November 8, 2016 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says You Can’t Just Cruise Dear Dave, I work for a small company that just won a cruise trip for all the employees. The prize covers just the cruise tickets, and we have to pay for everything else. The problem is that my wife and I currently have more than $50,000 in debt, not counting our home, and about $10,000 of that is in collections. We’re trying to fix our finances and start saving money, but we just don’t feel like we should take a trip right now. How do I tell my boss? Ricky Dave RAMSEY Dear Ricky, First, let me say how proud I am of you and your wife. Most people would be really irresponsible in a position like this and simply borrow more money to take the trip. The fact that you’re behaving like mature adults tells me you’re on your way to getting out of debt and solving your financial problems. I’ve got to wonder, is there a lot of pressure from your company to go on this trip? I understand the benefits of team building and socializing with colleagues, but when you have no savings and are that deep in debt — and a chunk of that includes some in collections — it’s no lie to say you can’t afford to go. A decent company will understand. Just sit down with your boss or owner, and explain why you can’t make it happen right now. You don’t have to unload all the details, but let them know that you can’t do something like this in good conscience when you’re trying to get your finances under control and already owe a lot of money. That’s one heck of a temptation you’re standing up to, Ricky. I love that you and your wife are on the same page and have made the decision to take control of your finances together! — Dave He Set You Up Dear Dave, I’m a senior in high school, and I have a job after classes and on weekends. I made a down payment of $2,500 on a $7,500 motor- cycle last week, because I always wanted to have one before I got out in the real world and had bills and other responsibilities to think about. I asked my dad if that was a smart move, and he said “All is safely gathered in, ere the winter storms begin …” I should ask you. So, what do you think? Should I go ahead with so goes the famous hymn we once learned in Sunday school the purchase? and didn’t figure out what it meant for another 20 years or Tad so. Dear Tad, I’m glad you’re working and learning the value of money and having a job. But I think your dad set you up on this one. I’ve got a feeling he knew what I’d say, and he wanted you to hear it from me. I teach people how to stay out of debt and build wealth. And there’s always one thing I remind folks of when it comes to buying anything — if you can’t afford to pay cash for the whole thing, then you can’t afford it. The only thing I back off on is when it comes to buying a house. I love shiny things that go fast, and so do a lot of people who work here at my office. Right now, there are about six or seven motorcycles sitting in our parking lot, and they’re owned by folks who make good money. And the bikes sitting out there probably range in value from about $1,000 to $10,000. But you know what? Whoever rode in on the $1,000 bike had just as much fun as the one who owns the $10,000 bike. A motorcycle is a toy, and you should always pay cash for toys if you want to be wealthy one day. Having lots of payments and handing your paychecks over to the bank is not the way to build wealth. I would advise talking to the guy at the bike shop to see if you can rework this deal for a ride you can actually afford! — Dave Interested in this spot? * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven bestselling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 12 million listeners each week on 575 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com. Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Interested in this legislation requires the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) to produce an annual report to Congress detailing spot? Thanking Our Veterans By Senator Mike Rounds Each year on Nov. 11, we recognize the service made by our country’s veterans. The date is meaningful, as November 11, 1918 is the day World War I finally came to an end and November 11 became a holiday called Armistice Day. In 1954, the 11th day of November became a legal holiday, reminding Americans to honor all veterans. This year, we commemorate the day by thanking the generations of South Dakotans who have answered the call to serve. South Dakota has one of the highest rates of military membership per capita in the nation, and we are home to more than 72,000 veterans. It is a privilege for me to serve on two Senate committees tasked with improving service for current military members and veterans: the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. I have introduced and cosponsored a number of bills specifically designed to help veterans. The Veterans First Act, which I cosponsored, takes meaningful steps to hold the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) accountable and, in turn, improve care for our nation’s veterans. This bill truly puts the needs of our veterans first by addressing the lack of accountability at the VA. The Veterans First Act includes a number of provisions I offered to improve care for our veterans, including the Veterans Choice Equal Cost for Care Act, which amends the Choice Act by eliminating the “secondary payer clause” to make certain veterans do not pay more for private care under the Choice Act than they would if they were seen at a VA facility. It also includes my Veterans Health Administration Spending and Transparency Oversight Act. This Managing Soil: Maximizing Profit Conference November 21, 8:30 am – 3:45 pm Best Western Plus Ramkota Hotel, 3200 W Maple St, Sioux Falls, SD REGISTRATION: $20 to RSVP call 605.782.3290 by Nov 16 for more information visit http://iGrow.org/events/ CCA credits available Speakers and topics include: Dave Franzen – Soil Management Stevan Knezevic – Herbicide Resistant Weeds Wes Chambers – Production Finances Lee Briese – Optimizing Inputs But now is the time of harvest. Now is the gathering in. The crops are gathered in. Firewood for winter storms is gathered in. Fruit from the orchards is gathered in. This year’s crop of spring calves is gathered in. We look around us on the farm or the ranch, or even in an apartment in the city, and we ask ourselves … are we ready for the winter storms? Even in places that don’t have winter storms, we still ask the same questions. Because we’re human. We know, inside, through eons of gathering in for winter, that we must be prepared for the bad things. And winter is usually the season we associate with the bad things. Human beings are not as naturally suited to fend off cold and wind and snow and hunger as well as our forest neighbors. Our “coats” don’t get a furry undercoat that is waterproof and weatherproof. If we gain extra weight