Looking at My Goals for 2013

At the beginning of this month I shared several goals I had for myself in order for you to help keep me accountable.  I have appreciated those who have asked how I have been doing in different areas of my life.  Today I am going to reflect on my goals and update you on my progress.  

Social Wellness 

"In 2013 I plan on expanding my social networking community on facebook.  One of my goals is to reach at least 100 likes on the Brown's Balanced Life facebook page in order to gain a little viral traction and a platform to help others. "

UPDATE: I have already met this goal and am currently at 103 "likes".  I will continue to work on helping others throughout the rest of 2013 and hope to see this number continue to grow. 

Financial Wellness 

By the end of 2013, we would like to pay off over 20% of the current outstanding debt on our house.  To do this we will need to continue to work together with our finances  find more opportunities to earn and save more money.  We have also considered looking at selling our house, since we probably have a larger house then we really need. 

UPDATE:  We are on pace to be able to do this with paying 2.2% of the principal of our mortgage in January. 

Occupational Wellness 

One of my goals this year is to have portfolios prepared for every one of my students showing their specific progress based on the Humanities IB-MYP Objectives for 6th grade.  In order to do this, I will need to continue to stay organized and make sure to be given specific and meaningful feedback on all major assessments throughout the year. 

UPDATE:  We completed another IB assessment this month and I was able to grade them, provide written feedback and get them organized in their portfolios in a timely manner.  We will have at least 3 or 4 more assessments this school year.  Looking back, this goal is more of a school year goal then a goal for all of 2013.  

Physical Wellness 

I have many physical wellness goals this year.  One of my goals is to participate in an organized run/race every month of 2013.  Another one of my goals is to complete the entire week of RAGBRAI in July. 

UPDATE:  I completed my January run.  I am also registered for my February (Red Flannel Run), March (Look the Lake 8K), and April (Springtime Hill Climb) runs.  I am waiting to look at my options during May, June and July because I know there will be multiple races to choose from every weekend.  Today I also finished the registration process to be an official rider for all of RAGBRAI this year. 

Environmental Wellness 

One of my goals in 2013 is for William to complete the "Leave No Trace" requirements for cub scouts to learn the importance of taking care of our environment. We will work with William to learn to be intentional with doing things outdoors and indoors to help protect our planet. 

UPDATE:  We have completed some of the requirements along with William working toward his Tiger Cub badge.  We will be getting more intentional on focusing on the rest of the requirements in February. 

Intellectual Wellness 

In 2012, I completed 82 books.  My goal for 2013 is to read at least 100.  Several of my friends were able to meet this goal.  As Charlie Jones said, "Five years from today, you will be the same person that you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet."  I want to read some good books, so that I can be a better person five years from now. 

UPDATE:  I have currently read 17 books in 2013 and am working on several other ones.  I am ahead of the pace needed to meet my goal right now by 7 books.  I  know there will be busier times coming up with conferences, meetings and other family commitments. 

Emotional Wellness 

I will continue to blog about my throughs and feelings at least once a week throughout 2013. I will also post additional content on my blog's facebook page.  

A friend shared a great idea on facebook that our family has decided to put into action in 2013.  We will be keeping a "Good News Jar" to write notes of all the good things happening this year to open up and read on December 31st, 2013.   

UPDATE:  I have continued to update my blog at least twice a week in 2013 (normally Sunday and Wednesday) so have kept with my goal of posting at least weekly.  Our family has also been using the "Good News Jar", but I have not been writing as many notes as I could.  I plan to increase my note writing in February. 

Spiritual Wellness 

After finishing reading the Bible again in 2012, I plan on starting over in 2013.  In addition to reading the Bible, I will be using Tony Dungy's The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge for my personal quiet time in 2013.  Another spiritual wellness goal of mine for 2013 is to begin weekly devotionals as a family at least 5 days a week using Bruce Wilkinson's Family Walk.

UPDATE:  I have been doing a good job of getting my personal quiet devotional and Bible reading time in.  We started strong as a family doing our daily devotionals, but as Anna has started her Master's Degree we have not done as good of a job at being intentional on doing our family devotionals in during those opportunities that the three of us are together.  I will recommit to making this a priority the rest of 2013. 

Investing in Our Future

Lots of decisions we make every day impact our immediate and distant future.  Today's financial peace university lesson was about some of the things we do today that impact the legacy we leave for our family through our retirement and college planning.  

After paying off all debt (but your mortgage) and having a 3-6 month emergency fund you are ready for babysteps 4 and 5.  Baby step 4 is to invest 15% of your household income into a Roth IRA or pre-tax retirement plans.   Baby step 5 is to save for your child(ren)'s college using tax-favored plans.  

