Archive for September, 2009
Are You Tired of Paying Taxes?
by Ryan Loos on Sep.30, 2009, under Taxes
I am tired of paying taxes into a system that redistributes the money to people and organizations that the government feels need the money more than my family and I do. We all work hard and every year we pay more in taxes. When will this cycle end? It will end when we take a stand and vote out the current politicians and then put term limits in place. Take a stand and send a message and exercise your right to vote in every election.
Health Care
by Ryan Loos on Sep.28, 2009, under General
The US health care debate continues to grow more controversial with each passing day. Will it cost us more money? Will it save us money? Will we get to choose our own doctors? Will the quality of care actually improve or become worse? Let me just say that the government has yet to take on a project or a budget that stays at the original cost. What do you think of the US health care bill? Canadians, what is your opinion of the Canadian health care system?
Baby Food and Saving Money
by Ryan Loos on Sep.25, 2009, under Budgeting
My wife started making home made baby food for our son to save us some cash. It was a great adventure for the family when we went to apple orchard to pick apples last weekend. We are saving money and becoming closer as a family, all thanks to my wife and her objective to cut our grocery bill down. What are you doing to help cut costs? Is it bringing your family closer together or driving you apart?
Don’t take on Student Loan Debt
by Shaun Somers on Sep.24, 2009, under Debt
Many people today seem to believe that taking on debt to cover the cost of college or university is inevitable. I don’t believe that at all. The choice really comes down to how hard somebody wants to work to remain debt free. I recently met a student who is doing a co-op term at a local youth home. This person is finishing her second college diploma in only three years of school, all while working 30-60 hours per week at a restaurant/deli. This has enabled her to pay for school without any student loan debt whatsoever. Sure, it means less partying and hanging out no doubt, but nobody said being financially successful is easy to do. Easy to understand, yes (stay out of debt, work hard and save money) – but it takes living like no one else today to live like no one else tomorrow!
Debt and Prosperity
by Ryan Loos on Sep.22, 2009, under Debt
Why do we think that we can use debt to prosper and add to our wealth? I have been there and tried it and let me tell you that I crashed and burned with day trading on borrowed money. The only way to truly build wealth and keep it is to do it with cash. If we try to use debt, the creditor will eventually need to get paid and if we can not pay them, there goes the house or some other assets that we did not really own. I do not know anyone more than Shaun (author at proseperwithmoney.com) or myself that want to be debt free! Debt is not a tool and does not build wealth….debt undermines wealth.
Stewardship – I do not like this word!
by Ryan Loos on Sep.18, 2009, under General
Stewardship – The conducting, supervising, or managing of something; especially: the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. In my opinion the word Steward has a great meaning but unfortunately the word has become outdated. The word Stewardship is now associated with the Church and giving to the Church and not as defined as above. As the Church continues to use the word Steward or Stewardship it will continue to alienate its self from the rest of the world. In my opinion the Church does not understand true Biblical based finance and how it fits into the world today. You may say that I am crazy but listen, I have been in the trenches when it comes to Church finance, as a former church treasurer, and now having run Financial Peace University (FPU) in Churches for over 5 years, I understand that a great numbers of Pastors do not understand how to properly address the subject of money within sermons or in conversation with their members. As soon as those in the church or outside of the church hear the word STEWARDSHIP we think that the Church wants more money. So, let’s stop using the word Stewardship and start talking about Biblical based finance and how to apply Biblical based finance to our lives.
