Building Wealth: Emergency $$ Fund

Good Idea!  Do you have an Emergency💲 Fund? Minimum amount per Dave Ramsey is $1000.  

Ours is in our bank's safe. We do not keep this stash 💵💲around the house because it might get spent in a non-emergency situation (read: pizza night, shopping), LoL.  A smaller $ stash is nearby -- just in case 😉

in Christ alone, my hope is found!

***

LIST: Do 3 Things to Avoid Poverty

 Dare I say it?  It's as  simple as 1, 2, and 3! You want proof? Look around at any people for whom you have an ounce of admiration for the stability in their lives. I bet you $20 that the majority had done these three. 

**

Fifteen 15 Things to Help You Sell Your Home

The magazine article   states that you may be able to sell for 30% over asking price for  particular renovations. They are listed below.

 Most of us are looking for a good investment and do not want to waste money; so do proceed with caution as each of these home improvements cost extra dough $$$.  I should know as I have done 5 that are on the list and am still feeling the financial $$$ pinch, ouch. 

1.  Steam Shower

pc: Maeghan Brown

2.  Professional Appliances

pc: Talitha Bullock

3.  Entertainer/ Prep Sink

pc: Stephani Buchman

4.  Shed or Garage Studio

pc: JESSICA ISAAC

5.  Heated Floors

pc:  CODY GUILFOYLE

6.  Meditation Room

pc: JF  Rothenberg

7.  Wine Fridge

pc:  A Bengochea

8.  Chef's Kitchen

pc:  Talitha Bullock

9.  Herringbone / Parquet Floors

pc: Cody Guilfoyle

10.  Freestanding Tub

pc: Nicole Franzen

11.  Solar Panels

pc: R Rak

12.  Outdoor Fireplace

pc: M Vang

13.  Carrara Marble

pc: Grzywinski + Pons

14.  Home Theatre

pc:  Emily Henderson

15. Farmhouse Sink

pc:  SK Johnson

Read the entire Domino Magazine article H E R E

Make Your House Sell for More

***

Gloria Vanderbilt and Millionaire Myths

The closest we ever got to anything related or connected to the wealthy Vanderbilt dynasty was during our vacation in NC.  We had the privilege of  visiting this vast, gorgeous mansion built by GW Vanderbilt, II.

Biltmore House, currently owned by the family of William Vanderbilt Cecil,  is the largest privately-owned house in the United States @ 178,926 square feet of floor space. 

Gloria Vanderbilt (owner William's 2nd cousin)  told her son, Anderson Cooper, "... there is no inheritance." Good for her! She actually gave the best gift to Anderson --  motivation to excel and to work. It's sink or swim when you have no financial safety-net to catch you during Life's many, many challenges. 

ETA: Gloria Vanderbilt leaves almost everything to Anderson Cooper

So how would Anderson or ANYONE become rich in their own right? 

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:

 but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 13:11

Gloria Laura Vanderbilt

Biltmore Mansion, North Carolina

George Washington Vanderbilt II

***

Ten Years of Debt Erased

A 10-year ordeal has come to an end with my receipt of a final-payment check from Mrs C who owed me and my sisters mucho dinero via her debt to our deceased Parents.

Man, this experience felt like pulling teeth and getting blood out of a turnip.  Even our Lawyer was doubtful:  "I didn't think you'd get a dime out of her", says he. That's because from the beginning of the ordeal Mrs C adamantly refused to sign a contract agreeing to specific terms regarding her repayment.

Full of doubts and foreboding my sisters and I reluctantly agreed to her terms (read, no terms).  Months turned into years of reminder texts, broken promises, phone calls, partial payments, skipped payments (one dry spell lasted 6 months). She moved to two locations in two States but did not change her phone number, thank God.   We did not even know what she looked like -- we never met face to face! I contemplated filing a lawsuit more than once. Yet we hung on; trusting in nothing but God's faithfulness and Mrs C's promises. The day finally came when at long last it was over.  She did it!

I will dislike and even hate Mrs C for raking us over hot coals at times, but I am truly thankful to God for His grace that got us thru this long and difficult experience.  I can not forget our parent's part in this neither -- they were capable of lending huge sums of money to their friends with nothing but a gentleman's handshake to prove it. Wow, what trusting natures they had.

