"Every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of
drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory."
Ghandi
"I never want to use a credit card again."
I said this to Mike about 4 months ago and for the first time I meant it. As I paid one of our bills and glanced at the finance charge it occurred to me that we were just paying money to borrow our debt. Let me say that again. Paying money to BORROW our DEBT. The insanity of that situation just bored into me. I like a challenge and Mike is eager for any way to manage the finances better so it took very little persuasion to convince the both of us to take drastic measures to pay off our debt and never spend what we don't have.
So we started our first month of the 'cash only' system. It's so easy even with a debit card to become negligent in keeping track-at least for me. Before long I'd check my bank online and wonder where all the money was. I started using the envelope system which I never thought I would like. It turns out that I love it! I love the freedom of cash.
* I always know exactly how much I have left to spend on food for the month, recreations, personal things. It's all right there.
* I find that I spend way less on food when I am handing over cash. Handing over a hundred dollar bill is hard! I am so less inclined to buy things not on sale or things I do not have a coupon for when I am paying cash.
* I never used to have cash on me. EVER. IF I owed someone some money or I wanted to buy something from a child's fundraiser, I never had the cash on me. I do now and I like that.
*Even though I am spending less, I feel like I have more money. This is because I tend to be a lot more conscious of my purchases. I buy something because I really want it, not because I threw it in the cart on a whim.
There is one interesting downside that I had occurred to me before.
No one wants to take a hundred dollar bill! I assumed places (other than fast food chains) just used one of those pens to check for counterfeit bills but they don't. I was turned down at many stores and now I have to get 50's as the highest increment.
Of course that's just a minor adjustment.
Trying something new is hard and I am generally not a goal setter. But this has been a challenge that has inspired me to prove to myself I can change things in our household. I can't wait until I can post that we are debt free. I know it will happen and even though getting there is drudgery, I know in the end I will feel triumph.
I was inspired by my good friend Anissa's recent blog post where she gave a short summary of things that were coming up throughout 2010. I began to ponder on what things I would have to look forward to this year. I don't think I have mentioned that Jillian passed the 20 month mark 2 months ago and so this is officially the longest I have been 'not pregnant'. This is a strange feeling for me as any other year I would be posting that I was looking forward to the arrival of a new baby. Instead I have other things to anticipate this year.
* The first thing is a big order from Amazon. I am not a binge shopper anymore and in fact I have been the complete anti-shopper since we dedicated ourselves to being debt free and to bulking up several months worth of living expenses. We now live on a cash only system, I do not use debit except for gas and we do not use credit cards anymore. We have learned that something saved for, means more, and is appreciated more...at least around here. Plus it's a great feeling to always know exactly how much cash you have left for the month at a quick glance. Holy digression! All of that merely to say this. Have you ever jokingly said to someone, "Well maybe we have some long lost relative who will leave us money?" I've said it. Completely joking of course. Well, it actually happened to our family. We really had a long lost relative in France who passed away (and brief tangent, I am sad that I did not know her or know of her and I would love to hear any stories regarding her if any family is reading this that may have such information) and left a small sum of money to the family.
After about a year of entanglements with the French and American Governments we now have the inheritance...minus about 80% in fees. (Robbery if you ask me.. another digression) Tonight we had a wonderful family dinner at Musashi with all Four of us married couples (Been dying to say that!) and my kiddos. Mom and Dad presented each of us with an envelope containing touching handwritten notes from mom and some cash for us all...you haven't lived until you have seen a 4 year old open a card with a $50 bill inside of it. Too cute! So long story getting LONGER. We have these terrible, flaking calphalon cooking pans. We are probably dying as I type this from ingesting the little flakes and the kids are starting to think that Mac n Cheese is supposed to have little black specks.
Kidding.
Sort of.
So after a bit of discussion we decided to spend half of the inheritance to restock the kitchen. Out go the nasty pans and in comes the new pans. This is definitely a worthwhile investment here as I cook from scratch a whole lot, they will be used daily. I have been building a stash of cast iron pans as I have found they are definitely my cookware of choice and they will last long enough to be passed down to my grandkids. Today I ordered several enameled cast iron dutch ovens and pots. Also an electric (and why didn't spellcheck notice I spelled that electirc at first?) teakettle for my little girlie teadrinkers, a steamer insert, a marble rolling pin, biscuit cutters and some fiestaware pieces. I will take pictures of our Christmas in January when it all arrives. It was very exciting to get to do it.
Phew! Moving On!
*Softball season! Part looking forward to, part dreading. Gabby will play in 12 and unders and Ginny has decided to continue playing mini-sox. Should be fun, or harrowing...or both.
*Marriage Retreat! I don't have a nursling (well I do but she can go two or three days without doing it so I don't count it as a needy nursling) this year so we can go to Pismo for the annual marriage retreat. I am SO looking forward to that time and also hoping that we can share the trip with Chad and Laura this year since Laura is a married lady now . ( Teehee! I said it again!) I am really looking forward to some special time with my man and some fun in the sun and fellowship with friends.
*Seattle with Anissa. TBD. Not sure when we will go this year but the 2nd annual Seattle trip WILL happen at some point because Anissa and I need to eat a lot more seafood.
*AJ's 9th birthday and the remodel of the boys room. Space/StarWars theme. And possible the moving out of Jillian later in the year.
