February 27, 2018 • Page 2 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Wrestling Dilemma Dave Says By Daris Howard Debt and Income Crisis Dave Ramsey Bill Dear Dave, I received a call the other day from a company saying it could negotiate the balance on my credit cards to a lesser amount. The caller also said they could get me a zero-percent interest rate until the debts were paid off, and then the accounts would be closed. I’m kind of starting over again financially, because I sold a company I had run for almost 15 years, then got into real estate and lost almost everything. I’m making just enough to squeeze by, and my credit card debt totals $40,000. Would this be a good idea? Dear Bill, No, this is not a good idea. You’re looking at two major problems with a company such as this one. One, they will absolutely destroy whatever credit you may have. Their plan is to take your cash, and spend some time beating down the credit card companies until they agree to accept a lesser amount. Then, they use your cash to settle loans you will have — by that time —defaulted on. This will put you in a situation very similar to if you had filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy. Stay away from these people. You have an income crisis, in addition to a debt crisis, at this point. For starters, I want you to start living on a tight, written, monthly budget. I’m talking rice and beans, no vacations, and no eating out until you pay off this debt. Where your income is concerned, maybe you should consider getting back into the kind of business you ran previously for a while. Look for a managerial or supervisory position in that area, at least until you’re able to get back on your feet and save some cash. Finally, cut up the credit cards, close the accounts, and put as much money as you can spare toward paying off that debt using the debt snowball system. Never go back into debt again! — Dave Pay Off House First? Dear Dave, My husband and I are in our forties. We have no children, and we bring home $95,000 a year combined. We’re also debtfree except for our home. We owe just $10,000 on the house, and can take care of that in a few months. Would it be okay to rearrange the Baby Steps a bit, and pay off our home before getting serious about saving for retirement? Nan Dear Nan, I don’t usually give folks any wiggle room when it comes to sticking with the proper order of the Baby Steps. But if you’re that close to being completely debt-free, I don’t see anything wrong with paying off the house first. Most people I talk to still have anywhere from $100,000 to $300,000 left on their mortgages. This is a little bit different story, however, and you two are obviously managing your money well. Knock out that mortgage, and start pouring at least 15 percent of your income into retirement. You’re going to love the feeling — and the freedom — that comes with being completely debt-free! — Dave * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business, and CEO of Ramsey Solutions. He has authored seven bestselling 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. Want your business to be seen? Get your display ad here! Call 605-665-5884 Or Drop By At 319 Walnut St. st Prices Be n Town! I We’ll Match A ll Local Advertis ing Prices! Crown Royal Ap $ ple 44.99 1.75 ML Canadian Club $ 19.99 1.75 ML Patron Silver Te quila $46.99 75 0 ML Gray Goose Vod $ ka 49.99 1.75 M L Cork N Bottle 1500 Broadway, 665-3881 February always reminds me of wrestling. That was the month for district and state tournaments when I was young. I remember one wrestling experience well. In the fall of my senior year, wrestling had just started when the girl I had dated for a little while came to talk to me. Sheila was a junior, and her love was journalism. She was one of the main reporters on the school newspaper. What made her stand out from most other students working on the school paper was that there was little she wouldn’t do to get a good story. “Daris,” she said, “Can I talk to you?” “Sure,” I replied. “What do you want to talk about?” “I think I want to join the wrestling team.” There were no girls on the wrestling team. So if this had been anyone else, I might have been surprised. But I had learned long ago that Sheila was anything but predictable. “Why would you want to do that?” I asked. “I want to do a story about what it’s like to be a girl on the wrestling team. What do you think of that?” “Personally, I think that’s a crazy reason to go out for wrestling, or any sport. A person should do it only because they want to compete.” “Well, maybe I think I can compete. Maybe I could even beat you.” I thought she was joking, and I smiled. But she apparently wasn’t, because she became agitated with me. “You think it’s funny?” she asked, hotly. “Maybe I could even beat you. I used to wrestle against my brother, and he was a varsity wrestler.” “Okay,” I said. “Do it if you want to.” “What would you do if I wrestled you?” she asked. “You wouldn’t,” I replied. “I outweigh you by almost double, so we wouldn’t even be close to the same weight class.” “But what if I did wrestle you? Would you treat me differently, than another opponent or go easy on me?” “No,” I said. “If you wrestled me, you had better plan to compete hard.” I don’t know what she thought of my answer, because she strode away. But word quickly got around about her plan, and my teammates teased me. At lunch, Sheila informed me she would be at wrestling practice with another girl she had convinced to come with her. The more I tried to talk Sheila out of it, the more determined she became. Finally, I said, “Okay. It’s your choice.” “Would you hurt either of us if we wrestled you?” she asked. I was offended by the question. “Of course not. At least not on purpose. I have never hurt an opponent on purpose. I have accidentally hurt some who were not prepared for the intensity of the sport. You just better be prepared to compete.” When I got to wrestling practice, the girls weren’t there, but all talk was of them. The coach was not pleased about the situation, afraid the girls would get hurt. But due to Title IX, they could join if they desired. It was during our first break that Sheila and her friend showed up carrying gym bags. The sweat was pouring off us wrestlers as we came from the wrestling room, heading for the water fountain. The two girls looked at us, and Sheila’s friend asked her, “Will we be touching them? They are so sweaty and gross.” I looked at the girl with her perfect hair and clothes, and I laughed. “You’ll get used to it. You’ll be just as sweaty and gross.” Sheila’s friend turned and walked out the door. Sheila poked me in the chest. “Okay, so I’m not wrestling. But not because I’m scared to try. It’s just because you’re so . . . so . . . sweaty and disgusting!” And with that, she left to join her friend. I already knew that I was sweaty and disgusting, but at least I wouldn’t have to worry about dating a girl who was a teammate. Looking for the best deal in town? Check the Dewey picked up Emily’s yellow dress at the cleaners and drove it back to her here in the valley. They had managed to get most of the wine stains out. 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