Dave Ramsey Challenge this Year…. don’t invite me unless it’s free!

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.