Bob's Occasional Musings

Talk to a Person, Not a Recording

2009-07-08T21:43:00.002-04:00

We have all gone through the drill ... calling customer service and have to weave our way through a maze of recordings. All you really need is to talk to a real person - but how do you do that?

One place that might be able to help is GetHuman. This site provides some hints on how to get through to a real person on some of the more popular sites. I have not tried any of them so I don't promise they all work but at least, it might be a start.

Do you want to win those customer service battles? Check this blog site for a terrific article on steps to take when dealing with companies.

5 Reasons to Rent A Car vs Driving Your Own for Vacation

2009-07-05T15:58:00.005-04:00

Our pastor is currently on vacation and is now extending it a few days due to car problems. He chose to use his own, older van rather then rent a newer one. Would he have been better off to rent a van? In the past, because we were driving older cars, my wife and I would rent a car whenever going out of state. We found that the comfort and peace of mind was worth the cost.

Here are 5 reasons to rent a vehicle vs driving your own car:

1. Renting a vehicle has less chance of breaking down on the road.

When you rent a vehicle it usually have a lot fewer miles on it then your own. It usually has had the necessary maintenance done and if you do break down, its the responsibility of the rental agency to get you a new vehicle as well as pay for any repairs that need to be made.

2. Better gas mileage

Obviously, this would have to do with what vehicle you normally drive and which one your rent. Because rental cars are newer, the gas mileage is going to be as good as it can be. The van we used to own was getting about 15 miles/gal. while the vehicle we would rent would get 25 miles/gal. which, for a 1500 mile trip, the savings was around $100 based on the $2.50/gallon.

3. Less wear and tear on your own car

Long distance highway driving can be very tough on a vehicle. Save those miles on your own car and put them on a rental will extend the life of your car.

4. Rent a vehicle that may be more suited for type of vacation

Perhaps you own a small car but are going camping and need extra room. Instead of jam packing the car and have your family sitting on each other's lap, rent a larger vehicle for comfort. On the other side, if you are heading out on a trip and don't need to take your SUV, rent a smaller car that can save you gas and money (See number 2)

5. Renting a vehicle can give you an opportunity to try a vehicle that you might want to purchase.

I needed to go out to visit my daughter in Indiana by myself and went to rent a car. I had seen many HRT's around town and when one was available, I jumped on the chance to try it. My daughter didn't like my color choice but it did give me the chance to try one.

Each trip and situation will be different. But when going on vacation or on a long trip, consider renting a vehicle vs. using your own. Going on sites like priceline can also save you some money in renting a vehicle. Be sure to use a reputable company who will be able to provide you service in the event of a problem with your rental.

Happy 1 Year Anniversary to Me

2009-07-04T09:11:00.006-04:00

A year ago today, I started this blog mostly to keep up with the rest of the staff at Sonlight Church. It started out more on a personal focus but has moved towards personal finance and church administration. I have enjoyed it though its more work then one can imagine and easy to get burned out. But the fact is, its good for me. It makes me read and study what's going on in the world, think about my own finances as well as the the business part of Sonlight.

I hope that everyone has a wonderful and relaxing 4th of July and, especially on this Independence Day, I am PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!

Rick Monday - Greatest Play in Baseball History

2009-07-03T09:07:00.002-04:00

I saw this video on another blog and felt it was a great 4th of July entry.

Opportunity Scams Target Churches

2009-06-29T21:55:00.002-04:00

From the Federal Trade Commission: FTC Consumer Alert

There’s no cost to your church. It may even make money to use for good works. It’s a win-win situation, right? Maybe not. In fact, it could be a scam.

Con artists with similar pitches are targeting African-American churches with so-called opportunity scams. Emphasizing a shared faith, culture, or concern for the community to win your trust, they offer the opportunity to use equipment or services that supposedly won’t cost the church a thing.

Their goal? To get access to your church’s bank account, either by lifting account information from a check or by persuading you to sign up to have payments automatically deducted from the account. Once they have access, they can make oversize withdrawals or completely clean out thes account.

Recently, scammers offered computer equipment to the staff of several churches, claiming the cost would be covered by a “sponsor.” The church staff simply had to sign an agreement to lease the equipment, make a regular payment, and deposit checks from the sponsor to cover the checks the church staff had written. But in the end, the equipment didn’t work, the sponsor checks started bouncing, and the churches had thousands of dollars taken out of their accounts.

How can you avoid a potential church opportunity scam? The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, recommends remembering:

A contract is a commitment. Before you sign a contract — like a lease — make sure you understand what it’s saying. Don’t rely on the person making the pitch to sum up the details. They may gloss over obligations outlined in the agreement that can cost your organization a lot.

If a contract says you’re financially responsible, take it seriously. A special payment arrangement where a third party reimburses you for payments you make is a sign of a scam. Don’t take someone’s word that the language in the contract is “standard” or a “technicality.”

Scammers may look legitimate. They may direct you to websites they’ve created, or they may say they are working with other churches in your area. Don’t be swayed by an appearance of legitimacy. Do research on an organization before you do business with it.

Never wire back money. In some schemes, scammers send a generous check, asking you to deposit it and wire back a portion or to make a payment right away. Days later when the bogus check bounces, the scammer will have made off with your money.
If your church has experienced a scam like this, report it to your state Attorney General. You can find your state AG at naag.org. You also can file a complaint with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint, or 1-877-FTC-HELP.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

The Misuse of Credit

2009-06-25T17:33:00.002-04:00

by Crown Financial Ministries

Most Americans living today were born into a debt-dominated society. In fact those under the age of 30 cannot remember a time without home mortgages, automobile loans, school loans, and credit cards.

