April 30, 2019 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Bad Brakes Dave Says Before Or After? Dear Dave, I’ve started following your plan, and I’ve got a beginner emergency fund of $1,000 saved. Now that I’m ready to start paying off debt in Baby Step 2, do you recommend paying off credit card balances before or after closing the accounts? Maeve By Daris Howard I first met Wally after he called me at four in the morning to put in his yard watering system before the sod came that same day. He liked my work and hired me for another month. He had a new house, so he wanted help fixing up his old house so it would sell. It was hard work. I dug and hauled dirt, cut down trees, trimmed bushes, and did lots of other physical labor. I would always go home exhausted, but grateful for the much-needed income. Besides the fact Wally liked my work, I think he hired me because I owned a small pickup truck. Wally had nothing but a car, so he would pay me extra to haul stuff for him. I hauled some things to his new house, hauled some things to a second-hand store, and I hauled some things to the dump. I took at least one load somewhere every day. One day I was busy trimming a hedge when Wally came to me. “Daris, would you mind if I borrowed your truck?” he asked. “There’s a couch my wife bought at the store, and I need to go get it.” “I’m okay with you using it, Wally,” I said. “But there are two problems. It has a standard transmission, and the brakes are bad. I was planning to get the brakes fixed as soon as I had enough money.” Wally laughed. “I’m good with standards, and the brakes couldn’t be that bad. I see you drive it over here every day, and you seem to stop okay.” “But do you see how I stop?” I asked. “I gear it down coming to a light and try to coast until the light changes. If I have to come to a full stop, I shut off the key and kill the engine. Shutting off the engine is also how I stop in front of your house.” “But when you back into my yard to load stuff, you don’t have a problem.” “That’s because it’s uphill,” I replied. He seemed to think I was exaggerating and assured me that he could do it, so I handed him the keys. But I was not exaggerating. On downhill roads, the brakes wouldn’t slow me down at all. I put it in first gear to keep my speed down. Other cars would pass me and honk. As time went by and Wally didn’t come back, I began to worry. I thought for sure he’d been killed, and it was my fault. But finally, I heard my pickup coming, chugging along in first gear. I felt better, sure Wally had figured it out. But when he pulled up, there was no couch. When he climbed out, he was breathing hard. “Where’s the couch?” I asked. “Couch?” he said, almost yelling. “I didn’t get anywhere near the furniture store! I only got to the first traffic light at the end of this street!” “What happened?” I asked. “I’ll tell you what happened! Nothing! That’s what happened when I pushed on the brakes! Nothing!” “I told you the brakes were bad.” “Bad! They’re nonexistent! I’m coming to the light, and I push on them. I don’t even slow. I panic and swing the wheel to the right and go up on the sidewalk. I’m pumping the brakes for all I’m worth, but nothing is happening. I’m bearing down on people, so I lay on the horn. People are scrambling and dodging out of the way. Finally, the sidewalk narrows, and the wheels on one side go off and the bottom of the pickup drags along the curb, bringing me to a stop. Then everyone starts yelling at me, and the police come and give me a warning.” “At least it was just a • Great Parts • Great Warranty warning,” I said. On-Hand & In-Stock! NO WAITING! “Yeah, well, now I’m giving it to you.” Wally handed 1007 Broadway Ave me the warning, and then Yankton, SD 605•665•4494 wrote me a check. “And I’m also giving you an advance on your pay. You stop work right now and get those brakes fixed!” I thanked him and did as he said. When I got back, I held out the keys. “Do you want to take it and go get the couch, now?” I asked. “Not a chance. I lost The University of South Dakota will be offering ten years off my life the last for sale chairs, tables, a stainless steel sink, bookshelves, time I drove it. You go get file cabinets and other miscellaneous items. the couch, and I’ll be here waiting for you when you rd get back.” And Wally never did ask Location of the sale is at the USD Quonset located to drive my pickup again. Dear Steve, I think that’s a great idea! You can include the extra check in a separate envelope with the regular payment. In addition, write “principal only” in big, bold letters on the extra envelope and on the extra check. Make sure to also include the account number in the notation line at the bottom. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be much less likely to run into problems as result of someone at the bank not paying attention. Some companies use payment booklets that have a Dear Maeve, box specifically for entering any amount you want apI’m really proud of you. plied directly to the principal. See if this is available to Congratulations on starting the you, as well. Regardless, make sure you keep an accurate, journey toward getting out of written record of the monthly and overall amounts you’re debt and gaining control of your designating as “principal only.” money! Great question, Steve! Dave Honestly, either way is fine. The —Dave point is to get rid of them, and stop using the stupid things. I like * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and the idea, and the finality, of going business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored ahead and closing the accounts and cutting up the cards. seven best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 12 million Personal finance is 80 percent behavior. Getting credit listeners each week on 575 radio stations and multiple digital cards—and credit card debt—out of your life is a great platforms. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on first step in really learning to behave with your money. the web at daveramsey.com. Remember, you don’t build wealth or save money by using credit cards. And you’re naïve if you think you’re going to play around with a multi-billion-dollar industry and beat them at their own game. The only way to win against credit card companies is by refusing to play around with them! —Dave PIERRE, S.D. – The South The nomination categoPaying Extra Dakota Board of Vocational ries are: Dear Dave, Rehabilitation, Board of •Distinguished Service I’d like to start paying a little extra each month on Service to the Blind and •Outstanding Individual my car loan, so I can get out of debt faster. Would it Visually Impaired and the with a Disability be a good idea to write a separate check for this extra Statewide Independent Liv•Outstanding Employee amount? ing Council are now accept- with a Disability Steve ing nominations for the •Outstanding Private 2019 Governor’s Awards. 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We’ll M Local Advertis atch All ing Prices! Yankton interactive 6 Easy Steps To Bring Your Paper To Life! 1. Go to 2. Search for the Yankton Interactive app. 3. Download the app onto your phone or tablet. 4. Hold your phone or device over the newspaper where Yankton Interactive trigger is indicated. YOUR RADIATOR HEADQUARTERS! Cox Auto Surplus Property Sale Friday, May 3 , 2019 • 9am to 3pm north of the Dakota Dome on Hwy 50, next to the Vucurevich Day Care Center. Any questions call 605-658-3635 Terms of Sale: Cash Only, NO Checks Congratulations 5. Click on the app and scan the picture or ad. 6. Bring your paper to life and have an amazing new experience. This is a FREE app so download today!! New York Life Insurance The Yankton Area Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors hosted a ribbon cutting for New York Life Insurance – Julie Auch, located at 206 W. 8th Street. They have worked for three generations helping individuals, families and businesses strengthen and secure their financial futures. They offer life, long-term care, investments, estate planning, worksite benefits along with individual heath and group business health plans. Owner is Julie Auch and Bailey Novak is office manager. Office hours are Monday – Friday from 8:30am5pm. They can be contacted at 605-665-8657. Too many mouths to feed? Place an ad in the Missouri Valley Shopper today! 605-665-5884 319 Walnut • Yankton, SD