Go Green 'Money cometh my way"

Its a funny thing how God works!! Yesterday I had put the last of my go green challenge money into the gas tank, all $13 dollars. The day before I had spent $20 bucks on a new outfit and the plan was to not eat out for the next 7 days! Well low and behold yesterday I recieved $80 dollars!!! It was totally unexpected but perfect timing. I ended up using half of the $80 to take my 2 girlfriends to dinner and I do have plans for the other $40 bucks but im going to try to be as wise as possible with it.

So over the last couple weeks I have received a total of $125 semi extra dollars!! Getting all this money has reminded me a lot of the old days when I use to budget and what Dave Ramsey would refer to as "found money" when you have a plan for your money, you always end up with extra or more some how. When I use to budget that was always proven to be true so its nice to have the feeling back. So with the help of loving people my go green challenge just may be a success!! stay tuned!!

My Last FPU Class!!!

Im so sad to say I don't have pictures to show, but we had a great ending. The last lesson in Financial peace university is about giving, and its the lesson that made me CRY!! I get so emotional lol.

Anywhoot my fpu class is over and its been a LONGGGGGGGGGGGGGG GREAT journey. My students stuck it out and I have seen amazing chances in some of them (not all) which is all I could ask for. I am looking to host my next one sooner than later and hopefully I will have more students and some other people to help me with the class.

I encourage people that no matter what point in life you are at in your financial journey you should take the class. It still is hands down the best program out there for getting out of debt. My life is forever changed because of it, and im so thankful to the people who have come into my life because of it.

On to the next ONE!!

Baby Step Your Way to Wealth!! Dave's Plan

Get out of debt the same way you learned to walk—one step at a time. Dave has taught these principles to millions via radio, books, Financial Peace University, live events and online. Here's the process:


Baby Step 1

$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is for those unexpected events in life that you can’t plan for: the loss of a job, an unexpected pregnancy, a faulty car transmission, and the list goes on and on. It’s not a matter of if these events will happen; it’s simply a matter of when they will happen.


Baby Step 2

Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball

List your debts, excluding the house, in order. The smallest balance should be your number one priority. Don’t worry about interest rates unless two debts have similar payoffs. If that’s the case, then list the higher interest rate debt first. The point of the debt snowball is simply this: You need some quick wins in order to stay pumped up about getting out of debt! Paying off debt is not always about math. It’s about motivation. Personal finance is 20% head knowledge and 80% behavior. When you start knocking off the easier debts, you will see results and you will stay motivated to dump your debt.

Baby Step 3

3 to 6 months of expenses in savings

Once you complete the first two baby steps, you will have built serious momentum. But don’t start throwing all your “extra” money into investments quite yet. It’s time to build your full emergency fund.

Baby Step 4

Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement

When you reach this step, you’ll have no payments—except the house—and a fully funded emergency fund. Now it’s time to get serious about building wealth.

Baby Step 5

College funding for children

By this point, you should have already started Baby Step 4—investing 15% of your income—before saving for college. Whether you are saving for you or your child to go to college, you need to start now.


Baby Step 6

Pay off home early

Now it’s time to begin chunking all of your extra money toward the mortgage. You are getting closer to realizing the dream of a life with no house payments.

Baby Step 7

Build wealth and give!

It’s time to build wealth and give like never before. Leave an inheritance for future generations, and bless others now with your excess. It's really the only way to live! Learn more

Gratitude Friday and Dave

Yesterday was a blast but this morning I am so tired from everything. Im grateful I made it home and grateful we helped change lives yesterday. Can't wait to do it again next year!

See Dave Ramsey Live!! Grand Rapids, MI

Yes you heard it Dave is coming to Grand Rapids Michigan February 25th 2010 and Divine & Debt Free is gonna be there!! . I had an opportunity to attend a live event with my mom and her pastors wife and we had a good time. Get your tickets now if you plan to attend. If you want to attend the event for FREE, yes I said FREE!! sign up to volunteer on January 11th, the volunteer list is on a first come first serve basis and sign up last for a week, so if you intend on getting in on this don't wait. I have already marked my calendar!!

