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org
DAY 1—List what you would do. . .if you were DEBT FREE.
As you plan your future, it is important for you to consider a life-changing question.
“What would you do if you did not have any debt?”
Think carefully, then make a list of all the things you would do today if you did not owe
a single cent to anyone. By completing this exercise, you are setting in motion several
powerful Biblical principles.
This is what I would do for God and my family if I were debt free:
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__

During this month, it is important for you to keep referring to this list. It’s your dream. .
.it’s your future.
“ . . .without a vision the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18

POWER SCRIPTURE

“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men,

Especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”
Galatians 6:10
RICH THOUGHT
“If you don’t have a dream, how are you ever going to make a dream come true?”
Oscar Hammerstein II

FUN QUOTE
Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That’s where the fruit grows.

DAY 2—Discover what you are trading your life for.

I grew up in LaGrange, North Carolina, a small town of about 2,000 people. My
parents owned a successful small business. My Dad never graduated from high school but is
respected in our community as a honest, decent and hard-working man.
I will always remember the conversation he had with an older gentleman who also
owned a small business in our community. The gentleman stopped by our store one day and
asked my father if he would examine his financial records. He told my Dad he was having a
problem with his business.
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 The gentleman pulled an old ledger out of a crumbled brown paper bag. As he opened
the book, my Dad noticed the words “Tuck In” written on the upper corner of each left-left hand
page. And the words, “Tuck Out” were written on the upper corner of each right-hand page.
As my father tells the story, the old gentleman said, “Brother Harold, I think my problem
is that I have “tuck out” more than I have “tuck in.”
Most of the people who live in financial bondage or the agony of a paycheck to
paycheck existence got there because they “tuck out” more than they “tuck in.”
Your first step to financial freedom is to find out where you are!
Write down all your assets, listing everything you own. Place a fair market value on
each item. Be realistic!
List all your liabilities. Put down on paper everything you owe. . .including any notes to
family members or other obligations that you are trying to forget. Then subtract your liabilities
from your assets and you will have your net worth.
Now divide your net worth by the number of years you have been working and you will
discover how much you have been trading your life for each year. Don’t get discouraged. To
begin any great journey you must know where you are departing from.

POWER SCRIPTURE
"Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the
cost to see if he has enough money to complete it?
“For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will
ridicule him, saying, `This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.'”
Luke 14:28-30 NIV

RICH THOUGHT
“Whenever we’re afraid, it’s because we don’t know enough. If we understood enough, we
would never be afraid.” Earl Nightingale

FUN QUOTE
Every morning I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest
people in America. If my name is not listed there then I go to work.

DAY 3—Detail all your outstanding indebtedness.

Think IRS audit. . .okay, relax. . .you are not going to be audited but with the type of
thorough mindset that thought brings, you are going to organize your files.
I want you to get every credit card, department store and bank statement for the past
12 months. Also, pull together all your pay stubs and last year’s tax return.

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 List the creditor, account number, phone number, contact person, outstanding balance,
minimum payment, interest rate, and if it’s a credit card, whether or not the creditor in question
charges an annual fee.
Caution: the enemy will seek to discourage your during this exercise. But remember,
he is a liar; in fact, he is the father of lies. Don’t worry about the figures. They are just
numbers on a piece of paper. Now you have some specific subjects to discuss with your
Heavenly Father.
Today, you will take the first powerful step in organizing the enemy (debt) for a major
attack.

Creditor Monthly Amount Monthly Amt. Interest Annual

Payment Overdue I Can Afford Rate Fee
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

POWER SCRIPTURE
“We will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.”
Galatians 6:9 TLB

RICH THOUGHT
“I have never met a man who has given me as much trouble as myself.”
Dwight L. Moody
FUN QUOTE
“When down in the mouth, remember Jonah. He came out all right.”
Thomas Edison

DAY 4—Analyze your current credit position.

Total up all your credit card, department store, auto loan, personal loan and installment
payments for the past six months. Do not include your mortgage payment. Divide the total by
six and you will have the average amount you spend on installment payments each month.
Monthly Take- Amount You Spend Per Month In Installment Payments
Home Pay

Excellent Good Fair Poor

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$ 900 $ 90 $115 $135 $180 (plus)
1,000 100 125 150 200
1,250 125 155 190 250
1,500 150 190 225 300
2,000 200 250 300 400
2,500 250 315 375 500
3,000 300 375 450 600
3,500 350 440 525 700
4,000 400 500 600 800
5,000 500 625 750 1,000
6,000 600 750 900 1,200
7,000 700 875 1,050 1,400
8,000 800 1,000 1,200 1,600

If your rating is “Excellent” or “Good”, breathe easier. If your money is still funny then
your problem is discretionary spending (eating out, movies, cash purchases).

A “Fair” rating means your financial condition is okay as long as the weather is “fair.” If
financial clouds appear on the horizon then you are in trouble. You will not be able to handle
the washing machine breaking down, an unexpected illness or work slow down.

If your rating is “Poor” then you probably have the late-notice blues or phone collector
headaches. But fear not, it’s not a permanent condition. You are on the way out of your
dilemma.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Remember, too, that knowing what is right to do and then not doing it is sin.”
James 4:17, TLB
RICH THOUGHT
“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude
towards it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity. “
Anonymous
FUN QUOTE
I’ve never been poor, but I’ve been broke. In fact, I’m been so broke that when I walked
by the bank the burglar alarm goes off.”

