Written by someone who left their name as "I'm not bitter or anything":

"Our economy, the largest in the world, is driven by consumer spending. I say that you and Dave Ramsey have crusaded us right into a recession with your message of paying off your debts instead of taking that vacation and buying a 60″ flat screen when you get home - all courtesy of the Visa card.

I hope you're happy with yourself and can sleep at night as my 401k has now become a 301k."

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm …

Readers: What are your thoughts?

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I was reviewing my credit card offers the other day, and I just starting laughing out loud! It is a regular comedy act!

Here is what made me laugh:

* The Visa Signature card states "This card has everything you want, even your initial." HA HA HA HA HA!!! It goes on to say, "… it proudly displays your monogram every time you lay it down. Jennifer, this card is YOU!" HA HA HA!
* In the fine print of the above card, it says "We will allocate your payments to balances (including new transactions) with lower Annual Percentage Rates (APRs) (including zero percent) before balances with higher APRs." The REAL credit card personality shows up in super large 2-pt font!
* The Household Bank Platinum card says "Everything you like in a card. Including the design." I don't like anything in a credit card. They never helped me WIN with money.

When you look at your 200 - 250 credit card applications that you receive each year, what stands out to you?

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Are you filing your taxes yourself this year?

I have always prepared my own taxes each year. I have used TurboTax every single year.

This software has been extremely helpful and straightforward to use.

I have considered using TurboTax's competitor, TaxCut (by H&R Block), but I always back out because TurboTax is designed to automatically transfer all of last year's information over to this year's return.

(I wonder if TaxCut can auto transfer a return put together using TurboTax?)

If you have a very simple tax return and plan on using 1040EZ, http://turbotax.intuit.com/ provides their software and one federal tax filing for FREE!

Otherwise, there is a cost for the software, but it is reasonably priced for such a good software package.

I've never had a problem with a filing I have made with TurboTax.

I am sure it is the same for TaxCut software, but I have not used the product.

By the way, I usually look at the Staples or Office Depot sales ads this time of year before purchasing my TurboTax software. Usually, they will have a special - something like "Buy TurboTax and get a $10 gift card" deal. I like that! Last year, I ended up buying my software from Best Buy, and it came with a free wireless mouse. It is a great mouse! It was backordered and took over two months to get it, but they did ship it to me!

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I have had a crusading dream the last eight days!

Let me recount the last eight days …

Sunday January 20th

Spoke at http://www.newspring.cc for all four services! You can watch an entire service http://isite78285.intellisite.com/235505.ihtml?ResourceID=12.... You should also check out http://www.perrynoble.com site as well.

Friday PM and Saturday AM (January 25th & 26th)

Taught the entire http://www.josephsangl.com/FFE%20Details.htm at NewSpring Church (over 300 attended!) People drove 5 and 7 hours to come to this class. That absolutely blows me away!

Saturday PM and Sunday AM (January 26th & 27th)

Taught at the weekend services at http://www.southbrookchurch.com/, pastor http://www.robsingleton.com.

Sunday PM (January 27th)

Taught the http://www.josephsangl.com/FLE%20Details.htm at Southbrook Church!

I got to speak eight times and teach both versions of my class in EIGHT DAYS! It is UNBELIEVABLE that I get to do this for a living! Oh yeah, I also see that there are 14 one-on-one financial counseling appointments on our calendar this week!!!!

To all who attended the classes or church services, THANK YOU!

You can see where the crusade will be next by clicking http://www.josephsangl.com/?page_id=191.

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What an amazing journey it has been. Writing http://www.josephsangl.com/IWBNIN%20Book.htm has been so worth the time and effort!

For those of you out there who have ever thought about writing a book, I thought I would share some things I have learned.

* You will not sit down and write the entire book at one time.

* Writing the book was the easy part. It was the 28 edits/revisions, cover art design/selection, ISBN/EAN bar code, Library of Congress Control Number registration, crappy image software, copyright … The list goes on for quite awhile!