BTW, on her final note, Mrs C called me by the wrong name and put the wrong year (one more mean jab to keep me off-kilter, me thinks).  I am simply too happy to finally get her out of my hair for good that I can only respond with:  who cares, likewise,  and good riddance!!!

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: 

but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

Proverbs 13:12

**

Whoa! Stock Valuation is UP!

 recent company email: The ESOP Trustee (GreatBanc Trust) has completed its annual valuation and determined the value of ___ Stock to be $5,108 per share, an increase of 30.7% from the previous valuation.  ___'s strong performance in 2017 and outlook for the future were key drivers, but other factors contributed as well.  These included a strong stock market, good performance by comparable companies, solid global economic conditions and the positive effects of the recent change in U.S. Tax rates.

The value of ___ Stock in participants' accounts in both the ___ Legacy Stock and ___ ESOP Leveraged Stock Funds, has been adjusted by Vanguard to reflect this new price.  In addition, ___ has made the necessary contributions to the ESOP Trust for Plan year 2017 and a new allocation of ___ Stock will be made to the ___ ESOP Leveraged Stock Fund accounts of all eligible KSOP participants based on the new stock value.   Both the stock price change and the new contributions will be visible in participant accounts by March 30^th.

Congratulations to our Team Member Owners!

Winning: South Korea Avoids Tariffs

McCormick to Pay Out Bonus

Are We Rich Yet?

**********************************

Prediction of the Richest Cities in the World in the Near Future

These cities are suppose to be the richest cities in the world in the next 10 years. Before you plan to buy properties there consider these thoughts:

1) Doha,Qatar - I disagree with this one. Even though it was growing so fast, the price of oil which is its main source of income is down and will continue to be in the $40 or lower range for a long time. This place was over built when oil was $150/barrel.

2) Bergen, Norway

3)Trondheim, Norway - I agree with these two Norwegian cities, but not as rich as some had predicted. These two cities are financial hubs of Norway...a country most blessed by the North Sea oil bonanza. The Norwegians , however, did a very smart thing ... they invested their oil profits. They created their sovereign fund which is now one of the biggest in the world and worth hundreds of billions. They are not dependent on their oil revenues for continued prosperity.

4) Hwaseong, South Korea

5) Asan, South Korea - I agree with these ones. South Korea has one of the most vibrant economies of the world...thanks to very smart economic policies of South Korean Government. If the U.S.A. would just adopt same economic policies, we would truly Make America Great Again.

6) Macau, China - This is a wild card. It was the richest one a few years ago but the Chinese Government clamped down on its gambling Industry because of its corrosive effect on the Chinese people ( Asians are some of the biggest gamblers in the world. Its genetic). However, the Chinese are a resourceful people. The same genes that makes them gamble, makes them take risky but lucrative ventures.

Blessings for the day: The promises and gifts of God are irrevocable.

Willie P -  07/31/2016

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hwaseong,_Gyeonggi#/media/File:Gyeonggi-Hwaseong.svg

I wanted to put my friend's thoughts down in my blog for the record.  He's been wrong concerning a variety of subjects; but he's also been right and is very knowledgeable. I want to see how accurate he is in his assessment of these countries' wealth in ten years, God willing. -- Mrs E

Real Money

 I'm excited about this. I received several birthday gifts which were generous and sweet, but this one in particular was a first.  I had mentioned it in passing a couple of weeks previously as a "good" gift. I did not say where it could be purchased, nor how much it would cost.  Lo and behold, two of the kids actually heard, and followed through. Woohooo!

The Silver American Eagle Coin is legal tender and has a face value of $1.  It contains 1 troy ounce (31.1 grams) of .999 fine Silver.  The rest of the coin is Copper for durability. Why has this coin found favor in my eyes in recent months?  It is  affordable -- Silver's spot price is currently hovering @ $17 per ounce;  it is real money; and it is the world's only Silver bullion coin whose weight, content, and purity are guaranteed by the government of the United States. That can not ever be said of the trillions (Quadrillions??  Quintillions??)  of US paper money  floating around.  Yes, further research on my part is needed as to the place Silver can play in our portfolio which is currently heavy on the equity market. It goes without saying that I do value my husband's advice, and the wisdom found in God's Word:

Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.  Ecclesiastes 11:2

My special day was topped off by the good company of old friends, one of whom bought me & R a strawberry cake from a long-time favorite bakery, Lutz Cafe & Pastry Shop .  Oh, yesss! 

***