My husband and I went into debt to survive when my husband switched jobs. It was my plan when we got married to switch jobs and start a family. Well, the switching jobs part didn't quite go the way we had planned. We had decided that it would be better financially for me to stay at home with the kids instead of paying the crazy high daycare rates and with the cost of gas and a long commute- there was nothing left of my little check. And this started my stay at home mom adventure.
My husband was later blessed with a better paying job but the mountains of debt were stilled there. We paid of one credit card and rolled that amount onto the next credit card. Well, we have been plugging away for a year now with no real results. It is amazing the "emergencies" you have when you head is not in the game. We thought we had everything figured out.
I had visited Dave Ramsey's website and saw the 7 baby steps. But we were not prepared to do them in the order Dave Ramsey specified. And to show for that we are still paying off the same credit card from last year that we had hoped to have paid off by now.
I borrowed the Total Money Makeover book from the library- what did I have to loose except debt. I don't even know where to begin~ this book is amazing and so addictive. I had a hard time putting it down. I read every chance I got- I read at the gym- I read before going to bed (which I don't recommend, will explain later)- I read while cooking dinner. A couple of nights our dinners were well done- oops.
I became so excited by what I was reading. This book gave me the hope I thought we had lost to climb out of debt alot faster than our previous method. The bottom of every page it is written: "If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else." Love that saying:) I mentioned that I don't recommend reading this book before going to bed and here is why~ I became so excited about our getting our debt journey, I got so pumped up, I couldn't get to sleep.
My husband and I are finally on the same page about our debt. We sat down and reviewed our debt- which is something we had never done before. Normally, I write all the checks so I have control of all the money. But I didn't want all the control. I was so happy to sit down with my husband and review our debt and make him see we were in our debt. We looked at our budget with new eyes and decided to follow Dave Ramsey's plan to the letter. We reorganized our budget and found that very soon we will be able to pay off the credit card we have been pounding away at for so long- YEA!!!! And the other credit card, will be paid off in 5 months- I am so excited:) I almost can't stand it.
If you are nervous and scared to get on this debt reduction journey, don't worry, Dave Ramsey will take you by the hand and walk you step by step and you will get out of debt. Dave Ramsey explains that personal finance is 80% behavior and 20% knowledge.
If you are in debt- no matter how small or how large- and have a desire to live debt free, please look into getting this book. Borrow it from the library, borrow it from a friend or ask if your library can interloan the book from another library. Read this book, learn from this book and become encouraged at the stories in the book. Be in control of your money and tell your money where you want it to go.
I was very encouraged at the end of the book Dave Ramsey writes, "God has a plan for your life and that plan isn't to harm you, it is a plan for your future to give you hope." So true:)
If you live like no one else, later you can live like no one else. Sounds like great advice to me.
So, who is ready to start their Total Money Makeover with me?
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