Financial Freedom...what would that be like

So...debt...what a nasty four letter word! I HATE it! I came home tonight and flicked on the TV and on popped Suze Orman and she put me back on track...into motion...motivated me! I love Dave Ramsey and Suze! So, here begins my three year journey to getting out of all debt, car loan included and having $15,000 in savings. Suze said to have 8 months of living expenses in saving...WOWZERS! I have a LOT of work to do!

It is going to take sacrifice, determination, support, and belief in myself. How liberating it will be though! I am honestly exciting.

One of the MOST liberating things I did tonight was write down on a sheet of paper my SPENDING PROMISES. I showed it to Steven when he got home. It was like the weight of the world was off of my shoulders. So, here are my promises (abbreviated version).
1. I promise to stop eating out! Not only will this help our budget, but my waist too! Double score!
2. I promise to write down EVERYTHING that I spend.
3. I promise to own up to my mistakes in getting us where we are at.
4. I promise not to buy something just because it's a great deal.
5. I promise to question myself...needs vs. wants.

So...here is part of the game plan:
1. We pay all our bills online (if they can be).
2: We work on a cash budget for everything else. This means the debit card...GONE. The credit card...GONE. The check book...HIDDEN and used only to pay for bills that can't be paid via Internet.

OH...and I replaced the word "BUDGET" with Spending Plan...sounds a little nicer to me! Not so "restrictive".

So, anyone want to join me? Support groups are the best...someone to check up on how we are doing...encouraging each other to keep going strong and helping us get back on track when we waiver.

SPRING IS HERE!!!

Izze getting the hang of picking the red ones!

Tanner digging into his strawberry yogurt!

The Three Stooges (Tanner, Maddie, and Makayla)....

...and their princess!

March Provident LIving

A sweet friend of mine and I have been asked to share a 2 minute tidbit on provident living each 2nd Sunday in Relief Society. So, I'm thinking that the Lord really has a sense of humor or really knows what he's doing because if you were to ask me to state one thing about myself "provident living" would NOT be at the top of the list. So...perhaps this is something that the Lord wants me to figure out and is making me do it by helping others. After all, isn't this when we really find ourselves...when we are helping others.

 So...we started with the basics this month.

1. DAILY EXPENSE TRACKING:  For ONE month write down everything you spend. EVERYTHING...every last penny, nickel, and dime. Don't change your spending habits yet. You will want a true picture of your habits and if you change it now you won't get that. Also, writing everything down will make you very aware of your spending.The tracking daliy expenses sheet is a sheet that each person in the family that spends money she keep up to date daily. Then at night use the budget chart to total up and keep track of the whole households daily expense.

2. ROLES: Determine the roles of financial responsibility in your home. What is your role and what is your spouses? For example, mine is to record daily expenses and balance the checkbook. Steven's is to pay the bills bimonthly when the paychecks come in. 

I also wanted to share this bill and payment checklist that I saw online, that someone was trying to sell for like $10. I recreated it and thought I'd share.

On an end note, we must remember that what we have is not our money, but God's money. We are asked to be stewards of God's money.

As Dave Ramsey says..." What can you do with your money when your out of debt? WHAT EVER YOU WANT TO!"