Alright -  so this week was a little more normal than last week’s craziness! Here are some highlights from this week:

• I Got Pranked

• Started Pranking Back – (If you missed this – I “asked out” one of the culprits live at Rev in front of over 120 people!) Then we put peanut butter on their cars and wrapped them in saran wrap!

• I went to Niki’s 3rd birthday party! (Picture below – soooo cute!)

• Thought these articles were awesome this week

• I’ve been listening to this series by Keith Moore – goooood stuff

• You should definitely check out the videos below (Craig Groeschel interviewing Dave Ramsey) It is awesome! If you haven’t gone through Dave’s program, Financial Peace University, yet – I’d highly recommend it!

That’s about it…. enjoy

²³“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’                     -Matthew 25:23

It’s been 3 months since I’ve moved out on my own. It’s going so fast! I just want to share a few things I’ve been learning since I’ve been “On my own. I don’t know how often I’ll blog about this, but here is part 1.

You don’t find a great life, You build One – When I heard Joe Mcgee say this years ago it changed my life. I think the best part of being on my own is that whatever I become in life now is entirely up to me. “With great power (freedom) comes great responsibility” sums it up pretty well. I’m free to come and go as I choose, have people over as often as I want, I’m free to do anything I want. The best part about this – my values and beliefs are based on God’s Word. I’m building my life on the Word of God and the principles God’s given us to live by – because of this – the life I’m building is going to be unbelievable!

Food is Expensive and Goes Really Fast! – I look at food in such a different light now that I can’t just open my fridge and cupboard and see the endless amounts of food my dad provided for me for free. It makes me appreciate what my dad did to provide for me so much more. When I go to peoples houses and they make dinner for me – I’m more grateful than I’ve ever been. I’m really looking forward to when I’m  able to have a ton of people over and provide feasts for them!

I was not wise in spending my money - I remember when I told my dad I was moving out and I’d be renting. He said, “I think you’re dumb – you could be saving all that money renting by staying at home.” That is a true statement – I could be saving money by living at home, but the question is – Would I be saving money? Nope! Before I moved out I had all the money I wanted to get Starbucks everyday, go everywhere, eat out whenever I wanted, etc..  Since I moved out and actually have to budget my money! In tracking my expenses for the past year and a half I was able to see where I was not being wise in spending money and cut it out of my life (i.e. $60/month at Starbucks). I’m learning to deal with finances wisely, and while I’m paying $X a month in rent, I view that as tuition in the school of handling money wisely. It’s worth it!

God is My Source - It’s easy to believe God is your source when you don’t need money, don’t need healing, don’t need salvation, it’s a lot harder to believe He is your source when you do need those things. That is where faith kicks into gear. Do you really believe God’s Word is true or don’t you? I’ve come to learn that my job isn’t my source, my parents, or anyone or anything else. God is my source and He always provides everything I need and even more so I can be a blessing to others. Being on my own has stretched and grown my faith big time and this is only the beginning!
Those are the big 4 things I’ve learned thus far . . . thoughts?

This book came heavily recommended by Zack Blair and Ben Rath. In fact, Zack did a book review of it here. Since I’ve moved out on my own – I’ve looked at money in a totally different light. I’ve been through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Curriculum, but just like any principle in life, until you put it into practice, it doesn’t hold a lot of value. I’ve really been looking to revamp the way I handle and view money and this book helped me out tremendously. Here are some of my key takeaways:

• Make it Automatic - if you’ll automate you’re bill pay, savings, and investments it will take away from the need to be disciplined and you’ll automatically be on your way to being a millionaire!
• Automatic millionaires don’t do debt – Period
• The more you give, the more comes back to you. The more you give, the wealthier you feel!

• Renters become poor, landlords become rich – Own real estate as soon as you can!
• To get new results, you need new actions
• Figure out your “latte factor” – the little things you spend money on each day and figure out how much money you could be investing if you’d invest that money instead of spend it
• Pay with cash or don’t pay at all – you can’t spend what you don’t have in your pocket!

This was a great book – easy read and very practical. I’d recommend it to anyone looking to get a handle on their money. Also – as an additional resource – check out Dave Ramsey’s stuff – he’s got it down!

Final Grade: A          Buy it here