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FreePlay Friday – Mexico Edition (Jungle Adventures and Financial Bailouts)
Posted on September 26th, 2008 in Old-General by Fred McKinnon
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MEXICO VACATION
Hola amigos! Joy and I are still in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico on an awesome vacation. Thanks to a sporadic wireless signal that comes into one corner of our suite I can get online. I thought ahead enough to bring my USB-headset so we’ve used Skype to call home a couple of nights ago. “Nana and Grandad” are doing fine with all four kiddos who we miss terribly. We’re winding down our activities and plan on being completely lazy today and tomorrow. Our flight leaves mid-afternoon Sunday, so the next few days will probably move very slow. That’s OK, because once we return, life resumes and the days fly by.
Joy and I took the bus into Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday and did the tourist thing. It was fun – we grabbed some of the fajitas at the legendary “Pipi’s” restaurant. They lived up to the fame.
Yesterday was perhaps one of the highlights of the trip. We hooked up with Vallarta Adventures for their “Outdoor Adventures” tour. To make a long trip short (the total trip was about 6 hours) we were given a nice breakfast at the tour office here in Nuevo Vallarta. Then we piled on an inflatable speedboat and went across the Bay of Banderas here on the Pacific Ocean. We arrived on the beach at a small fishing village … I was thinking “Survivors, Hit the Beach”. From there we boarded a big jeep truck that took us up winding roads into the mountains. When we arrived at base camp we were suited up in all of our climbing gear, helmets, gloves and we got on mules. Rode the mules about 15-20 minutes further up into the mountains.
Fred & Joy on Zip Lines over Jungle Canopy
From there we spent hours flying over the canopy of the jungle on zip lines and repelling down waterfalls. It was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done. Talk about “once in a lifetime” opportunities. Joy and I had a blast.
Fred Rappeling Down Waterfall
FINANCIAL BAILOUTS:
We have limited English channels here – Hallmark, CNN, Headline News, USA, TNT … but all we’re hearing about is this “financial bailout”. I’m no economic guru but it just makes me sick. I can’t believe that we’re gonna let this pass. Sure, I realize if we don’t do anything it will make it hard on everyone. But I think that we – Americans – are to blame. Sure, bad bankers and lawmakers are to blame. Greedy Wall Street Execs are to blame. But what ever happened to common sense? Why don’t Americans admit that our “loans to get loans to pay more loans”, “credit card driven” society is a bad idea? Don’t we know that the Scriptures say that the “borrower is slave to the lender”.
I want to throw up when I hear President Bush explaining why we MUST go this deeply into debt … because it will do what? Free up the “credit market” so we can all get loans again.
HELLO AMERICA – FREAKIN’ CREDIT IS WHAT GOT US IN THIS PLACE TO BEGIN WITH! STOP LIVING ON CREDIT! STOP TRYING TO GET LOANS THAT YOU CAN’T AFFORD.
In closing, let me tie today’s two points together. I’m grateful for this vacation we’re having. One of the biggest reasons I’m grateful is that “it won’t follow us home”. What do I mean by that? It’s paid for. We budgeted for vacation. We won’t be paying down this vacation on a credit card for months to come. We’ve disciplined ourselves to be on a strict, detailed budget. Thanks to Dave Ramsey, our lives are changed forever on how we deal with finances. With the exception of our mortgage we are 100% debt free, and I cannot imagine going back to the bondage of debt.
What’s your thoughts on the financial situation? Let’er rip!
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15 Responses to “FreePlay Friday – Mexico Edition (Jungle Adventures and Financial Bailouts)”
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my thought is I cant wait to get out of debt myself…
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Joel,
If you haven’t already, get Dave Ramsey’s book, the “Total Money Makeover”. It’s a life changer. Even better, subscribe to “The Dave Ramsey Show” podcast on iTunes – it will really stir you up.
Fred
Can’t reply right now. I’m heading over to the bank to get an equity credit line so I can pay off credit card debts and get that new sierra duallie and new hd tv and golf cart and 4 wheeler and home surround sound stereo system and . . . . .
Makes me sick, too.
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Robert,
That’s hilarious. It reminds me of that credit card commercial where you can txt your credit card company to find out how much more “credit” you have left to buy stuff. Duh.
