Check out my interview on David Bach WalletPop Podcast

http://www.walletpop.com/article/start-over-finish-rich-david-bachs/833692

Email to David Bach

Something that I have become pretty passionate about since last's year's economic downturn is MY Money. Personal Finance Management is what you would call it. I read a lot blogs, books, etc. I checked out a website called budgetsaresexy.com about a month ago. He mentioned a book by David Bach called the "The Automatic Millionaire", after reading the book I started following David Bach on Twitter and yesterday he asked for followers to email in stories of doing well in a recession. I decided to send in my story

Hello David,
I wanted to share with you a great story which I will hope inspires some of your followers. In the beginning of 2009 we saw the fall of Lehman brothers, banks being given TARP funds and a whole host of other news stories signifying the end of the world. It was a pretty scare time for me being have a wife and two children and the bread winner. This part has to do with budgeting so you may want to skip over it but it did work for me. I make a pretty decent salary, actually above average compared to what other Americans are making and was sick of logging into my bank account to see my checking balance showing 13 dollars. It's pretty disheartening to think that you go to work for something 50 hours a week and all you have to show for it is pocket change. When the economic bubble burst I figured it was time to get my personal finances in order and decided to start a budget and pay off some debt. People ask me to show them how I did my budget and I often tell them that is like asking me what I do to stay in good shape. The answer is simple you have to do what works best for you. I may be able to workout five days a week and eat Taco Bell for dinner and still have a great physique and low cholestoral. You might have to entirely change your eating habits on top of working out. The same goes for personal finance management try a few different options budgets, 10% off the top, put money in a shoebox, you must be in the mindset and have the willpower to do it. Within 7 months I paid off over 7 thousand dollars in debt and starting saving every penny I could find. I had enough saved that I decided just like corporations give bonuses my wife and I should be given one as well for all our hard work this year.

The next part of this story is my personal success at work in the past year. My Dad was a union plumber growing and I would see him come home with chaped hands, and a frozen mustache. But he never complained, day in a day out he went to his work ethic was impressive. I did not know it at the time but he was passing on a great work ethic to his son (me). This past year set me up for a promotion and a merit increase. When I stop to think about this for a second and without patting myself on the back, this is a great achievement. Considering unemployment was at an all time high of 70%, here I am getting a promotion and merit increase. I attribute this to hard work and the motivation to set myself and my family for a strong financial future. Inspiration comes in many different forms and for me it is reading personal finance management books, articles and blog by great writers like yourself. 2009 was a great year for me and I am looking forward to 2010 which will hopefully bring prosperity, great health and an opportunity to spread this positivity to friends and family. To show them that just because there is a recession, it doesn't mean you have to participate. Good things can still happen just ask me.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.
I thoroughly enjoy your work.

Mike R
Cary, NC

Message from my second graders principal

Yesterday I received a voice mail from the Principal of my daughter's Elementary School. I was surprised by her call for two reason one I didn't think this lady actually did anything, she is riding out the wave until retirement. Two because of the content of the message itself. No my angel was not in trouble. Here is the message

"We are informing parents that Tuesday Sept 8th at noon, some of the teachers will be tuning in to President Obama's Message to Students to encourage students to set high academic goals and to their best to succeed. If you choose for your child to not participate send a note to your child's teacher."

The following is the letter I would like to send along to my child's teacher.

Dear Mrs. So and So,
I would like to inform you that my daughter I would like for my daughter to be excused from the viewing of President Obama's message next week. Instead of wasting valuable time hearing a sales pitch from our Socialist President, I would like for her to be given 10 m&m's preferable peanut ones my favorite. After this presidential message I would like for you to take away 1 peanut m&m. Explain to her that this is a tax for using the computer. Then at recess please take another m&m. Finally at the end of the day take one more. When she gets home I will take 2 m&m's leaving her with half of what she started with. I will then explain to her the reasoning for this exercise in taking what is rightfully hers. AKA taxation. I will tell her that she was not allowed to watch the Presidential message because at the end of the day, our president is trying to do exactly what happened to you today. Take half of daddies money. It stinks doesn't it?

Regards,
Mr. Reilly

When i was in Sixth grade the space shuttle blew up into thousand's of pieces and Mr. Arena wheeled in a TV for us to watch. Do you think he called my mom and dad to see if it was okay. F no.

Add this to my list of 10 things that are leading to the pussification of America's youth! Number 1 of course being Everyone gets a ribbon or Trophy for winning. Because everyone is a winner!!!

DMB takes it up a notch with Big Whiskey and the Groo Grux King

In the debut studio album back in 1994 "Under the Table and Dreaming" The Dave Matthews Band has us Dancing Nancy. Now 15 years later we're Dancing with the Groo Grux king. According to most posts I found on the W3 the Groo Grux King was a nickname for late DMB sax player Leroi Moore who died from complications after rolling an ATV. This album opens up with "Shake me like a Monkey". My first listen to this song I was not sure it would be one of my favorites but I kept listening. The bands good friend Tim Reynolds plays electric guitar and has no problem keeping up with energy of the rest of the band. If I had a chance to interview Dave the first question I would ask him is "why so many references to yourself as a monkey?" On the band's 1996 album "Crash" there is a track entitled "Proudest Monkey". I guess I will never know.