DAY 5—Give yourself a raise.

Did you realize that three out of four employees overpay their taxes. That's right, the
vast majority of taxpayers allows the government to use their money for a year -- interest free.

Would you like to increase your paycheck from $50 to $200 per month? Here's how!
The amount withheld from your paycheck for income tax each payday is called withholding
allowance. Each employee is responsible for completing a W-4 form upon employment and/or
when any changes occur in your tax situation. Seventy-five percent of the taxpayers are

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having more money withheld than is necessary. Some people like to get that tax refund each
year. They feel like they are somehow pulling one over on the government. NOT TRUE. It's
your money that they are giving back to you.

If you are paying taxes each year on April 15th then you are having too little money
withheld and you should decrease the number of allowances that you are now claiming.
Here’s what you should do:

1. Verify with your employer's payroll office the number of allowances you currently
have listed on your W-4 form. Ask for a new form.

2. On the back of a W-4 form is a worksheet which you could use to determine the
number of allowances that you should claim so that you will not be overpaying the
government.

3. In completing the form, make sure you list all your itemized deductions from last
year, any IRA's or other deductions. This will help you arrive at the proper number of
allowances which you should claim.

4. Return the completed form to your payroll department and eagerly anticipate your
next paycheck and the increased amount you will be taking home.

5. Use the increased take home pay to pay off existing bills and/or invest it into a
savings program.

POWER SCRIPTURE

RICH THOUGHT
“A person is truly poor, not when he has nothing, but when he does nothing.”
Anonymous

FUN QUOTE
I have done an extensive survey. . .spared no expense. . .polled every possible
demographic profile and I have only found two groups of people that do not like to pay taxes. .
.men and women.

DAY 6—Go on a money diet.

If it’s not necessary, don’t spend it. Talk with your family and let it become a family
challenge. Think of all the ways you can save money. Pretend you are on a low-calorie, low-
fat, weight-loss diet. Debt, like extra weight, is tough to get rid of.
Some cost-cutting strategies include: eat at home, stop all premium cable channels;
cut off cable TV totally; stop the newspaper (buy it only on Sunday for the coupons); stop
smoking cigarettes; only make necessary long distance calls; stop call waiting and call
forwarding; take your lunch to work; car pool to work; drink water instead of soft drinks or
coffee; just to name a few.

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POWER SCRIPTURE
“The wise man saves for the future, but the foolish man spends whatever he gets.”
Proverbs 21:20 TLB

RICH THOUGHT
“Make all you can, save all you can, give all you can.”
John Wesley

FUN QUOTE
If money talks what it says mostly is. . .good-bye.

DAY 7—Attend a church where your faith can be encouraged.

Even God took a day of rest after working all week.

POWER SCRIPTURE
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. .
.For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them,
and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV

RICH THOUGHT
“In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with
success.” Proverbs 3:6, TLB

FUN QUOTE
The Lord loves a cheerful giver until he brags about it.

DAY 8—Start calling your creditors.

Don’t let fear cloud your determination to become debt free. Call or visit each creditor.
Explain to them your current financial situation. Work out an agreement on what you can pay
each month and the date on which the payment will be made.
Depending on your financial situation, you might ask the creditor to accept a smaller
monthly payment than what was previously agreed to. Ask them if they will stop any further
interest accrual until you can catch up your payments. (All they can say is no).
Send the creditor a letter confirming what you have agreed to. If for some reason, the
creditor will not go along with your plan, ALWAYS LET YOUR CHRISTIAN CHARACTER
SHINE THROUGH NO MATTER HOW THEY ACT. You might indicate to them that while
some people declare bankruptcy to avoid paying their debts that you really hope that will not

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be necessary in your case. The mention of bankruptcy makes cantankerous creditors much
more agreeable.
Continue your calls until you have spoken with all your creditors.
POWER SCRIPTURE
“In everything you do, stay away from complaining and arguing, so that no one can
speak a word of blame against you.” Philippians 2:14-15

RICH THOUGHT
“Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile
achievement.” Henry Ford

FUN QUOTE
Sign on the front window of a finance company, “Now you can borrow enough money to
be debt free.”

DAY 9—Learn how to save money from your bank.

It is often easy to think that the bank is smarter than we are. On the contrary. The
fact that the average family overpays its bank more than $100,000 over the course of a 40-
year relationship.......borrowing money for mortgages, home improvements and auto
purchases and using checking and savings accounts ......should put us in a sober frame of
mind in which to assess our own banking practices. ( Resource: Board Room Classics; trademark of Boardroom
Reports, Inc., N.Y.,N.Y.)

Some banking suggestions include:

1. Be sure your deposits are credited to your account immediately. There are
some banks that will hold deposits until they are cleared or worse, for a specified number of
days regardless of its clearing. Withholding credit over 24 hours is unreasonable for our high
tech generation. Out of state checks may require more time but beware of unreasonable time
limitations. The bank is using your money and withholding even your access to it in these
situations. Watch them!

