"Cash is KING!" (But I'm a Commoner!)

Sometimes it feels like a "Detainee". (don't know the hierarchy? Read here)

The other day I was browsing the news online, and "10 Reasons I'm Canceling My Credit Cards" caught my attention. The 10 Reasons:

1. I'll spend less.
2. The card bonuses aren't worth it (true that!!)
3. Cash makes budgeting easy (again, a huge AMEN from me!)
4. Less worry about identity theft
5. Fewer impulse purchases
6. I can still shop online
7. Say goodbye to debt (I wish it was that easy)
8. Privacy
9. Cash rebuilds the link between what I earn and what I spend
10. Cash helps people I want to help

That's the list from the article, and most of them I agree with.

It took me back to when Pat & I did Financial Peace University (Dave Ramsey's course), and we felt the "fire". We were pumped to make cash king, budget together every single month, etc. 

While we haven't fully gotten away from that, we've certainly lost some of that fire. 

Plain & simple: real life can just stink.

We get ahead one step, and shortly after something happens pushing us back many more steps. 

Just when I think "phew, we will never be at square one again!, guess where I find myself?

Yup. 

Square one.

It's frustrating. 

And while I know that even wealthy people aren't exempt from such situations, I can't help but think the extra money would be a nice factor. (duh, right?)

It makes me question decisions we've made, like the value of a stay-at-home-mom, Catholic schools, clipping coupons, etc.

I'm doing what I can, yet we keep ending up where we started. It's not supposed to be that way!

I'm whining. Perhaps even having a slight temper tantrum.

But I feel discouraged & just plain sick of it. 

On paper, we should be better than ok:

We're in our 30's, we both have our degrees, one of us an MBA.

I went to private school my entire life, kindergarten through college. 

We both received above-average educations.

We're frugal.

We don't take extravagant vacations.

Going off the last 2 points...it's not like I'm looking to do extraordinary things.

I'm talking about getting a playset for my kids in our backyard. Getting my eyebrows waxed when they first need it, not waiting until it's not coming from the grocery budget. 

Enrolling my kids in martial arts (huge dream of mine).

A house with some SPACE, where the master closet is actually bigger than the kids' closet. Where more than 1 bathroom exists.

I'm not talking about private lessons here, or a trip to a fancy day spa. I'm not referring to a Rainbow playset that costs literally thousands of dollars. 

Yeah, yeah. Offer me some cheese for my whine, I get it.

I need to get it off my chest, though. Sometimes that alone gives new perspective.

On the one token, I am proud of us for managing w/ what we do have. We're not bumming meals off of people, no one else is paying for our kids' clothes or tuition, and we've packed more into our 3 bedroom house than I ever thought we could. 

We're healthy, and though it's not always stylish, we do have enough clothes for our bodies, food to eat, and a clean bathroom to use.

Then there is the other side of that token, basically this post of mine.

Ugh. When will it change? WILL it change? Is this just life? Do even the well-off get pushed back again & again?

Please share if you have some good insight. Because this soul over here is feeling it.

"Living Like No One Else"

If you know anything about Dave Ramsey, you know those words come from his mouth more times than one can count.
And yes, it's true...live like no one else, so later, you can LIVE like no one else.

I get that.
We've been living like no one else for some time now. We've made choices people would die before doing, or so they say in casual conversation.
We've had only one car since early 2006.
We have a very small house, with only one bathroom.
We don't belong to the YMCA, and this is living in a town where everyone goes to the Y.
I go without needed clothes and shoes for some time.
Our furniture is seriously beyond crappy. Even our couch cover is beyond crappy. Shoot, in our living room, the couch is ALL we have. Lack of furniture.

And yes, these are our choices. We could have chosen differently.
However, I'd like to think it's starting to pay off.
We no longer have a car payment or any credit card debt. Just out mortgage and student loans.
We live in a small house, but it's one we can afford. I don't have to worry month to month if we'll be able to pay the mortgage. And soon, we will be buying a second car again. Only this time, paying for it in cash, fully, up front.

We have made progress.
Still, human nature kicks in, and I feel frustrated at times. I want to have a tantrum and complain, ask why others get this or that when we don't, and we live within our means, etc.

We had a playdate today. The friends are very nice, generous people. They are very hard workers. They have earned & deserve all they have.
But let me tell ya, being in their nice big home, their home with the upstairs, basement and a few play rooms...it made me really wish that I had more right now.
Do you realize how much less frustrating my days would be if I simply had more SPACE?

Sigh. I don't want to complain. But I do feel a tad...envious? Jealous?
Certainly ready to be there.

