So Close!

I have hesitated and pondered this next post. But with being so all or nothing with Dave Ramsey I decided that the only way to spread the word and be true to the process is to be upfront.

A few years back I was talking with the one gal from Bible Study who really perked my interest in trying out Dave Ramsey's plan. When she shared her debt free story I was SO excited until she added in that due to an accident and settlement they were blessed to become debt free a little sooner. I instantly became discouraged. How often does money just appear and become a blessing to be debt free? And without a chunk of money coming in can we really become debt free before we are in our grave?

After the first 8 weeks and losing $14,000 of our debt by selling everything in our home we didn't need, and the largest one being our Tahoe, I was sold that things can be done to get further out of debt. We wrestled with so many things. If we were not upside down in our home, we'd sell it in a heart beat. So many people have a nice amount of equity but are unwilling to sell because they love their home or they are comfortable there. I totally respect and understand that. So many of us do not want to sell our vehicles that are not paid off, or maybe paid off and we could bank off them and buy a little used vehicle and put all the rest to a debt. Which I understand too. However when you get out of your head that what you have is too nice to sell, or this or that, you become sorta materialistic. We all have that and are guilty. I don't mean to sound judging but it's sorta true. However, once you sell one thing that means something to you, BUT is just a material item that can be replaced, you realize it is so silly to be hooked on something SO much that you can't live with less for a small time period to work at feeling free for the rest of your life. Is having all the FUN stuff, nice cars, large home with all the updates so you can "keep up with the Jones's" really making you happy. How are those credit card bills feeling each month? I hate the mail because for 11 years its been nothing but bills. Credit cards, doctors, hospitals, surgeons, car payments, the house, line of credits, loans... You name it and we probably had it. There were even a few times we got collection letters for medical bills. And this was after insurance. Life was a mess as it is for so many of us. When you take a stand and jump on board and pay things, little by little, it's so empowering. I know now that I am serving God by tithing, and serving HIM by being a good steward with HIS money.

With this post I say that we received our chunk of blessing money from a past stock. We met with a few "financial people" who wanted to know why on earth we wouldn't roll this over. We will take such a "hit" on a penalty for cashing it out and there is all the taxes. We knew in our hearts that the WORLD would say these things. However we know in our hearts that Dave Ramsey is right in stating that the interest we are paying out each month alone (which I will save my pride and not say how much it was total) in all these debts is way more than "X" amount of years in an account to gain interest. So we cashed it out and are now about 7,000 from being debt free minus the house. We have taxes on it paid and have 7 out of 10 (YES YOU ARE READING THAT RIGHT) debts paid off IN FULL (not including all the dr bills, but those are pd as well). One of the remaining being a dept store card. So really a few dollars away from making that 8 things. Humiliating that we had that much? YEP! However we are headed in the right direction. And sadly we are far from being alone in this credit card driven society. We are currently still living paycheck to paycheck with not a lot left over for the remaining debt due to the 3 girls tuition and all 3 being in school all day but it is worth it for their education. And truthfully we look back and have NO idea how we survived all this time except that I think GOD was very generous in ways that He kept us afloat. I am not sure how. Or even why since we SO did not deserve it as we were horrible with God's money. But somehow by His grace HE kept providing the important things.

If you are considering your debt resolutions please check out Dave Ramsey's book "Total Money Makeover" and even check in to the Financial Peace University, FPU. Many churches all over the US hold these and I still hope to get involved with it. I met up with an old friend from high school and she has gone through the classes and showed/told me how they run their finances. I can't wait to visit with her more on making this work better for us like they are doing.

So here's to busting butts for financial freedom. I know, unlike so many people, that we were VERY blessed my a sum of money, but even before this we paid off almost 16,000 in ONE YEAR!!!! It can be done if you really want, and if you are willing to give up the material items in your life. Someone who I value and love greatly and have gotten to know told Ron and I recently when talking about things said, "ALL material items can be replaced, your children cannot." We were actually discussing how we tend to get so worked up over the kids ruining the BIG EXPENSIVE items we own that we don't allow our kids to have fun. We spend all out time stressed out over the scratch that might appear, or the thing that might break or get ruined that we don't even let kids be kids anymore. There is a difference in respecting what you have and worked hard for (or put on credit for) and being so over protective over material items that our children lose out on being a kid. We have found this comment similar and applied it to our financial lives. All material items can be replaced. There is no amount of debt worth looking good, or temporarily feeling, or getting to have that desired thing right now instead of saving and waiting. We appreciate so much more when we work hard for it, hand over the cash or debit card that has that saved money on it.

Happy selling, happy saving and happy paying down debt. Here is to strict budgeting and back to the basics. OH, and no more excuses. What are your and can you rid the excuses from your life?

I can't wait to call Dave Ramsey and tell him WE ARE DEBT FREE!!!!