2. Make the effort to find out your bank's rules. They are usually contained in an
easy to obtain brochure. It can save you a headache if you know that by depositing a check
after 2 o'clock p.m. it will be put on the next day's transactions. It may keep you from
bouncing a check even though you made the deposit on the same day. With the price of non-
sufficient check (NSC) charges these days, this is information you have to know!

3. If you write 25 checks in one month and use the ATM 15 times with a service
charge of $7. per month and 30 cents per ATM transaction, you are paying $19 per month or
$228 per year. If your interest bearing checking account is FREE of service charges by
keeping a checking account balance of $1,000, you not only save checking charges, but with
interest earned you could be ahead by nearly $500 at year's end. It is time to make your
money work for you!

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 4. Each month be sure to reconcile your bank statement. Make sure all deposits
are properly recorded. When you go through your statement, place a small star or "x" by all
the checks that qualify for a tax-deductible purchase. Most checkbooks provide such a space
and you will be ever so glad you did when tax time rolls around.

There is a tremendous competition among banks today. Survey a number of banks and
then decide the best one for you.
Bank Name Bank Name Bank Name Bank Name
_________ __________ _________ _________
Minimum Balance For
No Service Charge _________ __________ _________ _________
Amount of Service
Charge _________ __________ _________ _________
Cost Per Check _________ __________ _________ _________
Stop Payment Charge _________ __________ _________ _________
Bounced Check Charge _________ __________ _________ _________
ATM Charge At Your Bank_________ __________ _________ _________
ATM Charge From Other
Banks _________ __________ _________ _________

Review the statistics and you decide where you want to bank. After all, it’s your money!

POWER SCRIPTURE
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over
a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”
Matthew 25:21
RICH THOUGHT
“Do or do not. There is no try.” Yoda
FUN QUOTE
If money doesn’t grow on trees, then why do banks have branches?

DAY 10—Beware of the Absolutely Too Much (ATM) machine.

Find a bank that does not charge you a fee to use their ATM machines. Many banks
assess no fee as long as you are using their machines. If they are charging you a fee, either
complain or consider changing banks.

Almost every grocery and convenience store now offers ATM machines as a “customer
service.” Just remember that ATM actually means “Absolutely Too Much.” Each of these
businesses charge a service fee plus your bank will charge an additional service fee. The
amount varies from $.50 to $5.00. There is big money in these fees which is why the
machines have suddenly become so available.

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 Control your ATM card or cut it up. If you are in a cash and budget squeeze then the
use of an ATM can be hazardous to your financial health. When you are trying to come out of
debt it is best to always limit your access to easy cash.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.”
Proverbs 13:11

RICH THOUGHT
“We are all given two ends—one for thinking, one for sitting. Heads you win; tails you
lose.”

FUN QUOTE
Criminal: You made a mistake, and I’m not going to pay for it.
Sgt. Joe Friday: You going to use a credit card.
Dragnet Television Show

DAY 11—Get a better credit card.

How much of your hard earned money do you "give away" in outstanding interest charges
every month? Thirty-six percent of the people paying credit card interest are paying over a 19%
annual percentage rate when cards are available as low as 4.9% plus.
In selecting a low interest credit card all that glitters is not gold. There are a number of
important questions you should consider in selecting a credit card.

NEW CURRENT CURRENT

CARD CARD CARD
Question 1:
What is the interest rate? ____ ____ ____
How long is the rate guaranteed? ____ ____ ____
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Question 2:
What is the annual fee? ____ ____ ____
Question 3:
Is there a grace period? ____ ____ ____
If so, how long? ____ ____ ____
Question 4:
Is there a fee for late payment? ____ ____ ____
If so, how much? ____ ____ ____
Question 5:
Is there a fee for exceeding your credit limit? ____ ____ ____
If so, how much? ____ ____ ____

Question 6: Is there a fee for transferring

existing credit card balances? ____ ____ ____
If so, how much? ____ ____ ____

One other note of caution. Make a list of the cards you now have - even the ones
you have stopped using. If you have not cut them in half and mailed them back to the
issuer with a signed letter asking that your account be closed, you may still be paying an
ANNUAL FEE and it will be billed directly to the card, and you will receive an INVOICE for
that amount. If it is added in with the current outstanding balance for that card, you are now
PAYING INTEREST on your annual card fee. How's that for upping the cost of the LOW
annual fee?

POWER SCRIPTURE
“A wise man thinks ahead; a fool doesn’t, and even brags about it.” Proverbs 13:16 TLB
RICH THOUGHT
“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” Duke Ellington
FUN QUOTE
A friend said he lost his credit cards six months ago. I asked if he had reported them
stolen. He said, no, the thief is spending less than we were so we just let him keep them.

DAY 12—Audit your life insurance.

Examine all your life insurance policies. There are really only three basic types of life
insurance regardless of the fancy names given to them by insurance companies. There is
whole life that gives you insurance plus a way to accumulate cash value. There is universal
life that provides insurance and takes the cash value and invests it. Then there is term
insurance which is purely protection against the loss of family income.

If you are in the market for insurance you are looking for loss against income provided
for a family. Term insurance provides the most amount of coverage for the least amount of
dollars. The other two not only cost more, they are throwing in another purpose for
insurance. But, the question arises, what about cash value, I can borrow against it at a very
low interest rate. Yes, that's true, but whose money are you borrowing? If it's your cash
then the insurance company is making you pay them interest for your money.
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 If you need cash or cash growth, you need an investment. Investments should be
handled as investments.

