FPU Starts Wednesday!!

So did I post that I was going to be coordinating the Financial Peace University (FPU) Course at our church? I can't remember. When I pulled my FPU stuff out at the beginning of this month I realized that by not sticking to this plan when Brian and I first took the course 3 years ago, we really robbed ourselves of so much; money, peace, etc. One of the pastors at our church had mentioned to us a few months back that we should consider leading FPU at our church if we really wanted to learn to stick to our plan. We laughed it off, like REALLY laughed it off! But, when I got all my stuff back out, the Lord was speaking to me that it would truly help me stay accountable to my plan. I knew this was from the Lord so the next morning when I ran into that pastor while dropping off my kiddo at school I told him I wanted to lead FPU. Well, the first class is this Wednesday night and I am so excited! We had about 9 or 10 families sign up. I cannot wait to see what God is going to do through this class. There are so many people who are really living as slaves to their lenders, we are in bondage. I am expecting God to do GREAT things through this course. I cannot wait to see the blessing that will be poured out!

This week in TMMO....

We are continuing to work the Total Money Makeover plan. We are still on Baby Step 1 (BS1), a $1,000 in the bank for baby emergency fund (BEF). Our BEF isn't fully funded yet but we have been working on it! We are about 34% done. I picked up a shift last night at the restaurant I worked at before my current job. It was pretty dead so only made $20 in tips. But hey, it is $20 more than I had when I started! Also, the owner wants me to come back two Friday nights a month to be manager on those shifts. I haven't decided what I am going to do yet, but I am considering it. It would just be more snowflakes, even if it wasn't a lot, something is better than nothing, so long as I am not having to pay childcare.

As for other steps we are taking: today I opened a new checking account that offers a 4% interest earnings on balances up to $25k!!! So since I NEVER have anywhere near that amount, I am golden! It is like free money, I am super excited about this! I know, I am a numbers nerd, I have made peace with that.

I can't wait to get baby step 1 finished up so I can let that snowball roll, baby!!

Woohooo....broadening that shovel

Ok, I am really getting excited! It looks like I have found another $55/month to throw at my baby emergency fund, then roll into my debt snowball. I am really feeling blessed! I know we are blessed. On top of this and the other shovel increase I learned about last week, I earned a nice commission this month. I know we can work this plan and be successful!

What Can I Do?

Ok, I am sitting here listening to the Dave Ramsey show from yesterday via podcast. If you listened to the show from yesteray (September 10, 2010) you know that Dave was having lots of "We're DEBT FREE" calls. I just get so stirred up when I hear this. If you never have, you need to listen. He listens to the callers' stories then has them count down and they scream out "I'm DEBT FREE" in the loudest voice they can and he then plays the clip from Braveheart where William Wallace (Mel Gibson) yells out "FREEDOM!!!" I get chills every time this happens. I can't wait to be able to say that. As I listen to these stories, I begin thinking, "what can I do to make my shovel (income) larger?" I already work 25-30 hours a week at my job. I am paid pretty well for what I do and I love my job. I am paid hourly + commission so I have opportunity to broaden my shovel there. My hubby is military so the only room for raising income is when the government says so with cost of living raise, or rank advancement, which is still, in part, up to the government. So, I am open to ideas. What can I do to earn some extra money without shirking my obligations to my family and my church? My goal will be to compile a list of things and get some ads out or sell some things, etc. I have done some things already such as sign up with some mystery shopping websites, sign up with blogvertise.com to get assignments from them to write about here and get paid, call my old boss at the restaurant I worked at before my current job to see if she was needing some help one night a week or so. Maybe I could offer to walk dogs or something. I just know I want to taste the FREEDOM and I won't quit until I am there. I...CAN'T....WAIT!!!!!

Crazy for TMMO

I think every night since last Wednesday (not yesterday) I have constantly dreamed all night long about things I can do to get this debt snowball rolling. It is crazy! I am so motivated! When I sat down and realized that DH and I do ok financially, not rich or even near it by any means, but we do ok, I was taken aback. Because since we weren't giving every dollar a name, it didn't really feel like we were doing ok. But when I sit back and realize that just last month, my sister-in-law got married, all four of us were in the wedding, and we did it financially with hardly noticing. This meant a700 mile drive-one way, the purchase of a bridesmaid's dress, a flower girl dress, a ring bearer dress shirt, pants and tie, and a groomsman dress shirt, pants, and tie. Plus some contribution on the the bachelor/bachelorette parties and wedding gifts plus my missing a week of work unpaid. If we were able to do all of that and barely feel it, then every other month should be smooth sailing and I should be making some huge dents in debt. Instead, we do a lot of eating out and just not tracking spending. I am so excited for this to change! It really is all a matter of mindset. Now, if DH and I could just be on the same page......

First Snowflakes?!?!

So today I found out that I may be able to add nearly $200 to my Baby Steps each month. I won't bore you with the details, I will just say that I am flippin' excited about it!!!  My vow is that if the actions are taken that will allow this extra money, I will contribute that amount first to my baby emergency fund, which is Baby Step 1 in Dave's program, and when that is at $1,000, that amount will go towards the debt snowball. I want it....FREEDOM!!!

Why snowflakes?

Why snowflakes as the name of my blog? This is an excellent question. Snowflakes recently came to have a new meaning in my life. I am seeking Financial Peace and I am doing that with the help of Dave Ramsey and his program. In "My Total Money Makeover" snowflakes represent anything EXTRA you can do to add fuel to the fire, so to speak, of getting debt paid off in order to become debt free. You know like how snowflakes are SO small but as those tiny pieces fall, and fall, and fall, suddenly you have a 6ft mound of snow. So wish me well. This journey will be difficult; busting old habits, doing without now so I don't have to later, leaving a POSITIVE legacy for my children. So here is my journey. Yes, it is weird! That is ok, when normal in this country is drowning in debt, I don't want to be normal.