Give up your credit cards for one month challenge.

For years, I have respected Dave Ramsey and his get out of debt plan, except for that whole stop using credit card thing. I mean come on, I get 1% cash back, and 3% cash back if I use my credit card at a gas station. oh yeah! I pay my cards in full each month, so yeah I have the system beat. So like twice a year I could get a check for $10-$50, I'm well, on my way to becoming a millionaire. Well maybe not, but that was $50 I was getting for free, I was going to buy that stuff anyways, so I might has well be rewarded for spending.

Then I discovered River Valley Credit Union and their rewards checking account. They pay 4.5% if you make at least 12 debit card purchases a month. Then it occurred to me that I would make more money in interest than in cash back credit card rewards. So I switched to using a debit card. I discovered as a side effect that emotionally, I love having every item I buy be completely paid for. I really like not having a large credit card payment each month, budgeting becomes much simpler and I can look at my account and know exactly how well I'm doing at saving money. It's fun each month to earn more interest than the month before, you can see yourself winning. I'm not going back to credit cards, no way.

My challenge to you is the give up your credit card for one month and use strictly cash or your debit card. Let me know your experience and the freedom of one less bill.

JD's Voter Guide Xenia, Ohio, Greene County, Ohio May 4th Republican

Here is my recommendations for Xenia, Ohio, Greene County, Ohio May 4th Republican Primary Ballot. I'm only including the contested races. I was unable to find much information about the judges. Their websites did not have much substance and I am relying on solely the option of Virgil Vaduva. As always, I welcome anyones else's recommendations, there might be other considerations that I failed to see.

For Auditor of State

*Seth Morgan True conservative fights to lower taxes, listed out the issues he cares about on his website and I agree with his view on all of them.

David Yost

For Secretary of State

Jon Husted

* Sandra O'Brien More conservative of the two options, check out her issues page.

For Representative to Congress (7th District)

Steve Austria

* John Mitchel Opposes the Iraq and Afghanistan War. He is a champion of Liberty.

For Judge of the Court Appeals (2nd District)

Mike Hall

* George Reynolds Recommended by Virgil Vaduva

For Member of State Central Committee, Man (10th District)

Joseph Haines

David Kearney

(no recommendation)

For Member of State Central Committee, Woman (10th District)

Ashley Knowlton

Brenda K Lewis

*Cynthia J Bieghler - Tea Party Rep.

For State Representative

*Jarrod Martin Recommended by Virgil Vaduva, 2nd &10th amendment advocate.

Bill Miller

For Judge of the Court of Common Pleas

Raymond Dundes

David Mesaros

*Mike Buckwalter Recommended by Virgil Vaduva

For County Commissioner

Alan Anderson

*Virgil Vaduva Ron Paul supporter, believes in small limited government, and personal freedom. He strongly opposes Xenia Income tax. He will say no to a lot of the current nonsense in Greene county politics. Virgil is so well spoken, I'll just let you read for yourself why he is running. The following is copied from his election website:

Here is what I pledge to you, should you vote for me as county commissioner:

1. I will do my best to eliminate or lower tax rates in the county.
2. I will work to eliminate the bureaucracy which has been creeping in, making it a hassle for people to create businesses, build homes and work in our county.
3. I will find and promote ways to encourage people to reside in the county rather than seeking ways to leave the county due to high taxes and bureaucracy.
4. Improve communication with county residents by an improved website and electronic means, and by making the budget, finances and salaries of all county employees more easily accessible to all. Such information should be easily accessible via a well-designed website where residents should not have to ask for it or go to great lengths
   to obtain it.
5. Lastly, I will only accept a $1 a year salary; it is disgraceful for an elected official to accept $60,000 a year in taxpayers money for sitting in a few meetings each month and signing paperwork.

For County Auditor

*Dick Gould Not endorsed by Luwanna Delaney, our current oppressive auditor. He will demand FAIR and ACCURATE appraisals of your property.

David Graham

Ohio Issue #1 To Extend the Ohio third Frontier Program by Authorizing the Issuance of Additional General Obligations Bond to Promote Economic Growth

NO No way I'm voting for more debt in our state

Ohio Issue #2 To change the location of the Columbus Casino

No It was not a good idea to grant monopoly privileges to casinos. Even dumber idea to put the longitude and latitude in the Ohio Constitution of said casinos, so no, you are stuck with the dumb law and location.

Local Issue #7 Proposed Municipal Income Tax City of Xenia

NO I'm not against police and fire fighters, but as I understand it, the City of Xenia only needs to raise half a million to pay for the current police and fire coverage, not the 2.5 million that the tax will raise. I don't think the city has been wise with their money. They used tax payer money to fund advertisements for this levy, this is not at all fair. This tax would also put Xenia and one of highest taxed cities in the state. This would put the city of Xenia at a competitive disadvantage for attracting new families and businesses. Why is the city asking me and other families for more money, when city workers get a raise, and while many in the city are taking pay cuts or facing unemployment. I think we should fund the shortage with donations and not through force of taxation.

Republican Primary Ballot May 4, 2010 Greene County Ohio

To promote education in the election process here is a copy and the Republican Primary Ballot May 4, 2010 Greene County Ohio (Xenia) ballot.