Friday, November 17, 2006

What is a blow category?

I recently received a request to explain the "Blow Category" in my budget. This was a great question. Thanks to the one who asked!

The night before I receive my bi-weekly paycheck, I sit down with my spreadsheet and allocate 100% of my paycheck. I plan were every dollar of it will go. As we all know, no matter how well we plan, unexpected thinks come up. For example, hey dad school pictures are tomorrow I need $20 for them. This is where the "Blow Category" in my budget comes into play.

Each bi-weekly pay, I budget $50 for Blow. I have an envelope that I keep in our home safe, you do have a home safe don't you? When unexpected things pop up, I go to the blow envelope. If there's money we can "Blow" it if no money, no blowing it.

If I find that the amount of cash is growing in the blow envelope to say $80 or more, I will allocate zero dollars out of the next pay for "Blow". Every once and a while when our blow envelope his $80, my wife and I take the family out for a treat. (unplanned dinner or a movie. Something fun.)

I hope I explained it. One last thought. If you don't plan on blowing some cash and you are trying to budget, you'll drive yourself crazy. So budget in some blow money.

Next post I'll explain the "commission" category in my budget.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Silo? What's with that

Ok, I'm sure you have heard it more than once in the ministry world that we can't be silo's. We need to be doing ministry together and not by ourselves. Does this apply to our church sign?
This Silo is at the entrance to our new church. It's a land mark in the area and we wanted to us that to our advantage. So, your looking at our road sign. What do you think?
Are we creative or what?
If you want to see it up close, you can come help us move the next few weekends. The 26th is the big move. Monday the 27th is the first business day in the new office. Say a prayer for us lots to move.






Thursday, November 09, 2006

Invited to another's small group

A few weeks back I was asked by a small group to come give a talk on finances. I thought great, two of my favorite things. (Small Groups and Finances)

It was great I sensed true community between the group members and a desire to know God more. The just finished studying The Treasure Principal. This book will rock your world!

A member of the group asked me to share some tips on finances and I happily accepted the invitation. First I walked them through Dave Ramseys "Baby Steps" I'm a real believer in them. Here are the first three steps:
  1. $1,000 in an emergency fund
  2. Pay off debt using the debt snow ball
  3. Save for retirement.

I also shared how my wife and I allocate our biweekly pay. We tell every dollar where to go before we get our paychecks. We even have a "blow" category. Of course me being a tech junky and an accountant, my allocation plan is in Excel. I'd be happy to share it with you if your interested.

It was great and a privilege to have been part of that small group tonight. I think I'll give my group members a call just to touch base before our next get together.

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

Cool to have voted today

I left the house at 6:25 a.m. today. I'm an early bird. Headed the 1/2 a mile down the road to go vote. I was the third person there. After a quick show of my drivers licenses and my signature, I was handed a credit card looking thing and pointed in the direction of a laptop looking device.

It was way cool. I put the card in the slot and instruction on how to proceed came up in less than 5 seconds. I was off and voting. Being a self proclaimed techie, I loved it. The touch screen was great and there was no doubt as I was voting as to checking the right box.

After I went through all my selections, there was a review screen that allowed me to check my selections and make any corrections. Then I pressed the button "cast my ballot"

The credit card looking thing popped out of the machine and I return that to the poll worker. My only disappointment is I didn't get one of those "I voted today stickers" as I left.

I'm happy to see voting has finally embraced technology. I'll really be happy when we are able to vote from home via the internet. Will that ever happen? Who knows.

Sunday, November 05, 2006

Speed Stacking with my Daughter

Tonight my daughter Katie and I spend some quality time together. She "helped" me work the sound board at church tonight during our Small Group Leaders event - EQUIP. I love small group. That's a story for another time.

I love the one-on-one time with my kids in the car. It's a time of great conversation and Q & A. Tonight also included a happy meal on the way home. (For Katie not me.) The only thing I enjoy at the golden arches is their coffee.

During the ride home, my daughter asked me if she could teach me speed stacking. I said sure but first you'll have to show me what that is.

Speed stacking is where you take 12 plastic cups and build pyramids with them. The more complex the pyramid the better and of course it must be done fast. I came to find out my daughter is her class champion. I soon found out why. She was flying with different combinations of stacks.

Then it was my turn. Let's just say we needed safety glasses because there were cups flying everywhere. I guess my hand eye coordination isn't what it use to be. Katie and I had great laughs. I'll have to stick to stacks of three cups for now. It will take me some time to get to the 12 cup stack. Chess anyone?