real estate boot camps.” The premise is that over the course of a weekend they’ll teach you to buy and sell foreclosure properties. Some of them charge anywhere from $3,000 to $8,000, with the promise that if you follow the “guru” and his advice, then the “guru” will help you by buying the house with you. They’ll furnish the capital! Of course, seldom if ever do they even buy any houses, and if they do it’s the best possible deal that you might not want to share, anyway.

Anything that sounds too good to be true is too good to be true. It’s not any harder than that. Beverly Sills had it right when she said, “There are no shortcuts to anyplace worth going.” Becoming wealthy isn’t easy. It takes lots of hard work, sacrifice and the willingness to live on less than you make.

Even the Bible talks about this kind of thing. Proverbs 28:20 says, “A faithful man will abound with blessings, but he who hastens to be rich will not go unpunished.” Remember that, Jerry!

— Dave

++++++++++++++++++

Time To Grow Up!

Dear Dave,

My husband and I have been married for about a year, and in that time we’ve been blessed with several financial gifts from our parents. We keep having this recurring discussion on how to use the money when it’s given to us. I came into the marriage with some debt we’re trying to pay off, but he feels like we should use this gift money like found money and have some fun. What do you think?

Katie

Dear Katie,

Unless the giver has very specific thoughts on how they’d like you to use the money, then it’s really up to you guys. If the giver wanted you to use it for something specific, though, they probably should have said so or just bought you the item in the first place.

Other than that, I think it’s time someone grew up a little bit and realized it’s not a birthday party when this kind of thing happens. It’s simply money that has come into your household—like a paycheck you’d get on the job, in other words. You don’t go out and blow $100 or whatever on toys or other fun just because it was handed to you by mom and dad. That’s how a 10-year-old behaves.

If there’s something you need, and you agree on it together and choose to buy it as a couple, that’s cool. I’ve got no problem with that. But you guys are just starting out, and you’ve got debts to pay. I’m sure he’s a good guy, but it’s time for him to start acting like an adult about this stuff and work with you on getting your financial lives in order!

— Dave

* For more financial help please visit daveramsey.com.

Dear Dave,

How early should I start teaching my kids about money? Also, how do you feel about giving kids an allowance?

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

I think you should start teaching kids about money as early as you start teaching them about sex—which is the first time they show any interest. Make sure you keep it age-appropriate, and don’t over-answer questions when they’re young.

Neither of these things will amount to a one-time talk, because they’re both just parts of life. That means they’re ongoing processes that will last for years. If you have one talk at an early age with your kids about money, then they’re probably not going to remember a lot of it as they get older. If you have just one talk with your kids about sex at an early age, you’re liable to wind up with a bunch of pregnant teenagers!

To answer your second question, I hate the idea of an allowance for kids, because it makes the whole situation sound like welfare. We put our kids on commission at an early age. They had chores associated with certain dollar amounts, and if they worked, they got paid. If they didn’t work, they didn’t get paid. It was as simple as that. Then, they would split their money between three different envelopes—one for saving, one for spending, and one for giving—and we would teach them to do each one wisely.

Kids need to emotionally connect work to money at a young age. If you don’t teach them four major concepts—spending, saving, giving, and work—you’re going to have major problems by the time they’re 10 years old!

—Dave

++++++++++++++++++

No Pain, No Gain!

Dear Dave,

I’ve heard you talk to people about “gazelle intensity.” What exactly does this mean?

Del

Dear Del,

Basically, it means absolutely going crazy and doing whatever it takes for a little while to get out of debt. I’d much rather endure pain or discomfort for a short period of time and get it over with instead of living my whole life floundering around and accomplishing nothing in the process.

Some people probably think I’m using hyperbole when I give people advice on how to get out of debt, but I’m serious about it all. I’ve lived this stuff, man! There were literally stretches of years when we didn’t go on vacation or see the inside of a restaurant. If you want to get out of debt and get control of your money, you’ve got to be serious and intense enough to makes sacrifices on that level for a short period of time. We call it living like no one else, so that later you can live like no one else.