However, just because these means and instruments for indebtedness seem to be normal and acceptable in today's society, and even in our Christian society, it does not mean that these types of indebtedness are normal in the eyes of God.

Reasons for misuse
It is important for ministers to understand so that they can teach their congregations that credit and credit cards are not the problem; it is the misuse of credit that is the problem. The misuse of credit and credit cards is generally rooted in four areas that are contrary to sound biblical principles of finance: get-rich-quick, lack of trust, ignorance, and misconception.

Get-rich-quick. A major portion of debt exists because, to most American Christians, borrowing seems faster and simpler than saving in order to buy. Most of our current debt can be traced directly to the availability, or lack of availability, of credit.

“The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty” (Proverbs 21:5).

Lack of trust. Regular and routine borrowing, regardless of circumstances or justification, is an evidence of a lack of faith in God's written promises and a lack of trust in Him that He will keep His word.

Most Christians who are in debt because of borrowing either don't understand God's promises, they don't feel that the promises apply to them, or they don't believe the promises. Because God is concerned about every aspect of our lives, including finances, He knows our needs and will provide them in His time according to His plan, not what we think we need when we think we need them.

Borrowing is not sinful, but dependence on credit is an indication that those who borrow have not surrendered all of their rights to God and to His direction for their lives.

“The Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33-34).

Ignorance. According to the Word of God, ignorance is the absence of wisdom. Wisdom comes from God and, therefore, God's Word is the cure for ignorance (Proverbs 1:32; 2:6; 3:4-6). The economic wisdom of the world says to accumulate and multiply wealth and possessions by borrowing.

God's Word says that we must be content with what we have and that He will supply all that we need.

According to the Research Institute of America, the average Christian family in America pays more than 25 percent of their net spendable income in interest on accumulated debt.

Misconception. In today's Christian society in America the general feeling is that cautions against borrowing implied in God's Word apply only to debt borrowed to purchase possessions that depreciate. Borrowing is allowed for items that appreciate in value.

That may be good common sense, but it is not a biblical principle of finance. God's Word doesn't state what borrowed money should be used for; it just cautions against being indebted to anyone. Besides, nothing appreciates forever, not even houses.

Conclusion
Unfortunately, most Christians in America have compromised God's standards and have bought into the world's system of accumulating possessions by accumulating debt. But, the simple fact is that, according to God's Word, He knows what we need and He will supply those needs when He feels we should have them. By trusting Him and His Word, we can prevent debt and live a debt-free lifestyle.

Get A Free Laptop (but read the fine print)

2009-06-22T17:38:00.002-04:00

I am heading home after working out at the Y today when I hear this radio commercial for a free laptop. The commercial goes on to say it won't cost a thing, even the shipping is free. Of course, as the saying goes..... "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is". The commercial gave a website to check out.... crazyfreepc.com. I thought, OK, I need to check this out because I knew there would be a catch.... and there is.

When you go to the website, you will see some high tech laptops, from Sony, HP and even an Apple Macbook Air. Just put in your email, pick out your laptop and away you go..... well, not so fast. Let's look at the fine print:

In order to receive your gift you must: (1) Meet the eligibility requirements (2) complete the rewards bonus survey (3) complete a total of 13 Sponsor Offers as stated in the Gift Rules (4) Follow redemption instructions.

13 sponsor offers...... they even give you a link to check out a sample of the offers. Almost all of them require some sort of purchase (plus S&H of course). I looked at some of the offers.... I took a random 13 offers and the total money spent would be $1200. That is if you remember to cancel your "trial subscriptions" before the real charges kick in. The offers include applying for credit cards, purchases of coffee, magazines, DVDs, CDs, newspapers, insurance and so on.

I wonder how many people actually go through with this, how much do they end up really paying for that laptop. In this day and age, I would think that no one would buy into this scam..... oops, I mean offer. But advertising isn't cheap so there must be people out there who will go into debt, just to get the "free laptop". A quick check in google shows that people are even being harassed on the phone buy this company.

Do you want a laptop? Save for it, place it in your monthly budget; put money away each month and purchase one once you have the money to pay cash for it.

10 Dumb Ways to Go Into Debt

2009-06-20T22:18:00.003-04:00

From Kathryn Tuggle & Fox Business

When it comes to getting into debt, there are always a few expenses that can’t be avoided. Whether it’s the mortgage on your home or student loans from graduate school, a certain amount of debt is a part of most people’s lives. However, there are some forms of debt that are totally avoidable.

Here are the top 10 dumbest ways to get in over your head with debt, and the best ways to avoid them.

1.) Cash advances on credit cards

Most credit card cash advances carry an upfront fee and a higher interest rate than other charges on your credit card, according to Dan Wegner, a certified credit counselor in Phoenix, Ariz.

Interest starts accumulating from the second you borrow the money, Wegner said, and most credit card companies require that customers pay down the balance on their credit card purchases before they’re even allowed to pay off the cash advances.

The solution: Use a credit card or an ATM. Credit card interest won’t accumulate for a month, and an ATM is free. If you’re not near your bank’s ATM, it’s better to use a renegade ATM and pay a usage fee than to use your credit card to get cash.

2.) Giving family and friends a loan or co-signing for a loan

Offering loans to friends and family can get messy unless expectations are established in the beginning, according to Sanyika Calloway Boyce, founder of FinancialFitnessCoach.com.

Too often, the party loaning the money does not specify when the loan should be returned and whether or not they want interest. This can lead to ruined, or at least strained, relationships.

The solution: If you are in a position to give, consider it a gift, Boyce said. It’s also easy to go online and make up a promissory note that both parties can fill out to establish details.

3.) Playing the lottery or gambling

“You have higher odds of contracting a flesh-eating bacterial virus than winning the lottery,” said Dara Duguay, Director of Citi’s Office of Financial Education and author of Don’t Spend Your Raise and The Citi Commonsense Money Guide for Real People.