Call Crown Financial Services toll-free at 1-800-795-8237 or Insurance Services at 1-

866-400-0780. Let the receptionist know that you’re calling as a result of the Debt Free Army.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“The rains came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the
house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”
Matthew 7:25

RICH THOUGHT
“What you tolerate, is what you live with.”
John Avanzini

FUN QUOTE
Early to bed, early to rise, until you make enough money to do otherwise.

DAY 13—It’s your health and your money.

Thirty percent of health claims are denied each year because of minor errors. Half of
those claimants accept the fact and are never heard from again. A simple step in dealing with
claims is never accept "no" the first time around. If you have a legitimate claim, take the time
and energy to push for it or a compromise.

If you have a medical policy at this time there are a number of ways to save money and
save it now. A very realistic cost includes reducing the increasing high price of drugs. Ask
you doctor to prescribe generic drugs.

Speaking of pharmacists, often the larger discount stores or discount drugs can offer
lower prices. Build a relationship with the pharmacist and ask questions.

Another immediate cost buster is checking on deductibles. If your group or individual

policy offers different deductibles, take the higher one. It can reduce the amount you are
paying by as much as 30 to 45 %. Then take your savings and open a savings account
earmarked for your medical needs that you can use for your deductible but will be drawing
interest along the way.

The Insurance Helpline also handles medical insurance questions toll free at 1-800-
942-4242. This is a national service but they help you with varying types of consumer
information.

POWER SCRIPTURE

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“Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul
prospers.” 3 John 2 NKJV

RICH THOUGHT
“Do what you can, with what you have, with where you are.”
Theodore Roosevelt

FUN QUOTE
I have enough money to last me the rest of my life, unless I buy something.

DAY 14—For my burden is easy.

Read, meditate, memorize and confess these powerful scriptures. Debt is a burden in
every way ... it drains our mental capabilities with worry, and it can cause great stress in our
family relationships over just meeting the everyday needs within our home. It also gives place
to the devil to make us feel as though we are not capable of being a successful child of God.

Every person must deal with the responsibility of earning a living. The Word of God
teaches that he who does not work, neither shall he eat! (2 Thessalonians 3:10). The Word
tells us that we are responsible for providing for our families. "He that does not provide for his
own is worse than an infidel." (1 Timothy 5:8) Yet many who struggle and worry about getting
ahead are plagued with the mental anguish that they are not doing God's will.

What will it take for the Body of Christ to understand that above all things God desires
that we prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers? (3 John 2)

There are about 500 scripture verses on faith in the Word of God but more than 2,350
verses referring to the use of money. It should be obvious to us that if our faith is important to
our God, so is our money.

POWER SCRIPTURE
"...If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth
not; and it shall be given him." James 1:5

RICH THOUGHT
“No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he only had good intentions. He had
money as well.”
Margaret Thatcher

FUN QUOTE
Always remember it’s better to give than to receive. That way you don’t
have to write thank-you notes.
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DAY 15—Use it or sell it.
Check all your clutter accumulating spaces and locate anything that is not necessary or
income producing. Have a garage sale to get unnecessary clutter out and more cash flow in.

Talk with some of your neighbors about having a neighborhood sale. Don't sell
something you really want or something you'll just have to end up replacing. Everyone has
"stuff" that is just sitting around that nobody will be using again. It can be just the right "boost"
to get rid of even one nuisance bill.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“`. . .This place is too small for us; give us more space to live in.'”
Isaiah 49:20 NIV
“For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice
Zechariah 4:10

RICH THOUGHT
“Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits.”
Thomas Edison
FUN QUOTE
“Be like the Mona Lisa. She keeps smiling when her back’s to the wall.”
Anonymous

DAY 16—Finding extra income.

Is there a short-term extra job you can secure? Can you utilize one of your hobbies to
make some extra money, such as, selling cakes, landscaping, selling trout flies, sewing, or
anything else you enjoy that might become income producing?

POWER SCRIPTURE
“. . .let not your hands be weak and slack, for your good work shall we rewarded.”
Chronicles 15:7 AMP

RICH THOUGHT
“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
John Wooden
FUN QUOTE
Did you know that Robinson Crusoe started the 40-hour workweek? He
had all his work done by Friday.

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DAY 17—Protecting your borders.
A popular phrase (especially before apartment and condo living) was, "A man's home is
his castle." And throughout history men and women would take all kinds of measures to
protect their homes (castles) and the possessions accumulated within them.

Times have changed somewhat since the days of digging moats around the outside
walls to keep the intruders out. However, little has changed when it comes to the need to feel
secure about protecting your home - most often your largest single investment - and its
possessions.

As you review your homeowner’s policy pay particular attention to the amount of your
deductible. The "deductible" is the amount YOU pay for a loss before the insurance coverage
kicks in. And though this amount will vary drastically from policy to policy, the HIGHER the
deductible the LOWER the premium.

Keep in mind that the money you pay in premiums is YOUR MONEY.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:14
RICH THOUGHT
“Money-giving is a very good criterion of a person’s mental health. Generous people
are rarely mentally ill people.” Dr. Karl A. Menniger

FUN QUOTE
The reason I like money is that it goes with anything I wear.

