December 11, 2018 • Page 2 Dave Says shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Detention Math Short Term Planning Dear Dave, My husband and I are completely debt-free, and we’re saving up for our first house. We currently have about $90,000 in savings, and we’d like to buy a home with cash in the next few years. Where should we put our money, so it will work for us while we save more? Aimee Dave Dear Aimee, It’s a great feeling when you don’t have any debt hanging over your head, isn’t it? With the path you’re on now, just imagine how incredible it will be in a few years to have a new home and still be debt-free! If I were in your shoes, and maybe looking at a three- to five-year window, I’d just park the cash in a good market account. You won’t make a lot off it, but your money will be safe. Besides, all you’re looking for is a wise place to stash it for a little while. When it comes to long-term investing I’m a big fan of growth stock mutual funds. The problem with that in your situation would be the volatility of the market. By the time you’ve saved up more money, and spent time deciding on a house, the market may be down. It sounds like you two are doing a fantastic job with your finances. Congratulations! — Dave RAMSEY Keep Your Emergency Fund Simple Dear Dave, By Daris Howard One of my friends suggested that I put my emergency fund money into bonds. What do you think of this idea? Renee Dear Renee, Never put your emergency fund into things where volatility and risk are a concern. An emergency fund isn’t an investment; it’s three to six months of expenses set aside to help protect you from the unexpected things life will throw at you. My advice is to keep your emergency fund in something simple—like a money market account where there’s no penalty for early withdrawal and check writing privileges for easy access. Bond values and prices go down when long-term interest rates rise. Right now, long-term interest rates—a good example would be mortgage rates—are ticking up. So, as this happens, the value of bonds goes down. We’re not looking to make money with an emergency fund, Renee. Think of it as a type of insurance. Just let it sit there, safe and sound, until it’s needed! — 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. g& nin Di nt me ain tert En finding the right job is easier than you think when you’ve got the right direction Stop searching. The Help Wanted section of the Missouri Valley Shopper lists many possible new job opportunities. Find a career that’s right for you. MV Shopper 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 The math teacher was trying to teach about solving story problems using variables, but no one was listening to her because Dean was too busy making fun of the problem. “. . . and does anyone ever ask why Janet had forty watermelons? No, they just . . .” “Dean,” the teacher said sternly, “I’m trying to teach a lesson here. And do you know why I can’t?” “Because you don’t know the material?” Dean replied with a smirk. Dean soon found himself sitting in detention waiting for the principal. When the principal came out of his office, he looked at Dean and sighed. “Here it is the first week of school, and isn’t this already the second time this week, Dean?” “Third,” Dean replied. “But who’s counting? I’m sure not. I can’t seem to get anywhere with numbers.” “Mrs. Sanderson says that is because you tell too many stories,” the principal said. “Well, maybe if I understood what the X she was talking about, she would know Y,” Dean replied. Dean laughed at his joke, but a person has to see the variables X and Y written to know for sure why it’s funny. Yet the principal seemed to catch it and even laughed. “Dean,” the principal said, “you’re a smart boy. There’s no reason you should be having this much trouble in math.” “I guess it’s just that the teacher and I are not connecting,” Dean said. They talked for a while longer, and then the bell rang. “Head to your next class,” the principal said. “And try to not make my office your permanent residence.” The next day when Dean walked into math class, he was late. He had to do chores and missed the bus. The teacher was not allowed to mark a student late if they rode the bus and the bus was late, so she asked, “Dean, did you ride the bus?” “Nope,” Dean said. “I rode a camel.” When the principal walked out of his office and saw Dean sitting there, he sighed. “Class only just started, Dean. How could you be here already?” “The teacher asked me to find her X, so I told her if her X left her, she should find out Y and try to move on with her life, because her X probably wasn’t coming back.” As Dean grinned, the principal shook his head, but Dean saw the hint of a smile. The principal went around behind his desk, sat down, and turned to face Dean. “So, how do we get you to learn math, Dean?” Dean shook his head. “Putting letters into equations makes no sense to me.” “How about I try something different?” the principal said. “Suppose I gave you some coins, and told you that if you could show restraint and not spend them for a year, I would give you the same amount of coins again plus add a bonus one. A year later, you hadn’t spent the coins, so I did as I promised, bringing your total to seven. How many coins did I give you originally?” “Three,” Dean said. “Right,” the principal said. “How did you get it?” “Well,” Dean said, “I thought if I gave the one coin back, I’d still have six. That would be two times the original. So six divided by two is three.” “Perfect,” the principal said. “The coins are just the variable x, given meaning.” “Wow!” Dean replied. “You make it so understandable. Why don’t you teach math?” “I used to,” the principal replied, “but nobody likes a math teacher. Believe it or not, I found people dislike me less as a principal.” It would be nice to say that Dean did well in his math class after that, but he didn’t. But he did start doing well in math in the principal’s office. He ended up there almost every day and passed the math exams with the highest grades, later becoming an engineer. Dean always said that detention math was the best math class he ever had with the best teacher. FABRIC GALORE! December 3 thru December 29 Pictured above is the tour group that visited the replica of Noah’s Ark in Kentucky this last September If you’d like to visit the Ark and the Creation Museum in April, call Vi Ranney today. Sign up deadline is January 1. For brochure call: 605-665-3596 or e-mail viranney@vyn.midco.net 44"/45" 100% Quilter's Cotton Reg. $7.99 - SALE - $5.99 per yard Minky - Solids & Prints - SALE - $5.99 to $7.99 per yard Hand Woven Rugs - 20% Off (Excludes special orders & sale rugs) Check out the VIRTUAL TOUR on www.inweavefabric.com Large selection of holiday gift sets 823 Central Ave. • Hawarden that the adult on your list will enjoy! 1-800-646-9328 • 712-551-1523 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 www.inweaverugs.com • www.inweavefabric.com Mon.-Fri.: 9:30-5 • Sat.: 9:30-3 www.missourivalleyshopper.com Large selection of holiday gift sets that the adult on your list will enjoy! The Yankton UCC Adult Choir invites you to join us as we... “Sing With The Angels” Choir and Chamber Orchestra Directed by Jennifer Powell Sunday, December 16 at 3 p.m. United Church of Christ (Congregational) 5th & Walnut, Yankton Free admission; offering to be gathered. ~ Cupcake reception following ~ Fireball Cinnam on Whiskey $ 26.99 1.75 ML Captain Morgan Spiced Rum $ 2 5.99 1.75 ML Black Velvet $1 5.99 1.75 ML Jim Bean Bourb on $ 28.99 1.75 ML Best Prices In Town! Cork N Bottle 1500 Broadway, 665-3881 We’ll Match All Local Advertising Prices! Save 10¢ Off A Gallon Of Gas When You Use Your Sinclair Card