I want you to be the hero of your own story.
Why you ask?
No one is coming to rescue you, that's why. Not the lottery, not a millionaire, not a family member, and not the government.
In the last 5 years the economic down turn has caused most american families to feel less certain about their future. No only their future, but also that of their children. With the majority believing that their children will not have the same or better lifestyle then them.
I encourage listeners to come and meet me at the Podcast Movement and Fincon 14.
I also share information about Podertainment Podcast Magazine and my feature resulting in my being on the cover.
Last but not least, I encourage listeners to vote for the Cash Car Convert podcast as the best personal finance podcast in 2014.

CCC039: Be the Hero of Your Own Story

Are you in auto debt? This podcast is dedicated to helping educate and inspire people like you. To enable you to kick auto debt to the curb.

Helping you invest in yourself, not things.

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To start this episode, I want people to take a reality check. Most of us are too optimistic when it comes to our futures. I'm all for positive thinking, but we most often expect the future to be better than our pasts. This isn't always the case.
This concept is illustrated by a Prudential Insurance ad where they ask people to place magnets, one each, for something that happened to them in the past and, one each, for something they expected to happen in the future. Good things were represented with yellow magnates and bad things were represented with blue magnates. For the past it was pretty even good and bad, but when looking into the future, people anticipated much more good than bad coming their way.
Click here to view the Prudential commercial.
What does this have to do with cars. Well, most people buy cars on credit and base the payment on at worst their life not getting any worse and at best getting a promotion, raise, or some other type of monetary increase. This leads to all manner of problems  and people over extend their income.
Be realistic about your future. Expect the best, but plan for the worst. That way, you will always be prepared.
Click to Listen:
[powerpress]
My friend Ellory Wells, has been telling me for a long time I should recommend specific vehicles to my listeners. I have resisted because I want to teach the car buying process. I want to teach someone how to fish, not give them a fish.
Having said all that, I have come across two articles that help me point my listeners in the direction of some vehicles that will with the best chance to go over 200,000 miles.
Ever wonder what vehicles can go 200,000 miles most often?
If you are like me you have. I want to know that my vehicle has the oomph to last. No car is cheap and we all work too hard for our money to just throw it away.
Luckily, there are a couple of articles that share some of the vehicles which most often make it past 200,000 miles.
One is from our friends at Consumer Reports, Best cars for making it to 200,000 miles, 10 models most likely to run for the long haul.
Consumer Reports' Top 10:Toyota PriusToyota CamryHonda OdysseyHonda PilotToyota CorollaHonda Accord sedan (4-cyl.)Honda CR-VToyota SiennaToyota Highlander (V6)Honda Civic (non-hybrid)
The next article is from I See Cars. Their article, Top 10 Longest-Lasting Vehicles in iSeeCars.com Study Are All Trucks and SUVs. I didn't know much about I See Cars, but they are a site that allows one to search and compare cars. They also have a research tab.
Top 20 Longest Lasting Vehicles:Ford F-250 Super DutyChevrolet Silverado 2500HDChevrolet SuburbanToyota 4RunnerFord ExpeditionGMC Sierra 2500HDChevrolet TahoeGMC Yukon XLToyota SequoiaGMC Sierra 1500GMC YukonHonda AccordDodge DurangoSubaru LegacyToyota TacomaToyota AvalonFord ExplorerFord F-150Lincoln NavigatorChevrolet Silverado 1500
I See Cars also had lists that excluded trucks and another that was only listed with cars.
These two studies came at the information from very different points of view. I would recommend checking out both articles for all the details.
Give this episode a listen!
Links:
Ellory Wells: http://ellorywells.com
Consumer Report - Best cars for making it to 200,000 miles 10 models most likely to run for the long haul: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/03/ten-for-the-long-haul/index.htm
I See Cars Article - Top 10 Longest-Lasting Vehicles in iSeeCars.com Study Are All Trucks and SUVs http://blog.iseecars.com/2014/02/24/top-10-longest-lasting-vehicles-in-iseecars-com-study-are-all-trucks-and-suvs/
Prudential Commercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3pFHPgH3oU
Did you enjoy the show?
If you liked this episode, please consider going to iTunes and subscribing.
On iTunes once you subscribe, you can leave a rating and review. Taking this action will help this podcast move up and be more easily found in iTunes. Thank you for an honest rating and review.
Here is a link to subscribe or rate and review the show: http://cashcarconvert.com/itunes
Alternatively, you can let me know your thoughts about the show on Twitter at @CashCarConvert.
Want to connect on Facebook? http://facebook.com/cashcarconvert
Check out my new private Facebook community. http://cashcarconvert.com/cccc
Want to shoot me an e-mail? Click: james@cashcarconvert.com.
Looking for something on Amazon? Please use my affiliate link: http://cashcarconvert.com/amazon
Looking for a back episode of the Cash Car Convert? Click: http://cashcarconvert.com/cash-car-convert/
I’m also posting my audio podcasts on youtube. The first 20 episodes are up with the rest to follow. I’m looking at this as just one more platform to be found. http://cashcarconvert.com/youtube
Do you have a comment about this interview or about the podcast itself? Please leave a comment below.
I appreciate every listener.