Keys to Investing:

When investing you should use the KISS rule.  Keep It Simple Stupid!  You should never invest in something you don't understand.  

One of the keys to simple investing it to diversify your investments to lower risk by spreading around your investments.  This principle is biblically based, in Ecclesiastes 11:2  says "give portions to seven, yes to eight, for you do not know what disaster may come upon the land".  The standard diversification plan that Dave Ramsey recommends is:

• 25% in growth and income mutual funds
• 25% in growth mutual funds
• 25% in international mutual funds
• 25% in agressive growth mutual funds

Another key principal of investing is to use tax-favored plans.  Tax-favored plans means that you are either using pre-tax money (not taxed now) or paying your tax now and your investment will grow tax free.  

Retirement Planning: 

One of the best tools for investing for retirement is the Roth IRA that currently allows you to invest up to $5500 a year of post-tax money that will grow tax free. 

Dave Ramsey's suggestion for reaching your 15% retirement saving investment is: 

1. Fund your 401(k) or 403(b) equal to amount of any employeer match.
2. Above the match fund Roth IRAs for you (and your spouse) up to $5500 each a year.
3. If you still have not completed your 15% then go back to your 401(k) or 403(b) to finish your 15 percent. 

College Savings: 

Rachel Cruze talked to us about college savings.  She mentioned the best tool for investing for college is the Education Savings Account (ESA) that currently allows you to invest up to $2000 of post-tax money that will grow tax free.  If you are able to save more than $2000 a year, Dave recommends using a 529 plan that allows you to control the mutual fund at all times. It is recommended that you never us insurance, savings bonds or prepaid tuition to save for college.  Both the above options in good mutual funds will preform much better for you.  

The goal I have for my son and for your child(ren) is for them to be able to go to college debt-free.  Some tips, beyond beginning to save now, to make a debt-free college a reality for our kids are:

• Pick in-state or community college
• Compare the cost to living on-campus vs. off-campus
• Apply for as many scholarships as possible, get SAT/ACT tutoring, work hard in high school.
• Realize that it is okay (some studies even say preferred) that your child works their way through college to pay for their education as they go.  

Balancing Life With God

In order to balance my life, I have found focusing on God and committing all areas of my life to him as key.  One way that I help keep my life focused on God and his Word is by doing daily devotionals as an individual, as a couple with my wife and as a family.  I find that by doing devotionals in each of these segments of my life I help keep God interwoven throughout my life and relationships.

My daily quiet time has grown tremenundously more important to me over the course of the past year.  I do not always do it at the same time like I know others do, but it is one of the things I put on my schedule each day and make a priority.  Currently I am using two different resources in addition to the Bible for this time.  One of the resources I am using is the Daily Inspiration for Teachers from the New International Version.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading scriptures based on issues that many teachers struggle with.  I am also reading The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge by Tony Dungy.  Tony Dungy has done a great job using Biblically based stories to challenge me as man, father and person each day.  I would highly recommend this book.

My wife and I have committed the past several years to either read a marriage book of do a devotional as a couple.  Sometimes we have done this as part of a larger group and other times on our own.  We just finished going through a book and study together as a couple titled, Divorce-Proof Your Marriage by Dr. Gary and Barbara Rosberg.  Gary and Barb presented some great stories and ways to help strengthen any marriage in their book.  We really liked having both the husband and wife perspectives in the same book.  We will be beginning another book by the same authors in our devotion time tonight titled The 5 Love Needs of Men & Women and are looking forward to continuing to grow in our relationship with each other and with God.

As a family we have spent time reading through Children's Bibles, talking about God and making our faith a priority, but we had not started a formal daily devotional process until this year.  We have started going through Bruce H. Wilkinson's FamilyWalk devotionals for families.  It has been great to use a resource to read a story, some scripture and then to talk intentionally about important issues as family.  We are looking forward to continuing this as our son grows up.

Do you have daily quiet time with God?  Do you use devotionals as an individual, a couple or a family?  If so, what are some of your favorite resources.  I would love to hear from you!

The Role of Insurance

Today's lesson for Financial Peace University was all about protecting your health, family and finances with different types of insurance   One key to financial peace is to understand the purpose of insurance and know what types of insurance you need and which ones you should avoid. The main purpose of insurance is to transfer risk from you to another entity.  If you don't have the right types of insurance you could end up in bankruptcy.

Dave talked about 7 basic types of insurance people may want to buy.