We’re trying to kick Murphy out of our house as I type this. Our envelopes are going strong, emergency fund is growing and EVERY dollar has a name and a purpose at our place.
I recommend Ramsey’s book and podcast as well. Glad you guys are having a great time!
Dave Ramsey is amazing…our envelopes are going strong too! Emergency fund is kickin’. Can’t wait to be debt free.
Yeah, the financial bail out is making me sick too!
Y’all have fun on vacation!!
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I think most people in America don’t realize that this whole bailout deal is taking money from the taxpayers to rescue PRIVATELY owned companies. What ever happened to letting the chips fall where they may? Even if it means letting someone fail. What message does it send if our government always steps in to “fix” our economy every time it dips into a recession or possibly a depression? Let capitalism work, I say.
Hi Fred! I hope you and Joy are enjoying a great vacation – looks awesome from the pictures!
We are debt free too, except for our home… no credit cards ever again!
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FreePlay Friday – Mexico Edition (Jungle Adventures and Financial Bailouts) at http://www.fredmckinnon.com. Go to http://is.gd/3ayC
ate at that famous restaurant on my honeymoon. good stuff.
Interesting post about the financial situation. The only debt I have is my mortgage and my car will be paid off in a year. Any quick tips you have learned on creating a budget and saving?
Someone sent me the following email, and I must say I think it’s a really great idea. Thought you all might enjoy reading it:
I’m against the $85,000,000,000.00 bailout of AIG.
Instead, I’m in favor of giving $85,000,000,000 to America in
a We Deserve It Dividend.
To make the math simple, let’s assume there are 200,000,000
bonafide U.S. Citizens 18+.
Our population is about 301,000,000 +/- counting every man, woman
and child. So 200,000,000 might be a fair stab at adults 18 and up..
So divide 200 million adults 18+ into $85 billon that equals
$425,000.00.
My plan is to give $425,000 to every person 18+ as a
We Deserve It Dividend.
Of course, it would NOT be tax-free.
So let’s assume a tax rate of 30%.
Every individual 18+ has to pay $127,500.00 in taxes.
That sends $25,500,000, 000 right back to Uncle Sam.
But it means that every adult 18+ has $297,500.00 in their pocket.
A husband and wife has $595,000 .00.
What would you do with $297,500.00 to $595,000.00 in your family?
Pay off your mortgage – housing crisis solved.
Repay college loans – what a great boost to new grads
Put away money for college – it’ll be there
Save in a bank – create money to loan to entrepreneurs.
Buy a new car – create jobs
Invest in the market – capital drives growth
Pay for your parent’s medical insurance – health care improves
Enable Deadbeat Dads to come clean – or else
Remember this is for every adult U S Citizen 18+ including the folks
who lost their jobs at Lehman Brothers and every other company
that is cutting back. And of course, for those serving in our Armed
Forces.
If we’re going to re-distribute wealth let’s really do it…instead of
trickling out
a puny $1000.00 ( “vote buy” ) economic incentive that is being proposed
by one of our candidates for President.
If we’re going to do an $85 billion bailout, let’s bail out every adult
U S Citizen 18+!
As for AIG – liquidate it.
Sell off its parts.
Let American General go back to being American General.
Sell off the real estate.
Let the private sector bargain hunters cut it up and clean it up.
Here’s my rationale. We deserve it and AIG doesn’t.
Sure it’s a crazy idea that can “never work.”
But can you imagine the Coast-To-Coast Block Party!
How do you spell Economic Boom?
I trust my fellow adult Americans to know how to use the $85 Billion
We Deserve It Dividend more than the geniuses at AIG or in
Washington DC.
And remember, The Family plan only really costs $59.5 Billion because
$25.5 Billion is returned instantly in taxes to Uncle Sam.
Hey Fred,
This has nothing to do with your post. I’ve just got two words for ya: ROLL TIDE!!!
Have fun at church tomorrow!
JSK
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Jamey,
So that’s the point of FPF – you can post anything you want … but geez, was that necessary! (congrats). I’m bummed.
You look like you’re having an awesome vacation. It looks really fun. How did you get hooked up with that? By that I mean…did a travel agent arrange everything or a ministry leader? Let me know.