Dave Ramsey

About 2 weeks ago a friend of mine told me about Dave Ramsey and how she and her husband listened to him and are following his instructions to finical freedom! I was a bit skeptic but got a used book of his on eBay, because we NEED a finical makeover. I am half way threw the book “The Total Money Makeover” the revised and updated edition. I have also started listening to his show that (LA, CA) is on 11am – 2pm on AM 890. I am on the program!

He has steps that you take to get to where you need to be. And he talks to you in plain simple language. It is just what I needed to hear and the way I needed to hear it. I knew we were not doing well finically, I have a budget and it doesn’t pay for everything we need (or think we need).

We seriously don’t have any money to waist. We are paycheck to paycheck. I don’t do the coupons because I want to save money – I do it because we can’t afford enough food to feed our family without. However, after listening and reading his work. There are a few things I can do that I hadn’t wanted to do before. It’s going to be many years of sacrifice for us. It won’t be a lot of fun for a couple of years. But I want a better future for our family – so for today we will sacrifice to get the future eventually!

#1 thing I didn’t want to give up. I JUST got a short hairstyle and I LOVE IT. I look great! I have had long hair forever and my husband would trim it for me. As of yesterday I decided to grow my hair out again, and have my husband trim it for me when I need it. Also I was going to take my kids to have there hair professionally cut. Last night my husband and I cut our own kids hair, saving that money too.

Another thing he recommended is sell what you have, say it’s a car that you owe on, buy a car with cash with no payment, well we don’t have anything like that we can sell. BUT we can sell off a lot of our stuff. This comes at a good time for us too. We are renting a 3 bedroom house and the owners are going to sell it – we are getting an AWESOME deal on this house, and I am having a hard time finding a 2 bedroom apartment for the same price we are paying. And honestly – we can’t afford this, we really need to go down in rent about $300 a month! YIEKS! So we will for sure be moving into a smaller place – now is the time for us to sell off our stuff. Everything we can, and start our lives over.

Even if you think you are in good finical standing. PLEASE read this book. If you owe on anything, including your house … read this book. And if you are debt free (congratulations!) read it anyways cause that is only the first few steps - getting debt free, after that he will teach the best ways to invest that money for finical security in the future, life insurance, where to invest, where to save and he is a big propend of giving to those in need.

Creating My First Real Budget #4

Do You Really Need it New?

Do you really need that new? All the pictures above are the pictures I saw on Craigs List to buy our furniture. Cash - no buying on time ..... You really don't need to by brand new items all the time.

Check out local thrift stores for the kids school and play clothes - I have even found great church/special occasion dresses for my girls. You need a new couch? Check out a thrift store or your local craigs list. If you live in a small town, check the nearest big city craigs list, you can always drive in and pick it up! (be safe and smart when meeting and buying/selling on Craigs List!) And lets not forget eBay! I get ALOT of my clothes on eBay because its hard to find plus sized clothing in thrift stores and the plus sized clothing stores are so expensive!

Also check you nearest Ross, TJ Maxx and Marshal's - you can have brand new clothing for a fraction of the cost! Just to show you how much new stuff you dont need, here is a list of all the things in my house that is craig listed or second hand. (some of which can be seen above)

Matching blue couch and love seat craigs list both for $125, Flat Screen HDTV - free from a friend, vintage wooden credenza to put TV on $40 on Craigs List, China Hutch $60 Criags List, Oak dinning room 8 seater Table with 6 chairs and matching Hutch CL$250, 2 matching retro green side chairs $40 for both. Retro rug CL $25, Cal King Bed - Free from a friend only used 2 years! Both kids dresser brand new free from a friend (they match), Serging Table CL $50, Vintage Wood Sewing Table CL $50, HUGE Tall Bookcases (the white ones in the front room) CL $50 each, Portable Dishwasher - free from a friend who was moving. Awesome 2 round hanging lights - free from a guy in CL I bought something else off him, I saw that and mentioned they were cool and he gave them to me, Trampoline CL $30 (brand new in box - looked online and it would have cost $240 online). - That is all I can think of right now But I know there is more!

I share all this - to show you, you can do it. My house does not look like second hand furniture, it all looks very nice. Just take your time and have cash (a set amount) ready and wait till what you want shows up ....

Items I always buy new ... Underwear, socks, swimsuit sheets and towels (new but NEVER full price! heeheehee)

A word of caution! Internet shopping is good because you can look around and get exactly what you want and really check out the whole world! Be cautious and don't buy buy buy cause you like it. Start looking for something at a set price. Then buy only it. Don't run across something you never new existed before and suddenly need it! When I eBay I either BIN (Buy It Now) or I snipe the auction, so I set an amount that is the most I am willing to pay and then forget about it, until I get an email from the snipper program saying I won or lost!

And here is an idea ... if you owe a lot of money on your stuff .... can you make back what you owe by selling it, then finding something super cheep you can pay for in cash? Because you NEED to get out of debt! Good luck and happy shopping!