We have a customer here at work who's last name is Budge. I needed to pull her contact record up and instead of Budge, I typed Budget and I couldn't figure out why she wasn't coming up.
I told you - getting out of debt and budgeting and getting spare cash and and and - this is ALL I can think about these days. I'm grateful I can write them all here rather than bug and bug and bug those closest to me with my day-to-day stories...
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Mosiah 2:23-24
23 And now, in the first place, he hath created you, and granted unto you your lives, for which ye are indebted unto him.
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?
After reading this scripture reference, I realized once I get myself out of debt of a financial nature, I will ALWAYS be indebted (interesting word choice, huh?) to Heavenly Father. He has IMMEDIATELY blessed me and continues to do so. And all I am doing is what was commanded of me in the first place. I don't deserve this abundance and I am continually humbled in this process.
24 And secondly, he doth require that ye should do as he hath commanded you; for which if ye do, he doth immediately bless you; and therefore he hath paid you. And ye are still indebted unto him, and are, and will be, forever and ever; therefore, of what have ye to boast?
After reading this scripture reference, I realized once I get myself out of debt of a financial nature, I will ALWAYS be indebted (interesting word choice, huh?) to Heavenly Father. He has IMMEDIATELY blessed me and continues to do so. And all I am doing is what was commanded of me in the first place. I don't deserve this abundance and I am continually humbled in this process.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
I am taking baby steps.
Every morning when I wake up I wake up with the thought of what else can I do to help myself get out of debt quicker. Now that I've set my mind up to do this, I WANT IT DONE NOW.
One of my biggest pleasures is to read. I love reading and I love owning the books that I read. It has ALWAYS been a dream of mine to own a home with a real library in it, and so I was always thinking of that library as I would purchase books. Then I stopped thinking of the library and just purchased books because it was what I did. I never even considered going to a public library to read the latest and greatest Harlan Coben or Stephenie Meyer. Must. Own. Books. DUMB.
So far Heavenly Father has blessed me considerably with this decision to get out of debt. But sacrifice is a part of getting to where I want to be. I feel selling my beloved books is a sacrifice that is difficult to do, but absolutely necessary.
My sweet friend Debbie is having a garage sale this Saturday and I am putting all of my books, DVDs, and videos in her garage sale. I know I will only get pennies on the dollar for these books, but I'd rather them make me pennies than sit on my bookshelves, getting dusty, not making me any kind of cash.
And right now, it's all about the cash to pay off the debt.
If you're possibly interested in purchasing anything I have prior to Saturday, you can go to my Shelfari account. I have about 75% of those books posted on there (I sold several of my books to Bookman's so I no longer own everything I have posted on my Shelfari). Anyway, if you go to shelfari.com/LaRueski, you should be able to see what I have. Feel free to let me know if there's anything you're interested in.
Sigh. Bye bye books. HELLO FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
One of my biggest pleasures is to read. I love reading and I love owning the books that I read. It has ALWAYS been a dream of mine to own a home with a real library in it, and so I was always thinking of that library as I would purchase books. Then I stopped thinking of the library and just purchased books because it was what I did. I never even considered going to a public library to read the latest and greatest Harlan Coben or Stephenie Meyer. Must. Own. Books. DUMB.
So far Heavenly Father has blessed me considerably with this decision to get out of debt. But sacrifice is a part of getting to where I want to be. I feel selling my beloved books is a sacrifice that is difficult to do, but absolutely necessary.
My sweet friend Debbie is having a garage sale this Saturday and I am putting all of my books, DVDs, and videos in her garage sale. I know I will only get pennies on the dollar for these books, but I'd rather them make me pennies than sit on my bookshelves, getting dusty, not making me any kind of cash.
And right now, it's all about the cash to pay off the debt.
If you're possibly interested in purchasing anything I have prior to Saturday, you can go to my Shelfari account. I have about 75% of those books posted on there (I sold several of my books to Bookman's so I no longer own everything I have posted on my Shelfari). Anyway, if you go to shelfari.com/LaRueski, you should be able to see what I have. Feel free to let me know if there's anything you're interested in.
Sigh. Bye bye books. HELLO FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
I am curious.
I know it's asking a lot, but if you have any stories you would like to share and about your debt (whether it's how you've succeeded or how you've struggled), please do so here. I get inspired by hearing about the struggles, battles, and euphoric wins that people have when it comes to debt. I know it's a very personal thing, so if you would like to share anonymously, please do so. I want to learn and grow from all of you...
