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The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition

Page 23

by Dave Ramsey


  Income Sources Recap

  Money’s fun. if you’ve got some.

  You’ve got money coming in from somewhere, right? Then write it down. This form documents every single income source you’ve got. There’s no such thing as “found money.” It all counts, and it all goes on the budget!

  Pro Rata Debt List

  “But I can’t pay the minimum payments!” it’s okay. We have a plan for that.

  Pro rata means “fair share.” Use this form to figure out what percentage of your income each creditor represents, and then send their payment along with a copy of this form and your budget every month—even if they say they won’t accept it.

  Index

  A

  academic credentials, xvii

  accountability, 130

  adjustable rate mortgage (ARM), 174–175

  advertising, and debt, 17

  affluenza, 197

  age, for starting Makeover, 148–149

  aggressive growth funds, 146

  Alcorn, Randy, Money, Possession, and

  Eternity, 197

  Allen, Jeff, 134

  Allocated Spending Plan worksheet, 212–216

  American Bankruptcy Institute, 40

  AmeriDebt, 59, 61

  annual percentage rate (APR), 173–174

  assets, form for listing, 222

  autos. See cars

  B

  baby life insurance, 157

  Baby Steps, 88

  order of, 90

  1. starter emergency fund of $1000,

  97–103

  2. Debt Snowball, 106–111

  3. emergency fund for 3 to 6 months of

  expenses, 124–127

  3b. down payment savings, 137–138

  4. investing for retirement, 143–144

  5. saving for college, 156–158

  6. home mortgage payoff, 168, 179–180

  7. wealth building, 181–182

  7b. Pinnacle Point, 187–189

  back-end penalties, on car loans, 33

  bad credit, in credit report, 61

  balloon mortgage, 174–175

  bankruptcy, 3, 61, 64–67

  credit cards and, 40

  debt-management companies’ advice on, 60

  from medical bills, 71

  personal stories, L. & S. Hickman, 65–67

  risk, 46

  of those over 65, 143

  Barnum, P.T., 92

  barter, black-market system, 52

  Beardstown Ladies, 54

  behavior, ix–x

  change in, xvii–xviii

  Debt Snowball and, 106

  vs. knowledge, 3

  learned from others, 18–19

  beta, 171

  Bible

  Proverbs 6:1 and 5, 112

  Proverbs 10:15, 196

  Proverbs 11:14, 185

  Bible (continued)

  Proverbs 13:22, 73

  Proverbs 17:18, 25

  Proverbs 22:7, 20

  Bible (continued)

  Jeremiah 29:11, 199

  Luke 14:28, 92

  Romans 12:2, 201

  1 Timothy 6:6, 82

  James 1:27, 190

  black-market barter system, 52

  Blue Chip funds, 146

  borrowing. See also credit cards; loans;

