December 10, 2019 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com The Therapy Session Dave Says Cash Them In, And Do Something Better! Dear Dave, My wife and I are following your plan, and recently we found some old savings bonds that had been given to her by her grandfather when she was a kid. Do you think we should go ahead and cash these in before they reach their final maturity date in a few months? John Dear John, Absolutely! Every one of those Dave savings bonds is accruing interest at the appropriate rate for the type of bond it is. The problem is every one of those rates stinks. I hate savings bonds. We’re talking about some very low interest rates. Another reason I don’t like savings bonds is they’re not financial instruments which cause you to be responsible with them. People lose them, they forget about them, and then maybe they turn up in an old lock box somewhere down the road after making a whopping two or three percent. Back in the day, they used to be positioned as patriotic and all that. But who wants to finance the stuff this government does? We’re not supporting World War II anymore, you know? Cash them in, and depending on what Baby Step you’re on, put it toward your emergency fund, your debt snowball, retirement, your mortgage—just be proactive, and do something better with the money! —Dave RAMSEY Decisions And Sacrifices Dear Dave, We have two preschool kids, and I’m a stay-at-home mom. My husband brings home about $2,500 a month, and our mortgage payment is $1,000 a month. Recently, It was a rare treat to have Vince come in the Mule Barn truck stop and join us for coffee. He’s usually too busy taking care of what we all know around the valley here as the “gas station gun shop.” Vince is one of those lucky guys who figured out how to scratch his passion itch while earning a living. The passion is guns and the living is pumping gas. Ever since he received a firearms license from the feds, it’s been more fun to fill up. He often has 12 gauge shells on sale, you see. “Yo Vince,” Steve said, “everything okay at the gas station gun shop?” Vince sipped coffee and shook his head. “I’ve found myself to be on the horns of a dilemma, guys. That’s why I came in here today. I need advice.” Someone actually asks for advice from those of us in the world dilemma think tank? Some of us have been waiting years to hear that. “What’s the problem, Vince?” asked Doc. “You know we always have advice for people whether they want it or not. All kinds of advice.” “It’s the computers, Doc,” said Vince. “They’ve got ‘em in all the newer cars now, and I don’t know how to fix them. I don’t even know how to tell when the darn things go on the fritz.” “Are you sure they’re plugged in?” asked Dewey. We figured that was about all Dewey knew about computers. “They’re in the car, Dewey,” said Doc. “Oh … yeah.” Steve doesn’t know much about them, either, but he’s real big on giving advice. “I think I have the answer to your problem, Vince,” Steve said. We all looked at the mustached seer of the sagebrush. “Yep,” Steve said, “I think what you need is to hire a teenager. That should take care of it.” We don’t even charge for this, you know. we’ve had to tap into our savings in order to pay the By bills. Should I go back to work? There are a couple of Daris Howard reputable daycare centers near us, but I’m just not sure if this is the right thing to do. Some of us were visiting after church, and since Tammy Thanksgiving had just passed, the topic of conversation turned to turkeys. Our neighbor had one that had become Dear Tammy, rather mean. He was telling about it and how he would Being a full-time mom is a wonderful thing. And honnever raise a turkey again. estly, I can’t blame you for wanting to stay home with “I’ve raised some turkeys,” I said, “and they can be your children when they’re so young. as mean as any animal there is, except maybe a rooster. The biggest problem I see is that 40 percent of your Turkeys and roosters think they are the cock of the walk.” husband’s paycheck is going toward your mortgage. Our young fourteen-year-old neighbor, McKenzie, said, That’s way too much! A house payment should never be “We had a really mean rooster, too. But then he had a more than 25 percent of your take-home pay. therapy session, and everything changed.” I know trying to live on the $1,500 that’s left is hard, “A therapy session?” I asked. especially with two babies in the house. But it doesn’t She nodded. “It all started when our turkey was young. sound like a lot of fat can be trimmed right now. One of We put him in the chicken building because he was smaller you might consider taking on a part-time job nights or than the hens, and we didn’t think he would bother them. weekends for a while, or he could look into enhancing But because of his size, all the chickens, and especially his education. Either one of these would help get your the rooster, picked on him. We were afraid they would kill income up. Selling the house is an option, too. But I’m him, so we ended up having to move him to a pen of his not a fan of that one except in the most extreme