* You have to be PASSIONATE about the book and have a STRONG VISION for it. If these two items do not exist, you will not finish the book. There are too many competing priorities that will take you away from it otherwise!

* Books don't have hotlinks. This is a bummer! I have been so accustomed to providing a quick-link to something I am writing about. A book doesn't have that. I really like the interactive component, and it has been an integral part of my communication style.

* Self-publishing is a great option. When I started putting pen to paper in January 2006 (yes, two years ago), I thought that I needed a publisher. I found out that there are several GREAT printing companies that produce high-quality books for a reasonable price. My experience was literally a "above and beyond expectations" experience! By the way, I sought advice from very wise people while making the decision of "should I self-publish or pursue a publisher". The wise people? http://www.tonymorganlive.com, http://www.evotional.com/, Paul Marshall, http://www.perrynoble.com, and http://www.daveramsey.com. I loved Dave's statement … "Self publish … do print it and do sell it - It's worth it, man!"

* God is in control. And when He is, it don't get no righter!

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I am FIRED UP to announce that my first book, I Was Broke. Now I'm Not., is officially released!



In this book, I share how my family stopped being broke and won with money. While telling my family's story, I teach the actual tools that we used and still use to this day!

More than anything else, this is a book of HOPE. I know that you CAN do this! I know that you CAN win with money! I know that you do not have to be a straight-A student to win with money (that's really good news for me!).

You CAN break free of financial bondage and win with money. This book was written to show you HOW to do so in a PRACTICAL way!

If you are looking for theory or philosophy, this is the wrong book. If you are looking for immediate help to take your finances to the next level, this is the right book!

http://www.josephsangl.com/IWBNIN%20Book.htm

To all who are on this crusade with me, thank you for being a part of it! This book is yet another tool we can use to accomplish my life's passion - that is to enable others to accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances. Why is that my life's passion? Because when people are financially-free, they are freed up to go do EXACTLY what they have been put on this earth to do!!!

Want to read the INTRODUCTION? You can read it http://www.josephsangl.com/IWBNIN%20Book%20-%20Introduction%...!

That, my friends, is what it is all about. People doing what they were made to do!

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I am FIRED UP to announce that my first book, I Was Broke. Now I'm Not!, is now in existence. It will be released on January 20th!

On January 20th, it will be available for purchase through this web site. In mid-February, it will be available via Amazon.com!

This is one of my key "Wagon Staplers". It is one key way to help people "stay on the wagon".

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You have GOT to check out http://www.jeffkapusta.com/2008/01/10/4-more-payments/!

I spoke at Jeff's church in early December and taught the Financial Learning Experience!

There is NOTHING like having the pastor of the church lead the way to Debt Freedom!

I'm proud of you, Jeff and Michelle!

Anyone else want to share a success story?

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Yesterday, I was recording the weekly "I Was Broke. Now I'm Not!" podcast (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewPodcas...; http://feeds.feedburner.com/JSFinancialFreedom) at an abnormal location - my house.

I experienced a technical difficulty at about 2 minutes 36 seconds into the podcast. The technical difficulty? My stupid cat.

Having never recorded the podcast at my house before, I failed to realize that my cat would show up and request (demand) to be petted. She came trotting in - collar bell ringing and all.

The result? Well, I can't really describe it, but it was all caught on the podcast. I have cut that section out for your listening pleasure http://www.josephsangl.com/wp-content/uploads/2008-01-10%20C... A few seconds into it, you will start hearing the cat's jingling bell. You will hear it close in on the microphone and then … well, you will have to listen to it!

Why not http://feeds.feedburner.com/JSFinancialFreedom to the podcast? A new episode is issued every Thursday morning and is less than 10 minutes in length! In each podcast, I share a success story and a question from the www.JoeSangl.com community. I promise you that you will be motivated and inspired by this podcast!

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Ever paid money when you used 411 to find out a phone number? Never pay it again!