Gambling has allure, but the odds of winning are very low.

The solution: Your betting instincts are best spent in the world’s largest casino: the stock market. Better yet, take your chances on enjoying an exotic vacation spot you’ve never been.

4.) Payday loans and refund anticipation loans

Frequently pitched as a quick way to get access to your tax refund, refund anticipation loans have become a major profit driver for tax preparation firms. But they are roughly equivalent to a payday loan in terms of interest rates, according to Paul Herman, CEO and founder of HIPinvestor.com, a consultancy for eco-conscious and humanitarian investors.

Payday loans often carry up-front fees, hidden fees and administration fees, and can carry an APR of up to 200%, according to Wegner.

The solution: Patience! Waiting a few days to get your money will save you a ton over the long haul. If you absolutely have to have money, it’s better to use a credit card.

5.) Rent-to-own, Furniture and Appliances

“Rent-to-own is simply one of the worst decisions you can make,” according to Scott Crawford, CEO of DebtGoal.com, an online educational service that teaches people how to break down and pay off debt.

Rent-to-own customers will end up paying two to five times the department store cost of the item with an annual APR for 100% to 300%, according to Crawford.

“People will see that a couch is only $49 a month,” Crawford said, “But they are not doing the math!”

The solution: Save up money and purchase the item outright from a store. To get better deals, buy used furniture that can be found easily via the Internet on Web sites like Craigslist.

6.) Financing for cosmetic procedures

Financing for cosmetic medical procedures like Botox, liposuction and face lifts is more common than you’d think, according to Crawford. Most strip-mall cosmetic shops offer in-house credit to customers who can't pay cash, he said.

“You have to question whether going into debt for elective surgery is a smart purchase, but financing through the on-site financing will reflect negatively on your credit report, pushing up future borrowing costs,” Crawford said.

The solution: If you must go under the knife, at least do it debt-free. Try selling some of your “fat clothes” to make the money.

7.) Buying a new car

By buying a new car instead of used, customers are essentially paying twice for the asset: they'll pay interest and they'll pay depreciation when they sell, Crawford said.

Further, new car owners will pay more in insurance and licensing fees. Most consumers will find it 50% to 60% less expensive to buy a car that’s three to four years old, according to Crawford.

The solution: Buy a used car. The market for used cars is improving, and with vehicle history reports, you’ll know exactly what the car has been through before you buy it.

8.) Student Loans

Students should not take out loans to attend nonaccredited schools with poor job placement records, and should look for federally subsidized debt rather than private lender loans at higher rates, according to Crawford.

Some students make the mistake of taking out a loan that is more than they actually need, according to Duguay, and then spend the extra money on things like midnight pizza.

The Solution: Students should find out what financial aid and grants they qualify for first. Students should use loans to fill in the income gaps for what they cannot afford, not to finance the entirety of their education and college fun.

9.) Using your credit card for insignificant purchases like fast food or soda

Don’t use your card for tiny purchases when you could easily pay cash instead, said Herman.

“Cash is the best option unless you’re interested in paying 25% interest on your Big Mac,” he said.

Individuals using a credit card for food will spend an average of 33% more than those using cash, according to Wegner. Using a credit card to buy small food items is bad for your wallet and your waistline, he said.

The solution: Cash! At the end of the month, you’ll thank yourself for going a little out of the way to avoid using plastic.

10.) Taking out 401(k) loans or making early withdrawals

Loans taken against your 401(k) often carry high fees. Also, when a loan is taken against a retirement account, the person taking the loan must have a definite plan to repay it, according to Crawford.

The solution: Keep enough cash liquid and in savings accounts so that you don’t have to dip into a 401(k) before you’re ready. If you must take out a loan, make sure it’s for a home or property that will appreciate over time.

FREE - Just pay Shipping & Handling

2009-06-16T17:33:00.002-04:00

I received an advertisement from a online magazine I subscribe to today. The advertisement is for "FREE" Looping Motion Background DVDs for use in churches for various projects. As I read through the ad, it quickly became evident that these DVDs are not free but in fact, cost $8.41 each which is the costs for this company of shipping and handling.

Now, I ship anywhere from 50-100 items every month so I do know a little bit about shipping costs. Unless they DVDs are mailed in a gold envelopes, the profit this company is making is from the S&H under the guise of the DVDs being "free". What is even more interesting is that the cost per item for S&H doesn't change depending on the number of DVDs one orders. If you order 10 of the DVDs, the cost is still "free" with S&H at $84.10.

To me, this is just deceptive advertising. I charge S&H with my Ebay items but only about 50-75 cents above the actual postage. While the website clearly states the S&H charge for the DVDs, calling them "free" just seems dishonest to me and have written the online magazine editor to complain.

Have you ever ordered something and were shocked by the high S&H? Is this practice dishonest or just smart marketing?

6 Things NOT To Do When Having a Yard Sale

2009-06-14T21:30:00.001-04:00

As most of you know, I love to go to yard sales on Fridays and Saturdays. I find all sorts of treasures; some I keep, most I sell on Ebay for a nice profit. Today, I just seemed to find a number of things while out that irritated me as a yard sale buyer. So, if you are thinking of having a yard sale, here are 6 things not to do:

1. Yard Sale Signs: Letters too small to read, not enough signs, or not taking the signs down after the yard sale is done. Don't say "Huge" yard sale when you have only a few items - people aren't going to stop just because it says huge; they will stop for a sign that says, Yard (or Garage) Sale.

2. Prices: Having no clue what you are going to charge for your items or even worse, ask the buyer to make an offer. I can tell you right now, my offer will always be low. Not every item needs to be priced; separate them into price tables - Everything in this table is $1, this table $2, this table $5 and so on.