DAY 18—Home but not a loan.

Calculate how much you should be spending on your home mortgage. A homeowner
can increase their net worth so easily it may seem too good to be true. For less than a dollar
a day, you can save literally thousands of dollars on interest and cut years off your home
mortgage. Let me explain.

For the example let's say Sam and Sally own a $100,000 home in which they are
paying $804.63 (plus taxes and insurance) each month on their 30 year mortgage at 9%
interest.

If they were to add only $25 more per month as a principal payment they would save
$29,441 dollars in interest and take 3 years and 10 months off the mortgage payments!

If Sam and Sally were to increase the amount to $100 a month in principal they will
save $75,785 in interest and ten years, one month in payments! It is like adding over
$77,594 to their net worth by only paying off their own mortgage. Not a bad investment return
for $100 a month! And a great way to begin saving for retirement.

POWER SCRIPTURE

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“The Lord my God teaches me to profit, and leads me in the way that I should go.”
Isaiah 48:17

RICH THOUGHT
“Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have a habit of making
excuses.”
George Washington Carver

FUN QUOTE
“Thinking of new ideas is like shaving: if you don’t do it every day, you’re a bum.”
John Mason

DAY 19—How much house can you afford?

Are you ready for your dream home? “With a small down payment and low, low
monthly payments you can move into your dream home quick and easy.” Does this ad sound
familiar?

In the current economy, builders are making deals sound so good it’s difficult for many
people to pass up the idea of owning their dream home. Unfortunately, the payments and the
deal sound so easy that many unsuspecting consumers end up with a payment far greater
than they can possibly afford.

How much should you spend on your housing? Your limit for principal, interest, taxes,
insurance and utility costs (electric, gas, water) should not exceed 28 percent of your annual
gross income. Yes, you may feel like you can afford a higher payment. . .but what happens
with the unforeseen circumstances, i.e., job layoff or transfer, pregnancy, sickness. . .just to
name a few.

Here’s how it works out. Find the figure in column one of the table below that
represents your annual gross household income. The maximum amount on housing appears
in column two.

Maximum Housing Allowance Based On Your Income

Annual Income Maximum Housing Allowance

$15,000 $350
$20,000 $467
$25,000 $583
$30,000 $700
$40,000 $933
$50,000 $1,167
$60,000 $1,400
$75,000 $1,750
$100,000 $2,333

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 Buying a new home is very exciting. But don’t let the excitement of the moment place
you in a lifetime of bondage. One final word of caution: Don’t let an enthusiastic sales person
or real estate agent tell you how much house you can afford.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Noah believed him even though there was then no sign of a flood, and wasting no time, he
built the ark and saved his family. . .” Hebrews 11:7 TLB

RICH THOUGHT
“Plans get you into things, but you’ve got to work your way out.”
Will Rogers

FUN QUOTE
“Money in the bank is like toothpaste in the tube. Easy to take out, hard to put back.”
Earl Wilson

DAY 20—Who’s keeping score on you.

Make sure your credit records are correct. You should be aware that 24 out of 25 credit
bureau files on individuals and businesses have major errors. These errors (mistakes) can
include everything from a simple twist of the facts by a tired and overworked employee trying
to get out of the office for a long weekend, to a major problem caused by careless "file mixing"
(you get mixed up with someone else for a long period until their "bad" records get "blended"
with your file and YOU are the one who now looks bad.

Because of the volume of data given to credit bureaus, there are bound to be some
errors. However, it is getting worse. Wrong information - damaging information - can easily
get into your file.

At least once a year you should review your credit file to ensure that everything is
correct. Most of the credit bureaus will send you a free copy of your report once a year, upon
request. If not, there may be a $10 charge. It could be some of the best money you ever
spend.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“I seek the Lord, so I will not lack any good thing.” Psalm 34:10

RICH THOUGHT

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 “I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish that He didn’t trust me
so much.”
Mother Teresa

FUN QUOTE
“I don’t want the cheese, I just want to get out of the trap.”
Spanish Proverb

DAY 21—Unlimited financial opportunities.

Most people don't realize just how much wealth there is in the world. While people
wonder why they can't get a hold of a one-dollar bill, they should realize they are in short
supply. There are more than sixty times as many one-hundred dollar bills available. The
amount of available wealth is staggering. Should we as God's children think that He would
prefer to lavish it upon the sinner?

In just eight common minerals found under God's earth alone, projected in value as
they are mined over the next twenty years (with no adjustment for inflation) those eight alone
will add fifty-one trillion, four hundred and eighty billion dollars worth of new wealth to the
world economy. World-wide coal reserves alone are figured at about three hundred and
eighty-three trillion dollars of wealth sitting just beneath the earth's surface.

All of the above is but mentioning one small scratch of available wealth and yet the
enemy gives chase to countless Christians trying to believe for a few hundred dollars a month.

The Word of God says the Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills (see Psalm 50:10).
The shortage is not God's, it's ours. It is man's folly caused by his ignorance of God's Word
that causes shortages to exist. I know one purchasing agent for a rich oil sheik. He tells me
that when this sheik wants a McDonald's hamburger, he will put his entire family and crew into
his 747 and off they fly to the nearest country with a McDonald's restaurant. It might cost
$20,000 for one night at McDonald's.

