So we have been going strong for a little over 2 months now and as of today we have paid off $3,543.95 in debt! While that is only a little of what we have it is still progress. To think before we were only incurring debt.
Some things we have learned.
1. It is much easier for me to save my allowance than for D to. And much easier for D to spend his allowance than it is for me to spend mine! Remember our allowance is to spend.
2. We had to start to see momentum to continue on the plan. At first I had all our debt organized in order of higher APR, but that meant some of our bigger balances were 1st. We would still be working on paying off our 1st one right now, whereas we have paid off 3 different debts already. And snowballed the other amounts we were paying to take out more faster. Man seeing success makes you want to tackle more. Since I see our finance stuff daily and D doesn't I have tried really hard to share the excitement with him by telling him how far we have gotten.
3. Tithing.........we still do it, every paycheck that is the 1st thing that happens. I have seen God handing us other things (knowledge, growth, sources of income) as we have been obedient in doing this. And I feel that without this we really won't be where we are in our spending diet. The obedience to give 1st makes all the other stuff so much easier. This money is a gift from Him and I can't wait until we get out of this hole so we can start giving above!
4. If you think you are both going to understand it the 1st day you start you are WRONG! You both look at $ different. D is much more of a reward person, he sees the chance to get something new and works toward it. I have a hard time with that I would rather stick the $ in my pocket.....but then one day blow it all with little to show.
5. You really can stick to a grocery budget! I mean it is possible to even spend less than you budget. Yes I clip coupons but that is only a few bucks. The main thing is making a menu, a list and using our emeals menu. I will be honest I don't get generic if we don't like it, some stuff we like and that is fine. But why should we eat something we don't like b/c it's 10 cents cheaper?
I really think anyone can do this, if you feel like your life is out of control grab ahold of it and change.