Hopefully our day will come, and when we're there, we'll be there with no debt to haunt us. And our kids will learn from that, and be able to start their adult lives in a good financial position.
Perhaps I'll have my bigger home when my kids are adolescents, a time when they care more about appearances. When space is needed more for developmental reasons, and perhaps when we'll have more kids and a true need for more space, not just the want.

Today is one of those days.
A little sad, but also where I clearly see the urge to set aside $600 for our next down payment, and tolerate the beastly couch even longer.

Living like no one else...we've been on the end where it stinks. Often feels lonely.
Hopefully one day we'll be on the end where we feel free and good.

Mark My Words

Easy enough to do since they're in print right here. ;)

There are some books I've flirted with, borrowing them from the library. I've decided that borrowing them is just not good enough. As I continue to evolve into the type of mother I want to be, these are books I just need to own. I think as we face different stages in our boys' lives, we will want to refer to these books again & again, reading them in a different light.

So here they are. From what I have read, I highly recommend these books:

Boys Should Be Boys.  #1 on my list, for sure. I had renewed this several times, but ran out of that option. SUCH a good book. Keeps me in perspective. (also recommended by Dave Ramsey)

This one I have not read, but learned of from the Manic Mommies. I heard their interview with the author one podcast last summer, I believe. I don't see myself agreeing with 100% of the book, but most of it I was nodding my head and mentally shouting "yes!". I also follow the author on Twitter; I suggest it!

This last book on my current list isn't one specifically geared for parenting, but in our quest to raise our kids to live a debt-free lifestyle, I view it as significant. 

Obviously this is another Dave Ramsey recommendation. :) I think if we learn more of the techniques/disciplines in this book, we can apply them to our own life, being a better example to Aidan & Brennan. As one reviewer wrote, "Creating wealth is sort of like dieting.Everybody wants the end result but the discipline to achieve that result is usually lacking.Oh, if only there were a magic pill that you could take to lose weight or to create wealth without changing your habits. "

 I know how long it took me to change my dietary habits...I better start now on this financial book!

As I improve my own future, I feel I am improving my family's future, too.

So mark my words! If by Christmas I have not bought these books for myself, (and you remember;), shout out to me, and they will be what I ask for. I do hope to have purchased them by then, though.

Have you read any of these? What books are on your list?

Resolution Time!

Man-alive, can you believe we're seriously starting another decade?! Crazy.

I've been annoying myself trying to decide how to do so many significant posts, so here it is:
This one for 2010 resolutions, and then another for the past year (2009), and I might combine that with the highlights of the past decade.
If not for your entertainment, I love to have these things to go back and read at a later time. Progress, mishaps...checking in on myself.

(this just cracked me up)

Without further ado, I present some basic resolutions for 2010:

1. Do a written budget every single month, before the month begins. This extends to paying cash for groceries, gifts, Sunday tithing, and as much as possible gas for the car. Using the envelope system that came with our FPU kit.
2. Monthly, send my brother Kevin a card, even if I can't include a gift. (he is mentally ill, and after watching a tv show that featured a 7yo girl w/ schizophrenia, I felt ashamed I don't do more for him.) Monthly cards to Kevin, pictures often, gifts when possible.
3. Get back into the habit of sending my godchildren cards on a semi-regular basis, with our without a gift to include.
4. Exercise a minimum of 4x a week, unless I am truly sick. (to maintain my WW status)
5. Pay off at least 3 debts (going off #1).
6. Pray more with my husband, and aim to go to Adoration at least a few times over the year.

I don't normally aim for so many, because I otherwise feel resolutions aren't attainable. 

But several of these are already a part of our normal routine, just not to the extent I feel we need. Or I need.

The budget will be the hardest thing for us to do. Not figuring it out, but taking the time to sit down and do it. But we're both much happier when we do it.

2010! I have high expectations & much hope this will be a good year. A busy year, but a good one. 

What do you resolve?

Good Deals + Playing the Shopping Game

I'm easily amused and entertained. I get giddy over small things, like naps, bite sized chocolates, my kid being in our church bulletin...you get the idea.

So without fail I'm feeling giddy over some recent deals.
In our course to become debt free the Dave Ramsey way, I'm aiming to be more resourceful, frugal, and just pay better attention so as to maximize our means.

I'm not nearly as impressive as some of those bloggers out there, where I'd get paid to buy something, or where I calculate the total meal per person. Maybe one day, but I'm just not there right now.