When the same sheik sends his wives to London to shop, he puts them in his private
jet -- a flying palace if you please -- and burns up $17,500 just for fuel. Then his wives have
been known to spend a million dollars in the morning, and two million dollars in the afternoon
on jewels, furs, shoes, furniture, cars, and other things. That's just the wealth of one man!

We are limited in our perceptions of what wealth God has provided in the earth. The
enemy loves to use this deception on God's children because we are the only ones who will
fund God's covenant on the earth. Child of God, it is time to grasp this truth!

The Word of God says, " This is the confidence that which we approach him, that
whenever we ask anything that is in accordance with His will....we realize we have what we
have asked from him." (1 John 5:14,15 TCNT) God wants His children to prosper.

Let these scriptures get down in your spirit. Write them out on 3 X 5 cards and take
them wherever you go today.

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POWER SCRIPTURE
“I am not slothful, but I am a follower of those who though faith and patience inherit the
promises.” Hebrews 6:12

RICH THOUGHT
“Don’t wait to be motivated. Take the bull by the horns until you have him screaming
for mercy.”
Michael Cadena

FUN QUOTE
“A lot of people are willing to give God the credit, but not too many are
willing to give him the cash.”
Anonymous

DAY 22—Avoid financial fender benders.

If you audit your automobile insurance you may find there are many ways you may be
able to save $$$ beginning TODAY!

1. Consider raising your deductibles. Raising your comprehensive and collision

deductible from $200 to $500 can cut your premium up to 30 percent. If your current bill is
$1000 that is close to a $350 a year savings. If you feel uncomfortable in not having the
$500 "in case of an accident" then merely take the savings (you are spending it anyway) and
put it into an interest bearing account and let it earn interest while you are waiting.

2. Consider dropping your collision and comprehensive coverage if your car or

truck is over 7 years old. In many policies an insurer does not have to fix your car but only
pay what it is worth. This can leave you walking if your car is 7 years or older or worth less
than $1,000. If your auto insurance agent says you must have a certain coverage to be
licensed in your state, double check what and how much with your local Motor Vehicles
Department.

3. Explore what is available for you through your own health care plan and don't
allow a duplication on your auto insurance. Passenger health care is provided under the
liability portion of your auto policy.

4. Providing for rentals and other extras while your car is being fixed is a point of
choice. If you have a two car family it is unlikely a rental will be necessary.

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 Getting close to paying off that auto loan? It's amazing how a $300 payment that
comes free can be absorbed and spent in the monthly budget almost without notice. There
is a better way.

When the car is paid off, take that extra payment and begin putting it in a savings
account toward the next car.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“They imported a chariot from Egypt for six hundred shekels of silver.”
2 Chronicles 1:17
RICH THOUGHT
“You said, `but.’ I’ve put my finger on the whole trouble. You’re a `but’ man. Don’t say,
`but.’ That little word `but’ is the difference between success and failure. Henry Ford once
said, `I’m going to invent the automobile,’ and Arthur T. Flanken said, `but. . .’”
Sgt. Ernie Bilko
The Phil Silvers Show

FUN QUOTE
Banks have drive-through windows so that the real people who own your car. . .get to
look at it three or four times a month.

DAY 23—Audit your warranties and service contracts.

STOP PAYING DOUBLE. With each major purchase you make a salesperson is trying
to sell you an extended warranty. In fact, you will find them now placed on just about
anything that sells for over $100.

The extended warranty is NOT the best investment you can make with your money for
several reasons. You will have to purchase the extended coverage at the time you make the
purchase and it is of NO value to you until the manufacturer's warranty runs out.

So if your television comes with a one-year manufacturer's warranty, the seller gets the
use of YOUR money for a full year RISK FREE! - and then there's the extended
PROTECTION policy sold on a freezer which comes from the manufacturer with a THREE-
YEAR MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY.

Now here's the real kicker - when you add the cost of the extended policy to the total
amount financed, you are now paying interest on a policy that in some cases won't be in effect
for as much as THREE YEARS! Not a good use of YOUR money.

If you have such a policy presently in effect, now is the time to get it out and read it
carefully.

NOTE: The same thinking goes for the credit card protection programs. There are
companies that will sell you a policy to protect you against the misuse of your credit card in
case of theft. And they make it very easy to purchase this protection. All you have to do is
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check a box on the application and the "very-low-valuable-protection-service-fee" will simply
be added to your credit card statement each year.

This is probably one of the most misused schemes in the country. By now you know
(because you have read each of your credit-card agreements), that if your card(s) are stolen,
all you have to do is call the card company's toll-free number and you are only liable for $50
of any charges placed on your card. Calling when you first notice your card missing will most
often cancel ANY charge.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will
increase in learning.” Proverbs 9:9

RICH THOUGHT
“I do the very best I know how—the very best I can; and I mean to keep on doing so
until the end.” Abraham Lincoln

FUN QUOTE
If you want to get back on your feet. . .just miss two car payments.
Anonymous
DAY 24—Make sure you can afford your car.
According to the National Association of Automobile Dealers (NADA), it cost families
with a median annual income of $36,473 more than 26 weeks of earnings to buy a new car.
Most accidents to new cars take place immediately upon leaving the dealer’s show room. The
price goes down dramatically.

