Wow! I am overwhelmed by the support I have received from my friends and family as I start my quest to be a better budgeter. Money is something couples fight about a lot, and know it causes stress on any one who lives on a thin budget. I am not really excited about all of the sacrifices we are going to be making this year; however, I know when we reach our goal it will be worth it.

So let me tell you a little about myself. I am 30 years old. My husband and I have been married for 7 years, we have 2 boys (ages 6 and 1) at home, and we have 2 dogs. We are a pretty typical family with an average income, regular expenses, but I must say we have been “just getting by” for a while. Most times as soon as my paycheck is directly deposited into my account I have the money set up to leave my account and pay bills …. Ahhh, the perks of online banking.

Dave Ramsey quoted a statistic in his book that 70% of Americans live paycheck to paycheck.  It is a little comforting to know we are not alone and one out of every three people are in the same boat that we are in. Also, it is a little discomforting that so many people are in our current situation. When people are about to attempt a weight loss goal, they always take a “before” and “after” picture. This is our “before” picture and when we are able to pay off the first major loan we can take the “after picture.

In the first couple of chapters of Total Money Makeover, Dave Ramsey goes over whether or not you are really in need of a financial makeover. There are a few little exercises that really break you away from just reading and you actually have to circle answers and fill in blanks from a word bank. It makes you feel like you are back in elementary school, but in a good way. He asks some really good questions on how you feel about money and if you even know how money works. Both valid questions and necessary to evaluate if you are going to continue in the book/challenge. Now we need to evaluate whose fault it is for the financial situation you are in right now. We could blame it on the kids, parents, spouse, etc. But really it is our fault. We are in this financial situation because of the decisions we made. Congratulations! You are taking responsibility for your actions, this is the reality check we need to hear to make change. Now, are you ready to make some probably painful changes in your life? If not, Dave Ramsey says don’t even continue in the book. And when you are ready for this road ahead come back and buckle up!

Ok, I went to college and got a job and started making some money. Well now there are bills to pay and then when add kids, dogs, cars, and a house… my goodness what did we get ourselves into? I never wanted debt because I had heard the horror stories about college kids being in debt as soon as they graduated. I was lucky enough to not have to pay much for my college education because my parents had planned ahead for me. Then when I got out into the real world and my husband and I wanted to buy a second car before our son arrived we quickly found out that we needed credit. Having no credit was worse than bad credit. And our first line of credit happened! Then it was really downhill from there.

We all say that we are not THAT out of shape financially, but when you really look at your spending habits and see where your money goes monthly maybe you are.  Chapter 2 of Total Money Makeover has some case studies about people in different financial situations…. such as a young person just graduating from college and now stuck with student loans, rent, gas, and food… things that he really didn’t have to pay for while he was in school.   Another story is about a young couple who went from 2 incomes to just 1, but they still had all the same bills. Dave Ramsey makes you do a little math with this one to really see how much of your income goes to savings. Prepare for the unexpected and have an emergency fund ready. He also asks some pretty hard, hit you right where it hurts questions: How long would you last if you lost half of your income? I can honestly and depressingly say not very long at all. He also goes over how much your income and debt has changed over the past 5, 10, and 15 years. For us, our income and increased and so had our debt. This is a trend for most, when you make more money you accumulate more debt. Throughout the chapter in between the case studies and the math he asks a few different times how financially fit are you on a scale. So at the end of the chapter he asks again and wants you to answer honestly and to really get out of the denial on how fit you are really. Now, are you willing to change?

We had to come to some pretty hard realizations during these chapters, but it was a good wake up call. We are ready to be on the right path to financial freedom.

Stay with me and join in, I need all the success and encouragement stories I can handle!

Books I am using for the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover Challenge

Total Money Makeover Workbook http://amzn.to/1S6zq4W

The Total Money Makeover http://amzn.to/1S6zxxg

Sara Gooden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Ok friends it’s a new year and a new outlook. My husband and I are taking this year very serious in the financial area of our lives. There are some goals we have for the New Year when it comes to finances and we wanted to hold each other accountable. New family budget, doing things with the Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover plan.

We also want to set a good example for our kids. It’s really important to teach them for their own futures with money issues… right?

Big long term goals are scary so I am starting small.  It’s easier to meet goals when they are smaller. It’s easier to meet 90 day goals, instead of an annual goal. Baby steps work! We are simply making a family budget and sticking to it, planning for our future.

Do you know that if you don’t set goals, you are coasting through life?  Goals help you live life by design, otherwise you live life by default (living life as you go, do what others think you should do). We intend to live a better life, simply by taking control of our finances!

Some issues that have us looking for an outlined plan rather than doing it on our own:

• 2016 Healthcare price increase

• Medical bills (having a baby is expensive)

• Infant ER visit from a year ago

We have already taken action in one area.  We have already had to cut off the cable bill and get rid of those unnecessary expenses. To be honest we haven’t missed the TV that much. I catch up on the local news via newspaper, websites or social media. We read more which is always good for a family with young children.

So back to the financial plan, our church offers the Financial Peace University http://amzn.to/1YOLtbh (affiliate link) classes based on Dave Ramsey’s books twice a year. A lot of my friends have gone through the course and come out financially at peace. They know where they are headed with their family finances. They took this proven course, as many have before them, and it helped them! I want that for my family too!

I was kidding myself to think I could handle this kind of thing all on my own. I need other people to help support me. Did you know the Bible says:

“By yourself you’re unprotected. But with a friend you can face the worst. And a group of three is even better because a rope braided with three strands is not easily snapped!”  Ecc 4:12 (MSG)

The night of the classes didn’t work out for our schedules and I know this is something we need to tackle together as a couple.  We both need to participate and think out each step so that we are both invested in our financial success. Childcare is also offered during these classes at $5 per child ($10 weekly for our 2 kids – a steal for sure, but yes that is how strapped for cash we are). So the at home book idea was just a good fit… and it cost us about $25.  This is an investment in our future… we need to follow through.

I am incredibly excited and nervous all at the same time. I know this is going to be hard and we are going to be sacrificing even more to make sure we are financially stable. It will be worth it to not worry about money, and keep our marriage and family intact.

It is something that will be hard for a few months, but we will do this.  I want to be able to give my kids what they want and take them on educational vacations. It will be worth the sacrifice.  Don’t you agree?

We have purchased on Amazon, two of Dave Ramsey’s books:

• Total Money Makeover http://amzn.to/1YOLLyZ (affiliate link) for $14.49
• and the workbook that goes with it http://amzn.to/1YOLR9O (affiliate link) for $11.79

So why am I posting all this? Posting each step and how we do will make me accountable for doing what I say I will do. Now THAT is scary! But — a great alternative since our schedules don’t allow us to attend the church guided program, right? We can do this!

Follow us on our journey to evolve from this paycheck to paycheck thing. Heck – click the links above, buy the book(s), and let’s do this together! Follow along on my blog, and add comments when I post something new. Let’s share our Financial Peace Journey!

“Honor the Lord with your wealth then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” Proverbs 3:9-10

So for the next few months, don’t ask me to hang out unless it will be free!

Come back and share your own story here, and let’s do this together!

Sara Gooden is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising and linking to amazon.com.