  mortgage

  on home, 170–172

  resolving to stop, 114

  brand loyalty, 44

  Breakdown of Savings worksheet, 221

  budget, 202

  agreement with spouse on, 95

  changes to, 95

  envelope system, 68

  Monthly Cash Flow Plan, 209–211

  personal stories

  W. & S. Frick, 77–78

  T. & T. Kiger, 91

  S. & J. Marsh, 92–93

  B. & T. McKinley, 84–85

  J. Morgan, 94–95

  D. & K. Schmidt, 81–82

  time for planning, 58–59

  writing monthly, 90–94

  Buffett, Warren, xxv

  Burkett, Larry, 45, 96

  Butterworth, Eric, 191

  C

  CardTrak, 39

  career, change, 14

  cars

  impact of, 83–85

  insurance, 71

  leasing, 32–34

  mileage deduction for taxes, 34

  monthly payments, vs. used cars, 30–32

  new, loss of value, 34–35

  purchasing, 182–183

  rental, 38

  selling, 116

  cash

  for college expenses, 155

  discounts for, 29

  for home purchase, 176–179

  Monthly Cash Flow Plan, 209–211

  paying with, 67–68

  risk of robbery, 67–68

  using all available, 131–132

  cash advance, 26–28

  cash value life insurance, 54–55

  Celebrate Recovery, 13

  Certificates of Deposit, 101, 128

  challenge, 4

  challenge winners, K. & C. Morrow, 201–203

  change, x

  in behavior, xvii–xviii

  in need for approval, 80

  pain of, 14–15

  Chapter 7 bankruptcy, 61, 65

  Chapter 13 bankruptcy, 65

  checking accounts, separate in marriage, 119

  children, character of, 197

  Christmas, 99

  gift giving, 80–81

  Secret Santa, 192–193

  collectors, 63–64

  college education

  Dave’s rules for, 155–156

  purpose of, 152–153

  college expenses

  prepaying, 57–58, 157

  research on, 155

  savings for, 156–158

  college fund, 144, 152–164

  on little time, 161–164

  personal stories, C. & K. Seymour, 157–158

  College Savings Foundation, 156

  college students, marketing credit cards to, 42

  Collins, Jim, How the Mighty Fall, xxiv–xxv

  commissions, 186

  Irregular-Income Planning sheet for, 94, 217–218

  companies, tuition payments by, 161

  compounding investment, 149

  consolidation of debt, 45–46

  consumer confidence, 47

  Consumer Credit Counseling Services, 60–61

  Consumer Equity Sheet, 222

  Consumer Federation of America, 55, 142

  Consumer Reports, 32, 55

  cosigning loan, 24–26

  cost-of-living raise, 147

  Country Financial Security Index survey, 126

  Covey, Stephen, The Seven Habits of Highly

  Effective People, 59

  creative financing, 138

  credit, 36

  credit-card collector, 64

  credit cards, 36–38, 202

  alternatives, 98–99

  and creditworthiness, 15

  vs. debit card, 38–39

  debt, 18

  marketing to college students, 42

  monthly payoff, 38–41

  personal stories, 6, 42–43

  S. & A. Bledsoe, 99–100

  A. & L. Cluff, 40–41

  J. & T. Eller, 116–117

  D. & T. Jarrett, 42–43

  M. & K. Stolworthy, 6–7

  for teenagers, 41–44

  credit-repair companies, 61–62

  credit reports

  bankruptcy on, 65

  cleaning up, 61–62

  damage from cosigned loans, 25

  credit score, 190

  creditors, keeping debt current, 96–97

  criticism, xii

  cultural expectations, 78

  D

  debit card, 38

  vs. credit card, 38–39

  debt. See also borrowing; credit cards;