In developing your out-of-debt plan perhaps you should consider buying a used car or
dealer demo. The car you buy may not have all the bells and whistles but, at least, it won’t be
your bell their ringing when a payment is past due.

When buying a car also examine the loan value listed in the various car books. Make
every effort to never pay more than the loan value.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will
advise you and watch your progress.” Psalm 32:8 TLB

RICH THOUGHT
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we
are moving.” Oliver Wendell Holmes

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FUN QUOTE
If you would like to buy an $18,000 car it’s easy—buy a $6,000 car on
monthly payments.

DAY 25—Know what’s under your hood.

It may be a clunker but it's your clunker--for now. Today is the time to begin some very
basic maintenance checks which can preserve the life of your automobile and its parts.

1. Downshifting causes costly repair to engine and transmission

components. Using your brakes is using your head, financially speaking.

2. Four out of five vehicles operate just as efficiently on 87 octane gasoline with no
significant effect on fuel economy, durability or emissions according to the U.S. Department of
Energy. There is usually a four-to-six cents difference between 87 and 89 octane and an
eight-to-twenty cents difference between 87 and 92 octane. If you burn twenty gallons of fuel
per week that is a savings of $40 to $208 per year.

3. When you are traveling always buy your gas where the truckers stop and shop.
These professionals always know the best places. You should avoid buying gas at the time a
station is receiving a delivery of fuel. As the gasoline pours into the tank it stirs up the
sediment and this is bad news for your engine.

4. It is wise to run your car air conditioner at least ten minutes every week of the
year. The frequent use of the air conditioner, regardless of outside temperature, will maintain
coolant pressure and greatly reduce the possibility of expensive repairs.

5. Smart drivers will avoid using the "255" air conditioning system (two windows
down at 55 miles per hour). The wind resistance experienced by your car could reduce your
gasoline performance by up to five miles per gallon.

6. You should always start your car in neutral, if possible, as it places much less
demand on your engine.

It's time to organize the maintenance information on your car. It may be a clunker but it
is your clunker. If you want God to bless you with another car then
prove you are faithful in caring for the one you have.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“If ye know these things happy are ye if you do them.” John 13:17

RICH THOUGHT
“You may try to destroy wealth and find that all you have done is increase poverty.”
Winston Churchill

FUN QUOTE
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 If you think you won’t be missed, move away leaving a few unpaid bills.

DAY 26—Begin a systematic savings plan.

Many experts agree that an ideal savings plan is 10 percent of your after-tax income
each year. This may seem like an impossible task but it is imperative that you start
somewhere.

Two twins graduate from college at age 22. Mary makes a decision to start investing
$1,000 a year at 10% interest but Jane decides she wants to enjoy life before starting an
investment program. Eight years later, at age 30, Mary has invested $8,000 but with
compound interest she has $12,579 in the bank and she decides to stop investing.

At age 30, Jane decides it’s time to start her investment program so she invests $1,000
a year until age 65. At that point, Jane has put $35,000 into her investment program.

Mary at age 65, will have an investment account worth $388,865 with only an $8,000
investment at 10% interest. Jane on the other hand, who put $35,000 into her investment
program will only have $329,039 in the account. Here’s the same news…Jane’s total
investments will never match or exceed Mary’s account because of the compound interest.

Someone asked Albert Einstein what was the greatest invention he’d ever witnessed
and his answer was two short words, “compound interest.”

You might be saying, I don’t have $1,000 a year to invest…let me break it down for you.
One thousand dollars a year is only $84 a month or $19,23 a week which is about two movie
tickets and a box of popcorn.

Here’s the bottom line. Start early but regardless START NOW!

POWER SCRIPTURE
“. . .the ants were wise because they set aside resources in the summer so that they would
have provisions in the winter.” Proverbs 6:6-8

RICH THOUGHT
“Change where you are by changing what goes into your mind.” Zig Ziglar

FUN QUOTE
The Eiffel Tower is the Empire State Building after taxes.

DAY 27—Before you begin to make investments.

It is recommended that you have three months’ gross income in basic savings
(Certificate’s of Deposit, money market funds or savings accounts) before you begin an
investment program. This will protect your family against any unexpected emergencies.

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 Generally, the first investment most people should make is an IRA. Each employed
person may contribute up to $2,000 per year in their account. Many banks, insurance
companies, and mutual funds will open an IRA for only $50 per month. The tax benefits make
this a most attractive investment vehicle.

POWER SCRIPTURE
Lazy hands make a man poor; but diligent hands bring wealth. Pro 10:4

RICH THOUGHT
“When you discover your mission, you will feel its demand. It will fill you with
enthusiasm and a burning desire to get to work on it.”
W. Clement Stone

FUN QUOTE
“Eagles fly alone, crows fly in-groups.” Anonymous
DAY 28—Does God want us to plan ahead.
Proverbs 13:22 says, "A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children's children.”

