Yet another question!

[Pam in GA]

Our FPU class separated into small groups for the first time last night at our second lesson. We only had about 15-20 minutes and as the leader, I felt very rushed.

One couple asked me about sinking funds for Christmas. Their comment was that since you divide your annual budget by 12 that's great if you're starting in Jan., but they won't have enough money saved for Christmas 2007.

(This same couple had already indicated that they were in BS3.)

I answered with the following ideas:

Tighten up on other expenses so that you'll have the correct amount set aside by December. (They said that isn't possible.)
Get a second job. (They didn't like that one!)
So then I reminded them that there's only 2 ways to get more cash. Work more or spend less.


Was there anything else I should have mentioned? I guess I feel a certain responsibility to help those in my group be as successful as possible!

[Stein]

It sounds like a common occurence, even around here. People want to know how to have extra things without making more or spending less.

There really isn't any other option but you can expand on each possibility.

There are a ton of ways to make money including selling stuff and working extra. Cutting back in certain areas also includes repricing insurance, cable, telephone, etc.

I wonder how they made it to BS3 without understanding Christmas is around the corner? We started pulling a bit out with our last paycheck. Typically, we put it off as long as possible which is about now, then take some out of each paycheck's snowball and pay as we go, keeping to the budget.

[airedalian]

How much were they planning on spending on Christmas?

[cjohnston4]

Pam: Since your program is only in it's second week, it maybe best to defer on the question. Let the class mature a little more and then attack it.

As you have found out by now, this is a very tough question for fall classes with Christmas being just around the corner as hard as that is to believe at this point.

You are probably dealing with a family that's not quite yet ready to make a full commitment to the DR process. And Dave doesn't specifically address this in his books or the FPU material. I'm not sure if it's in the "ask Dave" section of the mytmmo board that you should have gotten access to. Also, there is a Co-ordinators resource center bulletin board that coordinators ask questions and exchange information. It is lightly moderated by some of Dave's FPU church team folks and is a great place to exchange information.

The only places I'm aware of that Dave even lightly touches the specific topic is when he talks about Christmas coming in the FPU videos and all the plastic we must buy for the children. It's a funny way to get people to re-evalute what they are spending on Christmas because their children's little egos may be hurt, or so the thought goes. In the TMMO book it does discuss one family that announced they were going to deeply cut back on Christmas. That was discussed a bit on this forum back in July. http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14793 I posted the dialog from the book in the original post.

Christmas is a tough one. In many families it's a third rail.

[splforest]

I like the cut to the chase version.

Simply point out that they've decided to no longer use debt.
That means they've got limited funds to spend on Christmas.

I'd say it's a great tool to readjust their life.
Either they'll find how much cash they can get together when they focus on a goal.
Or they'll find out that Christmas isn't about the money.

Both are admirable lessons, so let them choose. I'd lean towards #2.
I think it's important to state out loud to them... Christmas is not an Emergency.

Sean

[Pam in GA]

You are probably dealing with a family that's not quite yet ready to make a full commitment to the DR process. And Dave doesn't specifically address this in his books or the FPU material. I'm not sure if it's in the "ask Dave" section of the mytmmo board that you should have gotten access to. Also, there is a Co-ordinators resource center bulletin board that coordinators ask questions and exchange information. It is lightly moderated by some of Dave's FPU church team folks and is a great place to exchange information.


I'm not the class coordinator, just helping to lead a small group, so I don't have access to the mytmmo board. I do have access to the MRC boards, but I've found they don't operate very well from a technology perspective!

Yes, I got the impression that this family isn't quite ready to make a full commitment to the DR process. They are a bit older, so I'm guessing that their kids are grown and perhaps they have grandchildren.

Thanks for the responses!

[cjohnston4]

Let me do some digging for you over the next couple of days in mytmmo or the crc. I'll let you know what I find out.

This falls under the great debate. Do you lose a person by being a DR purist or do you sort of lead them over time to the conclusion that they still may never accept?

If you followed the link to the July thread, a significant majority won't tinker too much with Christmas.

And Sean also brings up a great point and a place where Dave touches but does not get specific. Christmas is not a emergency.

[Stein]

Christmas is no different than any other budget item except that it has massive emotion tied to it.

Look at it the same way you look at any budget item like semi-annual property taxes. Budget a reasonable amount, fund the budget and stick to it.