I Have an Idea!
I have an idea!
Okay. Please don't criticize me if I can't do it because I at least want to try. I want to try it for a little while and see how I feel and how I do and then I will make the life altering decision.
I just finished reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and I have mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand I feel this complete longing to live virtually debt free (not including a mortgage). I want to see if I am capable of paying off my debts and saving an emergency fund and even investing. Some of the stories in the book were truly inspiring. People who make $40,000 a year at their day job investing and making more off their money than their jobs. People buying cars for cash and having half down on a house. I would love to live like that and it has always been my dream. However, I have not even really tried to live like this. Budgeting is kind of like dieting for me. I mean to and I start with the best intentions but I also really like fried foods.
On the other hand, I am horrified. lol.
I have some ideas that would make the budgeting a little less painful. I already am very thrifty with clothes (about $30 a month, maybe). I am thrifty with groceries (about $50 a month, but I do steal Mom's food a lot).
My plan is as follows:
1. I will give myself $100 cash a week to live on and that is IT. If I find I can't do it, I'll have to make it $110 but I am not going over that.
2. Entertainment wise, I plan on cutting back to two packs of cigarettes a month and drinking only beer when we go out. I'll only take $15 to the bar EVER.
3. I'm not going to eat out as much. This will increase my groceries about $20 but will save me about $100 a month.
If I could live off of $100 a week, that would leave me tons to pay stuff with. After every loan I pay off, I'll reward myself. Ramsey doesn't suggest this but I think it is deserved.
I don't know if I can do it but I have to try.
Okay. Please don't criticize me if I can't do it because I at least want to try. I want to try it for a little while and see how I feel and how I do and then I will make the life altering decision.
I just finished reading The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey and I have mixed feelings about it.
On the one hand I feel this complete longing to live virtually debt free (not including a mortgage). I want to see if I am capable of paying off my debts and saving an emergency fund and even investing. Some of the stories in the book were truly inspiring. People who make $40,000 a year at their day job investing and making more off their money than their jobs. People buying cars for cash and having half down on a house. I would love to live like that and it has always been my dream. However, I have not even really tried to live like this. Budgeting is kind of like dieting for me. I mean to and I start with the best intentions but I also really like fried foods.
On the other hand, I am horrified. lol.
I have some ideas that would make the budgeting a little less painful. I already am very thrifty with clothes (about $30 a month, maybe). I am thrifty with groceries (about $50 a month, but I do steal Mom's food a lot).
My plan is as follows:
1. I will give myself $100 cash a week to live on and that is IT. If I find I can't do it, I'll have to make it $110 but I am not going over that.
2. Entertainment wise, I plan on cutting back to two packs of cigarettes a month and drinking only beer when we go out. I'll only take $15 to the bar EVER.
3. I'm not going to eat out as much. This will increase my groceries about $20 but will save me about $100 a month.
If I could live off of $100 a week, that would leave me tons to pay stuff with. After every loan I pay off, I'll reward myself. Ramsey doesn't suggest this but I think it is deserved.
I don't know if I can do it but I have to try.