New Truck buyers are selfish.

Let me ask you as I am always curious.  Do you truck owners ever have problems financially?  I ask this because lets face it. Trucks are expensive.  Second question. Who out there owns their truck free and clear from 2012 or newer? Out of all the vehicles I see bought new I think trucks irritate me the most (second is the smaller suv's but we will get to those later) I get a little bit  frusterated when I see new trucks on the road and here's why. I Think you're lying. I also think your selfish. I think you're lying to yourself , lying to the world and are selfish towards  your family and your future. You tell the world that you have it good. You don't have any financial woes and can withstand an economy downturn. Your not going to need any assistance of food or housing if you were to lose your income. (which is a bunch of bull crap because I can pin point a blog that talks about shopping at the Bishops Storehouse with a couple who came there in a brand new truck) For those of you who have paid off your truck and have funds to back up emergency if they happen you can stop reading now. For the rest of you truck owners lets examine how much you are potentially paying per month on your selfish purchase. Again this is for 2012 or newer. I still consider alot of truck owners who have older trucks selfish and deceivers but for this sake I think I'll take an argument I have a fighting chance of winning.  In an earlier post I showed you that if you had a truck loan for 18000 dollars you would think you're paying around 360 dollars a month but in fact you're actually paying closer to 600 a month when you calculate every expense of the truck but there is one expense I forgot to add to that calculation. I totally didn't even think about it till last week. That's tires. You will need to calculate a new set of tires every 18 -24 months which will be around 500 dollars and being friendly I'll calculate it at 24 months which puts your grand total of an 18000 truck of about 619 bucks and some change for an 18000 truck. (I also want to add that i had a brother buy new tires for his expedition and that was nearly 800 so that price might be low) BUT and I did write a BIG "BUT" a 2012 or newer truck is not going to cost 18 k it will probably cost more like double. Let me repeat that DOUBLE! more insurance more  monthly payments and you don't think your selfish.  A 36000 dollar will put your payments  at  640 a month if you had good credit. Take in calculations like fuel tires insurance registration and maintenance and that truck easily cost at least 1 thousand a month to maintain. That's not selfish?  I know of at least 1 person who fits this description.  He earns about 2400 dollars take home pay. Half of it goes to his truck and that's not selfish? At least to his future? I have a brother in law who bought a 2012 SUV.  He makes 80 k a year and wants to buy a house but he first bought that. Last week his wife asked for a loan to go to Disneyland because they couldn't afford to go.  He's not being selfish?  Especially to his kids?. Just because you want the best for your kids doesn't mean that getting the best will be the best for them. Security first then the best.
If you chose to buy a truck make sure it doesn't interfere with your security! Again trucks are expensive. Think about it before you purchase and again per my Car Payments Anonymous group rules only a 5000 dollar loan amount max if you chose to purchase. Otherwise stay out of debt and stay ahead.

Surprise collection! your neighbors need to keep their cable.

Fast sunday was this last Sunday. I don't know why.  I think it's because of the temple dedication coming up. Usually it's at the beginning of the month so I was surprised when I heard a knock at the door to collect fast offerings. I found a 5 dollar bill earlier that day and was planning on spending it the next day. I almost would of said no except I have alot of respect for the guy who was collecting. I guess it's going to a good cause. I mean my neighbor who has been out of work for 5 months with no intention of finding a new job needs to keep his cable. We already know there on  church assistance but randomly found out they still have cable when she complained about missing a certain show that's only on cable on Facebook. Hope you enjoy my 5 dollar contribution neighbors.

They may look wealthier but are they?