1. Auto Insurance: You need to make sure to have enough liability insurance (Dave recommends $500,000).  
2. Homeowner's Insurance: You want guaranteed replacement cost insurance, but if you can only get extended replacement cost make sure to keep your policy up-to-date with the current value of your home.  If you are renting make sure to get renter's insurance.  
3. Health Insurance: You need to make sure to have health insurance to cover the big stuff, so make sure never to decrease the maximum pay.  Today health insurance is an increasing changing topic, so make sure to check out Dave Ramsey's page or do your research before buying a new policy. 
4. Disability Insurance:  One in three people will end up qualified for disability at some point in their life, while only 2% of people think they may ever end up disabled.  You should buy long-term disability insurance, short-term disability is what your emergency fund is for.  
5. Long-Term Car Insurance:  If you are over 60 and have built any level of wealth this insurance if for you to protect your assets for your spouse or heirs.  69% of people who are 65 today will need some form of long-term care.  Dave recommends you buy this the day you turn 60, but never before that.  
6. Identity Theft Protection: Do not buy protection that only provides credit report monitoring, it needs to include restoration services so they will do the work to clean up the mess if your identify is stolen.  
7. Life Insurance: The purpose of life insurance is to replace your income if something would happen to you, so you needs about 10 times your income in level-term insurance. Dave Ramsey said that whole life insurance is the payday lender of the middle class.  The returns are low, the insurance keeps the cash value of your policy when you die and the fees are very high.  According to SmartMoney magazine, Dave Ramsey and a calculator, "the right type of life insurance can be summed up in a single word: term".  Check out the math behind this on MoneyPlan SOS's site. 

What should you avoid?

• Credit Life and Disability  
• Cancer and Hospital Indemnity Insurance
• Accidental Death
• Pre-paid Burial Policies
• Mortgage Life Insurance (unless your otherwise uninsurable) 
• Return of Premium/Wavier of Premium Options

Getting Good Deals (FPU Bonus)

One of the free bonus lessons for the new FPU course is "That's Not Good Enough."  It is a fun lesson in which Dave teaches us how to buy stuff and not pay too much and how to get a deal.

Dave laid out a few ground rules for getting big bargains including that you don't lie, you don't intend to hurt the other party and you try to create a "win-win" agreement.  He continually stressed the importance of having integrity.  "You cannot have healthy relationships and build wealth with lies as your foundation," he said.  I love that this class on finances is build on a strong foundation of Christian values. 

When it comes to making good deals, Dave's lucky seven basic rules of negotiating (which were covered in the Buyer Beware lesson too) are:

1. Always tell the absolute truth.
2. Use the power of cash because it is emotional, visual and has immediacy.
3. Understand and use "walk away power."
4. Shut up! (Take the time to listen and wait.)
5. Remember to use the phrase, "That's not good enough."
6. Watch out for the good guy, bad guy techniques some retailers will use.
7. Use the "If I" take away technique. (Stating, "If I do this, you need to do ______ for       me.)

The end of the class was about places to find great deals.  The place that we as a family take advantage of the most is buying from individuals.  You can usually make a good deal with individual people because they are trying to get rid of an item that is in their way and did not invest in the item with the intention of making a profit.  Dave and I also recommend garage sales, public auctions, consignment sales and online auctions.  Now there are even groups on Facebook for you to be able to sell your items and buy things from your neighbors. Our family has had success buying and selling from the Altoona/Pleasant Hill facebook group.

FPU Week 5: Buyer Beware

In our fifth lesson for Financial Peace University, Dave teaches us how businesses get their messages into our subconscious through great marketing.  Companies use every method they can to aggressively compete for our money.  In order to avoid falling into their traps including financing, convenience, ads, and product positioning we need to have a plan for our money and understand their methods.


Here are some strategies for making wise buying decisions that Dave taught during the lesson:

1. Always wait overnight before making a major purchase (anything over $300 or an amount you and your spouse agree on depending on income). Proverbs 14:29 tells us, "He who is impulsive exalts folly."
2. Realize that no amount of stuff will buy you happiness.  It can buy fun, but not happiness.  So consider your motives for buying the items and realize it is normally not a need. 
3. Never buy anything you do not understand. 
4. Consider the "opportunity cost" of making the purchase.  Ask yourself what else that money could be used for. 
5. See the counsel of your spouse (or accountability partner) or other people who trust for advise.  (See Proverbs 31:10-11)

Another fun part of this lesson was taught by Jon Acuff in giving us some simple rules for successful negotiating.  