I have not paid a dime for a 411 service for at least a year because I use Google 411.

The toll-free number is 1-800-466-4411

Go ahead and save it into your cell phone contact list now! It has saved me money and frustration multiple times!

I bet the Saving Freak will be really proud of this money-saving idea!

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Another great tool to share with readers!

Ever been in the middle of a store about to purchase something and wonder, "I wonder if I am getting this for the best price?"

Now you can KNOW!

Let me set up how this service can be used with a real-life story this last weekend!



One of Jenn's Christmas presents was a new piece of luggage. I wanted her to pick it out - so we went to the store and picked it out. It was a wonderful piece of luggage - expensive - but this brand has lasted for me. I really like this brand, but I wanted to make sure I was getting the absolute best deal possible on it.

How am I able to know? By dialing 1-888-363-7822! It is a toll-free number offered by http://www.frucall.com/.

After you dial the number, it asks you to type in the bar code number. When you type in the bar code number, it will tell you the LOWEST PRICE this item is currently offered for and WHERE you can purchase it for that price!

It comparison shops for you!

When I entered the bar code number, it told me the name of the product and the current lowest price for the luggage. It was $3 cheaper on Amazon. I went ahead and purchased the item in the store. It was worth it to me to pay $3 extra and have it now than wait a couple of days.

Go ahead - try it out! Pick up a book next to you and call the number. Find out the cheapest price it is currently available for!

Readers - Try this out and let me know how it helps you!

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Every month there will be an update of Joe & Jenn's Home Pay-Off Spectacular! The third monthly update is TODAY!

We are even more fired up about getting rid of the mortgage!!! Why? Because we http://www.josephsangl.com//?p=509 to reduce our expenses so that we can send even more money toward principal!

So Jenn and I have shook hands and made an agreement that the house payments will be gone within by October 2011 (Three years and 10 months). You guys will all get to watch the mortgage leave by watching the "Sangl Family Home Pay-Off Spectacular" turn green! By the way, I have a stretch goal of October 2010. It is a HUGE STRETCH.

On with this month's update!

Here is the update!

Total Squares: 2,426

Paid-For Squares: 709

Squares Remaining: 1719

% of House Owned By The Sangl's: 29.2%

% of House Owned By Wells Fargo: 70.8%



Although it does not look like it, Jenn and I mailed EXTRA money toward the house this past month as a result of the gains we made through http://www.josephsangl.com/?p=509! In two more months, we will own the east wall of our house! I am so excited!!!

By using the "Early Pay-Off Calculator" on the http://www.josephsangl.com/?page_id=151 page, our house will be paid off in 77 months (6 years and 5 months). In order to achieve our target of 3 years and 10 months (and my own stretch goal of 2 years and 10 months), we really need to start making larger payments. Let's see what next month brings!

I'm predicting a larger payment!

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Get your own Debt Pay-Off Spectacular http://www.josephsangl.com//?p=442 and join the FUN!

Already debt-free? Get your own SAVINGS Spectaculars http://www.josephsangl.com//?p=442.

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For those of you who were wondering …

CHRISTMAS is only 349 days away!!!

Are you going to be able to http://www.josephsangl.com/?cat=25 this year?

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I LOVE seeing Debt Pay-Off Spectacular's in action!

This one is in action in Wilmington, NC and Jeff Kapusta, pastor of Lifepoint Church is the one paying off his VAN!

Go to http://www.jeffkapusta.com/2007/12/31/resolutionssort-of/ and click on the "Pay This Sucker Off" link to see the picture!!!

Way to go, Jeff!!! Only 67 squares to go by my count!!!

You can get your OWN Debt Pay-off Spectacular FREE by clicking http://www.josephsangl.com/?p=442!

You can even get a copy of a Llama Pay-Off Spectacular!!! You never even knew the benefits of reading this blog, did you?

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By the way, http://www.jeffkapusta.com/ is one of the coolest people I have ever met.