It’s not just dollars and cents we’re talking about here. It’s also about changing behaviors and mindsets. You don’t need to go to Disneyland every year. You don’t need to eat out every weekend. Until you’re willing to make temporary sacrifices like this—and become “gazelle intense” about taking control of yourself and your money—you’re never going to reach your goal of becoming debt-free!

—Dave

* For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com.

Dear Dave,

My husband is in the middle of serving a five-year prison sentence. We have a nine-year-old son, and we’ve sold our home and everything else of value just to get by and pay off debts. I’ve managed to pay off almost everything, but we still have about $20,000 in debt from credit cards and a car note. Our rent is $375 a month, and the car payment is $400. He was making about $100,000 a year before he was incarcerated, and the only income we have now is my monthly disability check of $1,478. Should I file Chapter 13 bankruptcy?

Samantha

Dear Samantha,

I’m really sorry you and your family have been put through all this. You’ve endured a real mess the last few years, and I know you’ve fought like crazy to keep things afloat the entire time.

First, there’s no reason for you to file bankruptcy. Chapter 13 is a payment plan, and right now you can’t make payments, keep your lights on, and feed your child. The credit card companies can wait. I’m not going to beat you up over those last two debts, especially after all the stuff you’ve been through and done, but there’s no way a car payment fits into your life, kiddo. You need a little $1,000, paid-for car, not a car payment. You can’t raise a nine-year-old on $1,478 a month when more than half of that goes out the door for rent and a car payment.

I want to get you back on solid ground so you can start growing again. I don’t have a magic wand that will turn $1,400 into $14,000, but I do want to pierce through your pain and love you enough to help you realize that you need to look at the figures and do some math. You’re not stupid, Samantha. You’re an amazingly courageous person. But you do need to sell that stupid car!

—Dave

++++++++++++++++++

Sell the house to get out of debt?

Dear Dave,

Do you ever recommend someone selling their house to get out of debt?

Andrea

Dear Andrea,

The only time you’ll ever hear me tell someone to sell their house to get out of debt is as an absolute last resort. If there’s just no other way to turn a corner, then it might be an option. Another would be if you don’t really like the house, and you’ve considered selling it anyway. The third situation would be if the house is just too darn expensive. If you’re sending half of your monthly income to the bank to make house payments, then you’ve got way too much house!

But most of the time the house is not the problem in these kinds of situations. There’s usually lots of other stuff, like credit card debt and $700 car payments. I’d sell a car in a heartbeat before I’d ever consider giving up my home. Think about it, Andrea. Being forced to sell your home in a case like that would be an emotionally devastating experience. I mean, it’s your home.

And the truth is that in some places it would be a pretty good idea to hang on to a house. A lot of markets are already recovering at a rapid pace, and the real estate market in America—with the exception of a few trouble spots—is a lot more alive, dynamic and fluid than many people in the news media would have you believe. There are some seriously good real estate situations out there right now!

—Dave

* For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com.

Dear Dave,

How do you feel about the free trips and dinners timeshare communities offer as part of their sales pitches? Isn’t it a little like playing with fire?

Diane

Dear Diane,

You’re close. I think it’s more like playing with fire while you’re sitting in a puddle of gasoline!

Listen, there’s nothing good about a timeshare. They have no redeeming qualities whatsoever. Besides, in most of these deals the food is bad and they’ll stick you in a room that’s not so hot, either. Timeshares are one of the few consumer products that have a 97 percent dissatisfaction rate. It’s virtually impossible to find someone who’s glad they bought in to one of these things!

I know people play games with this scenario. They think they’ll get lots of free stuff by just sitting through a sales pitch and then saying no. But why in the world would you want to waste vacation time or even one weekend of your life letting some salesperson twist your arm?

Plus, you’ve got the added problem that most folks aren’t as tough a sell as they think they are. If you’re not careful, you’ll end up agreeing with the guy on a couple of silly things, zoning out while the presentation wears on, and next thing you know, you’re driving away as a timeshare owner!

Don’t take a chance on getting stuck with one of those things, Diane. It’s a dumb idea!

—Dave

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Car leasing is 100 percent stupid!