Track two which happens to be the first radio single "Funny The Way it Is" each member of the band does his part to keep up with the vocal energy of Dave. One of my favorite songs by DMB is "Grey Street". For years I have thought to myself, there is something missing from this song Band Synergy. Have a listen for yourself to "Grey Street" and then "Funny The Way it Is". Imagine if the band had the energy that Dave does during that song, it would take it to another level.

The two best tracks on this album in my opinion by far are "Why I Am" and "Baby Blue". If I had a Crystal ball I would say the next radio song that will be released from this album would be "Why I Am". It brings the same energy as "Funny The Way it is". "Baby Blue" does it for right from the start, the guitar picking in the beginning of that song make the hair on the back of my neck stand up. It's the style of guitar playing that has made the Dave and Tim show such a popular tour.

This album has been playing in my car CD player since it was realised. It's one of those Dave albums that you can put on and let it play, track after track and you will not be disappointed. I have not felt that way about one of their albums since "Before These Crowded Streets". I have to say as a huge Dave Matthews Fan in the age group of non Abercrombie and Fitch wearing teen, this is by far the bands best work in years. Yes we have had some great tracks on certain album releases over the years but nothing like this. Remember "Everyday"? Yeah either do I.

The Red House on Ralph Avenue

Today's thought is going to be local to the Babylonian's who read this blog. Even if you are not from Babylon, NY you can still appreciate the story about the Red House on Ralph Avenue. If you looked in the catalog of houses in the Babylon Historic Society you would not see 112 Ralph Avenue listed as a historic house. No plaque on the outside of the house dating it back to the 18 century but to me this house is part of Babylon's history. If you ever attended Babylon Memorial Grade School you probably stared out the window or walked by this house everyday on your way to and from school. Those of you who knew myself or another Reilly from Babylon, you knew it was Mr and Mrs Reilly's house. Growing up my Grandparents had the most impressive gardens in the back yard. There used to be a huge evergreen tree that sat in the front yard, which my Grandfather used to decorate every Christmas. For me the memories from that house are so vivid and fresh that it seems like only yesterday that me and my cousins would be playing there. Growing up we spent every Christmas day there which was probably one of my most favorite memories. See my Grandfather loved Christmas, he used to carve birds and Santa Clauses out of wood. So during Christmas there would be tons of Santa Clauses throughout the house. People would bring Grandpa Santa's from trips they took. My parents and I brought several back from or trips to Germany. One of those now sits in my house, along with one of his carvings. At Christmas time I put that Santa out and tell my kids how their great grandfather loved Christmas. Then there was the sprawling village he used to put out. It included lights and figure skaters but this was no village you would find in a store today. This village was Grandpa's he thought of this long before department stores started selling them. I not even sure how he got the idea. That house was the first place I played Atari, my uncle who lived upstairs when he first got married, and he had one of the first Atari's on the block. Me and my cousins used to sneak up when he was out fighting fires to play till late at night. The family get BBQ's that happened there were awesome! Your probably reading this and thinking to yourself why is he writing about this today, well today the red house on Ralph Ave was sold, to young couple and is no longer in the Reilly name. It's pretty sad! Will the new owners even now the rich history of that house. That my Grandfather built that house from the ground up. Put every board and nail up himself. It has lasted many hurricanes and storms and tons of Grandchildren running through it. To me that house will always be an icon of Babylon and my family.

The Great one tries to help DUMB Americans

Well I must say I am not surprised that BIG Brother is now meddling in the business of credit card companies. Is anyone???? I mean come on now this is the Administration that epitomizes BIG GOVERNMENT. So I read the consumer reports cliffs notes version of what the bill in tales and think this is a whole lot of BS. Here is something that I bet all the suits up on Capital Hill never thought of hold on it's BIG, might take a whole lab of MIT GENIUSES to figure this one out. DON'T USE A CREDIT CARD! Phew it took me all about 2 seconds to think of that one.

The reason why Credit Card Companies put in the fine print is because they know we live in a culture where everyone wants it now. Hey I am not saying I did not subscribe to this mentality. It took 1 hour of listening to Dave Ramsey to wake me up. I mean does there really need to be legislation signed that says "hey Mr. Credit Card bully, we don't think it is fair that you don't play nice in the sand box."

