New Car

I got a new car a couple of weeks ago. Not NEW new, but new to me. It is a 2004 Honda CR-V. It only had 34,000 miles on it. I think that I got a pretty good deal on it. I traded in my Toyota that had 92,000 miles on it.

Well, the new car did not bring me any new luck. I got pulled over AGAIN last night. 2nd time in 1 MONTH!!! NOT good. I was not very happy about it. They pulled me over for going 69 in a 60. But I think the main problem was when they ran my plates, the plates came up as a Toyota Highlander. So he asked if I just bought the car. So he let me off with a warning!!! THANK GOODNESS!!!! I definitely said a prayer of thanksgiving, since I have not gone to court yet on my first speeding ticket. A 2nd ticket would have totally killed my driving record. But honestly 9 over is not too bad is it???

Budget 101

"Do today what others won't so tomorrow you'll have what others don't." - Marshfield basketball team.

That can apply to all aspects of life, whether it be athletics, spiritual, or financial. As it relates to your finances, do your part today so you can try to have a secure financial future. Some times that means sacrifices. Like eating out less, less coffee, less movies, less clothes shopping, etc... But where do you cut? Where do you start on a budget. In my opinion, you cannot budget unless you know where your money is going. So start by averaging your last 3 months spending.

House payment
Utilities (break them out if you want)
Insurance
Car payment
Credit card payments
other loans
groceries
gas
food
contributions
cash - spending money
lunch money

You can be as specific or as general as you want. So look at the areas that you spend money and those "extras" - look at spending $25 or more less per month on the "extras". Then put together a future budget.

Once you have a budget put to place we will look at where you put the extra money that you save because if you don't do something else with it, you'll probably spend it.

Cody's Got A Brand New Do

One of those golden picture opportunities for mom.

Finished product and with his longer look, I think the highlights look awesome.

Thank you for coming to Hindoi

Yesterday Aunt Teri & I went to my favorite Japanese steakhouse Hinode. I was sitting on a bench in the entry area waiting for a seat when these ladies passed by to leave and they thanked me on their way out?

Enough said.

Sleep Over!

Apparently Spring temperatures in January also brings Spring storms in January. We had been having 60 degree days and Tuesday night we had severe weather. It seems as though 4 tornadoes hit the Springfield area but technically it was only 3 - 2 were the same tornado. But we had something in the range of 66 warnings in the surrounding area. At my house we had more sirens going off in one day than in a whole week.





The first siren went off at 9:00 PM, after that another went off, I think around 10 PM. So I decided to keep the boys close to the laundry room - our storm shelter.

Holly HATES storms. So she & the boys joined us. She stayed in the playroom with Carter between siren warnings, but close enough to shelter.

I'm really not sleeping or pretending to be sleeping. I happened to look down when Holly took the picture. I think our last siren went off at 3 AM.

Tornadoes don't typically freak me out too bad. But I am realistic about the fact that they move fast and can happen in an instant and can be extremely damaging. But I would never risk the safety of my kids like that. So, I made them stay in the basement close to shelter - JUST IN CASE. We didn't have any damage thank the Good Lord and neither did anyone that I know. But there were 2 fatalities in Springfield.

To resolve or not to resolve...

Although making a New Year’s Resolution seems to be par for the course when bringing in the New Year, there are many that do not believe in making resolutions. Mostly because resolutions are seldom seen to fruition. Unless you are like my cousin Ashley who made a resolution that she was able to fulfill in one day. Anyway, most of the time I make a resolution and I too am unable to keep it up. But I believe in resolutions. I have many theories as to why people don’t stick to them, but I will keep those thoughts to myself. Here is why I believe in resolutions. I think that everyone should constantly be trying to improve themselves in one way or another. The New Year is a good time where people are looking for a fresh start and to be rejuvenated. I believe that unless you set a specific goal for yourself, improving yourself is hard. I think that any amount of effort and success that you make toward your resolution is better than where when you started. If you aren’t at least striving for something than you won’t reach it.

So I have decided on my resolution. It will be to focus more on my business and career. To grow my business in excess of10% from 2007. And to make the Million Dollar Round Table.

Many people resolve to have a better handle on their finances. I have decided that based on my career, I might help educate people on finances through this blog. So I will try at least twice a month to post some financial educational pieces. So I will give my disclaimer now. This is just for educational purposes, the ideas and thoughts are just opinion and meant for educational purposes only. Consult a doctor or professional. Side effects may occur, etc…

Now here are some pictures for your enjoyment.


The boys with my nephew Theoden. He is sooooooooooo SUPER cute with the best personality.
Jeremiah & I at a wedding on New Year's Eve.
Us with Jeremy's parents on New Year's. John & Noreen.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Pictures of our New Year's Eve fun will follow. But this is how I started my new year.

New Year's Eve was so pretty because it snowed, snowing these really big fluffy flakes. It snowed all night and into the next day. I was supposed to leave Chicago on 1/1 at 3:56 pm. I was on the phone with my bff Holly at 3:45pm when she asked me when I was supposed to be leaving. I told her the time and that I should have boarded already, when the lady announces that my flight has been canceled. Well the next flight was canceled too. My next flight is to leave at 8:30 am 1/2. So I ask for my luggage back. They won't give it back because it is in some kind of caged lock down & they cannot get it. They inform me that it will be waiting for me in Springfield. Well I explained to them that there is not flight to Springfield - THEY WERE CANCELED. But they told me that they would get there - "maybe on another airline". Yeah right, so I go back to Jeremy's house with no luggage.

1/2 - 8:30 AM - flight delayed - take off finally at 9:15 AM. Get to SGF - no luggage. My luggage shows that it is STILL in CHICAGO!!! Apparently it did NOT make it to SGF before me or WITH me.

11:30 am finally make it to car that is parked at the airport - and car DOES NOT start! Dead battery. And they can't jump it because my car is facing a fence with cars parked to either side of it. So, they have to call a mechanic's shop. The mechanic brings some kind of "jumper box". And it does not work - so he informs me that my battery is REALLY dead & he needs to attach 2 boxes & he'll be back. So at 12:30 pm I finally drive away from the airport!

GOOD TIMES!!

I did not make a resolution this year - but I made one for Jeremiah. His resolution is to read a motivational book this year. And I have the one for him to read, but I have to read it first. What is your resolution?