shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com November 23, 2010 • Page 11 DAVE SAYS: Putting a ring on her finger doesn’t have to put you in debt Dear Dave, My girlfriend and I have been dating for about three years, and we’re talking about getting married. I have some money saved up and would like to buy her a nice engagement ring. Do you have any guidelines on how much to spend on something like this? Dustin Dear Dustin, If you’re working a good, steady, full-time job, I think a good rule of thumb for engagement rings is one month’s pay. Some jewelry stores will tell you two or even three months’ pay, but that’s just too much. Lots of people get engaged or married with cheaper rings, and the relationship and the jewelry last just fine. Trust me, there’s absolutely no statistical correlation between the price of the ring and the length of the marriage! Jewelry stores have huge mark-ups on diamonds, so make sure you don’t buy it at a typical mall or franchise shop. You want someone who’s a diamond broker, or even it score. Why do potential employers need to check up on this? Mitchell Dear Mitchell, It’s not unusual for big businesses – Corporate America – to do this kind of thing. Typically, most small businesses don’t get into that kind of stuff. Still, some companies use this as a measure of whether or not you’re responsible with money. I can see where it might possibly have some value if you’re going into the financial industry. But I don’t agree with the premise as a whole. I have almost 300 people on my team, and I don’t pull credit bureaus when we hire someone. Here’s my take on this kind of thing. I wouldn’t want to work for a company that puts more emphasis on my FICO score than on me as a person. If they don’t do in-depth, one-on-one interviews, assess someone’s talent levels, and look at things like their past work history, job performance and education, then I don’t want to work for them. You want someone who is smart enough to hire you because you’re an intelligent, dependable, hardworking person who can deliver the goods! Honestly, there are so many ways to make a living in this world that there’s no reason to put up with being reduced to a number like that. If some company out there is trying to hire someone by a false measure of success, then in my mind it’s not a company worth working for in the first place! — Dave * For more financial help, please visit daveramsey.com. a high-end pawn shop. You can save literally 50 percent buying from places like these. But in either case, you need to look around and find someone you can trust, because if you’re like me, you’re probably not a diamond expert. Remember, too, that diamonds are not an investment. In two decades, I’ve never seen the diamonds I’ve given my wife go up in value. And the whole “diamonds are a girl’s best friend” slogan is just a bunch of advertising hype. Don’t fall for that stuff, either. Be smart and buy smart, Dustin. It’s a great feeling to give the lady of your life a big sparkling rock, but you don’t have to break the bank to do it! — Dave PART OF THE HIRING PROCESS? Dear Dave, I talked to a friend recently who had interviewed for a job, and he said they pulled his cred- Dining Tickets: $7 each TV 1 9 12 17 21 25 27 29 32 39 43 47 CROSSWORD * 2 3 4 5 10 13 18 22 14 15 ANNUAL FALL DANCE Sat., Nov. 27th, 2010 • 8pm-12am Lesterville Fire & Rescue Ent & ertainment BACK AT IT AGAIN! Cornhusker Run TO FORT RANDALL $10 Per Person & You Get $30 For $20 Making Your Ride FREE For More Info Call CLAY CREEK DEAF COWBOY BAND Prizes to be given away at dance! Proceeds go to training and the purchase of equipment Need not be present to WIN FREE Bus Ride (402) 379-1061 * 6 7 8 11 Wednesday, Dec. 1, 15, 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 a.m. Frying Pan Departure * * 19 23 26 28 30 16 20 24 * * 31 38 42 BLACK FRIDAY SPECIALS Closed Thanksgiving Day * Quarry Steakhouse & Lounge SUNDAY BRUNCH SERVED 10:30 AM-2:00 PM 665-4337 • Yankton, SD • Mon.-Sat. Open at Noon, Closed Wed. - Sunday 11-3pm * 40 33 34 41 35 36 37 Christmas Craft Fair Saturday, Nov.27, 2010 Hours: 9-3 p.m. Located at the High School Gym 301 West Maple Admission • Adults $1 Lunch Served. Sponsored by The Beresford Lions Club Beresford’s 26th Annual 44 45 * 46 * 48 * The identity of the featured celebrity is found within the answers in the puzzle. In order to take the TV Challenge, unscramble the letters noted with asterisks within the puzzle. ACROSS 1. Wayne or Payne 5. Crime drama series 9. __-Barbera; Yogi Bear cartoon studio 10. Dog on “Frasier” 12. “__ of Cakes” 13. Close angrily 16. Physicians’ org. 17. Initials for actress Lainie 18. Judge on “America’s Got Talent” 20. Sharif’s monogram 21. Leave out 23. “__ She Great”; 2000 movie for Bette Midler 25. Alphabetic trio 26. Slangy response 27. “The Fresh Prince of __-Air” 28. “The __”; 2008 Jessica Alba movie 29. Roberts, for one 30. “A Knight’s __”; 2001 film for Heath Ledger 32. “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” production co. 33. Megyn Price’s role 38. “Law & Order: Trial __ Jury” 39. __ Charisse 41. “Mad About You” role 42. German article 43. “Change of __”; 19982003 reality series 45. Roger or Dudley 47. “Waking Up in __”; 2002 Patrick Swayze movie 48. Designer Cassini DOWN 1. Actor on “30 Rock” (2) 2. “__ Tree Hill” 3. Initials for Ozzie’s wife 4. 1996-2001 role for Don Johnson 5. James Mason’s role in “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” 6. Item inserted in a PC 7. Lupino, for one 8. Actor on “The Big Bang Theory” (2) 9. Ring of light 11. “Krakatoa: __ of Java” 14. “__ Confidential”; 1997 Kevin Spacey movie 15. Setting for “Evening Shade”: abbr. 18. Role on “CSI: NY” 19. Mickey Rooney’s age 22. “The Big __ With Donny Deutsch” 24. “Don’t __ __ Word”; ’01 Michael Douglas film 29. Response to a pinprick 31. “Jane __”; 1996 Anna Paquin movie 34. “__ __ Paar”; 1952 series 35. 1988 Martin Sheen film 36. Initials for Urich 37. “Sesame Street” fellow 40. Daniel __ Kim 42. “John __” (2002-03) 44. “Rachel Gunn, __”; 1992 sitcom 46. “__’ Blue Eyes” Cornhusker Toy Club Winter Farm Toy Show 1st & Braasch • Norfolk, NE 18th Annual Norfolk City Auditorium 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Door Prizes 104 Booths Sunday, November 28, 2010 CJ’s At The Lake CJatthelake.com • 402-388-4267 •PARTIES WELCOME! 11 miles from Yankton • 9 from Crofton • NE Side of Lewis & Clark Lake COWBOYCHRISTMAS (7 mi South of Yankton, SD just off Hwy 81) WJRanch9thAnnual Monday & Wednesday Night Special $ 10.95 Sirloin or Strip – 1/2 Price Savings! 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