Budgeting with integrity

We have now completed 8 weeks of Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University:

I have to tell you - I know there are a lot of people who hate this program. There are some people that are Nazi's about it. However, the concepts are simple they just don't come for free. You gotta work for it. I've learned that I've gotta work hard to undo the financial mess I've made. It sometimes means making commitments that friends and family don't agree with or appreciate, or not participating in certain things. But it's YOUR financial life, not theirs. Make the sacrifice now so you can really enjoy life later. As Dave says "Live like no one else, so later you can LIVE like no one else." That's so true.

Anyway, these past few months have been a struggle financially, to say the least. It is frustrating to be equip with all this new information and tools that we're so excited about implementing, and not actually having the means to do it. But little by little, we're working our way through it. At the very least, this course has given me the insight into doing extra things to earn/save money - I would have never made all the phone calls a few weeks ago, saving me almost $475 a month!

This past week's lesson was 'Buy Only Big, Big Bargains.' It was a great lesson, but there was something that really stuck with me. He quoted a book called 'Millionaire Mind' by Thomas Stanley which was a compilation of top 50 character qualities found in Millionaires and what they have in common. The #1 character quality that EVERY self-made millionaire shared was integrity. After interviewing family, friends, and employees they discovered that they possessed incredible amounts of integrity in every aspect of their lives.

How many times do we sell our integrity for the easy road? Do we return extra cash when our change is counted wrong? Do we mention something when we're not charged for something? Do we withhold information when we're trying to sell something? No matter the facet of our life we're talking about: spiritual, financial, family, friends, etc - Integrity ALWAYS pays off in the end.

Do you have any stories about Integrity? How has it paid off for you?

Debt free, here I come!

Bullet point # 2: Better Budgeting

Well, it's been 3 weeks now since we've started the Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University course, and I finally feel like it's taking us somewhere. The first two weeks just makes you realize all the things you could and should be doing with your money, without telling you how. This week, however, we got to make our budget for the month.

Before I delve into this, I'd like to point out that I love budgets. I do them in my sleep. I balance my checkbook a few times a week...I know, I'm weird. The funny thing is that even though I'm pretty on top of knowing where our money goes, I'm never in control of where it goes. The hubs and I did a financial course when I was pregnant with Faith, called Common Sense, and it was great. I've been using the 'spending plan' sheets since then, every month. We were doing great for awhile, then somehow got off course (ok, not somehow - our student loans went back into repayment and are kicking our butts). So, we need to change something.

Here's the biggest difference I've noticed: Dave's budget requires you to spend your money on paper before the month even begins. What a novel idea! All this time, I write every single dollar spent down, added up at the end of the month and think, "What the heck?!? How did that happen?!?" But deciding where my money is going to go BEFORE it gets there allows me to see where I need to cut back, which bills I can pay in what week, etc. It was really like this light bulb came on in my head. It also allows me to look forward to things, like going out to eat, instead of being depressed that we don't have the money to go, then go anyway.

So, my entire attitude toward money changed when I wrote out that budget. Let the penny pinchin' begin!! I'm ok with it, because I am building a better future for myself and my family. We started a chore chart for the kids (yes, even though they're 2 and 3) just to give them a better understanding of helping out as a part of the family, as well as doing extra work to earn money. We gave Faith 3 chores a week and Caleb 2 (according to their age - simple things like picking up books). Each week, they can mark off what they helped with and earn $1. Once we fill our jar, we'll separate the money for giving, saving, and spending. It's something simple, but so vital to their understanding about money and working hard.

Sitting down and figuring all that out and doing the 'snowball' chart for debt made me realize that we could be debt free WAY sooner than I ever imagined!!! What a great feeling!

This week is 'Dumping Debt'.....I can't wait.....