November 29, 2016 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com A Thankful Attitude Dave Says Funding a New Business Dear Dave, We’re completely debt-free with a fully funded emergency fund, and we have $350,000 sitting in the bank from a land sale a couple of months ago. My wife and I would like to buy a chicken farm with two houses and upgrade it to contract standards. This — plus the stock — would cost around $290,000. I would keep my regular job, and my wife would run the farm. An investor friend of mine said I should finance the entire business purchase. What do you think about this scenario? Darryl Dave RAMSEY Dear Darryl, Either do the deal with cash, or don’t do it at all. Your investor friend is full of crap, and there’s a good chance he doesn’t have nearly as much money as you do. He’s probably got more bad opinions than dollars. Now, the pro formas on the kind of thing you’re talking about are incredible. They can make a ton of money, but they’re a lot of work — I mean real, hard work. Some are more high-tech than others, and that can mean a little less work, but someone’s got to be out there every day with their hands on this thing or you’re going to be in trouble. I don’t know the ideas you have for divvying up the work, but I’m afraid it would just be too much for one and a half people. I don’t mind you doing the deal, as long as you pay cash for it. But if you’re looking to invest, there’s always real estate — it seems like you’ve done pretty good there — or maybe another small business idea. Whatever you do, you need to stop listening to your friend about borrowing money. You’re liable to turn what was a blessing into a curse if the two of you go borrow money on a chicken farm. — Dave Micro Investing Apps? Dear Dave, What is your opinion on micro investing apps? Tammy Dear Tammy, Honestly, I’m not a big fan of micro investing apps. As you probably know, the word “micro” means small. So why would you want to mess with something like that? Are you going to have a micro retirement? Do you want to be micro wealthy? I don’t. I want to be really wealthy with a big retirement and a big life full of outrageous giving. It’s fine if you want to give micro investing apps a try. I’m not going to be mad at you or anything like that. But these things function kind of like deals where the marketers say you get one percent back. It’s like credit cards, where silly people spend $100,000 in order to get $1,000 in brownie points. You’ve got to do more than micro, because micro means what it says — small. I guess you could argue that at least you’re doing something, but if that’s your only plan you should prepare to be pretty hungry during retirement. When it comes to investing, why not go big? Go big, or go home! — Dave * 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. South Dakota Snap Earns Second Federal Performance Bonus The South Dakota Department of Social Services (DSS) will receive its second bonus for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2015 for administration of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) from the United States Department of Agriculture. South Dakota will receive Authorized Retailer Jurrens Electronics 114 Main St. Avon, SD (605) 286-3630 1-888-873-7382 a SNAP performance bonus for payment accuracy in the amount of $410,982. In FFY15, South Dakota had a 99.25 percent payment accuracy rate of providing SNAP benefits to low-income South Dakota families. DSS works diligently to ensure families receive the correct amount of benefits based on their circumstances and program eligibility standards. “This performance bonus highlights the integrity of the SNAP program, and our staff’s ability to accurately provide our customers with the services and supports they need,” said state Department of Social Services Secretary Lynne Valenti. The performance bonus funds are to be used only for costs associated with SNAP program activities. Those activities include technology upgrades and maintenance, improvements in administration and distribution and actions to prevent fraud, waste and abuse. In October 2016, DSS received $180,655 for the Case and Procedural Error Rate (CAPER) review, and was one of only four states to receive bonus funds. The SNAP program helps low-income South Dakota families buy the food they need to stay healthy while they regain financial independence. For more information about the SNAP program, please visit dss. sd.gov/economicassistance/ snap/. Looking for the best deal in town? Check the CLASSIFIEDS! MV Shopper 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 MV Shopper M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y M I S S O U R I VA L L E Y 605-665-5884 The morning conference began innocently enough, with Steve and Doc arguing over which of the little packaged jellies went better on sourdough toast, and no one caring which one was right. Dud and Bert and I sat silently, sucking down the morning elixir until it spread life to our outermost reaches as the Mule Barn truck stop’s world dilemma think tank crept to life. Bert was unusually quiet this morning and we asked why. He hemmed and hawed a little, then said, “Doc, you know about these things. What exactly is female trouble?” Oh shoot. Pretty heavy stuff for just two cups of coffee, so the rest of us hurried down a third as Doc puffed up a bit and got ready. “Sure, Bert,” Doc said kindly. Then Doc gave us the best his nine years of college and 50 years of medical practice had blessed him with. He waxed eloquent on hormonal elements, the ebb and flow of female fertility, things that could go wrong with tubular parts, and the effect all of these things could have on the attitudinal proclivities of the dear ladies we all love and admire. He took a break while Mavis returned with more coffee and with strange looks at our faces while we tried not to stare at her. Then she was gone, and Doc began again. Finally, when we had been pretty well checked out on the mysterious workings of the gentle gender, Doc said, “Bert, if your wife is having some problems, have her give me a call.” “Oh, it ain’t her, Doc,” Bert said. “It’s Dud.” We all looked at Dud. He grinned sheepishly. No one wanted to say anything. Finally, Steve said, “I’m not going to be the one to ask.” “That’s what you said, Dud, right?” Bert asked. “That’s why Saturday’s plans are shot.” “Female trouble?” Doc said, looking at his old friend. Dud nodded. “Anita won’t let me go fishing this weekend.” Interested in this spot? Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Busch & Always LOW Busch Light Interested Liquor Discounts! in $ 55 30pks 16. this spot? 3 $ 26 $ 00 3 $ 26 $ 00 PACKS CARTONS SILVER CLOUD PACKS CARTONS 3 $ 25 $ 00 3 $ 23 place your ad here. PACKS CARTONS SKYDANCER PACKS CARTONS Open To The Public Pancakeast Breakf Pancakes, Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Biscuits & Gravy, French Toast 7.00 All You Can Eat $ Children 6-10 $4.00 • 5 & Under Free Sunday, Dec. 4th • 8 - 12:30 VFW Post 791 HAPPY Retirement All-Natural • Chemical Free Call 665-5884 to $ 00 Entertainment 209 Cedar, Yankton • 665-3562 Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. Native American Cigarettes SMOKIN JOES The two girls sat next to each other on the first day of class. They didn’t know each other, and their differences were quite stark. Melanie was drop-dead gorgeous, probably one of the prettiest girls I had ever seen. She had blond hair and blue eyes. Her hair was styled perfectly, and her clothes were the latest style, indicating that she had plenty of money. Alana was quite plain looking with dark hair and brown eyes. Her hair was pulled back into a cute braid, and her clothes, though neat and well taken care of, were not the latest style, and it was easy to see that she had to be careful with her finances. But the most notable physical difference of all was that Alana had been born without forearms. Her hands were where most people’s elbows would be. During the first day of class I watched the two girls. Melanie wrote easily, taking notes quickly. It was much harder for Alana. She had to bend close to her paper in order to write because of her shortened arms. Over time I noticed that almost everything was harder for Alana than it was for Melanie. Not only was note taking harder, but social acceptance was more challenging. The boys swarmed around Melanie and paid little attention to Alana. As I asked students to form into groups, Melanie was immediately asked to join a group. Alana ended up in the same group, but she was asked with reluctance on the part of the other group members. But there was one other huge difference between the girls that wasn’t as easy to see and took time to reveal itself. That difference was in their attitude. Each day Melanie came in with a frown, complaining about the homework, complaining about her bad day, and basically complaining about everything. On the other hand, the first thing Alana always did when she came in was to tell me what she was thankful for. “Professor Howard,” she would say, “that was a tough homework assignment. I’m greatful you assigned it so I could learn it.” One day she said, “Isn’t it a beautiful day? The sun is shining and warm, and it just makes me thankful to be alive.” The next day it was snowing, and she said, “Don’t you like the snow? I am so grateful for the sparkly landscape.” This had been going on for over half of the semester. Melanie, with everything going for her, was dismal and complaining. Alana, with her many challenges in life, was smiling and happy. But there was something else I had noticed. As the semester wore on, the other students were gravitating away from Melanie and toward Alana. This included the boys. They would rather be with Alana and her sunny attitude than with Melanie and her good looks. I knew I dreaded Melanie’s daily report of gloom, but I always looked forward to Alana’s happy thankfulness. One day the weather was frigid, the sidewalks were slippery, and the sky was gray. Melanie came in complaining about it all, as usual. A little while later, Alana came in, smiling, and said, “I am so grateful that the weather changes and adds variety to life.” I laughed. “Alana, you always come in smiling and tell me what you are grateful for. Is there a reason?” She smiled and nodded. “You may have noticed I was born with a few challenges. But my mother always taught me that it is hard to feel sorry for yourself if you find something to be grateful for. And when you’re grateful, life is always better.” Melanie was suddenly very quiet, and I could tell that she was thinking about what Alana said. As the days went on, Melanie complained less and less. Then one day, about a month before the end of the semester, Melanie came in and said, “The snow crunched beneath my feet all the way here. I’m grateful for fun, crunchy snow.” Gradually, more and more, Melanie told what she was thankful for. But on the last day of class, I realized how much of an impact Alana had made on Melanie when Melanie said to me, “You know what, Professor Howard? I’m even grateful for math.” INTERESTED IN THIS SPOT? 605-665-7865 109 W. 3rd St. in Downtown Yankton SENECA By Daris Howard Interested in this spot? www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com GARY LIEN All are welcomed for Visit our Web site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com cake and coffee www.missourivalleyshopper.com November 30th. Help us wish Gary a happy retirement. Visit our Visit our Web site at Web 33 years of site at www.missourivalleyshopper.com www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dedicated Service Call 665-5884 to place your ad here. 210 W. Harold, Crofton, NE 402-388-4816 YOU NEED IT TODAY? NO PROBLEM! FAX IT 605-665-5882 Mon - Sat: 8am-6pm • Sun 11am-4pm • CLOSED from 1-1:30 everyday for lunch Missouri Valley 216 W. 4th St. • YANKTON,SD 2409 N. Broadway Yankton, SD 605-665-9651