What Obama and this Administration really need to realize is American's have brains, we do. WE can actually think for ourselves from time to time, but know it's another sign of things to come.
Here is the summary:
•Interest rates can’t be raised during the first year of an account
•Customers will be notified 45 days in advance of any change in interest rates
•Bills can be paid online or over the phone without incurring a processing fee
•Customers must be over 60 days late on payments before their interest rate can be raised on balances; if the rate is raised, it will go back to the lower rate if customers make the minimum payment on time for six months in a row.
•Overlimit fees can’t be charged unless cardholders are told that the purchase will put them over their limit and they authorize it to go through anyway
•If your card has more than one interest rate on balances, then payments must be applied to the highest interest rate first
•Gift cards can’t expire for five years, and issuers can’t charge dormancy fees for unused amounts left on the card
•Credit card statements must be mailed out 21 days before they’re due
•Individuals under 21 will need a co-signer on their cards unless they can prove that they have the means to make payments on their own
•Credit card agreements will have to be posted on the internet

Third bullet from the bottom-What happened to GOING GREEN? CC companies now have to spend money on postage stamps just to send me a statement on paper that I am just going to shred. I hate paper statements. Not a good use of technology if you ask me. Plus the tree huggers in Oregon might get pissed off at the loggers who need to cut down more trees to provide the paper for the statements.

Now you might find this one crazy, but I do agree with second to last bullet. As a parent I know my child will won day be at college and might fall into the cc trap. Let's hope I raise them better than that, but we remember how we were at 21. I just spent my last 10 dollars on some Milwaukee's Best, hey I know let's charge a pizza to my Amex card.

I think this bill stinks. Obama will sign it anyway and in 9 months from now it will go into affect. It irratates me to know end that the Great One feels the need to keep deciding what is right and wrong for us.

Let's use the baby bird analogy here. We all know that momma bird feeds the baby until the time he/she is ready to spread his cute little wings and fly off to get food. What would happen if momma bird decided to provide oversight throughout the birds life? The bird would not be able to fend for itself. That is exaclty what is going on here!

This is the change we need people! THis is the Hope everyone voted for. The change that allowed Americans to stop thinking for themselves and allow THE GREAT One and his Administration to make choices for us.

Teach your Children Well

We all know the song right??? Crosby Still Nash and Young. It's one of those great songs you hear on some light fm station like KJoy (LI Reference). Well now that I have that song stuck in your head let's get to the point.

Headlines of most news related web-sites are chomping at the bit on news of Nancy Pelosi's latest spider web of lies. Let's not forget something here people this women is the 3 THIRD most powerful person in the current administration. That my peeps is pretty frightening!!!! In the latest episode Pelosi claims she was not told entirely about the torture methods used by the previous administration. I am laughing right now at my keyboard because this must be the third choice of options politicians use when confronted with a situation they are trying to get out of. Kind of like calling Dell tech support. Option 1:Do you have power? Option 2: Is your computer on? Option 3: It was the Bush Administration. If I used the abbreviation for Laugh out Loud I would insert it here but I don't!

Here is my gripe as many of you reading this might have as well. Politicians are the first to scold professional athletes, musicians and actors/actresses for doing something in the public eye that a child may see. Yes we call these people role models. Well I guess Politicians forget that due to their high visibility in the public eye that some children might be learning a trick or two from them as well. Let's take Allen Iverson for example. How could we forget the press conference that revolutionized the word "Practice" Practice it what practice who cares if i miss one practice. I know that might not be the best example but it was a funny one.

How about Steroid laden baseball players like McGuire and Bonds? I didn't know what was in the syringe or the cream the trainer spread across my ass. Sure, you didn't know what it was.
My point is Pelosi is not different in this latest LIE. That is what it is people a LIE!!!

Pelosi was on the House Intelligence Committee (TOP DEMOCRAT) when she , received a classified briefing on Sep 4, 2002 that discussed details of the use of "EITs" – enhanced interrogation techniques – on Abu Zubaydah, a prime al-Qaeda suspect. The Memo that was released basically states exactly what the "EIT"s are. Now I am sure Mrs. Pelosi will debate that she needed a bulleted list of these methods, which may have been provided. MRS PELOSI what did you think enhanced interrogation techniques were? Not allowing the animal to use the toilet for 2 days, or even worse maybe they played the theme song to Barney "I Love You, You love me". Now I must admit that this would be classified in my book as enhanced technique of torture, I am sure the operatives had something else in mind.

So now we have the THIRD HIGHEST RANKING Official in this Administration under OBAMA stating for everyone to hear "INCLUDING OUR CHILDREN" that she was not aware that "Waterboarding" was used as an "EIT". Okay wow let me think about that one in for a moment..... She was not aware that "Worderboarding" was used. I find it hard to believe that out of all these highly intelligent people know one raised their hand and asked. "Excuse me umm can you tell me what some of these advanced techniques are?"

Well I can see this now some smart a$$ teenager catches on to this.. He sits in math class and gets a homework assignment to do the some problems on page 10. Next day he comes to class and the teacher asks why little johnny's (Always Little Johnny) homework is incomplete. Well Mrs Smith when you explained that we needed to do the problems on page 10 I wasn't sure exactly how many of these problems you wanted us to complete. Hey Nancy Pelosi can do it why can't I.

Well thanks Mrs. Pelosi just when parents were finally getting there kids to go back to practice and not do steroids because a role model did or didn't do it.
We now have to re-educate them on lying. Time to dust off the old CSNY album.

Politicians one should remind you that maybe you should not worry about someone else's house until you have yours in order.