I've decided to shorten my post. LatelyI have alot to say but not alot of time because of work.
A week ago my wife got a text from a friend to ask her if she wanted to go grocery shopping.  This friend of hers has a taste for the finer things in life. (Personally i think she wants the best for her adopted kids. Nothing wrong with that until it crosses the line where your actions cause you to ask for charity) She just recently bought a brand new house and spent alot with landscaping.  Before that she bought a near new van calculated at a 320 payment. She's been known to travel alot . Every weekend spent doing something.  She forgot pay day was a day later that week and couldn't go because of that. I bring this up because it just goes to show there are still those who's spending habits catch up with them. She could of easily gone if they weren't living paycheck to paycheck. Even though they look like they're doing well doesn't mean they are not vulnerable to financial drought. Avoid the finer things in life until you can live "below" your means because if you deserve a new house your bank account deserves to not be waiting for a paycheck to pay for life's needs like food.

why I love my van

I've been working on a post on how to buy a used car but it's taking alot of research and because I'm trying to finish a couple of projects I haven't had time to research and finish my blog post so at the same time I figured I would write some random post that I have felt like writing.
When ny wife and I first got married and even before that we made a rule that we would not be a minivan family.  I bought an Isuzu rodeo and loved it. (Fully paid off cash in hand) I had no desire to own a minivan.  After we moved to utah we had friends who bought a minivan from their parents and instead of driving 2 cars to our destination we were able to drive their van. That was the planting of the seed moment where my wife and I decided maybe a van wasn't so bad. I mean they did have better gas mileage than big SUV and being in utah where everyone has a van for sale they were readily available. Finally the day came. My wife was pregnant with our 3rd child and our Elantra was not going to fit all 3 car seats  so we decided it was time to get a  van and we were excited. After failed deal with a dealer full ofbroken promises (we won't go there) we found our deluxe leather seat van.
If I were to go back in time and go to college I would strongly consider driving a van. Here is why.  A van is a vehicle a mini bus and a cargo holder all in one. A van can easily get all of your college basics loaded. no need to rent a uhaul a van has plenty of room. Say you want to go camping with your friends your van doubles as a tent or shelter. You could offer shared rides and have everyone else pay your gas and nothing screams I'm ready to get married than a minivan.  Lastly, if worst comes to worst or if you're adventures and enjoy saving money you can live in a van. I have a cousin who moved to the oil fields to work. Rent was very expensive so he bought a 2002 Honda Odysey and put covers over the window even put a string across the back to hang up his clothes.  He probably saved up to 1400 a month and if you know me any purchase that saves me money is a great purchase.  A few more of why I like my 2003 chrysler town and country vs a newer chrysler or dodge van. One it's cheaper. I paid 75% less than most  people driving newer vans and I pay 66% on average less on my payment. My van is an actual arguable need with features I want vs your newer van which is a want justified as a need. One last thing before  I end this. Every time I see a newer van and to clarify a newer van is a van with a loan amount greater than 14000 dollars or 2010 or newer I get a little bit frusterated. Why? Most of the people who have these vans are young growing families.  Young growing families require alot of money to stay afloat and that van you bought and justified as a need for your growing family is robbing you a value per mile. Remember that phrase whenever you purchase a vehicles.  Your most vpm is not within the first 100000 miles.  It's also made you vulnerable.  How long will you last if you lose income and have to chose food or your van payment. Never think that happens?  There is a YouTube video that shows a families van being repo'd  right after they returned home from church.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZhcib5u1yA Don't make yourself vulnerable. Have your   vehicles paid for or at least a low payment of a hundred dollars because if you did fall on hard times getting ahold of a hundred dollars is a little easier than 300.

Frustration with the Bishops Storehouse part 2

There was a handful of events that made me start questioning the people who rely on the Bishops Storehouse.  I want to be clear that I'm not bashing the integrity of the Bishops Storehouse. I'm questioning the integrity of certain people who use or have used the Bishops Storehouse when poor planning led them there and during the time they are on it to help them on their feet they are keeping all of their toys vehicles expensive house still going hunting or doing activities that could go towards basic living essentials.  There is a radio show that have text topics where they ask a question and you can text your answers.  There was a question on who told your clergy on you. One of the answers from a lady was that her kids told the Bishops kids that they used their tax  refund to go to Disneyland when they were on church assistance.  Wow a clear example of how they ended up on church assistance in the first place.  Instead of helping their situation they blew their funds.  Makes you wonder if they weren't receiving assistance if they would of made a different decision. Another example of why I am stuck on this subject is I service several payday loan places. When I was getting a signature for my work I clearly saw a check from the church.  The church doesn't do business with pay day lenders so who's loan were they paying?

