Thanks a lot, Dave Ramsey!

"Americans who have a financial plan not only feel more confident about their futures, but are also saving more and getting into financial trouble less than those without a plan." —Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards  (posted on FPU Facebook page)


My eternal future is not in question.  I have secured a place with my Heavenly Father after I leave this Earth by believing and trusting in Him (Romans 10:9).  It's my Earthly future I need to be concerned with!


Since I'm a planner, it would be seem that I would have a plan for finances as well, right?  Wrong.  I have never been "good at that".  I always pay my bills on time and take care of financial obligations as they occur, but I don't didn't have a plan.  That is until now.  


As I have mentioned in my previous posts on my old website (http://juliekelle.blogspot.com), Eli and I decided that as part of our marriage counseling, we would attend Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University.  Eli researched and found a class in Charleston.  This was one the best thing we could have done as a part of building our future together.  


In the class, you are taught principles to learn how to manage and spend your money so that you can build wealth and bless others.  He breaks the steps down into "baby steps".  Get through one, then move on to the next and so on.  Simple.  He teaches and emphasizes the importance of having a budget (don't we all have one??) and actually sticking to it!!!  Start out by cutting up and closing any credit cards you have.  Don't worry about your credit - DON'T BORROW MONEY!!!  Use an envelope system where you put cash (or debit/gift cards) for each area where you "spend" (like clothes, eating out, grocery store, gas, etc.).  Once the envelope is empty, then you're done!  Transfer from another envelope if needed, but don't over spend!


We have used the envelope system, stuck to our budget, sold things on eBay and a few other things to complete step one and now are on to step two; what will feel like an eternity of saving - pay off all debts - our student loans and our truck.


Proverbs 22:7 states that, "...the borrower is slave to the lender."


In the journey of becoming debt free, we have to sacrifice.  It's not an easy path to go down.  Easy would be spending pay check to pay check, not building savings, going out shopping and to restaurants as much as we like, and going on another vacation now without saving for it first!!!!  Part of the sacrifice I am willing to make is being creative with my clothes.  Eli is so easy going with his wardrobe.  During the summer, he has the flexibility to throw on shorts and t-shirts as he leads his staff through preparing for a new school year on campus.  For me, and probably because I am a girl, I like to get a "new" outfit every now and then.  As I think about preparing my classroom and returning to work, I wanted to get a few new things!  Can I spend the money?  Of course!  There is a budget line item for clothing - cash in an envelope - for that!!


I wanted to think of the best way to spend the money and stretch it out as much as possible.  I first thought about looking online to see if NY&Co (my favorite) was having a great sale.  Then I realized that a great sale is never great if I really don't NEED it or can't AFFORD it.  I then thought about used clothes.  Why not check out eBay?  I sell stuff all the time, why not buy clothes?  I like to order things online, but it would be disappointing if what I ordered didn't fit or look right.  So what is a girl on a budget to do?  GOODWILL!!!!  Again, I'm good at dropping things off there during my quarterly clean outs!  Why not see if I can find anything.  So I went on an adventure and to my great surprise, I got some great stuff!


Here's a sneak peak:

I spent a grand total of about $22 on a jean skirt, three dress shirts and two blazers.  A few times through the wash cycle and I'm ready to go.  Can't beat that!


So, thanks a lot, Dave Ramsey!  Here's to knocking out these loans and living absolutely debt-free!

xoxo,

pt byrd