February 14, 2017 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says Exponential Growth—Or Not A Good Marketing Idea Dear Kevin, Dave Not at all. I definitely would send pre-pay letters. It takes some of the seasonality “ouch” out of your financial equation, and it gives them the opportunity to take advantage of a bargain. It’s not a bad plan from a marketing standpoint for your business, either. You might even be able to add some new customers with an offer like this. You obviously have to be really secure and confident in your ability to provide the service. Otherwise, you could end up in a really bad situation. Your equipment, staffing and track record in the business will all come into play. But if all this is strong, and you’ve been in the business for a number of years and plan on staying in the business for years to come, then this is something I’d definitely do. — Dave RAMSEY Looking for the best deal in town? Check the Girlfriend debt account Dear Dave, I’m 29, and I have no debt. I’ve gotten a good start on my savings and retirement, too. My girlfriend and I plan to get married in the next couple of years, and she has about $90,000 in debt. I’m not paying on her debt yet, but I think together we can save up enough to pay it off by the time we’re married. Should I temporarily slow down saving for a house and start saving toward paying off her debt? James Dear James, Yes, I would have a “girlfriend debt” account. That way when she becomes your wife, you two can write a check the moment you get back from the honeymoon and be debt-free — or at least knock out a huge portion of the debt. After that, the two of you — as in WE — resume saving for retirement, a house and so on. That, James, is exactly what I would do. You’re right in line with my thinking on this, brother. Best of luck to you both! — Dave * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven best-selling 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. Percentage of South Dakota’s Kids Overweight, Obese Unchanged PIERRE, S.D. – Almost one-third of for 34.6 percent of students in the state. South Dakota’s kids and teens are overThe survey defines obese as at or above weight or obese, according to a new state the 95th percentile body mass index-forhealth report. age when compared to kids of the same The 2015-2016 School Height and age and gender; overweight is between Weight Report found 16.1 percent of South the 85th and 94th percentiles. Dakota’s 5-19 year olds were obese and The department’s goal is to reduce the another 16 percent were overweight. That percentage of students who are obese to compares to 16.0 percent obese and 16.2 14 percent by the year 2020. percent overweight in 2014-2015. Miller said the department offers “It’s good news that the child obesity a variety of resources to help encourrate is no longer rising,” said Ashley age healthy diets and increase physical Miller, chronic disease epidemiologist for activity for kids. The Munch Code (www. the Department of Health. “But bringing munchcode.org/) provides healthy 319 Walnut St. the rate down won’t happen overnight, concessions information for schools and Yankton, SD 57078 just as reaching these levels didn’t hapyouth activities and Harvest of the Month pen overnight. It’s going to take long-term (www.sdharvestofthemonth.org/) com605-665-5884 effort from schools, communities and bines lessons and produce sampling to get parents.” kids eating more vegetables and fruit. 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Email is cityavon@gwtc.net. We had been studying exponential growth in my math class. We had talked about how interest grows in investments. One of the concepts we talked about was doubling. “If you had a penny the first day, two the second, four the third, and eight the fourth, how much would you have in thirty days?” I asked. The students worked in their groups. They decided on a pattern for the formula, worked the problem, and eventually had answers. I called on one group and a girl, who was chosen as the spokesman, answered. “It would be $5,368,709.12,” she said. “That’s correct,” I replied. “Now, let’s try something more practical. Money doesn’t double every day. But what if you invested five hundred dollars each month. What would your growth be if you were also making seven percent per year in interest?” I showed them the formula for investment with interest growth, and let them work in groups again to calculate the answer. They did it for thirty years and got more than six hundred thousand dollars. Then they did it for forty years and got well over a million. They were excited to think that they could possibly make that much money for retirement. “The main thing,” I said, as class was ending, “is to invest early and consistently.” Many of the students seemed impressed by what they learned. They went on their way to do their homework, which included thinking of examples of exponential growth. At the next class, a young man named Seth approached me and told me he had the best example of exponential growth. He asked if he could share it with everyone. I always like it when students come up with good examples so I told him he could. He walked up to the board, turned, and faced the other students. “There is a national contest for math and engineering projects,” Seth said. “The winner receives a thousand-dollar scholarship. I have entered it, and I think I have one of the best entries. The problem is, a person doesn’t win just by having the best project. He has to get the most votes.” Seth then turned to the board and wrote a web address there, along with his name. “I would like to have everyone go to this web address and click on my name. You can read all about my project and vote for me. You will have to put in your email to vote because they use it to make sure each person only votes once.” Seth then motioned to me. “Do you remember that thing about pennies doubling and exponential growth that Professor Howard taught us last time? Let’s see if we can get it working on this contest because it would be the perfect example of what he talked about. If all of you would go to your apartments and get your roommates to vote for me, and then if all of them got their roommates to vote for me, and then if all of them got their roommates to vote for me, and so on, my votes would grow exponentially.” The class members were all nodding and agreeing that this was a good example and would be a good idea. Meanwhile, I stood off to the side trying to keep from smiling. I must not have done a good job of hiding my amusement because one of the students asked, “Professor Howard, is something funny?” “I hate to ruin any excitement on an example of exponential growth,” I answered. “But your roommates would have the same roommates you do.” As it started to dawn on each of them what I was saying, they began to laugh at themselves. Seth said, “Oh. I guess that wouldn’t work as well as I thought, would it?” “No,” I replied. “But it sure sounded good.” COUPON Dear Dave, I’m a small-business owner with a lawn care franchise. It’s common in our industry, after the season is over, to send out pre-pay letters for the upcoming season. If we send out these letters offering a five or 10 percent discount for early payment on next year’s services, is that too similar to borrowing money from our customers at five to 10 percent? Kevin By Daris Howard $25,880 NEW with Mercury 115 HP ELPT 4S plus $500 Bass Pro Gift Card & $100 TRACKER Boat Gear Gift Card Saturday, February 18th 2017 TRACKER TARGA V-18 WT Specials! $28,595 Your Price with options, freight and prep with Mercury 150 HP XL 4S plus $750 Bass Pro Gift Card $30,445 NO HAGGLE, NO HASSLE NEW STOP with Mercury 150 HP XL 4S plus $500 Bass Pro Gift Card & $200 TRACKER Boat Gear Gift Card SALES EVENT! 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