Dave Ramsey – Entre-Leadership Simulcast
This past November I had the opportunity to attend a one day simulcast of Dave Ramsey’s Entre-Leadership. It was inspiring and motivating, and I brought back a number of concepts to share with my team at Cash4Books and MKZbooks.
It occurred to me that this is great material to also share on The Green Frugal, as there are a number of tips on credit, debt, savings, purchasing, and more.
Here are a few of the highlights from the Dave Ramsey Simulcast. The debt snowball was not covered specifically in the simulcast, but I still wanted to mention it here as it is classic-Ramsey material:
- Avoid risk when making large purchases. Buy USED whenever possible. Do you really need a brand NEW car? A brand new refrigerator? Washer/dryer? Couch? Use craigslist.org to find some great buys on used items. Or, check your local thrift store. I was just at the Hillsboro Salvation Army with my brother-in-law Jordan, and they had a special going with 50% off everything in the store! He got a great deal on a couch.
- Try the Debt Snowball technique. Many Americans are in debt… some of us severely in debt. How do we get out of debt? One technique is to take an inventory of every debt you have. List them out on a piece of paper in order of the lowest balance owed to the highest balance owed. Next make the MINIMUM payment on EVERY debt EXCEPT the one on the top of the list. For the debt on the top of your list, pay the most that you can reasonably afford. After you pay off the first one on your list, take your pen and cross it off. Then attack the next one on your list. Crossing them off will give you quick “wins” and motivation to keep going until they are all paid off. The money you gradually save on not having to make all the debt payments is snowballed into more money to attack the debt at the top of your list.
- Pay CASH. Cut up those credit cards! Or, you could freeze them in a giant block of ice so that you always have a “cooling off period” if you struggle with impulse purchasing. Debit cards are too easy to use–so, don’t use them. My wife, Breanne, and I have found that it works best for us to budget with cash. She takes cash out of the bank every week and uses it for groceries and other regular expenses such as gas for the car. Many of our bills are paid through online bill pay, so there is no need to budget cash for those. We rarely use a debit card and we no longer have personal credit cards (we haven’t for years).
- Budget your money. This seems cliche, but it is REALLY important to have a personal budget. I’ve uploaded an Excel spreadsheet to help you get started: Personal budget.xls
If you would like to see my PDF presentation of Dave Ramsey Entre-Leadership highlights and ah-ha moments, I’ve made it available as a link below. I showed this presentation to my Cash4Books and MKZbooks team members!
Entre-Leadership-Ramsey-Nov-5-2010.pdf
Comment on this post!
There is a reason that fenders are numero uno on this list. Notice on the pretty pink bike to the left, over each tire there is a round cover, that is called a fender. Fenders are critical to keeping you dry and clean when pedaling around on winter roads. They are positioned over the part of the wheel that flings mud, water, and muddy water on to your face, legs and back.
While fenders will keep you mostly dry from the wet roads, a rain jacket and a pair of rain pants will keep you dry and warm from the rain from above. Just about any waterproof or near waterproof jacket will do, but since you will be exerting yourself, a lighter and more breathable jacket will be better. Rain pants for cycling can be a little tricky. You will want a pair that can support the range of leg motion required to pedal your bike. Make sure that you can squat down and lift and extend your legs without pressing against any seams or too much fabric bunching. You will also want to make sure that your rain pants (or any pants, really) aren’t too baggy around the ankle/calf area. The extra fabric can get caught in the chain or torn on the sprocket teeth. You can reduce bagginess with the help of rubber bands, Velcro straps, or bungee cords.
You know that beautiful street lined with trees that you love riding through? During the rainy months that street becomes a death trap: wet, slippery leaves coat the asphalt, branches and sticks need dodging, and deep puddles form in clogged sewer drains. Just because you bike comfortably down a road during the summer months does not mean it will be equally enjoyable during the winter. On your first couple of wintery rides take careful note of which roads are debris free, have bike lanes that aren’t small rivers, etc. A slightly longer bike ride without obstacles is better than a shorter ride where your well-being is risked. Also, many bike shops have knowledgeable staff members or even clinics that can help you plan your winter biking routes.
You probably don’t want water, dirt, and sand flung into your eyes, right? Then you especially don’t want that to happen while you are cruising down a hill at 15mph while atop your two-wheeled steed. Just about any pair of sunglasses will prove to be invaluable during your commute. But the short days might mean you leave or come home in the dark, so you will want to get a pair of clear or neon safety glasses. They protect your eyes as much as sunglasses and can be found pretty cheaply at hardware or outdoor stores.
