New Financial Tool

Jonathan Griffith, our partner for personal financial coaching, passed along this Mortgage Calculator tool for you to download and use.  Here’s what he says:

“Casey,  I wanted to pass along this tool that I think you and all Rethink Money fans will love.  It’s a Mortgage Calculator that allows you to dream up different scenarios of how to pay off your mortgage faster.  You can apply the same amount or different amounts monthly and watch how quickly your mortgage can be eliminated.

Dusti & I painted a big bullseye on our mortgage about 4 years ago when I first got a calculator similar to this.  This tool has helped us stay focused and allowed us to dream and celebrate as we get closer and closer.  We’ve dumped pay raises, bonuses, garage sale money, and anything else we could find on our debt to watch it disappear. We’re on track to have it paid off in a few years.  I can’t wait to be debt free because that will free up a lot more money to be given, invested, and spent on the things we really value.  Thanks for helping people change their lives one dollar at a time.  You and the principles you teach have certainly changed ours.

Thanks,  Jonathan”

If you’re interested in our personal financial coaching services, email Jonathan at jgriffith33@comcast.net.  For more financial tools, click here.

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Paying off more debt

Check out the story of another family, and some of my best friends, paying off tons of debt and getting financially free.  This is their blog entry from December 1, 2008:

“No More Student Loans!!! Louie and I sat down 3 1/2 years ago with Casey Graham (of Rethink Money) who is one of our best friends and mapped out a plan to get us out of debt! We had racked up plenty getting married at 22 and 24 with one income while I finished school. I will be the first to tell you that I did not have Faith that we could do it; in fact, I thought Casey was a

little insane! I thought that debt was just the American way, that you just racked it up, make the minimum payment and then pay it off in the alloted time. Casey encouraged us that we could do this and Louie and I started paying off debt little by little, we payed off a credit card, car, loan that we had to fix our roof from a hurricane in Mobile, and then finally my student loans. WOW! We would be completely out of debt except for the house if it had not been for Louie’s car (which was a piece and Louie

NEVER complained one day about it) finally kicking the bucket last month. So now, we are working on paying off our new car! I am so excited about what this will mean for our future and future family! Thanks to all our friends who helped and encouraged us during these last few years. And thank you so much Casey for giving us the vision that this could actually happen!!!”

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Success Story & Practical Ideas

Here is a story that came from an employee at one of our partners that has gone through ReThink Money.  We hope it encourages you and challenges you to stick with your financial plans and gives you some ideas of what other people are doing to become debt free.

“Casey,  I cannot thank you enough for you coming and conducting your class. My wife and I have now paid off three credit cards, four tax bills and two other past debits. In addition, at the same time put money into savings and now have two savings accounts.  I will tell you that I paid off the credit cards and tax bills by getting a consolidation loan.  And by doing that I am saving 85 dollars a month (which goes into savings), and we pay less interest. It was only because of your class that we decided to do that.  I also got a second job at Wal-Mart.  I am using that money to put into savings and buy stocks.

My wife and I made a “Paid in full” wall.  As we made the final payment, we would write ‘paid in full’ with pride and joy. Then pin it up so that we can see them every time we go into our office at home. I heard about people putting in a prominent place, pictures of things they want. A very basic idea that we have all heard before. But this was our dream to be debt free.  I am now in the planning stages of having 1 car paid in full this year, and the other a few months later.

I look forward to seeing you again when you revisit.”

“Paid in Full” Wall

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Alabama

Okay, I have to brag.  Alabama is 11-0 and recieved 63 first place votes in the AP poll.  EVEN if we do get beat by Auburn or Florida, I am completely happy with Nick Saban’s turn around of the tide. 

What does this have to do with your money?  NOTHING!  ROLL TIDE ROLL.

To some bloggers…

Joe Sangl - Sorry about Purdue!  Sad.

Gary Lamb - I would not do a black out ever again.

Jay Hadwick - The Old Ball Coach can’t recruit to SC

Perry Noble - Clemson needed a change!

Shawn Lovejoy - ROLL TIDE! 

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Build the Organization

I am reading Built to Last by Jim Collins.  If you are not a buiness book reader you probably haven’t heard of this book.  It is great.  My number one takeaway so far is that my calling is to build the organization, NOT a specific product or service.  That really rocked my world when I read that.

When I wake up in the morning, I feel like I have a responsibility to crown the company, not myself.  My personal agenda has to die for the organizations to succeed.  I am learning more and more about what ReThink Money is and isn’t.  What we exist for and what we don’t exist for.  Our mission is to see lives changed one dollar at a time. 

My greatest calling is to see lives changed financially so they can change others lives financially.  How?  Generous giving.  I feel like I have been on a campaign tour for generosity this fall.  I want everyone I know to become more generous.  Why?  IT CHANGES OTHER PEOPLE’S LIVES. 

PERSONAL FINANCES HAVE PUBLIC CONSEQUENCES! 

If we just keep our money to ourselves, we miss the opportunity to expand God’s work on earth.

So what are we building at ReThink Money?  An organization that helps people become more generous.  How do we do that?  Helping people win financially. 

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