Good people are those who have lined up their lives with the Word of God. If we are
expected to leave an inheritance for our children's children, that is no small amount. God's
Word also says, "Steady plodding brings prosperity, hasty speculation brings poverty."
Proverbs 21:5

Many people misunderstand the idea of being wealthy. It would surprise many people
to realize that statistically, most millionaires don't live in the kind of neighborhoods they can
afford to live in. Sam Walton, the late founder of the successful Wal-Mart chain store drove
around in a pick-up truck. Wealthy people like Sam Walton are comfortable but realize that
wealth doesn't mean "having the best of everything." Wealth is what you keep, not what you
spend. It is a collection of assets, not things. It is the attitude not the acquisition.

The Word of God recognizes this principle in the book of James 4:3, "You ask and fail
to get because you ask it with wrong motives, that you may spend it on your pleasures."

Those who seek riches for themselves will never have wealth because they cannot
resist the temptation to spend it.

It is the "steady plodding" referred to in the book of Proverbs that brings true wealth to
the believer so that he may not only "establish God's Covenant in the earth (Dueteronomy.
8:18) but that he may also leave an inheritance for his children's children.

Retirement will not "take care of itself." First you must decide where you want to go;
then how you plan to get there.

Most of us are so caught up in the intensity of our "todays" we don't take much time to
plan ahead. That is exactly what has happened to most Americans who statistically have an
average of $2000 saved at age 65. That is too late to think about retirement.
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 Give some thought today as to what you would really like to put aside for building your
"future." Write down the programs that are already working on your behalf.

POWER SCRIPTURE
"For I know the plans I have for you...to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 20:11
RICH THOUGHT
There would be no advantage to be gained by sowing a field of wheat if the harvest did not
return more than was sown. Napoleon Hill

FUN QUOTE
“Saving is a very fine thing. Especially when your parents have done it for you.”
Sir Winston Churchill
DAY 29—Pay off your credit card debts rapidly.
If you have credit card with a balance $1,000 at 21% interest it will take you 138 months to
pay it off assuming you only make the minimum payment. That isn't even mentioning the
$1,104.63 you pay in interest on the original $1,000 you borrowed.

But if you pay an extra five dollars a month you can cut the time from the 138 months
(that translates as 11 years and 5 months) down to saving 58 months and $438.66 in interest.
An additional $10 a month will save you 81 months and $621.95 in interest. Most Americans
are lulled to sleep by the devil as he steals the very lifeblood of their savings. This is a
powerful strategy in your war on debt.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Look straight ahead; don’t even turn your head to look. Watch your step. Stick to the path
and be safe.” Proverbs 4:25-26 TLB

RICH THOUGHT
“If you feel like life has knocked you down. . .tried to land on your back. Because if
you can look up. . .you can get up.”
Les Brown

FUN QUOTE
The exercise that wears most people out is running out of cash.

DAY 30—Plan a Cash Day.

Wow! What an exciting concept...Go Cash! Yes, that's right. You've planned for it and
if you think real hard, there has probably been a day in the past in which you have actually

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done it - gone through the whole day without using a credit card or writing a check. Complete
the entire day without using a credit card and without writing a check.

"But I make all my purchases by check - isn't that really like cash?" Yes and No. If you
have ever played the float (written a check when the money wasn't actually in the bank that
day, but your deposit will beat the check to the bank), then you have placed the first bricks in a
foundation of false security.

When you "play-the-float" you are doing neither. Writing a check to a vendor for goods
or services when you know there is NO MONEY in the bank at the time you write the check is
NOT A GAME. You are taking a RISK. Believer, stop kidding yourself! The scripture is very
plain about such things - GIVE NO PLACE!

POWER SCRIPTURE
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” Proverbs 23:7

RICH THOUGHT
“There were times my pants were so thin that I could sit on a dime and tell if it were
heads or tails.” Spencer Tracy

FUN QUOTE
Don’t worry about keeping up with the Joneses. They just declared Chapter 13
bankruptcy.

DAY 31—It’s working!

Review your progress and the money saved.

As you sow you begin to reap! Note your accomplishments as they happen. Even
God takes note of what His people do for Him.

"Then those who feared the Lord talked together, and the Lord paid heed and listened.
A record was written before him of those who feared him and kept his name in mind." Malachi
3:16 (NEB)

There are times when we must strengthen ourselves in the Lord as David did of old
(read I Samuel 30:1-6). We need to record our victories so that at any time we are able to
say, "Look what the Lord has done!"

This is a page that the family can celebrate over each time a bill is paid off or at certain
intervals to gain encouragement from the progress you are making. It is great to have a little
praise and worship time before God when he has brought forth a deliverance in your midst.

For the last thirty days you have concentrated on your commitment to become debt-
free. You have spent time thinking about it, gathering information to plan it and deciding how
exciting the alternatives are going to be. Statistics show us that if we do anything for at least

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20 days in a row, it will become a habit. In this way we can actually create a new habit in
place of an old one.

IT IS TIME FOR THE BATTLE PLAN TO UNFOLD.

POWER SCRIPTURE
“Quit praying and get the people moving! Forward march!”
God speaking to Joshua in Exodus 14:15 (TLB)
RICH THOUGHT
“Money is not bad. There is not anybody I know who really thinks it’s bad. If they do,
why don’t they give their paycheck back.” Dr. Charles Stanley

FUN QUOTE
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” Will Rogers

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