1. Always tell the whole truth.  Don't lie!
2. Use the power of cash.
3. Understand and use "walk-away" power.
4. Learn to Shut Up!
5. Say "That's not good enough"
6. Be able to recognize when the "good guy - bad guy" technique is being used against you and don't fall for it. 
7. Master the "If I take away" technique. 

I will be posting more about how to get the best bargain later this week from a bonus online lesson.  One great bargain would be entering my giveaway for a chance to get a free book or a free ticke to see Dave Ramsey live in Des Moines. 

2 New Giveaways

I am giving away two great prizes in celebration to our facebook page hitting 100 likes. 

The first is the book Living Beyond Awesome by Jen McDonough and the second is a ticket to see Dave Ramsey and his daughter Rachel Cruze live at the Des Moines Civic Center on April 24th, 2013.

Hope you enjoy the giveaway!

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FPU Week 4: Dumping Debt

Dave Ramsey's class this week talked about four topics when dealing with Debt.  Those topics include defining debt, debunking myths, why we should get out of debt, and how we can get out of debt.  In this blogpost I will cover some of the key points from each topic.  If you want to get even more detailed information about one you can contact me using the link on the left-side of the blog.

What is Debt?
During the lesson we learned that debt has been marketed so well in our culture that we beg to be sold their product.  Dave says, "to even imagine living without it requires a complete paradigm shift."  Debt is any money that you owe to anyone for anything.  Types of loans include credit cards, student loans, car loans, home equity loans, mortgages or anything else you don't spend cash on.   The Bible is full of warnings about debt and there is not one passage about God using debt to bless his people.  As a Christian, it is important for us to realize that we cannot serve two master's and that "the borrower is the slave of the lender" (Proverbs 22:7b).


Debunking Myths

1. You do not need a credit card to rent a car or make online purchases, your debit card can do that. 
2. When you use a credit card you spend more than you do when you spend cash, which is why stores are willing to give you discounts for using their credit card. 
3. Car payments do not have to be a way of life, you can choose not to have a car payment and make your money work for you. 
4. According to, "Consumer Reports, SmartMoney magazine and a good calculator will tell you that the car lease is the most expensive way to finance and operate a vehicle."
5. You cannot get a good deal on a new car, they lose about 60% of their value in the first four years.  
6. "It is stupide to guarantee someone else's loan" (Proverbs 17:18).  Meaning you should not cosign a loan!
7. Debt is not a tool that should be used to create prosperity.  75% of the Forbes 400 surveyed said that "staying debt-free was the number-one key to wealth building".

The Reasons to Dump Debt
Other than the Bible warning about using debt there are many reasons why we should consider getting out of debt.  Think about how much you could save, invest, blow and give if you have no payments.  All of us could have many different reasons for why we would want to get out of debt.  The number one thing people on my blog's facebook page said they would do if they were debt free was saving for their kids or grandkids college.  One of the things that our family is looking forward to is being able to give more to our church and others in need, make sure William is able to go to college debt free, retire with dignity and have some fun traveling.

How to Dump Debt
The number one key to getting out of debt is to get mad about your debt.  Proverbs 13:12 says that, "hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life."  We need to get out of the stage of hoping to be debt free to get the passion and fight behind our desire to be willing to make the sacrifices needed to pay the price to get out of debt.  Dave Ramsey says that it takes "Gazelle Intensity" that he gets from Proverbs 6:1-5.  As Dave Ramsey is famous for saying, "In order to live like no one else, you have to live like no one else" now.  After you are ready to be "Gazelle Intense" and here are the steps that Dave Ramsey uses in his Financial Peace University:

1. Stop borrowing more money!
2. You must save money.
3. Sell something. 
4. Get a part-time job or overtime.
5. Prayer really works. 

Supporting Your Spouse

My wife has done an amazing job supporting me in all of my endeavors over the past several years.  She helped support me when I was earning my Master's Degree, in my work coordinating the after school program at my school, my positions within the teachers union and with my fitness goals.  

Over the next couple years one of my tasks will be supporting my wife as she pursues her Master's Degree.  The first step of this process was for Anna and I to sit down and talk about the impact this decision would have for each member of our family and the sacrifices that each of us would need to make.  We also needed to rework our budget to make additional financial sacrifices as a family to figure in the cost of tuition because since we have made a commitment to not go in to debt for anything again.  It is my turn to be Anna's cheerleader as she tackles something that is going to take time and be difficult.  When Anna has class I will be responsible entertain William and take over some of the tasks that Anna has traditionally covered for our household.  Additionally, when Anna completes classes we will make sure to celebrate her successes as a family. 