  loans; mortgage

  common perceptions of, 18


  consolidation of, 45–46

  from credit cards, 18

  divorce and repayment of, 62–63

  for investing, xxvi

  listing smallest to largest, 107

  of “normal” American family, 105

  personal stories, 10

  J. & T. Atwood, 129–130

  S. Hogenhout, 162–163

  M. & K. Reep, 10

  T. & M. Skinner, 69–70

  A. & M. Wessner, 20–21

  single mom with, 102–103

  staying current on, 109

  typical, 1–2

  debt-free living, 21

  personal stories

  S. & D. Howerton, 178–179

  K. & K. McGinty, 186–187

  M. & K. Stolworthy, 6–7

  debt-management companies, 59–61

  Debt myths

  accepting, 16–17, 48

  debt impact on economy, 47–48

  vs. truth, 19–44

  car payments or used cars, 30–32

  car rentals, hotels or online

  purchases, 38

  cosigning loan, 24–26

  credit cards, 36–38

  debit card vs. credit card, 38–39

  debt consolidation, 45–46

  leasing cars, 32–34

  loans to friends or relatives, 22–24

  new car loss of value, 34–35

  “Ninety days same as cash,” 28–30

  prosperity vs. risk, 19–22

  teenager with credit card, 41–44

  Debt Snowball, 104–123

  components for success, 111–114

  enemy identification, 104–106

  getting rolling, 114–119

  importance of, 123

  personal stories, 77

  D. Dangerfield, 113–114

  S. & A. Farrar, 107–108

  J. & A. Hopkins, 110–111

  C. & J. Schubeck, 166–167

  selling possessions, 115–116

  using all available cash, 131–132

  worksheet, 219–220

  defaulted loan, 24–25

  denial, 9–15, 80, 86

  financial crisis from, 12

  of risk, 49–50

  depreciation, straight-line, 34

  dignity, retirement with, 142

  discounts, and sales quota, 29

  divorce

  and debt repayment, 62–63

  money problems and, 96

  Dogs of the Dow, 54

  Dow Jones Industrial Average, 54

  down payment, savings for, 137

  E

  easy wealth, quest for, 50

  economic storms in 2008, xxi–xxiii

  economy, debt impact on, 47–48

  Education IRA, 159

  Educational Savings Account (ESA), 158–159

  Einstein, Albert, 14

  emergencies

  credit cards and, 99

  examples, 126–127

  gender and, 133–134

  emergency fund

  dipping into, 121

  ease of access, 127–128

  finishing, 124–127

  hiding, 101

  vs. home equity loan, 175–176

  impact on crises, 135–136

  liquidity of, 101–103

  personal stories, 77, 125–126

  as priority, 136–137

  size of, 129–131

  starter of $1000, 97–103

  emerging market funds, 146

  Emotional Intelligence, 153

  Employee Benefit Research Institute, 142

  envelope system, 68

  Equity funds, 146

  estate planning, 59, 73

  evil, view of money as, 198

  F

  Fannie Mae Bonds, xxii

  FDIC, and money market accounts, 128

  fear, as motivator, 133

  Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act, 61

  Federal Trade Commission (FTC), 28, 61–62

  truth-in-lending statement, 32

  FICO score, 36, 37

  fifteen-year mortgage, vs. thirty-year, 172–174

  financial crisis, from denial, 12

  Financial Peace, ix, xviii, 145

  financial peace, 201

  Financial Peace Jr., 45

  Financial Peace University, ix, 145

  Home Study Kit, 70

  financial responsibilities, in family, 117

  529 plan, 159–160

  fixed portfolio 529 plan, 159

  fixed-rate loan, qualifying for, 36–37

  flexible 529 plan, 160

  focus, power of, 89

  focused intensity, 111, 120

  food, budget for, 68

  Forbes 400, 21

  Ford, Henry, 22

  Ford Motor Company, 22

  foreclosure, xxii–xxiii, 11, 171

  foreign funds, 146

  forgiveness of debt to friend, 23

  forms. See worksheets

  Fortune, 55

  “Foundations in Personal Finance,” 44

  401(k) contributions, 120, 146

  403(b)s funds, 146

  457s fund, 146

  fraud, 62

  friends, 153–154

  impressing, 31

  loans to, 22–24

  funerals, prepaying, 57–58

  G

  Gallup poll, 126

  Gallwey, Timothy, 149

  gambling, 13, 56

  personal stories, T. Newman, 13

  garage sale, 115, 202

  gender, and emergencies, 133–134

  Gerber insurance, 157

  giving to others, 80–81

  vs. loans to friends, 23

