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Thursday, July 30, 2009

Money Saving Mom

Tomorrow I'm going to post my financial update for the month, but today I just had to share another great blog I found! It's full of money-saving ideas, links, coupons, tips, etc. Check it out.

Money Saving Mom

Friday, July 17, 2009

A Plan

My husband and I make a good financial team. I like to play around with numbers and come up with creative solutions; he likes to make formulas and spreadsheets in Excel. We've had a working budget in place for awhile now, but yesterday - between the two of us - we came up with an actual debt repayment plan. We tried several scenarios (if we pay X dollars a month, it will take X number of months to pay off the credit cards, then the cars, etc) until we finally came up with one that seems both practical and feasible. We printed it out, and I have it right here in front of me... just looking at it, and seeing the numbers go down, down, down is a motivator in and of itself.

We know very well that even the best laid plans can change, and that God might have something entirely different in mind for us. But..

If there are no surprises, and we are able to continue snowballing our money, we will have everything but the mortgage completely paid off in less than three years. No credit cards, no car payments, no loans. Less than 34 months!! I see a light at the end of tunnel. It's still a ways off, but it's there.

Thursday, July 16, 2009

One Down!

Yesterday was Mike's first full paycheck since January. As per our plan after much discussion, I completely paid off one of our smaller debts. It felt GOOD, and gave me the bit of a boost I've been needing. The next bill on our list will, God willing, be paid off in the next three months, then we steel ourselves to just hold steady through the paycut in November and December. Onward, onward, go go go.

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Frustrations

I hate that money is always an issue

I hate that we had to put gas on a credit card today, because we physically have no money left in the checking account until Wednesday

I hate that I need new moisturizer and have to keep putting it off because I don't have the extra money

I hate that moisturizer is just one of many many small things that we need... small things that feel huge because our budget just doesn't have any room for them

I hate that even with Mike's good salary, we have nothing left over - and are in fact usually in the red - after bills are paid and groceries and gas are bought

I hate that we are paying SO MUCH MONEY every month on credit card payments, because of house repairs, medical bills, and poor judgement in the past. I hate that there is nothing we can do about it now but just deal with it and pay for it and try to bring down the balance.

I hate watching everyone around me be so carefree, taking so much for granted. Talking about their iPhones and dinners out, vacations, movies, new clothes and houses and cars. Trips to Starbucks and hairdressers and spas. I hate that it bothers me.

And even as I'm hating those things.....
I know in my heart that we have so much to be thankful for!! I know we are very blessed to have Mike's job. We are blessed to have our health, and to have our home. To have the air in our lungs, and the roof over our heads, and good food on our table. I know that we have way more than we need. I know that we will get through this, and be stronger in the end, and I know that God will provide.

But the frustrations come, and all I can do is let myself feel them. It's exhausting having such conflicting emotions in my head all the time. No wonder I never sleep.