CCC063: How Can I Get 200,000 Miles Plus?

Steve Stewart back on the Cash Car Convert show to tell his Cash Car Story.
Okay, Steve agreed to be on to get me back behind the microphone. The things some people will do to help a friend. He continues to be a great supporter of this show. I'm humbled and appreciate his support.
Let's just say he has "bought" into the cash car lifestyle.
It was great to see Steve at the Podcast Movement 2015 in Fort Worth, Texas.  We didn't get to hang out too much, but it was great to see him and his cash car.
He does have a great cash car story and we will get to it now.
Steve bought a cash car in Dallas Texas in April this year. This wasn't a typical transaction. Steve lives in St. Louis!
Why did Steve come to Dallas to buy his cash car?
Click to Listen:
[powerpress]
It all started when I posted a Craigslist ad on the Cash Car community page on Facebook on April 2nd.
Steve's response to my post was the following, "an I send you a check and a little extra for your trouble to look at it for me? I'm 75% serious here (and it's no longer April Fools Day)."
Steve and I spoke on the phone and agreed I would look at the car for him.
I went to look at the car and liked what I saw. I also spent about an hour plus at Christian Brother's Automotive having the car looked over by professional mechanics. This is a service Christian Bother's offers for about ninety dollars.
While they did find a few things that long term needed attention, their overall assessment was this is a sound vehicle. The mechanic went out of his way to tell me the late 90's Honda Civics have historically been great cars. He called a Civic sweet spot.
I called Steve and after a lengthy conversation, he agreed to buy the car if we could get some price relief. The car was originally priced at $3,800. Steve finally purchased it for $3,400. A little more than a 10% discount. To be fair Steve had to buy a plane ticket to travel to Dallas and had other expenses.
When all was said and done, Steve was out $4,000.
Steve is on today's show to talk about how the car has been performing since April.
I won't steal Steve's thunder, but he has had this car on the highway traveling between Dallas and St. Louis, St. Louis and Fort Worth and back, and St. Louis to Philadelphia and back. He has had this car on the highway for an estimated total of over 40 hours. That's a lot of time on the road.
To me, this is important because most people are happy to drive their $4,000 car around town, but would be afraid to take a 10 hour one way trip. This car has held up to the demands put on it.
1998 Honda Civic EX as advertised on Craigslist.
 
 
Steve Stewart's cash car parked in Fort Worth at Podcast Movement 2015. Note the Cash Car Convert bumper sticker.
Give this episode a listen, I know you'll enjoy Steve Stewart's Cash Car Story!
 

