According to Dave Ramsey, Financial Peace University, which my husband coordinates, I’m a “free spirit” and my husband is a “nerd.” Although, I love finding a “great deal”; he loves the number’s game. We really work great together in this respect.
Due to reasons totally out of my control and desire, I became our MOPs’ (Mothers of Preschoolers) finance coordinator. Basically, I had to do the budget. With the sweet help of my husband, it worked. I was telling a dear friend of mine, that I was no longer a Budget Virgin.
The marriage of the MOPs budget and me was one of the most exhilarating experiences of my life. Okay, now who is the nerd? I will tell you a secret, it was soooo easy. I really did not want the job because I felt like numbers and I were constant enemies.
The reason I’d even post something so repelling as the “BUDGET” word is that everyone (whether you make a million a year or minimum wage) should have freedom in this area.
When my honey and I started our own budget, it took about three months to really critique it. It has not been an easy road. We have made a plan and we are sticking to it. We now know where and when our money goes. We have no more “emergencies.”
My fave category of our budget is the BLOW money. You know, the expenses like going to McD’s after a day of shopping at Target. We actually have this BLOW money for things like that. We also set up a dining fund. How cool is that?
Plus, our children will have an understanding that neither one of us had. They will not be able to graduate until they understand the concept of a working livable budget and how to make a tuna fish sandwich. (You know, important things in life.)
If you have no idea where your money goes, get a budget. If you are not making ends meet, get on a budget. If you are charging on a credit card for neccessites, get on a budget. If you are not balancing your checkbook, get on a budget. If you are breathing air, get on a budget!
Try the Gazelle Budget Lite, from Dave Ramsey’s website. It is a good starter budget. Please take a look at his website. It is an invigorating pleasure to have a plan that works.
I pray that this encourages someone today to be free!
You know the song, I am free.I am free to run, I am free to dance, I am free to live for Him, I am Free!
Hey, we’re doing the Ramsey plan too! I agree…it is so liberating to know exactly where all your money is going!
Hubby and I budgeted in “allowances” for ourselves – basically the same as your BLOW money (although I like your name better!). It gives us some personal freedom to buy gifts, eat out, go golfing, buy some shoes, etc. without consulting the house budget.
Another thing we love is using all cash. We take out what we’ll need for the month, and when it’s gone, it’s gone. No more keeping track of every little receipt,only to be surprised by the Visa bill anyway! It also keeps me from overspending at the super stores when I know that I have to hand over cold, hard cash!
Just thought I’d pop over and say hi. Thanks so much for reading my blog…and for the link. I really do appreciate it 🙂
Daiquiri
Hello again! I just wanted to add to that (I totally agree with the budget promo!) we also do the “envelope system” to keep track of “variables” in our budget.
I have envelopes for gas, groceries, dry cleaning, and eating out. Every payday, I pull out exactly enough money (in the particular denomination) to fill the envelopes. It keeps us from “busting” our budget each pay period!
hey lana, thanks for the encouragement. although we have no debt, except for our mortgage, we are still not “saving” money. we do not squeeze by each month, but i know we could do better with our money! i’m going to check out dave ramsey’s site, as i’ve been thinking about budgets for a while now, just too intimidated by them.