Dear Dave,

Do you have any advice on vehicle leasing for business purposes? I’ve heard that the expense is 100 percent deductible.

Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,

Yeah, and it’s 100 percent stupid, too! “Fleecing” is absolutely the most expensive way to operate a vehicle. What you’re talking about is rationalizing the fact that you want a vehicle you can’t afford. It’s a bad idea.

Dr. Tom Stanley interviewed tons of millionaires while he was writing his book, “Stop Acting Rich.” In the process, he found out that 80 percent of them had never leased a vehicle. What does that tell you? It tells me if you want to be rich, you need to do what rich people do—and they don’t lease their vehicles! Plus, I really don’t care if it’s 100 percent deductible. Guess what? I get deductions on the vehicles owned by my company. It’s called straight-line depreciation.

Never lease a vehicle for business purposes. If you don’t have the cash to pay for it outright, then you can’t afford the thing. It’s just that simple!

—Dave

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Can stay-at-home moms be insured?

Dear Dave,

Do stay-at-home moms need disability insurance?

Sarah

Dear Sarah,

Yes, they do. Unfortunately, they can’t get it right now. Under current law, you must have an earned income in order to receive disability insurance.

Now, it’s possible to get disability insurance if you have a business at home. In that case, you’d need to show two years worth of tax returns to prove that your self-employment was actually generating an earned income.

My wife’s been a full-time mom for 25 years, and I know how hard she works and how much she does every day. Believe me, if she could get disability insurance, we’d buy it in a second!

—Dave

* For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com.

Dear Dave,

My husband was laid off three months ago, and I’m afraid we’re about to lose our home. I’ve been working three part-time jobs to help keep our heads above water, but he says the economy’s bad, and he’s waiting for the “right” job. The bills are piling up, and I don’t know what to do.

Paula

Dear Paula,

When a guy loses a job it’s a devastating blow. Many guys are task oriented, and define themselves by what they do rather than who they are. That’s not a good thing.

When I went broke several years ago, I had to re-define myself in my own mind. I lost my business, and in many ways I looked at that company as who I was. My identity was suddenly gone. Lots of guys go through that when they lose their jobs, and in the process they can lose the courage to go fight again.

I think you two should sit down with your pastor or a good marriage counselor, and talk through this thing. I also think your husband needs a good friend – someone he admires and respects – to verbally knock him around a little and put the fight back into his spirit. Three months of a guy sitting on his butt in this situation is unacceptable. I don’t want to hear a bunch of stuff about the economy, a career path, or that he’s overqualified. It doesn’t matter if you’re delivering pizzas or mowing yards, you’re never “overqualified” to be a man and take care of your responsibilities!

Sometimes people need a little time to get their heads together when something traumatic happens. I went through some of that, too. There were times when I was just no good to anyone. But at the end of the day I didn’t lose my home because I was sitting around doing nothing. Even when I lost all my confidence and felt like a dog, I still got out there and did stuff to put food on the table.

It’s time for your husband to get out and do something!

— Dave

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How Much Help Should We Give?

Dear Dave,

Our son is 27, has two children, and now he’s getting divorced from the woman he’s been married to for seven years. Her parents gave them lots of money throughout their marriage, and now he’s coming to us for money. If we ask what the money is for, he tells us it’s none of our business. We know he’s going through a rough time right now, but we don’t have a lot of money. We’re not sure what to do.

Dee

Dear Dee,

How about just saying no? Then, if he asks why tell him it’s none of his business.

Seriously, this is grown man we’re talking about. If he’s going to take on the lifestyle and actions of a grown-up he needs to act like one. I understand he’s hurting right now, but he’s acting pretty arrogant for someone who’s running back to mommy and daddy for money!

I think you need to cut off the cash supply before this gets any worse. Instead, you could offer to help with the kids, or let them all stay at your home for a few weeks while he works through this thing and gets his head and his life together. If he’s willing to get into some serious financial counseling, and start becoming accountable for his money, then you might look into helping him money-wise from time to time in the future. But at this point it’s like giving a drunk a drink.

Anyone can make a mistake, Dee. But it’s not your job to fund his arrogance or his irresponsibility!

— Dave

* For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com.