CCC062: Steve Stewart and the Cash Car Story

What a great show we have today!
Today, we have a young lady, Lauren Bowling, on who was a theater major and graduated with no student loan debt. Her parents made sure she had no student loans. The foe of most every college student got her though, credit cards. She finished college with thousands in debt and a dream.
Lauren Bowling dreamed of being an actor in New York city. With $300 and her dream, she left home for New York.
Soon after she arrived between the debt and lack of acting jobs, Lauren was forced to take an administrative job at a hedge fund company. Lauren spent her time there paying down her debt and learning from the fiscally responsible people working at the hedge fund.
After Lauren paid off her debt, she started to pursue her acting, only to find she didn't really enjoy it. She didn't really love the audition process. She said her nerves would often get the best of her. She often didn't perform at her best.
Lauren decided to head back home and take up residence with her parents. Lauren didn't stay with her parents' house too long. She received a bonus from the hedge fund and decided to put it towards a house.
Lauren's dream house quickly turned to a house of horrors when her home repairs outstripped her home repair loan and she found herself in $8,000 in debt. Reeling from a recent breakup and in debt Lauren spent a year finding her equilibrium.
In 2015, Lauren regained her footing, she got serious about her. Lauren set up a plan to pay off $8,000 in 90 days. Lauren hit her goal of paying off $8,000 in 90 days.
How you might ask did she do this?
It turns out Lauren had started a blog, L Bee and the Money Tree to discuss money and her journey with it back in 2012. She also started doing some free lance writing. She over the next two years and 2,000 blog posts, she built her reputation. She also built a know like and trust factor with her audience.
It was the free lance writing that allowed her to  accelerate the pay off of her debt. She also discovered something else. She discovered she could make enough hustling as a free lance writer to leave her day job.
What started off as a problem, a house with excessive repair bills, resulted in an opportunity to leave her day job and pursue a new life.
Lauren also shared a personal story of a shopping addiction. She spoke of how shopping was comfort for what she felt lacking. She attended therapy sessions to get control of her addiction.
I thought it was brave of her to tell this personal story on my show. I believe her bravery in sharing this story, will touch someone out there who needed to hear her story.
Give this episode a listen, I know you'll enjoy!
Links:
L Bee and the Money Tree: http://www.lbeeandthemoneytree.com
Lauren Bowling YouTube Channel (Awkward Money Chat: https://www.youtube.com/user/LBeeMoneyTree
 Start with Why - Simon Senik: http://www.amazon.com/Start-Why-Leaders-Inspire-Everyone/dp/1591846447/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid;=1434770697&sr;=8-1&keywords;=start+with+why
Did you enjoy the show?
If you liked this episode, please consider going to iTunes and subscribing.
On iTunes once you subscribe, you can leave a rating and review. Taking this action will help this podcast move up and be more easily found in iTunes. Thank you for an honest rating and review.
Here is a link to subscribe or rate and review the show: http://cashcarconvert.com/itunes
Alternatively, you can let me know your thoughts about the show on Twitter at @CashCarConvert.
Want to connect on Facebook? http://facebook.com/cashcarconvert
Check out my new private Facebook community. http://cashcarconvert.com/cccc
Want to shoot me an e-mail? Click: james@cashcarconvert.com.
Looking for something on Amazon? Please use my affiliate link: http://cashcarconvert.com/amazon
Looking for a back episode of the Cash Car Convert? Click: http://cashcarconvert.com/cash-car-convert/
I’m also posting my audio podcasts on youtube. The first 20 episodes are up with the rest to follow. I’m looking at this as just one more platform to be found. http://cashcarconvert.com/youtube
Do you have a comment about this interview or about the podcast itself? Please leave a comment below.
I appreciate every listener.

CCC061: Lauren Bowling from L Bee and the Money Tree

Hey converts!
It feels good to be back behind the mic!
April was a busy month!
Taxes were due to be filed and I had and audit for the previous year's taxes. Yikes!
My wife and I Bought two houses using the 1031 exchange program to defer taxes on a house we sold in March. We rented both houses in just a couple of weeks. It feels good to have an additional source of revenue.
I also helped Steve Stewart from MoneyPlanSOS.com buy a cash car.
I recently read a book called The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. There was a great quote in the book. It really resonated with me.
"What's the ONE Thing you can do such that by doing it everything else will be easier or unnecessary?"
What if I told you if you did this one thing you could retire wealthy?
Would you want to know what it is? This one thing.
If you knew what this one thing was, would you do something about it?
For most people, the answer is no.
Shocked? You shouldn’t be.
After all, millions of people smoke, eat unhealthy, or engage in other risky or unhealthy behaviors. These are life and death matters. If one won’t change to extend their own life, why would you or I think one would change simply to ensure a better retirement?
Well, if you’ve been listening to this show, I’ve been telling. If fact I’ve been telling you since December of 2013.
It may or may not shock you, but for most of you listening the one thing is the car payment.
Really, the car payment? Doesn’t everyone have a car payment? Isn’t that just normal?
Yes it is and there in lies the insidiousness of it. People quietly pay their lives away to drive a newer, sexier, faster, cooler, and whatever other er you can think of.
Every day someone agrees to pay away their future for a car.
Why is the car payment the one thing?
Well, your mortgage is going to something that actually can help you build wealth. We found out in 2008, it doesn’t always, but for most of us and for most of history, this is true.
What about student loan debt? It’s all over the news, isn’t that the worst debt? No, a bachelor degree is still worth about $800,000 in additional income over the course of a lifetime of employment. While I’m not encouraging anyone to take on this debt, the average student loan debt of $28,000 seems like a pretty good trade for that average return of $800,000.
Do you still have a car payment?
Why? Haven’t you been paying attention?
Haven’t your heard? Auto debt is dangerous to your financial future!
This is not a throw away line I just like to say on my show. This is what I believe!
I know, I know.
You can’t make that change right now because..…because… you know just pick your excuse.
1. You just “need” a new car.2. You drive a lot, so reliability is important to you.3. You don’t want your spouse, kids, or any other loved one to be stranded.4. You don’t have the cash to buy that first cash car.
For some who would be honest it would be all about ego.
Maybe I “need” to look successful.
Or my favorite, I work hard so I deserve to drive something nice.
What can getting rid of your indebted car do for you?You can take a big bite out of your current debt.You can increase your available cash by the amount of your car payment.Save your first $1,000 emergency fundPay off your other debts at an accelerated pace.Start saving for your next cash car, retirement, or child’s education.
4Q 2014:Average new car payment - $482Average new car price - $33,000Average new car loan amount - $28,381Average new car loan duration - 66 months
Today, I want you to make a commitment to me and yourself.
Today, I want you to do one thing to start on your journey to dump your auto debt.
It doesn’t have to be a big step, but it has to be a step, a start, a move in the right direction.
Maybe it’s a plan to sell everything in that storage building you’re renting for over $100 a month. Who knows how much you might get?
Maybe it’s looking on edmunds.com or kbb.com to see how much your current car is worth.
Maybe it is finding out what the pay off is on your current car loan.
Whatever it is do it today. Start the journey today, don’t wait.
We can all speak of yesterday’s regrets, but don’t live to regret today. Today is the day! Now is the time!
Take action!
Links:
Steve Stewart - 1998 - Honda Civic: http://moneyplansos.com/ynab-vs-everydollar-comparison/
Dan Miller - Why do the rich get richer and poor get poorer?: http://www.48days.com/why-do-the-rich-get-richer-and-poor-get-poorer/
NY Federal Report on Consumer Spending Fourth Quarter 2014: http://www.newyorkfed.org/microeconomics/hhdc.html#/2014/q4