3. Just because you paid $50 for an item, don't think you can get 90% of the money back. If you want to make money with items, use Ebay or Craigslist. The idea of yard sales should be to get rid of stuff you don't want anymore. Pricing items too high and you will have a ton of stuff left.... and little money to show for it.

4. Junk: I know the saying that one man's junk is another man's treasure but that is true, only to a point. Ripped, torn, dirty clothes are not going to sell. Pots and pans with left over food in them are not going to sell. Don't think that people are going to pay money for garbage; do everyone a favor and throw it away.

5. Dogs and children: I know you think your dog and kids are cute but no one wants to have a dog jumping up on you while you are looking at items. Same goes with children....

6. Signs on items comparing the price to Ebay: If you go to yard sales, you know what I'm talking about. Someone is getting rid of some collectibles and so they go on Ebay and compare what Ebay is asking vs. what the seller is selling them for. 9 times out of 10, the price on ebay is not a completed bid, just what someone else is asking for the item. The only price that matters is how bad do you want to get rid of the items. If you can sell it on ebay..... then do it.

OK, those are my yard sale pet peeves about sellers. What aggravates you when you go to a yard sale?

Does My Daughter Need Renter's Insurance?

2009-06-13T17:56:00.002-04:00

My daughter Becky asked about renter's insurance a while back. To be honest, I don't remember what I suggested but found this article today and thought I would share it with everyone (including her since I do know she reads my blog).

Renters insurance can be confusing, to say the least. Here's a renters insurance FAQ that explains the basics of renters insurance in simple terms.

Why do I need renters insurance?

Natural disasters like floods and hurricanes are on the rise, theft and vandalism are increasing, and if you don't have renters insurance you could lose everything you own.

Many renters think their landlord's insurance will cover damages to their personal possessions, but it won't. Your landlord's insurance only covers the building you live in.

What does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance provides three basic areas of coverage:

1. Personal property coverage pays to replace your possessions when they're damaged by fire, vandalism, and storms, or when they're stolen.
2. Loss-of-use coverage pays your hotel and restaurant bills when your residence is being repaired due to damage by fire, vandalism, or storms, and you need temporary living quarters.
3. Personal liability coverage pays for another person's medical bills and property repair bills when you, your family, or your pet are found responsible for injuring them or damaging their property. It also covers your legal fees if you're sued.

What's not covered?

Renters insurance does not cover damage caused by earthquakes or flooding. There are also limits on coverage for expensive items like jewelry, silverware, furs, antiques, and computers. If you live in an earthquake or flood zone, or have expensive items that aren't fully covered, you can purchase additional insurance.

How much coverage do I need?

You need enough personal property coverage to pay for all your possessions if they're destroyed, and enough liability insurance to cover all your assets if your sued. Take an inventory of your possessions and use the total value as your coverage amount. Then total your assets - bank accounts, stocks, bond, CDs, etc. - and make sure you have enough coverage to protect them.

How much does renters insurance cost?

Renters insurance is cheap. It can cost as little as $16 a month for $20,000 worth of personal property coverage with $300,000 liability coverage. That's less than the cost of a music CD to insure all your personal property and all your assets are protected.

Where can I get cheap renters insurance?

The best place to get cheap renters insurance is at an online insurance comparison website. These sites let you get quotes from different companies by filling out a simple questionnaire with information about your residence and the amount of insurance you want. The best of these sites feature a service whereby you can talk with an insurance expert and get answers to your renters insurance questions for free. (See link below.)

Visit LowerRateQuotes. or click on the following link to get cheap renters insurance quotes from top-rated companies and see how much you can save. You can get more insurance FAQs in their Articles section.

The author, Brian Stevens, is a former insurance agent and financial consultant who has written extensively on renters insurance FAQs.

Personal Cell Phone Calls + Business Calls = More Taxes

2009-06-12T20:01:00.004-04:00

From Yahoo comes this article:

Make any personal calls on that company cell phone? That's a "fringe benefit" of your job, according to a 20-year-old law, and the IRS is looking to collect.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the IRS wants to step up enforcement of the 1989 law, which holds that employees who make personal calls on a company cell phone are getting a "fringe benefit" from their employers—a benefit that should count as taxable income.

The law has been "long ignored" by employees and employers alike, according to the Journal, namely because most companies don't have the time or the inclination to tabulate exactly how many minutes you're on the phone with clients versus how often you're gabbing with friends and family.

But now, the IRS is floating a couple of proposals to make compliance easier—for employers, anyway. One would be to simply treat 25 percent of your company cell phone bill as a "fringe"—and therefore taxable—benefit, the Journal reports. Or, an employer could use "statistical sampling" to guesstimate how many of your cell minutes are work-related and which aren't.

OK, but what if you swear on a stack of bibles that you rarely, if ever, use your company phone for personal calls? That's fine, the IRS says—but you'll have to produce separate work and personal cell phone bills to prove it.

Think it's a crazy idea? Apparently the IRS is thinking it over and will make a decision by September, the Journal reports.

Meanwhile, guess who's on your side against the IRS? The big cell phone carriers, who (according to the WSJ story) are worried that companies will drop employee cell phone contracts if the IRS goes ahead with its proposal. (Instead, employers might simply reimburse you for business calls made on your personal phone.)

So, quick show of hands: How many of you have a company-issued cell phone, and if so, do you use it for personal calls? And should personal calls count as a "fringe," taxable benefit? Or should the IRS allow for (at the very least) "minimal personal use" of company phones, especially given that bosses often expect cell-toting employees to be in contact at all times?

