Monday, April 19, 2010

One Week and Counting...

I am counting this past week as a week of missing something. I didn't realize how much time I spent on the computer till all the frills were gone. Now I have more time to really focus on the kids, character training, discipline, reading, laughing, playing, and just really enjoying the small moments. I can't believe how much time has gone by.

So at the end of the day I am here at the library. I am really trying hard to remain focused on our goal and not what I am missing out on. I do miss the people, it does get rather lonely with it just being me. With Mady being on such a great schedule I do miss out on a lot of my other mom's groups because I am not willing to mess with the schedule. It has been hard.

It really makes me keep things in perspective, and really keeps me on my knees. It helps me to be creative and really stay on top of things, because I do not have anything else to get int he way of that. There are things I miss, but I really feel that the Lord will bless my heart and the goal that we have of being debt free.

Mady is 10 months old now and crawling everywhere! She loves the freedom. Emma, Lauren and Hunter are all doing awesome in school and the summer will be here before we know it. It will be busy as we will continue with year round school this year. We have found 2 rattlers in the yard and it has been fun. The garden is growing and I can't wait to have the extra time to plant more things. Danielle is just sweet as can be.

We are all well after 2 weeks of sickness...fevers, coughs, ear infections, sinus infections, and just allergies. I am glad to be on the mend. I hope to post more, but little one is fussing and my time is almost up. Life is good, my heart is full and my eyes are on the Lord. God bless.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A Debt Ladder

Today I spent some time on the computer making a debt ladder. Taking our credit cards and putting them in order from least to greatest. Then I added the $200/month savings from disconnecting our internet and phone to our lowest credit card bills monthly payment. Going from $100 to $300/month. So basically in 6 months I will have that one paid off, then I will roll the $300 to the next one and move up the ladder.

There are a few options, the first one is that our car will be paid off in 2 1/2 years. So that is exciting as we get higher on our ladder and need that money, it cuts our time down by 1 year. And because we do owe to the government, hopefully we can negotiate and then that can lower it another year. So we are excited.

Seeing it written down does help to keep us focused and it doesn't seem so daunting.

My goal is to print it out and put it on fancy paper and then tape it up by my bed so I can have my focus be on that, and pray over it each night.

So within 4-5 years we could be completely debt free, only house and 1 car and then some regular monthly bills. Oh what the Lord will have us do with the money He is freeing. I can't wait. I hope to encourage others in this venture as well.

God bless.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Priorities

Not quite sure if I am going to give up my blog. I love sharing much of who I am. I am not perfect and I like showing that to people...just in case you think otherwise. :) We are for sure going to get rid of our internet and phone at home. Life is changing drastically at our home.

We are in debt, it isn't a happy place to be and the burden is much to bear. So with that, we are going to sacrifice in every little area that doesn't matter and then pay off our debt. So, perhaps what I will do is chronicle what we are doing. Giving you the truth and nothing but the truth and the nitty gritty, so that way, if you are challenged or convicted you can maybe glean from our past mistakes.

Our first big thing is we no longer have our credit cards...they are gone...all of them. We have sat down and looked at our bills and have seen where most of our money went...oops that is my fault, eating out, Starbucks and Target. (Who doesn't love Target.) So we now know where to cut back, we haven't gone out to eat since we put our bills in order, though over the weekend, Bret and I did go on a date. We did eat out, though it was happy hour at our favorite restaraunt, so that helped a great deal.

I will chronicle our credit cards and the debt we owe on my next post. But for now, the first step was for us to get rid of all the little things...phone, internet, cable/dish, weight watchers online, Onstar, internet on hubby's cell phone, lowered our minutes, lowered anything that we paid for monthly that was excess. It has been amazing that we saved over $200/month just on that alone! We also have really put a tight reign on our groceries and have a set budget...

So here we are. The next post just might be at the library, or hubby's computer at work when I visit him. Praise the Lord I can type fast. :)

God bless.

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