For anyone out there doing the Dave Ramsey FPU or even remotely trying to get ahold of your finances… here are some words of encouragement. Maybe.

Have a ‘plan’ for Christmas presents. In past years I have had an ‘idea’ and a ‘limit’ and then we go shopping and $1500 later I have gone out of control and bought everything under the sun wondering how we spent my whole bonus check. Well this year I have a limit and discipline so things will be different! ‘Ideas’ and ‘limits’ will not get me through the holidays this year! And it will certainly not get me closer to being debt free. Not to mention my bonus will not be what it’s been in previous years because I’m only working part time now. SOOO, have a limit & stick to it! We have set a limit for everyone we are buying gifts for. In order not to go over that amount we are just doing cash. I realize it’s not FUN to do it this way, but having debt is not my idea of fun either! Plus, Jared had a meeting the other day and me and the baby decided to walk around Kohls, Old Navy, & Borders. T O R T U R E! I saw many things I wanted to buy (None of which I needed) but it was torture. To help me with the sadness of not being able to buy something I take a picture of it with my phone. For some reason in my crazy mind that helps me, lol. Hey whatever works! I saved myself $82 that day! 🙂 So we are doing cash, aside from my calendars I make every year for the grandparents. And we are doing other activities to take place of all the shopping that could be done. Make each day special & focus on your time together! Live like no one else so later you can GIVE like no one else. I love this saying.

There are a couple things I would like to buy Jaidan, but there is nothing that he needs so our money to eachother and him is going towards sponsoring a family on Christmas day. We will bring them Christmas dinner and some gifts, I’m so excited! This will be our first year. I’m really looking forward to transitioning this part of our life!! I did not grow up in a Christian house hold so this part is all new to me. I do remember one year we got into trouble and we had to take one of our Christmas gifts, unwrap it, and donate it. Mine was Malibu barbie. She was gorgeous & I had to give her away. I’ll never forget giving it & feeling the excitement that someone would be able to enjoy that barbie like I would have. I want Jaidan to feel that every year!

Here is something that I’ve struggled with in the past & something that I’ve seen my sister doing. IF you find extra money… whether it be from selling something or a rebate or just $10 you found in your jeans… DO NOT THINK THAT IT’S PARTY TIME!! Put that extra money into whatever baby step you are in. We are in the 2nd baby step so it will go into an envelope labeled ‘extra income’ & put towards the debt we are currently working on. You cannot make up your own rules because HELLO, your own rules are what got you hear in the first place! Just follow the rules and you will be blessed. I know it’s tempting to think what extra it could buy you, but every 10 cents, 10 dollars, 100 dollars adds up!

Our first month we saved over $700 extra to go towards debt, this month we are just over $600 extra and not even half way through the month. Next month if we get around $700 extra we will be PAYING OFF STUDENT LOAN #1!!! That is SOOO ENCOURAGING!! PLUS, that means our debt snowball rolls over to just over $300! If you don’t remember the debt snowball, list all your debts in order from smallest to largest & write the minimum payment for each. Each month you knock out that debt the minimum amount is rolled over creating a snowball affect. We are up to $271 right now so like I said, at the beginning of next year we will have just above $300 each month to throw into the next student loan. 

If that’s not encouragement enough to keep your limit this holiday season then you must not want it that badly! 🙂