I also posted for Friendly Friday this morning (ok, last night, really), so if you missed it, here it is.
Whuuuuuut? Silence around here for nearly 2 weeks and then 2 posts in one day? What in the blogosphere has gotten into me? (I don’t know, friends. I really don’t know. Thanks for bearing with me, though.)
And here’s where I wax loquacious about zoos, budgets, credit cards and veterans.
A few resources we’ve found useful from Dave Ramsey’s website:
A short (and really good) video lesson on eliminating credit card use
PDF budgeting forms (we use the monthly cash flow form)
The debt snowball method (this is how we plan to sack our student loans early and live debt free)
Sign up for the Getting Started emails
{have a great weekend, friends.}
Great info. Our groceries are totally out of control. Thanks for the inspiration to do something about it.
Our groceries were, too. We made a list of allowable purchases from Costco so we don’t ‘stumble upon’ other things we ‘need’ (that was our big drain hole). That’s helped a lot. Good luck.
This principle has also been a $$$ saver for me at the grocery store. I don’t stray from my list one bit (unless it is something I legitimately forgot to include), since I even write out snacks, desserts, etc. Knowing exactly what I will spend at the grocery store has saved hundreds a month!
Since I am a consultant with variable income, it has been great knowing exactly what I will need to spend on groceries per month, rather than hoping I didn’t blow my budget when I walked in the store!
Dave’s system really resembles the one that Gail does (http://www.gailvazoxlade.com/index.html). I congratulate you guys for getting all your ducks in a row and booting debt early, student loans are brutal. It seems that in todays world if you are young and have a house and a car and have kids and don’t owe thousands of dollars you are a rarity. They should really start teaching money managing in schools.
Thanks for the tips, going to check out the book and try it. We have the same lack of communication problem with our finances, hubby spends, I try to save as much as we can, and say what we should spend and it just doesn’t mix properly. We just bought a new house and its even more important for us to be on that same page.
Love Dave Ramsey! We have been losely following his principles for the past 2 years and went on the cash budget about 1 year ago. In that time we paid for our wedding without debt, paid off some minor credit card debt we were carrying, paid off my student loans, bought 2 used cars with cash and will be debt free by June 2012 (except for our mortgage). I can’t tell you the ammount of peace it has brought to our marriage and spiritual life.
Communicating about money is hard when it’s in the context of all the things you can’t do but Ramsey’s baby steps help us to think of all the things we’ll be able to do in the future. “Live like no one else now, so you can live like no one else later”. So happy that you all have found this path and that God continues to bless your family :)
This is great! Thanks for sharing. You guys are inspiring.
PS: How do you tie your scarf? It’s adorable.
It took us 3 1/2 years to complete our debt snowball and it was the best feeling EVER! Dave Ramsey has been the greatest system for us. Hope you keep sharing about your money journey :) Keep up the good work!!!
I’m so glad you posted about this. I hope you continue to share about it because it is so motivating to know others going through the same journey. We are about to get back to being “gazelle intense” after a big move where we had to make some charges on a credit card. Anyways, best of luck and thanks again for posting!
P.S. I miss your posts! Hope all is well and busy.
I forgot to mention that my brother and sister-in-law are living debt free after paying off $75,000 in two years.
Excited for you guys that you have taken the TMM plunge, it is so worth it! We say that FPU was the best marriage counseling we could have received. We’ll be debt free at the end of this month, and super pumped for that. Another great “Ramsey Read” is his book “More Than Enough” — very good, especially if you need your batteries recharged in your journey to debt free.
Thanks for all the awesome info! I’ve been trying to figure out a budget for us (that that allows us to start saving and pay off our debt) and I’m definately going to check it out!
P.S. your son is super cute and makes me want more babies!
I love Dave Ramsey! My husband and I have been doing the money makeover for the last two years. So far we have been able to pay off all of our commercial debt and our now starting on our students loans.
My husband and I did FPU and it was one of the very best things we have ever done for our marriage. The biggest thing was that it really got us on the same page money wise and spending and saving and paying off student loans and so on. Finances are a huge stressor for numerous marriages. I could not recommend Total Money Makeover or Financial Peace University (I liked the accountability and encouragement of others!) highly enough. I am so glad that you and Dan found it and are recommending it to your friends. :) Best of luck!
My husband and I also did FPU, before we got married. We love Dave Ramsey!!! The class was great and taught us so much about money. We both paid off our debts and got married DEBT FREE! We drive used cars and limit eating out, but we still have fun. Now we are saving our money every month so we can pay cash for a house. I know it will take awhile, but we won’t have to worry about being in debt :) My husband and I think FPU should be a requirement for anyone getting married!
Good for you! We’ve been doing Financial Peace University since September and have already knocked out about $3,000 worth of debt. And going strong . . . :)
Hi Allison! I just found your blog while doing a search for gDiapers (and because google knows way more about us than it should) it also brought to my attention this post (we just started working Dave’s plan in March). Anywyas, just wanted to say hi and I’m loving your blog and your boys are too freaking adorable!
I am just getting around to watching this and oh my goodness, the cuteness! I could just eat him up!
♥