State of the Automotive Finance Market Fourth Quarter 2014: http://www.experian.com/assets/automotive/white-papers/experian-auto-2014-q4-presentation.pdf?WT.srch=Auto_Q42014FinanceTrends_PDF




The One Thing by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan: http://www.amazon.com/The-ONE-Thing-Surprisingly-Extraordinary-ebook/dp/B00C1BHQXK/ref=dp_kinw_strp_1
The Hamilton Project - Major Decisions: What Graduates Earn Over Their Lifetimes: http://www.hamiltonproject.org/papers/major_decisions_what_graduates_earn_over_their_lifetimes/
Did you enjoy the show?
If you liked this episode, please consider going to iTunes and subscribing.
On iTunes once you subscribe, you can leave a rating and review. Taking this action will help this podcast move up and be more easily found in iTunes. Thank you for an honest rating and review.
Here is a link to subscribe or rate and review the show: http://cashcarconvert.com/itunes
Alternatively, you can let me know your thoughts about the show on Twitter at @CashCarConvert.
Want to connect on Facebook? http://facebook.com/cashcarconvert
Check out my new private Facebook community. http://cashcarconvert.com/cccc
Want to shoot me an e-mail? Click: james@cashcarconvert.com.
Looking for something on Amazon? Please use my affiliate link: http://cashcarconvert.com/amazon
Looking for a back episode of the Cash Car Convert? Click: http://cashcarconvert.com/cash-car-convert/
I’m also posting my audio podcasts on youtube. The first 20 episodes are up with the rest to follow. I’m looking at this as just one more platform to be found. http://cashcarconvert.com/youtube
Do you have a comment about this interview or about the podcast itself? Please leave a comment below.
I appreciate every listener.

CCC060: The One Thing

Hey converts!
Today's guest is on due to a Facebook post. Wild, right? Well, I was so impressed with the post that I knew I had to have this person on.
Lucky for me, she was kind enough to agree to be on the show. She has an awesome story and I know you will be inspired and blessed by her story.
We are blessed today to have Amy Robles from Woman Enriched. Amy and her husband wanted to pay off their debt. Things got off to a slow start, but they then discovered Dave Ramsy's show and his Financial Peace University education. That changed their trajectory. They wound up paying off $25,000 of credit car debt in 2014.
She continues to work on her student loan debt, but I know with the way she is willing to sacrifice combined with her creative mind, she will succeed.
All of that is amazing, but now to why she is on my show.
 
You know what to find out, you just have to listen.
 
Enjoy!
 

CCC039: Be the Hero of Your Own Story

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