circum- own. stances. “Meanwhile, while the turkey grew up, the rooster Right now, I’m viewing this as a math problem with got meaner. Every time we would try to gather eggs, the three components. The components are income, house rooster would attack us. We, kids, like to gather eggs, but payment, and lifestyle. You and your husband need to we were all afraid of him. That’s why my dad decided that sit down, and have a serious heart-to-heart talk about the rooster could no longer be in the henhouse. things. There will have to be some sacrifices in order to “So we caught the rooster, and having nowhere else make things better, but only the two of you together can to put him, we put him in with the turkey. They seemed determine exactly what’s best for your family. to remember each other. The rooster immediately went God bless you all. on the attack, and the turkey backed away as he always —Dave had. But after a few minutes, something changed. It was as if the turkey realized his old nemesis was no longer that intimidating. That’s when the turkey attacked back. * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and “The two of them went at each other, and feathers business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven started to fly, mostly those of the rooster. The fight was best-selling books, including The Total Money Makeover. The getting so bad that we eventually had to shut the door Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 12 million listeners to the shed and just let them work out their differences. each week on 575 radio stations and multiple digital platforms. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at Mom called us to dinner, so we left the rooster and turkey to themselves. When dinner was over, we came out of the daveramsey.com. house, and everything was quiet. “We approached the door of the building that had the rooster and the turkey in it and listened, but there was no sound. We were afraid the turkey had killed the rooster because we doubted it would be the other way around. We carefully opened the door, and the rooster, who had lodged himself up at the top of the door, fell out in a pile in the snow. “We thought he was dead until he slowly raised his head and looked at us before dropping his head back into PIERRE, S.D. – to succeed in the the snow. No one wanted to get near him in case it was an Governor Kristi Noem State Legislature. I am act, and he would attack, so we went back into the house today announced that confident she will serve for a while. But when we came back out, he was still lying she is appointing Helene as an effective Senator there. Finally, we picked him up and put him back in the hen house for the night until we could figure out what to Duhamel of Rapid City for her district.” to represent District Duhamel is a fifth do with him. “But the next day, when we went to gather eggs, the 32 in the South Dakota generation South rooster didn’t bother us at all. In fact, he acted all friendlySenate. The vacancy Dakotan who served was created after the as News Director and like. He has never bothered anyone since then. He’s resignation of Sen. Alan Anchor for decades at probably afraid if he does, he will have to go through Solano. Duhamel will KOTA-TV in Rapid City. another therapy session with the turkey.” I smiled. There is nothing like a good turkey therapy serve during the 2020 More recently she has legislative session. taken on the role of Public session to make a mean rooster nice. “The responsibility to Information Officer for appoint a legislator when the Pennington County a vacancy arises is not Sheriff’s Office. She something I take lightly,” has also given her time said Noem. “Helene is a and talent to other pillar of her community volunteer and non-profit and a trusted voice for organizations in Rapid Dalesburg Scandinavian Association welcomes Rapid City. Helene’s City and the Black Hills. you to its 42nd Celebration of the St. Lucia Tradition experience as a journalist D u h a m e l ’ s on Sunday, December 15 at 3:00 p.m. at Dalesburg and more recently appointment will be Lutheran Church, 30595 University Road. The in the Pennington effective immediately. celebration will feature a Lucia Court with one girl County Sheriff’s office being crowned Lucia for the event. will position her well There will be a program with a Scandinavian theme and a buffet of Scandinavian food. A freewill collection will be received for area food pantries. The celebration remembers the generosity and commitment of St. Lucia to those in need and to her faith. For information or in case of inclement weather, call 605-253-2575. Noem Announces District 32 Legislative Appointment St. Lucia Tradition Is Dec. 15 At Dalesburg Lutheran In the Classifieds the Missouri Valley Shopper In print and online! 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 In Print and Online!• Call 665-5884 www.missourivalleyshopper.com Save 10¢ Off A Gallon Of Gas When You Use Your Sinclair Card selection of Large ay gift sets holid at the adult th on your list will enjoy! 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