Money, Money, Money

Up until this point in my life, my money has controlled me; I have not controlled it. In the months leading up to our wedding, I had heard alot of talk about Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We looked into it and did do some of the videos before we were married, but we didn't implement anything. I just set up a quick make-shift budget to figure out how much we could afford for housing before we started looking for a place to live, and that's as far as we got before we were married.

After we were married, my husband began to do the workbook and set up a budget through Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, and we continued to watch the videos. One thing Dave Ramsey talks about is that in every marriage, there is a nerd and then there's the free spirit... I don't like to do things, I procrastinate, and I have about a 20 min attention span when someone else is talking. (And I did not want to come up with a budget because I thought it would be restricting, and I thought I'd feel binded; that I'd have absolutely no freedom with money... to the point of I couldn't buy a cup of coffee or shirt if I wanted.) My husband does things, and usually is good with not procrastinating, and he was the one who wanted to come up with a budget... we thought he was the nerd. However, we began to realize I was actually the nerd. We noticed it when I'd read ahead when someone was reading out loud to a group, or would break for talking, I'd keep reading. I also was the detailed one and made sure all the bills were paid on time. Needless to say, we weren't very successful setting up a budget the first time around because of this. We just had a better idea of our money, that's all.

After we moved, my husband became really concerned with "a budget." I got all the paperwork together and sat down one day and worked on it for along time. However, I had a new excitement and couldn't wait to share my information at our "budget meeting" the next day. I knew we had a plan! I knew exactly how much money I had every week or every month for certain things... clothes, food, gas, etc. (We've been able to pay off all of our credit card debt!) I love knowing that every month, we're setting aside money for our savings, retirement, and vacations! It is wonderful! (Dave Ramsey has spreadsheets that help you calcuate how much you will need to save monthly to have a healthy retirement.)

I feel bound by our debt that we still have (school loans, etc), and freed by the debt we no longer have. I also LOVE our budget. I worked on it long and hard for about a day and a half, but even with all my revisions, it still wasn't perfect. As we are watching our cash flow out, we're realizing we over-budgeted in some areas and under-budgeted in others. This is why, after 4 weeks on this budget plan, we'll meet again and make more revisions. It will adjust slightly every month. Life changes, and you have to be able to change with it; however, to be successful, you have to have some sort of a plan. After all, God planned!

I encourage you to set up a budget if you don't have one. Look at how much money you are needlessly spending on food, clothes, and entertainment. (Those were my short comings.) Remember to give and honor God with your choices... He could take it all away in a moment.

Proverbs 16:1-3 "We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer. People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives. Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed."