Showing posts with label debt free. Show all posts
Showing posts with label debt free. Show all posts

Monday, December 14, 2009

Money & kids

This new vision is something I want to ensure that our kiddo not only knows but that it is a way of life. No student loans, credit cars, saving up for a car and not buying into credit card debt, and maybe just maybe even paying for a house with cash. Doesn't that sound a little ridiculous, I thought so too, however, I hear about it quite often now... now that I have opened my ears to it. We have been told for so long that we must save for a down payment, buy a car with no money down, get a credit card and make regular payments, preserve your credit score, that we know no different. But we are determined to change that for her, to ensure that her life is different, and better, save your money for a car, save your money for that new furniture, be patient and your reward is that your life will never be chained down to another person, and the economy will survive. Because the economy is not dependent upon your credit card, it is dependent upon your ability to spend responsible.

When I think about what I learned from my parents growing up, there is not much to write about. We were very poor, lived off welfare, "government cheese", and other such things. So saving wasn't at the top of the list, if there was a list. Not to say they didn't try, I was raised by my grandparents, and the were disabled and retired, and struggled. But they tried, God love em' Not a cycle I wish to repeat.


Saturday, December 12, 2009

Marriage and money? oi!

So we are working on Marriage and money. This topic is quite touchy some say it is the number one reason for divorce, which is very scary considering a future with the person you love is hinged on a checkbook. I don't think so... instead I wonder if it is the lack of communication or a plan concerning finances, and a secure future. How far can we go in a boat without a navigation system, or at least a compass.

One of the topics covered in this lesson was separate checking accounts. I hear about many couples who keep separate accounts, bills, even divvy up household expenses. That concept is something I couldn't see working in our household. I feel like that would also drive separation within the marriage, once you begin to tear a sheet of paper, it is weakened, and soon will begin to further split, maybe into 2 pieces. Now that we budget for entertainment and pocket money, I feel like I get to spend a little more freely, a little more equally (I'm a shopper).

Recently, I also posted our additional paid off debt. I have learned that it is now exciting to not only pay off debt but to close those accounts, checking the mail daily waiting for the letter of closure. I am however resisting the urge to frame them, my child does have friends, and I would like for them to not think that I am completely nuts (or at least know the truth). When I think about our communication style for money, I am happy that they have generally not been screaming matches, and we have been on the same page, however it was the wrong page! We never had financial goals other than, how to spend spend spend, and also finagle being able to run out and buy something that we wanted. With our budget in place I see our path and future, and it does feel secure, even clear.


Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Intelligent Unpacking and the first of our Debt Snowball payoff

Still unpacking. While I am unpacking I am making sure that EVERYTHING goes to a place and stays there. I hereby rebuke the junk drawer and will not start one. And while I am at it, all this furniture that I don't really like, but keep around so I can have a place to cram my crap into... gone! So this new revelation is causing the unpacking brigade to be a little slow, but thats okay I have 30+ years to unpack.

Today I am also paying off 2 credit cards in our debt snowball... if you don't know what that is go to the Dave Ramsey website at www.daveramsey.com good stuff, life changing.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Getting back... housing woes

fwwwwwwwwwwwhhhh.... let me dust this thing off~ sorry everyone. I have been in a whirl wind lately, in escrow... again... on yet another house. Really its not even exciting anymore. I mean I love this house but some sellers are very crazy right now, at the last minute asking for more money, and I'm thinking that wasn't in the contract, but I would rather walk away than deal with that. However it also helps that the perfect house is around the corner, and so far this looks like it but I refuse to get excited anymore until we sign paperwork and get keys.

Also, more good news is we are on track to paying off our bills completely, thanks to a radio show called Dave Ramsey, officially in the very beginning of 2010 we will be debt free except for the house (maybe even sooner). We will be putting all the money we normally pay to our debt to the principal on the house, and maybe even more. There are those who live on the bare essentials, you know rice and bean people for a few short years and manage to pay off their mortgage in a handful of years. I would like to have that motivation, and who knows maybe I will after we are debt free in a couple of months.


Thanks for your support and encouraging emails!


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