December 3, 2013 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Dave Says Giving Their Son Some Problems “You see that sunset last night?” Steve said. “Now that was a honey.” “I’ll say,” said Doc. “You know, with Thanksgiving on us, I have to tell you I’m very thankful for sunsets like that one.” Those of us who don’t live in the big cities tend to be thankful for different things than those who may live in stucco cliff dwellings. We tend to look at the natural blessings more than the manmade ones. Our gratitude extends past not having our teenager go to jail, or for the raise we just got at the factory. Our favorite ball team can win or lose on its own without our having to look for Divine Intervention, usually. We tend to be grateful for other things, like calves in the spring, and how clean they look before they discover mud. We are deeply grateful that tasty rabbits arrive in large litters, and bears don’t. When we think about it, we are thankful that we get eggs from hens and not from rattlesnakes, as checking the rattler house each morning could get ‘way too exciting. When you consider that porcupines have quills, and not deer, it gives us pause for praise, and we’re happy that it’s skunks who carry scent glands and not squirrels. We are thankful, too, that hurricanes and tornadoes only happen in warm weather. It’s bad enough to lose the barn without being chillfactored to death while it’s happening. “Turkeys,” Dud said, sip- Dear Dave, We’ve been supporting our son while he’s in college. He just finished his sophomore year, but he told us the other day he has dropped out of school and isn’t going ping his coffee. back. He’s been playing in a “What?” band on weekends, and he “I’m thankful turkeys are has this vague idea of stupid. Ever looked in a turkey’s eyes? Not only is no becoming a musician. We don’t think this is a good one home, but there was a idea, but we still want to be mass evacuation sometime supportive ... just not too during the Eisenhower Administration. A turkey has supportive. We want him to be financially independent, just enough brains to operas well. How should we hanate his heart and lungs.” “You’re thankful for that?” dle this? — Karen Doc said. Dear Karen, “Sure,” said Dud. “If This kid is about to have turkeys had been given the rudimentary intelligence of a some problems. Not only has he made a bad decision, garden snail, we might be but he should have consultforced to eat sheep on ed with you guys before he Thanksgiving.” quit school. He owed you ------that much if you were supGive the gift of hearing porting him this whole time. this Christmas. Start your In my opinion, you and loved one off with a free your husband have one job hearing test at BELTONE. right now. That job is to Call 1-866-867-8700. stand back and let life happen to this kid. If he thinks he’s a man, let him go out and prove it. Wish him the best and tell him you hope he becomes the rich and famous rock star he wants to be. But make sure he understands you’re not going to support him financially when he’s doing something you both feel is a bad idea. For Your Advertising Dollar The First National Bank of Mom and Dad is officially Missouri Valley closed! Shopper Understand that I’m not Classifieds suggesting you turn your WINTER READY MORE 2011 Chevy Equinox 2LT AWD, White...............$18,900 2011 Chevy Impala LT, Leather, Moonroof. . . . . . . .$14,900 2011 Chevy Impala LT, Silver, 45K....................$14,500 2011 Chevy Impala LT, Black, 59K....................$12,900 2010 Chevy Silverado, Ext Cab, White..............$14,900 2007 Chevy Tahoe LT, moonroof, 4x4...............$16,800 2007 Chevy Silverado, 4x4, reg cab, Black.........$9,995 2007 Chevy Trailblazer LT, Moonroof, 4x4.........$11,500 2001 Ford F250 4x4, with snow plow..................$8,500 VALUE Dave RAMSEY backs on this guy. Let him know how much you both love him and that you’ll be praying for him. Invite him over for dinner once in a while, stay in touch, and make sure he knows that family deals like Thanksgiving and Christmas are still business as usual. However, as far as paying for his rent, utilities, gas, food and cell phone bill? That stuff’s not happening. This may sound tough, but it was his decision. In the end, let him know you’ll be there to help just like before if he wises up and decides to finish school. But until then? Little boy, you signed up for this trip! — Dave RETIREMENT FIRST, OR DEBT? Dear Dave, Should I lower my 401(k) contributions in order to pay off my car and home? — Jack Dear Jack, If you’re following my plan, the first thing you should do is set aside an emergency fund of $1,000. That’s Baby Step 1. Next comes Baby Step 2, which means paying off all of your debt except for your house. This would include your car. During this time you should temporarily stop any kind of investing and retirement contributions. Once the only debt left is your mortgage, it’s time to move on to Baby Step 3. Now you concentrate on growing your emergency fund to the point where you have three to six months of expenses set aside. Once this is done, you can attack Baby Step 4, which is investing 15 percent of your pretax income for retirement. For you, it would mean restarting the contributions to your 401(k). The rest of the plan goes like this. Baby Step 5 is putting money into your kids’ college funds, while Baby Step 6 is putting everything you can scrape together towards paying off the house early. After that comes the real fun. Baby Step 7 is the point where you simply build wealth and give. Follow these steps, Jack, and I promise you’ll have lots of fun and lots of cash. You’ll have financial peace! — Dave IN PRINT & ONLINE 605-665-3720 • Yankton, SD To place your ad, call: 605-665-5884 Read & Recycle! Waterproof & Comfortable FREE SOCKS With Boots, Gift Certificates Boston 3rd • Yankton • to Boots Shoes 665-9092 312 W. 1 and 2 BR apartments. Va Valley Park Apartments, alley s, Ya ankton, S 2200 Green St. Yankton, SD e 57078. Rental assistance available to those who qualify. qualify. 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