I have not to this date asked the church for assistance. I am not working due to an injury and I can't justify it especially now. I have more than enough reasons.  I could simply go to my bishop with my finances I have less than 800 for my mortgage and 105 for my car. Today is not the day. I'm honestly doing good. In the past however there were alot of missed opportunities.  Yeah I didn't lose my job during the great recession but it was during those times I needed help the most. Like the time I moved to utah and was putting my rent on a credit card. I could not even afford to do laundry.  I sometimes did my laundry out of my bathtub because the laundromat was too expensive plus there washers were like half the size of a normal washer. My wife would do crafts to make us a little extra. The time my wife was pregnant with our second and I would sell plasma to pay for groceries diapers and formula. The church sent out a letter urging members to donate food to the food banks so my wife and I decided to donate half of the plasma money to buy protein items.  I remember we even said a prayer and asked that our dollars would stretch that week. Assistance would of really helped during the two trips to the hospital for rsv. Once when my second child was just 4 weeks and when she was 2 I remember asking our landlord for an extension and paying a 50 dollar late fee. The worst time I ever needed help was when we finally moved to our house. Our house we bought was only 120K much less than the 249 or 270 that are being bought every day out here. We had to put all of our belongings in our parking lot stall because we ran out of time  rent a budget truck, rent a storage unit, then were technically homeless. We lived in a hotel for 2 nights finally moved but due to some closing issues had to be very careful with our finances.  I would drive twice a week a half hour north to sell my plasma so I could buy formula and diapers. With whatever left I would buy whatever groceries I could. We even raided my daughter's piggy bank so we could buy 20 dollars worth of groceries. I remember being excited because I could buy corn tortillas and black bean and corn salsa that week. At least I could make chips and have salsa to dip them in.
I think I will bring this subject to a close but before I do I have a few questions for those who  justified getting assistance from the church. Do you have a car above 10,000? Can you sell it? Do you have a gas gussling truck or SUV you drive? Can you downsize get a car with better gas mileage that cost half to operate.  Are you struggling to pay your 1500  paiddollar a month mortgage?  Obviously if you're on church assistance you have to be. Even if you couldn't see the future you couldn't prepare for it either? What about guns, ATVs, RVs, boats, snowmobiles, trailers. Did you sell off your possessions before asking. Did you stop dance classes or sports to cut back on spending?  Did you fly anywhere (not for busines) while you were on assistance?  You couldn't use those funds to help your situation.  At last if I could leave you with some advice on how to tackle life it would be this and I may be  hypocritical of saying it. Build your life with 1 Paid for brick at a time and protect those brick and back them up. It's not worth it to finance some of those bricks. You risk losing them and having holes in your security.  Except for a modest house that you can afford and a college education do not finance anything else on your personal (not business) credit. Your not protecting your walls and are that much more vulnerable to showing up to ask for charity.

It's therapeutic to write down your frustration.

I have a ton of ideas to blog about and they are not all in the negative category.  I'm actually a pretty positive guy. Even in the most severe depressing trials I have had I've actually found happiness in thoughts ideas actions but once again I do need to write down my frustrations. That's one of the main I would even call it therapeutic reasons I write on this blog. I want to tell someone but either you're going to be called jealous zealous or someone who just complains a lot. This blog is only going to be here short term maybe a year maybe 2 my hope is that I will either A:get my frustration out on paper feel better about myself or b my situation would change so much that I wouldn't have any complaint s and I'm not talking about striking it rich. I'm just saying as simple as my car being paid off. A move.  Picking up a summer recreational activity such as wave runners which you can pick up as cheap as 800 for 2 plus a trailer! Being able to take my kids to lagoon instead of antelope island. Moving!
Or being able to celebrate my anniversary properly. Just a couple levels higher standard living.than where I am right now.