When I first started at Sonlight Church, each of the pastors had a "company" cell phone. I had heard that this would be a problem... especially trying to decide what was and what wasn't a business call. I proposed an allowance (which is reported as taxable income) for each pastor to offset the cost of their phones. This kept the church in accordance with the IRS rules on cell phone use in business settings.

For more information or the exact wording of the notice, please read it on Internal Revenue Bulletin 2009-23.

TGIF - Buy One, Get One Free Coupon

2009-06-04T13:38:00.003-04:00

Found this coupon as I was going through some websites today. The coupon is good until the 22nd of June. As always, please be sure to read the fine print.

TGIF Buy One, Get One Free

Gambling & Lotteries

2009-06-04T09:27:00.005-04:00

This is a blog entry from Hershael York, Pastor of Buck Run Baptist Church.

"A dear pastor friend of mine who, like me, finds himself of necessity involved in trying to keep casino gambling out of Kentucky asked me to share some biblical reasons why I believe gambling is wrong. I actually wrote most of the following in 2005 and it was published in the Western Recorder, the official newsmagazine of Kentucky Baptists. In order that it might contribute to the debate that now consumes our state, as well as inform some of my students who think it an adiapherous avocation, I share it once again with the conviction that a follower of Christ has no business gambling.

Simply put, gambling is sin.

If no passage of Scripture explicitly forbids it, can we with confidence claim that gambling is wrong, a moral evil, sin? With good reason, Christians are hesitant to label sins that the Bible doesn’t mention, yet we often have to distill principles from the Bible that we apply to contemporary situations. Pornography, computer hacking, or cheating on tests aren’t mentioned in the Bible either, yet believers who want to live like Jesus know intuitively and correctly that these behaviors run counter to the will of God. While biblical texts may not mention them explicitly, biblical principles speak to them directly.

In the same way, the ethics of Scripture clearly teach that gambling is wrong and a sin against God, not for one single reason but for many. The slot machine, casino, or poker table are not for believers submitted to the Lordship of Christ.

Many Christians object that if they budget a certain amount of their discretionary entertainment funds for gambling and don’t go beyond that, what’s the harm? After all, Christian people waste money on all kinds of diversions. Far from convincing me that gambling is not necessarily wrong, this particular argument actually confirms it in my mind, because it reveals a complete disregard for what one’s participation in gambling does to others. This argument reveals a self-centeredness and lack of concern for weaker brothers and sisters that believers ought to find disturbing (Romans 14:21). In reality, even Christians who are not personally hurt by it are not free to participate in an industry that preys on the weak and the poor.

The Bible is full of references to God’s view of economics. In the garden of Eden, even before sin entered the world, God established a work ethic by which humanity was to exist (Genesis 1:28-30) Part of God’s creation of man in His own image was that man would work for his food. While God provided it, Adam and Eve had to exercise “dominion” over the plants and animals and till the soil, working for their sustenance. After they sinned, work changed to a more laborious task, but it remained the way God provided for them. In other words, God’s way is that we should earn what we get.

Think about these reasons why gambling violates Christian principles:

Working and investing for a living is based on a win/win scenario, but gambling is always win/lose. God put His stamp of approval on commerce and work. When a carpenter builds a cabinet and gets paid, both parties win. One of them gets the cabinets she wanted, and one of them gets the money he desired. They can both feel good about the transaction. Not so with gambling. Someone always loses and pays a price.

Gambling is motivated by greed. Let’s be honest and admit that greed lies at the heart of all gambling. The desire to get something for nothing is really another name for covetousness (Exodus 20:17; Prov. 21:25-26).

Gambling is a wasteful use of the Lord’s money. I doubt that many Christians who gamble tithe, but even if they do, New Testament Christians understand that God doesn’t have the right to only ten percent of our money, but all of it. Even though I am a tither, I am still required to be a steward of all I have because it belongs to God. I am no freer to gamble with God’s money than I am with anyone else’s. Even though others might waste the Lord’s money on equally frivolous things, their sin doesn’t excuse mine.

Gambling shows a lack of love for my neighbor. If I really love my neighbor, I want only what is for his good (Matt. 22:39, 1 Cor. 10:24). When legislators talk about putting casinos on the state line so we can prey on the greed and weakness of our neighbors, they reveal the harmful assault that gambling really is. Can I in good conscience support something that preys on the weaknesses and indulges the worst instincts of the precious people around me?

Gambling fails to consider innocent families. We might be tempted to think that if a person gambles away all of his money, then that is his problem and serves him right. But what of his ten-year-old son who can’t afford school supplies? What of his wife who has to work to pay off the credit cards she didn’t even know she had? What of his ailing parents who cannot count on his help in their senior years? What of his daughter’s college education? Proverbs 15:27 says “A greedy man brings trouble to his family,” and nowhere is that more obvious than in the gambling industry.

Gambling shows no concern for God’s glory. A Jesus-follower should try to glorify God in everything (1 Cor. 10:31), and use his or her money to accomplish good for the kingdom (Matt. 6:19-21, 24).

Gambling is not an act of faith but a game of chance. Paul wrote that “Everything that is not of faith is sin” (Romans 14:23). The Christian life is to be lived in dependence on God to meet all needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:19).

Jesus wouldn’t do it. Can you picture Jesus sitting at a slot machine with a cup full of quarters? He was interested in doing His Father’s business, alleviating suffering and grief, not contributing to it."

I agree with the author in regards to gambling. Though the Bible doesn't specifically forbid gambling, most of the time, gambling is just a way to get rich quick. Even for entertainment purposes, it is dangerous to be exposed to the possibility of becoming a compulsive gambler and does support an industry that brings nothing of value to society. I think that Hershael's last comment is right on..... What would Jesus do?

Paypal to Offer Student Accounts

2009-06-02T09:53:00.004-04:00

As someone who sells on Ebay, I have been a user of paypal for many years. I recently did a survey for Paypal concerning the idea of a student paypal account. Here is the part of the survey that explains the program.