Here is how I feel impressed, though:

Remember how I posted that we're nearly finished our Christmas shopping?
We shopped when Toys R Us was having their Fisher Price-buy 2, get 1 free sale. So we bought the Imaginext dragon castle, the Little People Fire Station, and a Trio building set. The Trio set was the least costly item, so that was free. Before that became the free item, though, I had printed the $5 coupon from their site, so we had a free item + $5 off. I was pleased enough with that. :)

Then last weekend the Toys R Us Big Toy Book came out (holiday toy catalog). I was skimming through it and noticed the Imaginext castle we bought was going to be on sale for $10 less. We waited until the sale started, and sure enough on Sunday morning we went there and they honored the price adjustment! I was surprised. Pleasantly surprised. Buy 2 get 1 free, + $5 coupon, + $10 price adjustment. Woo-hoo!!!

Good Deal #2:
Giant Eagle had some yummy red meat on sale, buy one, get on free. (Giant Eagle is like Publix around here. The cleanest, freshest, most organic, etc). We rarely eat red meat, so having it is a treat.
I took advantage last week, and I bought just shy of 7 pounds of pot roast beef for $13. I have 2 delicious, red meat-pot roasts in my freezer! I can't wait. Pot roast is more of a "special occasion" meal for us, so I'm excited.

To make it even better, (Good Deal #3), Meijer has 10-pound bags of potatoes for $1.69 on sale! Perfect timing! Got my beef on sale, now my potatoes, too.

I was resourceful at Meijer yesterday. I bought about $85-$90 worth of groceries and only spent $41.42.
I used my coupons combined w\ sale prices. It helps that Meijer doubles coupons up to $0.50. I saved $10.87 yesterday in coupons alone. That put a smile on my face, especially because they were all for items we'd normally buy.

It's the little things that make me happy.
I don't bring any money in, but I can sure do my part to make the money coming in go farther.
Scoring good deals and being responsible for finding those deals...yup, makes me happy.

Have you had any good frugal find lately?
What is your Christmas shopping progress?

Financial Peace & Dave Ramsey: Updates

First, let me throw something out there for you to think about as you read.

Grocery budget: what do you think is a reasonable amount?

We're a family of 4: 2 adults, 2 kids, one of those being in school (school lunch prep).

The grocery budget has always been the easiest to cut for me, but this month I had a hard time keeping it at that amount, and the month isn't even over yet!

I HAVE made some awesome progress in planning and using coupons. Today, for instance, I bought almost all sale items, then saved $9 in coupons! Woo-hoo! Go me! ;)

I take advantage of the stores that double or even triple coupons.

And not to disappoint some of you, but I am not an Aldi's fan.

First of all, it's mostly processed foods sold there, and we are pretty health-conscious in what we eat (Weight Watchers).

Secondly, I have found several occasions where it's NOT been cheaper, due to a store doubling a coupon, or from buying locally at a farmers' market. (example: Giant Eagle doubles coupons up to a dollar. I had a coupon for Bisquick for a dollar off, which was doubled, so I paid 59 cents for the big box of Bisquick!)

I plan out meals, we are pretty good about sticking to that, but I am not willing to sacrifice fresh or healthy for canned or processed.

Since I'm putting it out there, let me tell you what I've normally aimed for. $150 each pay period, or roughly every 2 weeks. $150 for 2 weeks' groceries.

How do-able do you find that to be?

Moving on....

I'm enjoying the Dave Ramsey videos shown during FPU.

Dave is a funny guy!

His plan is broken down into Baby Steps.

We're working on Baby Step 2-paying off all debt except for the mortgage.

This will be a long step for us, but it's exciting at the same time.

We are pretty close to having our lowest debt paid off, which is our Odyssey.

Once that is paid in full, the next 2 lowest shouldn't take too much time at all. I am super excited about that.

I love how Dave said it. When you borrow, be it from a friend, family member, bank, or other finance-enabling company, that means your money you earn each month has someone else's name on it before you even get it.

Heck yes.

Is that smart? A good feeling?

I understand the various reasons people use credit cards. But heck, study after study has shown that the majority of cardholders are getting ripped off.

This week we made it a goal to earn an extra $100 to pay towards our Odyssey for the month of November.

Our biggest plan of action is to clear out the old laptop and try to sell it.

I also plan to consign some things, or maybe even have a garage sale.

I've never done garage sale and it intimidates me. (there, I said it)

Now that I've rambled on about nothing in particular, it's your turn to speak up!

Leave me a comment and share what you think is a reasonable grocery budget for a family of 4.

GO!

Dave Ramsey Would Be Proud

Not of me-I wish I could add to that.

I'm talking about this guy: Ohio Man Buys New Truck with Thousands of Coins.

CINCINNATI - An Ohio man who says he doesn't trust paper money has delivered enough coins to cover half the price of a brand new pickup truck.

Can you imagine? Incredible. I wonder how much all of those coins weighed...ha!
(By the way, the remainder of the truck was paid for, same day, with a check.)