Welcome to our blog. We regularly post Questions and Answers here along with our money saving experiences and comments on current economic events.
Unfortunately due to time restrictions, we aren't able to respond to every personal finance question we receive. But, if you are a website subscriber, you can ask us four personal finance questions each year and you'll receive a personal answer from us.
About three years ago we quoted our auto insurance. It had been four years since it had been quoted and n that time, we've added one car — daughter Becky bought a gently used Toyota Tacoma (we now insure three cars on our policy) and we've added one new driver.
At that time our insurer — Response Insurance — notified us that they were increasing premiums in the state of Arizona about 25 percent, it motivated us to start researching before the increase took effect.
I live in Australia and am thinking of getting an investment property and having a tenant in it. I have seen a 2 bedroom unit I like very near the railway station and a major hospital. The current tenant has been there for 3 years and is paying $400 per month. It is an older unit but in good condition and no immediate renovations are needed.
Question: Do you have any section about your beliefs about tithing? We are a family of 8. We have 5 boys and one girl ages 5 to 13. We both work, but make less than $32,000 a year and have been having a very rough time. We have been putting our faith in God, but it has just been very difficult. Any ideas on what we can do?
Answer: We think God is more concerned with your heart than the amount of money you give.
We received your books this December. In our excitement we immediately read them and set up our budget accounts. We took our first paycheck and divided it into the individual accounts. We already live very frugal lives, but we view money management differently and for the past two decades payday has always been a strained experience for both of us. Not so this time. Your system is pure common sense and we both felt empowered.
Then came living within the system we had created.
Question: How do you get your kids to appreciate ever-increasing electricity costs and to turn off lights and appliances? Mine just seem to walk away and have no care that Australian electricity costs are rising and rising and we now pay a carbon tax on top of this. I nag them to turn off lights and appliances at the wall, but it is a battle
Welcome to our guest blogger - Dr. Michael Thompson from 