Student Accounts is a way to receive money from your parents, for your everyday needs, even if they don’t have cash on hand.

It allows you to:

Get your own debit card, with your name on it.
Shop online with your own PayPal account.
Get money from your parents, immediately, in case of emergency or unexpected events – If they OK your request.
Learn about money management by being able to view & analyze all of your purchases – things you buy online and with a debit card – in one place.
Know how much money is in your account – anytime, anywhere – by texting “bal” to PAYPAL.

How Student Accounts works

- Student Account is a “sub-account” to a parent’s PayPal account.
- Parents are able to easily transfer money from their checking accounts into the sub-account.
- Parents control how much, how often, and when they put in money
- Parents can set up automatic payments so that a set amount is deposited to the student account every week or month.
- Parents can disable the account if they feel it is necessary.
- Students can use the account
- Online with stores that take PayPal or MasterCard
- Offline with stores that take MasterCard
- Students can get cash from an ATM with the debit card. PayPal would charge a $1 ATM fee whenever this is used.
- Students can not overdraft the account and can not spend more than their balance.

My thoughts on this plan: At the moment, my son is on a very similar plan through Liberty University. He has a debit card that he can use both on and off campus. We have the ability to put money into the account as well as check to see what he is spending. It has worked well for the first year. Even with a debit card, it is important that a student be accountable for his/her spending and be on a budget.

What are you thoughts about a program like this? Would you participate in this or a similar program for your teenager?

Wii & I-Pod Give-Away at ChristianPf

2009-06-01T16:47:00.003-04:00

As I have mentioned in several previous posts, one of my favorite Christian personal finance blogs is ChristianPF. Another Bob who writes the blog is now 2 years old and is having an incredible birthday give-away. He is giving away a Wii and an I-Pod for mentioning his site. Check his site out; it is one of the first blogs I check each afternoon.

Priceline Tutorial - How to Get a 3.5 Star Hotel at a 1 Star Price

2009-06-01T11:01:00.004-04:00

Jason Powell is the Information Technology Director at Granger Community Church. Jason made this video on how he is able to use Priceline and a website called Bidding for Travel to save money on hotels. If you do any traveling at all, this is a great video to watch. I am looking forward to the next time I need a hotel somewhere and try his technique.

Click here to watch the video.

If you try this technique and it works... or doesn't work, come back and leave me a comment.

How To Spend Like A Frugal Millionaire

2009-05-28T08:37:00.008-04:00

How to Spend Like a Frugal Millionaire

This guest post comes from Jeff Lehman, author of The Frugal Millionaires.

I saw this article as I was perusing through yahoo. Because I like to think of myself as being frugal, I read the article with interest and decided to share it with my readers along with my thoughts at least as they related to me.

Saving Thousands While Still Spending.

Millionaires make up just 2 percent of the population. They get a bad rap during recessions for being wasteful with their money and are frequently used as examples of excess. It's the millionaires that you don't see that you can learn from in times like these. I call them the frugal millionaires and interviewed 70 of them to uncover ways we can all be smarter with money.

Nearly 70 percent of the economy is based on consumer spending. To keep the economy going we need to keep spending but not waste money in the process. This is where the frugal millionaires come in. They've been smart with their money all along and haven't lost it all and had to remake it. These are the kind of people you want to learn from when it comes to spending your money.

Spending philosophy.

Frugal millionaires are unique thinkers when it comes to spending money: 1) they can easily delay their need for gratification when purchasing; 2) they are resourceful in getting what they want by carefully timing their consumer purchases; 3) they make living below their means painless; 4) they don't like wasting anything (especially money); 5) their sense of "self-entitlement" is highly minimized: and 6) spending is OK with them...depending on what they are buying (think: appreciating vs. depreciating assets).

Buying tips.
These millionaires keep more money than they spend, that's why they are rich. Their tactics work for them so they'll work even better for you. Key Point: They don't view shopping as a sport. They shop efficiently and spend their time doing more important things with their lives. Here are their tips that will help you save while spending:

Cars: Buy used (or off lease) fuel-efficient cars, often with "certified pre-owned" warranties. This warranty can be better than a new car, plus the initial depreciation hit is avoided. Drive the car for a long time and never lease it.

Since taking Crown Ministries and becoming debt free, my wife and I have made it a habit of always buying used from a reputable dealer and then drive the cars forever.

Eating Out: Bring half of a meal home to eat later (this also saves the waistline). Eat at happy hours. Value food quality over expensive ambiance.

We go for the ambiance about once a year... the rest of the time, we look for the best meal for the lowest price.

Eating In: Eat better and less expensively by cooking at home. Make it a friends and family event. Get your kids involved. Also: buy day-old bread at the best bakery in town and freeze it. Eat oatmeal, because it's the most cost-effective breakfast food. Get a supermarket "club card" and buy food on special. Play the game of trying to see how much of a discount can be saved off the total food bill.

One thing I do several times a week is to stop in at one of the local supermarkets and check out the meat section. Quite often, meat and chicken which is about to expire is discounted 40-50%. I purchase what I need and cook it that night.

Clothes: When you buy something new donate something used to charity. Buy traditional clothes, but wait for the off-season to acquire them. Go for high quality - not high price. Buy vintage clothing and avoid logo clothing and keep people guessing who the designer might be. Hint: There shouldn't be one!

I rarely buy clothes anymore at any retail store. I have purchased some very nice, almost new golf shirts at yard sales for a few dollars, even selling some to pay for the shirts and keeping two that were basically free. I never pay retail for my running shoes either; I prefer New Balance and purchase last year's models at an online discount New Balance outlet that offers free shipping.