Monday, October 29, 2007
I am so blessed.
One of my friends who knows about my desire to become debt free recommended the book "Total Money Makeover" by Dave Ramsey. I love this book. I love the path it's taking me on. And I love that my roommate (Jennifer) has already read the book and has lived by its principles for years now. This makes for fun, interesting, and frank conversations between us about this.
The book teaches about the debt snowball. It also teaches the importance of having $1,000 emergency cash stashed away, easily accessible, but ONLY for emergencies. It also states to do this first and foremost. The reason? If an emergency comes us, it's so easy to go to a credit card that we don't normally use - one that we keep around "for emergencies." Considering how costly going in to debt has been for me, keeping a credit card around for emergencies is a little dumb, don't you think? Anyway, I have never had $1,000 spare cash. Ever. But it was a fun concept to think about - getting it before I really get into the debt snowball.
I mentioned this to a few friends of mine - telling several of them of this difficult yet exciting plan that I have and that first and foremost, I needed to save $1,000 right off the bat. Wouldn't you know it? One of them came to me and GAVE me $1,000 to help me start on this path quicker. Literally gave me the money and said that they really wanted me to start the process NOW and to not put it off any longer. To say I was touched and surprised and stunned would be putting it mildly. No one has ever done something like this. It's something I dream of being able to do for others some day. But never in my wildest dreams could I imagine having it done to/for me.
Heavenly Father has "remembered Tara" and has blessed me considerably in my decision to go debt free.
I am humbled and grateful and I don't deserve it.
The book teaches about the debt snowball. It also teaches the importance of having $1,000 emergency cash stashed away, easily accessible, but ONLY for emergencies. It also states to do this first and foremost. The reason? If an emergency comes us, it's so easy to go to a credit card that we don't normally use - one that we keep around "for emergencies." Considering how costly going in to debt has been for me, keeping a credit card around for emergencies is a little dumb, don't you think? Anyway, I have never had $1,000 spare cash. Ever. But it was a fun concept to think about - getting it before I really get into the debt snowball.
I mentioned this to a few friends of mine - telling several of them of this difficult yet exciting plan that I have and that first and foremost, I needed to save $1,000 right off the bat. Wouldn't you know it? One of them came to me and GAVE me $1,000 to help me start on this path quicker. Literally gave me the money and said that they really wanted me to start the process NOW and to not put it off any longer. To say I was touched and surprised and stunned would be putting it mildly. No one has ever done something like this. It's something I dream of being able to do for others some day. But never in my wildest dreams could I imagine having it done to/for me.
Heavenly Father has "remembered Tara" and has blessed me considerably in my decision to go debt free.
I am humbled and grateful and I don't deserve it.
I am so stupid.
I have a secret. For years. Something that I didn't think was a big deal because since I am a single person, it wasn't hurting anyone but me and frankly I was okay with being hurt because I just comforted myself with things and treats and whatever else would help me forget how hurtful I was being to myself. The never ending vicious cycle.
I've decided to share a VERY personal thing in a VERY public forum.
I am in over $50,000 in debt, and I don't even have a mortgage as part of all of that debt. Granted, some of it is vehicle debt, so-called "normal" debt that we all think is necessary, but the rest is stupid Stupid STUPID credit card debt. Ridiculous debt that I have no idea what it was used for (besides buying so-called comfort for me for being hurtful to myself). Again, RIDICULOUS.
This is going to be one of the ways of being accountable - I want to detail my path to financial freedom, and by doing it in such a public way, I feel it will make me accountable to you.
So to everyone out there, wish me luck, pray for me, and please forgive me for being a complete idiot. Now on to getting this monkey off of my back...
I've decided to share a VERY personal thing in a VERY public forum.
I am in over $50,000 in debt, and I don't even have a mortgage as part of all of that debt. Granted, some of it is vehicle debt, so-called "normal" debt that we all think is necessary, but the rest is stupid Stupid STUPID credit card debt. Ridiculous debt that I have no idea what it was used for (besides buying so-called comfort for me for being hurtful to myself). Again, RIDICULOUS.
This is going to be one of the ways of being accountable - I want to detail my path to financial freedom, and by doing it in such a public way, I feel it will make me accountable to you.
So to everyone out there, wish me luck, pray for me, and please forgive me for being a complete idiot. Now on to getting this monkey off of my back...
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