Here are some general tips of how you can support your spouse in any endeavor.  

1. Communicate with your spouse and family members.  One of the most important things is for all members of the family to be part of the decision and commit together to the pursuit. 
2. Believe in your spouse and be their cheerleader.
3. Help your spouse be successful.  This could be by helping them directly with their task or by making sure they have the time to be successful by taking on other household responsibilities.  
4. Make personal sacrifices.  We are called to put the needs of our spouse above our own needs/desires and you will need to put this into action to truly support your spouse. 
5. Make celebrating successes a big deal!

My 2013 Goals

As we begin a new year many people will create resolutions.  Most resolutions are thrown away and forgotten by Valentine's Day.  As my friend, Steve Stewart at MoneyPlanSOS said, "New Year Resolutions are promises of changing ones self.  Goals are plans to improve it."  What I want to do is challenge you to create one or two long-terms goals for yourself.

One strategy that I have used to help me be more successful in reaching my goals is writing them down and sharing them with others.  This helps me stay accountable to myself and others.  Below I am going to share a few of my goals for 2013 with you.  Please occasionally ask me how I am doing and help keep me accountable.

Social Wellness focuses on how you choose to define and connect with your community and the people around you.

In 2013 I plan on expanding my social networking community on facebook.  One of my goals is to reach at least 100 likes on the Brown's Balanced Life facebook page in order to gain a little viral traction and a platform to help others. 

UPDATE: Currently at 93 likes!

Financial Wellness is your relationship with money and skills in managing resources, as well as your ability to make good consumer choices and seek out appropriate financial opportunities

By the end of 2013, we would like to pay off over 20% of the current outstanding debt on our house.  To do this we will need to continue to work together with our finances  find more opportunities to earn and save more money.  We have also considered looking at selling our house, since we probably have a larger house then we really need. 

UPDATE:  Anna will be starting her Master's Degree program this semester.  We will be planning on cash flowing this and therefore may not be able to direct as much toward our debt as we originally hoped.  We will still make it our goal to eliminate at least 20% of our debt in 2013, but it will be harder.

Occupational Wellness is the work you choose to do and how you feel it contributes to your community and fulfills you.

One of my goals this year is to have portfolios prepared for every one of my students showing their specific progress based on the Humanities IB-MYP Objectives for 6th grade.  In order to do this, I will need to continue to stay organized and make sure to be given specific and meaningful feedback on all major assessments throughout the year. 

Physical Wellness refers to the role that you take in maintaining your body for strength, vitality and energy.

I have many physical wellness goals this year.  One of my goals is to participate in an organized run/race every month of 2013.  Another one of my goals is to complete the entire week of RAGBRAI in July. 

UPDATE:  I have already completed my first run in January (The Strider's Mittens Run) and have registered for the Red Flannel Run in February.

Environmental Wellness reflects the impact you have on the planet and the impact the planet has on you.

One of my goals in 2013 is for William to complete the "Leave No Trace" requirements for cub scouts to learn the importance of taking care of our environment. We will work with William to learn to be intentional with doing things outdoors and indoors to help protect our planet. 

Intellectual Wellness means feeling stimulated and engaged with learning and staying open to new ideas and perspectives.

In 2012, I completed 82 books.  My goal for 2013 is to read at least 100.  Several of my friends were able to meet this goal.  As Charlie Jones said, "Five years from today, you will be the same person that you are today, except for the books you read and the people you meet."  I want to read some good books, so that I can be a better person five years from now. 

Emotional Wellness are the actions you take in response to your feelings, being at peace with who you are, and the tools you need to weather life's ups and downs.

I will continue to blog about my throughs and feelings at least once a week throughout 2013. I will also post additional content on my blog's facebook page.  

A friend shared a great idea on facebook that our family has decided to put into action in 2013.  We will be keeping a "Good News Jar" to write notes of all the good things happening this year to open up and read on December 31st, 2013.   

Spiritual Wellness refers to your understanding of your place and purpose, how you make meaning of what happens to you, and what your mind goes to for comfort or relief.

After finishing reading the Bible again in 2012, I plan on starting over in 2013.  In addition to reading the Bible, I will be using Tony Dungy's The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge for my personal quiet time in 2013.  Another spiritual wellness goal of mine for 2013 is to begin weekly devotionals as a family at least 5 days a week using Bruce Wilkinson's Family Walk.

If you want help staying accountable for your goals, feel free to post them here in writing and I will ask you about your progress throughout the year.

Here is a great activity to do with kids in creating goals from Being Inspired.