Consumer Electronics: Buy low-end gear that has the basic functionality of the more expensive stuff. Don't be the first to buy new technology. Wait at least one life cycle so the bugs are worked out. Buy refurbished electronics whenever possible.

Ok, this is one I don't do as much as the others. I do try to check on either Ebay or Craigslist though as again, I just hate paying retail for anything.

Computers: Buy more mainstream computers with proven technology. Select higher capacity hard drives, a decent amount of RAM (the memory that the program runs in) and a cost effective processor. Super fast doesn't always equal super good...unless you are building airplanes or bridges. Laptops are a good compromise between desktops and netbooks. Don't go through the pain of upgrading operating systems on existing computers, it's not time efficient and you will probably go insane trying.

I just recently purchased a Dell computer. It took me about 2 weeks to find one on Ebay that met the requirements I wanted. I was not concerned with the size of the hard drive (I never come close to filling one up) but I was most interested in RAM (4gb) and the wireless capabilities. I got it for about $100 less then what I would have paid on the Dell website.

Going greenn: Being green and frugal go hand-in-hand. Yet frugal millionaires don't readily fall for the trendy green hype machine. They typically buy green if it helps the environment and lowers their costs. They look at the time frame when a product can pay for itself. They do use compact fluorescent lighting, turn off lights and equipment that isn't being used, monitor AC and heat usage (with programmable thermostats), drive efficiently, live in "right-sized" homes and turn off the water when they aren't brushing their teeth or washing dishes. Because they have trained themselves to not waste money they won't waste anything else either. They get into good habits and keep them going. You can, too.

I have a confession to make; I am not a very "green" person. My wife is great about keeping me in line as far as recycling stuff goes.

Dave Ramsey says, "If you want to be a millionaire, figure out what millionaires do and start doing it. Then, you'll get to be one." It doesn't happen overnight but by starting now, it will be just that much sooner when you can reach the first million.

Follow-Up on the Advanta Card Post......

2009-05-28T08:25:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday, I posted that our church credit card, from Advanta, would be no more as the company was closing its small business credit card division. Given that we had only 4 days notice, I got working yesterday to secure new cards for the church staff.

As I was going through my mail yesterday, I got a large envelope from Advanta. I assumed this would be more information about the closing of the credit cards. Much to my surprise, the envelope contained 4 pieces of material. The cover letter, from the Adventa credit card division, announced the "added new features to make employee cards easier to manage." The letter went on to talk about all the advantages to using the card now. Now I don't know how much it cost for them to print up the materials along with postage but one has to wonder about the expense of sending out materials for credit cards that will no longer exist. Perhaps the problem with Advanta was communication within its business as much as delinquent credit card accounts.

Good Bye ADVANTA Business Credit Cards

2009-05-26T19:05:00.006-04:00

In my church, the staff each have a credit card that is really used like a debit card. It makes online purchases and travel easier for all of us and we have never missed a month in paying the balance in full. Today, we received a letter telling us that on 30 May, our credit cards would no longer be accepted. Of course, receiving this letter on the 26th doesn't give us much time to act so tomorrow my goal is to find another company or bank to provide us with credit cards.

You can read the articles here and here be sure to read the comments by some of Advanta's customers. Here are some excerpts from the article:

"In a last-ditch bid to survive the nation's economic downturn, Advanta Corp. is closing its small-business customers' credit cards to new charges after June 10, the Montgomery County company said yesterday.

The unprecedented move, which will affect nearly one million accounts with the Spring House firm, was designed to preserve the capital Advanta needs to absorb losses on loans to small-business owners, who often borrow heavily and typically bear the brunt of economic downturns, the company said."

"Advanta, the nation's 11th-largest credit-card company, is unusual in that it does not offer personal credit cards.

That is a factor in Advanta's troubles, Robertson said, because Advanta's small-business customers are apparently working harder to keep their payments up to date on their personal accounts at other companies and leaving Advanta "holding the bag" on their business accounts. If one company supplies both credit cards, the customer has less wiggle room.

Robertson said Advanta's percentage of loans written off as uncollectible, at 20 percent on March 31, exceeded subprime consumer accounts at other lenders. "This is a life-threatening charge-off level," he said."

So tomorrow, I contact the few businesses that automatically deduct our payments and make arrangements for checks until we get our new credit cards. I'm glad I just got in a new order of checks.

5 Ways to Celebrate Memorial Day

2009-05-25T09:21:00.005-04:00

1. Remember the many men and women who gave their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy .... and take for granted.

2. Say a prayer for the men and women who right now are in harm's way. Pray for our leaders as they govern this great country.

3. Find a military veteran or active duty member and thank them personally for their service to our country.

4. Place a flag in your yard or around your house.

5. Read and share with your family the history and significance of Memorial Day.

So while you are enjoying the outside, swimming, having picnics and barbeques, take the time to reflect on this Memorial Day.

Yard Sale Follow-Up

2009-05-24T17:32:00.003-04:00

Last week I posted 4 items I purchased at yard sales. Here are the result after selling them on Ebay.

10 Care Bear DVDs - Paid $5 ........... Sold for $22

7 Dora the Explorer DVDs - Paid $4 ......... Sold for $36

24 Junie B. Jones Books - Paid $6 .......... Sold for $21.50

26 First Steps to Reading - Paid $3 ......... Sold for $20.61

Total Paid = $18

Total of Sales - $100.11

Profit - $82.11

It doesn't take much to find items to turn a profit. Sometimes you don't do as well as you thought but you learn from those experiences. I love watching the prices go up on my ebay listings .... but its really the hunt I enjoy more than anything else. I get to spend some quality time with my wife and occasionally even find something for myself.

