I posted this chart earlier, and I have updated it with the latest information. Check your state!

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I’ve noticed that the savings rate for my ING account has been creeping towards 5 percent. Other online savings accounts are offering 5 percent or higher. This got me to thinking. If you could “lock-in” a savings rate for your retirement investing, what rate would it take for you to get out of the stock market and simply have all of your money in cash? Dave Ramsey says that you have to make about 6 percent in a taxable account, just to keep up with inflation. So, what rate would you need to get to say to yourself: “Man, that’s a good, solid, risk-free rate… I think I’ll move all of my money there and just leave it…” This is my very first poll, so be gentle!

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So, in an effort to squeeze a few more bucks out of my monthly bills, I first contacted Dish Network, and was able to save 10 dollars per month for 10 months. Next, I went over my Verizon bill with a fine-tooth comb. Guess what, I was paying 10 dollars a month (5 for each phone) for unlimited in-network text messages and 50 out-of-network text messages. Well, I got to looking at my past bills, and I send and receive a maximum of 20 text messages. So, I was paying 10 dollars for 20 messages, or .50 per message! So, I canceled the 10 dollars a month charge, and now I will simply pay for the individual messages (.10 per message or 2.00 per month). Bing Bang Boom - 12 Months x 8 dollars = 96 dollars. Between the Dish Network and the Verizon, I will save 196 dollars this year. Yes! I totally, frugally, rock!

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15 Months ago, April 6 to be exact, I owed 11,510.22 dollars. Yesterday, July 7 to be exact, I deposited 1300 dollars into my ING Savings account, bringing my personal savings (excluding retirement) to 12,300 dollars. In other words, in 15 months, I have managed to positively change my financial position by 23810.22 dollars. Yes! Folks, this stuff works. I want to encourage you to: get out of debt, stay out of debt, and save money. I know, I know. My blog is full of basic, everyday stuff. No mysterious stock tips, no super-savvy credit card manipulations. Heck, I don’t even talk about refinance or surfing debt balances. Nope. I just talk about paying off your debt. That’s it. I talk about it with passion and truthfulness. My “secret” to success? I have a plan, I work the plan, I get back on the plan when I make a mistake, and I hold my self responsible. I created my debt. I was responsible for paying off my debt. I made a decision, I placed a stake in the ground, and I promised myself that my life would change. Do you have the courage to do the same? Trust me, putting your head in the sand and hoping that your debt will go away, will not work. Interest will pile up, payments will pile up, your debt balances will pile up. Start to shovel today! Today!!!

If you’d like support in your journey, please join us over at the No Credit Needed Network.

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I am back from 2 WEEKS of church camp. The last week of June our teens from our church went to Panama City Beach for camp - and this week our younger kids went to church camp here locally. I went as a chaperone and group leader. I am exhausted, but I am super excited to be posting again.

While I was “away”, I got thinking about a rather… Ahem … morbid topic. Death. My own death. What would happen to my family if I were to die, unexpectedly? Now, before you think that I am nuts, I am not dwelling on the fact that I am going to die. We are all going to die. What I was concerned with was what would my FAMILY do if I died. See, in my family I am the personal finance “nerd”. I handle all of the bill-paying, the insurance filing, and the money management. We have monthly “budget meetings”, but I handle all of the paperwork. So, I have decided to create a “What to do if I die” folder for my wife. I know, I know. It sounds a bit morbid, but come on. I love my wife and kids, and the LAST thing I want to do is die and leave them in a state of financial panic.

So, here are the things that I will include in the “What to do if I die” folder…

1. A copy of our wills.
2. A copy of our life insurance policies, renter’s insurance, car insurance, etc.
3. A copy of our bank / savings / credit account numbers.
4. A list of passwords / user names for all of our online accounts.
5. A list of phone numbers, including insurance agent, attorney, etc.
6. An “estimate” of our current financial condition… Updated every quater.

Before anyone complains that my wife should know all of these things… She does! She knows where to find them, but I don’t want her to HAVE to find them! I want them all located in a convenient, easy to use folder. In the middle of her loss, the last thing she needs to worry about is personal finance.

Also, I will be increasing my term life amounts.

Whew, aren’t you glad I’m back and posting again? Dork!

Feel free to add your comments on what you think this folder should contain!

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