  personal stories

  R. & T. Brewer, 191

  L. & L. Lokietek, 195–196

  goals

  for college, 154

  focus on, 111

  settling for good enough, 166

  written budget as, 92

  God, 141

  plan of, 199

  gold, as investment, 51–52

  growth funds, 145, 146

  guaranteed income, and emergency fund, 137

  H

  happiness, 197

  Harley-Davidson motocycle, 183–184

  health insurance, 69, 71

  health issues

  personal stories, C. & K. Rhoads, 72

  from stress, 66

  Health Savings Account (HSA), 71

  hiding emergency fund, 101

  high school curriculum, 44

  home equity loan, 46, 121–122, 175–176

  home purchase, 11. See also mortgage

  cash for, 176–179

  timing for, 137–138

  home value, borrowing more than, 46–47

  homeowner insurance, 71

  hope, 103, 199

  Horn, Tom, 192–193

  hotels, 38

  How the Mighty Fall (Collins), xxiv–xxv

  HSA (Health Savings Account), 71

  hubris, xxv

  I

  ignorance, 75–78, 86

  vs. intelligence, xv

  impressing friends, 31

  impulse-buying, 101

  income

  increasing, 118

  for wealth-building, 104

  income funds, 146

  Income Sources Recap, worksheet, 226

  infomercials, 53

  insurance, 69–72. See also life insurance

  types, 71

  intelligence, vs. ignorance, xv

  interest rates

  for car lease, 32

  for money market accounts, 128

  for rent-to-own, 28

  international funds, 146

  investment, 184–189

  compounding, 149

  gold as, 51–52

  living on income from, 189

  personal stories

  A. & K. Ivey, 150–151

  L. & L. Lokietek, 195–196

  returns, xv–xvi

  short-term v
s. long-term, 145

  Irregular-Income Planning worksheet, 94, 217–218

  J

  J.C. Penney, 22

  job loss, 11

  Joneses, keeping up with, 78–83

  joy, in working, 141

  K

  kid branding, 44–48

  Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, 55

  knowledge

  acquiring, 75

  vs. behavior, 3

  L

  Large Cap funds, 146

  layoff, 11

  preparing for, xxvi–xxvii

  leasing cars, 32–34

  life insurance, 71

  baby, 157

  cash value, 54–55

  term, 69, 71

  universal, 55

  whole, 55, 70, 73

  life phase 529 plan, 159

  line of credit, 176

  liquidity of emergency fund, 101–103, 127–128

  loan sharking, 27

  loans. See also mortgage

  cosigning, 24–26

  defaulted, 24–25

  fixed-rate, qualifying for, 36–37

  to friends or relatives, 22–24

  home equity, 46, 121–122, 175–176

  at more than house value, 46–47

  subprime, xxii

  long-term care insurance, 71

  long-term disability insurance, 71

  long-term investing, vs. short-term, 145

  looking good, 31

  lottery, 56

  Lump Sum Payment form, 223

  M

  Major Components form, 224

  manufactured housing (mobile homes), 56–57

  marriage

  agreement on plan, 132–133

  communication in, 117

  finances in, 96

  separate checking accounts, 119

  materialism, 197

  Maxwell, John, 18, 59

  medical bills, bankruptcy from, 71

  mediocrity, 12–13

  Mid Cap funds, 146

  military, for college funding, 162

  The Millionaire Next Door (Stanley), 78–79

  mistakes, repeating, 87

  mobile homes, 56–57

  money. See also wealth

  love of, 198

  responsibility for managing, 185

  Money, 97, 125

  money market account, 128

  Money myths, 49–73

  bankruptcy, 64–67

  collectors, 63–64

  credit clean-up, 61–62

  debt-management companies, 59–61

  divorce and debt repayment, 62–63

  gold as investment, 51–52

  insurance, 69–72

  lottery and gambling, 56

  prepaying funeral and college expenses, 57–58

  quick wealth acquisition programs, 52–54

  retirement outlook, 50–51

  time for budget planning, 58–59

  will, 73

  Money, Possession, and Eternity (Alcorn), 197

  Monthly Cash Flow Plan worksheet, 209–211

  mortgage

  adjustable rate (ARM), 174–175

  balloon, 174–175

  length of, 177

  payment vs. retirement fund as priority, 144

  refinancing, 121–122

  on rental properties, 122

  second, 46, 121–122

  tax deductions on interest, 169

 

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