before winter, it’s usually not because we fear a famine, but because we just like eating pizza while watching football. So we have to be smarter than the deer and the coyote and even the packrat. They don’t know why they do these things to survive until spring. We do. We know and we plan and work hard. It isn’t natural for us, the way it is for our coyote brothers. They just do it. We plan. But we do plan, and that means when the darkness descends and the hushing of snow covers our homes, we can Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. sit in the recliner by the fire and have another bite of pizza. We won … once again. INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? www.missourivalleyshopper.com The Halloween Surprise www.missourivalleyshopper.com By Daris Howard One day I was visiting with my friend, Tim, and his wife, Sally, and I asked them how they met. Tim looked at Sally, and an embarrassed grin spread across his face. the cost of the health care it provides. Having accurate “Maybe I should let Sally tell the story,” he said. cost accounting by the VHA will help Congress identify legSally laughed. “I’d be happy to. You see, when we were islative options aimed at better health care for our nation’s in high school, Tim and my twin brother, David, were best Call 665-5884 to veterans. I’m hopeful that Congress will pass the Veterans friends. The problem is, I kind of liked Tim, but he didn’t even First Act before the end of the year. place your ad here. know I existed.” We have four offices throughout South Dakota staffed “That’s not totally true,” Tim said. “I knew you were David’s with specially-trained individuals who can help veterans sister. I’ll admit I didn’t pay much attention beyond that, but I did know you were his sister.” navigate the often confusing bureaucracy at the VA. We “Did you even know my name?” Sally asked. understand that it can be frustrating to have an issue with Interested in Tim shrugged. “I didn’t need to. I just called you ‘David’s the VA and not know the best way to resolve it. That’s why this spot? sister.’” we are here to help in any way we can. My website, www. “Anyway,” Sally continued, “a Halloween party was comrounds.senate.gov, has a list of our office locations and phone numbers. Please let us know if we can help you with ing up, and I really wanted to go, especially since I knew Tim Call 665-5884 to would be there. I asked David if he could give me a ride, and he any problems you’re having with the VA.your ad here. place told me he was going with Tim. I begged to go, and he finally Making sure our veterans get the best possible care in said he was sure it would be okay if I didn’t bug them or say the timeliest manner is one of my top priorities working as anything. So, to be funny, I decided that I would go as a mime your senator. Earlier this year, I held a tele-town hall with so I couldn’t say anything. YOU NEED IT TODAY? NO PROBLEM! was scheduled South Dakota veterans and their families, representatives “Halloween was on a Saturday that year. Tim from the VA and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. It to pick David up at about six o’clock. But earlier in the day, was a great opportunity for veterans to get their questions David came down with a bad case of the flu and could hardly get answered by experts in the field. We hope to continue do- Valley out of bed. I didn’t knowSt. wasANKTON,SDbe able to go Missouri 216 W. 4th if I • Y still going to to the party or not. And to add to that, David told me he had ing these tele-town halls in the future. 605-665-5884 forgotten to ask Tim if I could catch a ride. David said he was Our nation’s veterans committed to selflessly defend too sick to call Tim and cancel, so I could just ask Tim for a ride our freedoms. Now they deserve a commitment from the when he came.” country for which they so bravely fought. This Veterans she didn’t,” Tim interjected. Interested in this “But getting there,” Sally said. “Realizing Tim didn’t know I spot? Day, we say ‘thank you’ to our veterans and their families, “I’m we remember those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, and was planning on going, and that he also didn’t realize David Call 665-5884 to of the here. we continue doing what we can to improve the livesplace your ad decided to have a little fun. I stuffed my shoulders wasn’t, I men and women who donned the uniform of the United and tried to make myself look as masculine as I could. I also States of America. INTERESTED INreally SPOT? the mime paint to hide my looks. When Tim came, THIS put on I went out to the car, and when he said something to me, I signaled that I CALL 665-5884 TOwas a mime.” PLACE YOUR “Yeah,” Tim chimed in, “and she totally pretended that she AD HERE. was David.” “I was a bit annoyed that Tim couldn’t tell I was a girl,” Sally said. “Even as much as I worked to look like a boy, I still expected he would eventually realize I was, but he never did. And then, all night, all he talked about was how annoying girls • Farm Filters • Hydraulic Hoses • Bearings & Seals were. Oh, he would talk a little about this cute girl or that cute girl, but mostly he just said they were annoying.” “And to make matters worse,” Tim added, “still pretending she was David, she asked what I thought of his sister.” 1007 Broadway Ave. • Yankton • 665-4494 “And after he talked all about how annoying I was,” Sally said, “I felt like slapping his face. But instead, I just ignored him the rest of the night.” “And I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with David,” Tim said. “Obviously, he wasn’t going to speak to me if he was a mime, but I was sure he was giving me the cold shoulder. I took Sally home, still thinking she was David, and she got out, slammed the car door, and went into the house. I didn’t figure it all out until the next day when David thanked me for giving Authorized Retailer Sally a ride to the party.” “Then what did you do?” I asked. “He brought me some flowers and an apology note for being such a jerk,” Sally replied. “And when I handed them to her,” Tim said, “I suddenly realized how pretty she was, and it all moved forward from there.” “Yes,” Sally said. “But when I’m mad at him, I just dress up as a mime so he’ll get it.” Tim laughed. “Yes, and that’s when I know I need to get some flowers and apologize.” www.missourivalleyshopper.com Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com FAX IT 605-665-5882 Shopper Let Our Family Business keep yours www.missourivalleyshopper.com in the go with: Cox Auto HOLIDAY OFFERS EXCLUSIVE TO THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR EXTRA 10% OFF TOYS & TOOLS AVAILABLE OCT. 1-DEC. 31 PLUS EARN REWARDS ON QUALIFYING PURCHASES OF TOYS AND TOOLS Earn A Case IH Reward Card on qualifying purchases of Case IH branded toys and tools made from Oct. 1, 2016 through Dec. 31, 2016. 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