6 Lessons Learned From Running the Elizabeth River 10K

2009-05-23T21:18:00.001-04:00

Today I ran in the 30th Annual Elizabeth River 10K. I have run this event before but was always on the other side of the river. This was a preparation run to see where I am in getting ready to run the Rock and Roll 1/2 Marathon over Labor Day. I finished in an hour and 16 minutes (33rd in my age group and 687 out of about 900 runners). Slow for what I had hoped.... but better then I expected the way I felt. So what can I take away from today's race:

1. I need to lose some weight.

I have known this for a while. I let my weight get higher then it should be and paid the price for it today. I did start back on my diet last Sunday and have stuck to it.

2. I have to run outside, in the heat, to prepare to run outside, in the heat.

I can't just assume that working out 5 days a week inside the Y will prepare me to run outside in the heat. While I feel the workout I get is good at the Y, I need to alternate it with running outside, in the heat, to acclimatize myself.

3. I need to focus more on distance then time.

I am not going to win any races. So my goal should be to complete the race and not get so concerned about my time. In my younger days, I ran 6 marathons. I found that the slower I went, the more I enjoyed the race and was able to enjoy the accomplishment of running 26.2 miles.

4. Walking through water stops so you can actually drink some water and not spill it is a wise idea.

This has to do with number 3. Walking through a water stop is not going to effect my time by more then a few seconds. The benefit of the water outweighs the couple of seconds I would lose in walking.

5. I need to wear a headband. This is one lesson I learned in the last two races. You would think I would have done it.

This is why I decided to write this post. I am hoping that my next race, I will look back at this lesson's learned and do what I know I need to do. The sweat was pouring into my eyes and not only stung but made it aggrevating to see as well.

6. I missed the support of family (my wife is away spending time with our daughter). Finishing a race is much more enjoyable when there is someone to meet you at the end.

I have done races before without my wife at them when I finish. Its always the same thing. But I had really wanted to get a 10K race in around this time and decided not to postpone it. At the 1/2 marathon, she will be there with both our daughter and me running.

Do you ever do a "lessons learned" after being part of an event? If so, how do you remember what the lessons learned were?

Church Solutions Magazine Post

2009-05-21T18:50:00.002-04:00

I had the priviledge to be a guest blogger for Church Solutions Magazine this week. Here is the article that they were kind enough to accept and publish.

Don't Forget Event Follow-Up

How Does the Stimulus Package Affect You?

2009-05-20T12:33:00.003-04:00

The biggest benefit from the $787.2 billion federal stimulus package will hopefully be a noticeable improvement in the nation's economy. But on an individual level, it's wise to check if you might be eligible for benefits in health care, education, various tax credits and housing. It's also a good idea to get a financial checkup in an uncertain economy for the following reasons:

· As much as it might hurt to look at the performance of your current retirement accounts and other investments, the economy will recover. When an upturn comes, it's wise to position your holdings to take full advantage of the recovery.

· Your future plans with regard to spending for your home, your family and your education come into sharp focus under the stimulus plan, and making these provisions work for you in the short-term should be part of a long-term plan.

· If you fear your job might be in danger in the coming months or you might be facing pay or benefit cuts, it's good to talk through your personal finances before your employer makes a move. The best time to prepare for a job loss is while you're still making a salary. Not only is it a good opportunity to build an emergency fund, but it's generally easier to look for new opportunities while you still have your current one.

Here's a quick summary of the stimulus plan provisions that could affect your finances.

Educational provisions:

College student aid: The package awards $15.6 billion to increase maximum individual student Pell grants by $500.

American Opportunity Tax Credit: This credit temporarily provides taxpayers with a new tax credit of up to $2,500 of the cost of tuition and related expenses, though it phases out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 ($160,000 for married couples filing jointly). Forty percent of the available credit is refundable.

529 Plans: The scope of allowable education expenses expands to include computers and computer technology.

Tax credit provisions:

One more cap for the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT): Lawmakers put one more patch on the AMT to protect a wider number of people from getting hit. This latest break for potential AMT targets increases the exemption amounts to $46,700 ($70,950 for married couples). The bill would also exclude interest on all private activity bonds issued in 2009 and 2010 from the AMT.

"Making Work Pay" Tax Credits: This is the refundable tax credit of up to $400 for individuals and $800 for families for 2009 and 2010 that would phase out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $75,000 ($150,000 for married couples). This isn't a lump sum payment, but instead is reflected in reduced payroll taxes.

Car Buyers Tax Credit: This allows a deduction for state and local sales and excise taxes paid on the purchase of a new vehicle through 2009. This deduction is phased out for taxpayers with adjusted gross income in excess of $125,000 ($250,000 in the case of a joint return).

Expanded Child Credit: This increases the eligibility for the refundable child tax credit in 2009 and 2010 by reducing the minimum income for eligibility to $3,000.

Earned Income Tax Credit: This provision will create a temporary tax credit increase for working families with three or more children.

Housing provisions:

Refundable First-Time Homebuyer Credit: First-time buyers can claim a credit worth $8,000 - or 10 percent of the home's value, whichever is less - on their 2008 or 2009taxes. The added bonus is that the credit is refundable, which means that filers will see a refund of the full $8,000 even if their total tax bill was less than that amount.

Unemployment and healthcare-related benefits:

Extension of Unemployment Benefits: The package provides 33 weeks of extended benefits through Dec. 31, 2009.

Unemployment Compensation: The first $2,400 a person receives in unemployment compensation benefits in 2009 won't be taxed.

Short-Term COBRA Subsidy for Involuntarily Terminated Workers: This provides a 65 percent subsidy for COBRA premiums for up to 9 months, which will put a dent in the considerable cost of COBRA health benefits for the unemployed.

This column was sent to me by my financial advisor and produced by the Financial Planning Association.