Money, bills, income, and the dollar signs $$$$ most people do not like to talk about their money. It is tabu in todays society to talk about ones money. Well Justin and I have decided to start writing a blog about our journey so that maybe us coming out in the open will encourage others to start taking control of their lives and getting out of debt. Aren't you tired of money controlling your every decision and causing arguments among the married couples. We decided we were and are projected to be debt free in 4 years not including mortgages if we maintain our pace with no extra income.
How are we going to do this you might ask? Well if you don't already know we are following Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover. We are on baby step 2. See link for the list of all 7 baby steps and more information. (http://www.daveramsey.com/new/baby-steps/) We are in the second month but actually our first month of our true zero based budget. It has proved a little difficult to get into the groove but we are starting to get it. We have paid off 4 out of 21 bills. This includes credit cards, student loans, 2 car loans, and some store cards.
The hardest, most difficult thing to accomplish and continue to accomplish is following a spending budget for grocery shopping and not going out to eat. We have went from spending an average of $250-$300 a week to $150 a week and now I am cooking at home just about every night. This money is for food, diapers and anything else we need from Wal-Mart.
Now the first thing we did to help us actually leave Wal-Mart with $150 worth of groceries and not a ton more is MAKE A LIST. This begins with a weekly menu, this way you know what exactly you need to buy. The second thing that has helped us is a budget app on our iphone. I must admit this is a pain in the butt but it is what has truly made it possible to know what we are spending before getting to the check out. It allows you to enter every item, price plus tax into the app and it keeps a tally for you. Like I said it is a pain in the butt but worth it.
Thanks to that app we have had to put items back that we could wait on and not buy the unnecessary stuff. I almost cried the week I had to put my cookies and swiss rolls back. All I have to say is thank God for my thin mint stash in the freezer or I would have went nuts that week. And I am not afraid to say we have had Ramen soup on several occasions for dinner. Lucky for me the kids and Justin love it. Our other low cost go to meal is Tuna sandwiches and mac and cheese. Another kid favorite.
Finally tonight however, when we were doing our shopping we had all needs and even a few wants and were ready to head to check out and still had $6 left in our weekly budget. Oh you should have seen our faces, SUCCESS, finally felt like we were getting this spending and buying under control and it is going to be possible to survive. Now what we should have done is checked out and banked that $6 towards our credit cards. Well that was not the case lol. I offered to get Justin some chocolate candy he had looked at but my wonderful husband went and picked up my favorite Blue Bell ice cream "Dessert Trio." Since I have been cooking almost every night since we started this journey I allowed the special treat :) Now next week might not be as successful since we will need to buy diapers but it is getting easier. I forsee another Ramen soup dinner night next week ;)
Thanks for reading and we will continue to try and post how we are doing. Next projected payoff of a bill is set for December. Going to be a great Christmas present to change our 4 to a 5. Just remember to be a weirdo and Live like no one else now so later on you can live like no one else.
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