*Camping in Yosemite! In the works is a camping trip to Yosemite. Hopefully Jeff and Kelli will be going with us and Mom and Dad if they want to (but I haven't invited them yet so Mom if you are reading this, you are invited to go along too.) We plan to do some cave exploration, hiking, fishing, squirrel following, campire singing, game-playing and whatever else we decide to do. Cooking with cast iron pans probably. ;) Cornbread anyone?
* Swim team. We like it. We love it. We want more of it.
* Diabetes Camp. I am hoping to get Gabby accepted into a sleepaway diabetes camp this year. I am so excited to give her the opportunity to meet other kids who live day to day in the way that she does. And also send her to a place where I do not have to worry about her getting the best possible care she can while she has a load of fun.
*Ginny turns 7, 7!!
*Maddy and Gabby turn 12. My hands are shaking. Did I type that? 12? Last year before I have two teenagers in the house. It feels like they already are teenagers though. They act like them. Hmpf.
* Being debt free!!! We will have all debt except the mortgage paid off this year. And let the freedom ring!
My fingers hurt now so I'll give it a rest and you can wait for updates as the year progresses. Carpal tunnel. Ack. Fingers cramping......
Working on the budget has been a huge focus of ours lately. We have really been focused on directing our money to the best places for it to be used. Paying off debt first being a primary goal. The end-goal being debt free.
I never thought I was the type of person that would enjoy using the 'envelope' system. I do follow a lot of advice from finance guru Dave Ramsey. He has very practical methods, many of them just plain common sense related. I do not do his plan to the letter but for the most part..he makes sense. So a few months ago I decided to buck up and try the envelopes. Amazingly I discovered I LOVED it. It gave me more freedom and at the end of the month I had more money left because I was watching it going until it was going...going...almost gone. Seeing the cash float through my fingers was a big wake up call. Money was truly being wasted in this household. Not any more.
I thought I'd share my envelope system that I finally have organized to my liking. Bill money and gas money are the only things I leave in the checking account each month. All the rest I seperate into my envelopes. I used this tutorial to make my envelopes of of scrapbook paper....because I love pretty. *wink* I had to upsize them a bit because the ones on the tutorial were a little small.
For the first time ever I have a large checkbook sized wallet. It fits in all my bags though. I retired my most favorite wallet because it was a simple fold style one with no room for my envelopes.
Opened up you can see the colorful envelopes I made.
I printed up some fun category tags and punched them out.
Lisa- The Blogger
This is me. I like to think I am complex and multi-faceted but I think much of the time I am a silly, zany, free-spirited person who really enjoys life. I like to make people happy, I like to be happy. I am a sanguine through and through. I love crafting, Pinterest, gathering ideas, computer stuff, watching movies, sleepovers and hugging on my offspring. I don't like internet haters who assume to 'know' me just by what they read here. There is a reason this is called 'Pieces' Of Us. It's just a small peek in the window. You may think you know, but you have no idea.
Mike- The Sportsman
Mike is more than just a sportsman but he does like to shoot a deer now and then. In his other spare moments which are few and far between he is taking college courses to finish his degree or tending to his pack as Cubmaster. He loves to spend time with the kids and they think he is pretty great even if he is a goofball who loves to embarrass them.
Madeline- The Free Spirited Bohemian One
This kid could be happy with just some books, a drawing pad and a pencil. She has an aptitude for art and has really excelled at drawing over the past year. She is patient and kind but has a mischievous twinkle in her eye. Maddy is dependable, if you want something done, she's your girl and she does it with a cheerful spirit.
Gabriella- The Creative Ray of Light
Gabby has sparkle, she has pizzazz, she has talent. She is the kid you never have to tell to practice the piano instead you tell her to take a break. She loves to chat with her friends on the computer (what teen doesn't?) and write stories with her twin sister. She's a practical joker and has a terrific sense of humor. Did I mention she is also a talented actress as well?
AJ- The Deep Thinker
This boy is going places! AJ is always thinking. He is a true philosopher pondering the whys of everything but he is also an inventor/engineer also determining the hows. He spends hours building and taking things apart. We worry that he will one day blow up the house but for now he is pretty darn useful at optimizing our computers and rewiring things that break around here.
Genevieve Audrey- The Spunky One
Spunky doesn't even begin to describe it. She is a social butterfly and she loves to sit and chat as long as her victim will listen. Ginny is a tiny little thing but her spirit is huge and she's smart to boot. She is proving to be an excellent big sister and is teaching Jilly the ropes.
Caleb Allen- The Littlest Man
He doesn't like it when you run your fingers through his hair so we do it all the more. Caleb is just so cute and snuggly. He is always full of enthusiasm whether it be positive or negative. He either really loves something or he doesn't like it at all. We love him regardless.
Jillian Clementine- The Boss
She may be small but she makes up for it big time. Jillian likes to let people know who is in charge and we often have to take her down a peg... or five. She says funny things so often that she has her own blog Jillyish. She loves to use huge words like intrusive and incredible or any other adjective that shouldn't come out of a three year old. She will also tell you that she is too shy to say Hi but don't believe it because she is pure drama.
Jess..ica- She hiccups
She may not be blood but we claim her as one of us. Honestly, I don't know what I'd do without her around. She makes us laugh and she can sing like a hamster. Everyone needs a friend with a hamster voice. Now she'll probably ask me to take this down but I'm not gonna. Because we love her.
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