We are moving along, definitely in a fast paced world these days. The wedding is less than 5 months away!!
I still haven't figured out how people do everything they plan on doing with only 24 hours in a day. We need to work full time, clean the house, do all the laundry, cook dinners every night, work out multiple times a week, study for various certifications, plan a wedding AND spend quality time with my one and only?? How people, how? Is there some Harry Potter time-turner or some other secret that people aren't letting me in on...help a friend out here!
In a previous post I laid out the foundation for a Total Money Makeover (TMM). For those of you who have started, keep it up!! And those of you who need to, I urge you to consider going through your own Total Money Makeover! It is LIFE-CHANGING!! We've been at this since mid-January and every month...really every day...just blows my mind at how much peace this has created in our life (The only peaceful thing at this point)!
This has been the first month were the reality of our new "lifestyle" choice has caused tension with some of our family and friends. When you are so passionate about something, like we are with FPU, you want to share it with the world and you want the world to understand...especially your close family and friends. In the book, TMM, you will definitely read about the push-back you will receive, the criticism and people teasing you for being "weird" and "different", but he encourages you in saying this means you are doing something RIGHT!!
We want to live like no one else, so later we can LIVE like no one else!!
Some words of wisdom from Dave Ramsey that has helped create a sense of calm this month:Debt is the most aggressively marketed product in America today. More money, sophistication, and repetition. To "Act your Wage" requires using the word NO.
7 Baby Steps:
Baby Step #2 - Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
Baby Step #3 - 3 to 6 months of expenses in savings
Baby Step #4 - Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
Baby Step #5 - College funding for children
Baby Step #6 - Pay off home early
Baby Step #7 - Build wealth and give!
Baby Step #2
OUR DEBT
Name of Card (Beginning Balance) (Current Balance)
Chase CC: ($1,314) --- ($1,289)
Wells Fargo CC: ($1,469) --- ($1,421)
JCPenney CC: ($2,523) --- ($2,288)
Granny: ($3,620) --- ($2,370)
1st Financial CC: ($9,697) --- ($9,598)
Kevin's Truck: ($7,196) --- ($6,537)
Tia's Car: ($14,200) --- ($12,635)
Tia's Student Loan #1: ($1,341) --- ($1,202)
Kevin's Student Loan #1: ($1,448) --- ($1,448)
Kevin's Student Loan #2: ($12,274) --- ($12,274)
Tia's Student Loan #2: ($17,060) --- ($16,303)
TOTAL DEBT: ($72,916) --- ($67,365) = Total Paid Off: $5,551 (SERIOUSLY Y'ALL!!!)
So to recap, in only 5 months we have saved more than $1,250 AND paid off over $4,500 of our debt AND we still have money in our account AND AND all of our bills are being paid. Let me tell you, I'm a numbers person, and I just don't get these numbers and how it's working out but IT IS!!
Have a great week you guys!! I will try to work on a wedding planning recap soon, hopefully this weekend!