My Stupid Tax 2009

Welcome to the first Divine & Debt Free's stupid tax edition. Today I am going to share with you one of the stupid things I did in 2009 that I wish I hadn't. Hopefully this will inspire you to A. share your stupid money stories and B. learn from other folks mistakes including my own.

So here is the story.....

It was a cold day in.....March and me and my now ex boyfriend (stupid thing A.1 lol) had been dating for several months. We had been talking about new cell phones for at least a month at the time and we thought it would be absolutely cute to do those "couple phones". Now don't go laughing at me because I know a few of you people (won't name names) who have done silly things to symbolize a mile stone in a relationship..... but I digress.....

His contract on his phone was going to be ending soon and I had a 1 year old ratty t-mobile phone that was falling apart by the second. He agreed to put me on his account (stupid thing A.2) and we would "share" the bill. So we get into the AT & T store and as soon as I walked in I saw it..... yes I had one of those moments where you see something and a beam of light shines over it like it feel straight from heaven? yea thats it. It was the newest version of the Iphone and I just had to have it. So I agreed to pay for his phone which was $50 bucks with a new 2 year contract and my phone was $200. I think I spent almost $300 dollars that day (No I wasn't budgeting for this either)

Needless to say we break up 2 weeks later (don't laugh we really did). Due to my better credit rating I was able to actually get the phone in my name so I did (stupid thing A.3). So here I am with a brand new Iphone and what seems to be a bill that keeps spiraling out of control. But did I stop there?? Hecks no, I had decided that after sooo much sacrifice (an exaggeration on my part) that I deserved this phone and I was going to keep it no matter what the cost.

Fast forward to 3 weeks ago....

after going through way to many hoops and loops with AT&T I decided to dump the phone. Turns out the only thing I was doing on it was getting in trouble at work from playing on it so much!! But thats not all, I looked at my spread sheet (cuz im a nerd) and looked at the year end total for cell phone use and it read a whopping 1,743 dollars!!! Yes you read right, almost 2,000 on a stupid cell phone(just one) !! I was so mad at myself I could have just passed out. You do realize all that money could have gone towards my debt don't cha......

Today, I am sitting here with my lil Tmobile phone with NO bells or whistles what so ever and welp I haven't croaked from boredom yet so I guess its ok. The bill is a LOT less and I still get to do what I love which is talk. I feel so bad for what I did and ever worse that I let it get out of control, but hey I said I was getting out of debt, I didn't say I was free from stupid lol.

So what are your stupid stories for 2009? Please share so I can feel better!!

Maxed Out documentary

Maxed Out takes viewers on a journey deep inside the American style of debt where things seem fine as long as the minimum monthly payment arrives on time. Shocking and incisive Maxed Out paints a picture of a national nightmare which is all too real for most of us.

Check it out here!!



Watch Maxed Out in Educational | View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

Peanut Butter No Jam??

If there is one thing I love on Fridays its the Dave Ramsey show, Debt Free Fridays. People call in every Friday to share their stories about how they got out of debt and at the end they get to scream I'M DEBT FREEEEEEE while millions of people listen In. I think the show serves as great inspiration to others going through the process. One thing I noticed In the last few years that I have listened is the number of "single" people calling In to scream, there just aren't that many.

Now don't get me wrong, Im not advocating single people run out and find someone to marry but I am saying Its got to be a different experience. I know you always here people say "its easy being single because you don't have 2 people to account for" But what about when you have NO one to hold you accountable at all?? I honestly believe "some" of my random purchases have had to do with the shear fact that no one was going to tell me "Noooooooo". I would even venture off to say I would probably be debt free already..... BUT I WON'T LOL.

My point is being a single person trying to get out of debt can be a little rough at times, so this Holiday season I am going to share a few of MY survival tips to those who are going it alone. Lets face it We need support too and the more the better!!

Tip #1 Do NOT ask people who aren't getting out of debt about debt - I know this may sound a bit harsh but really, when it comes down to it those people are always going to be on the spending money team. You need a good accountability partner who has or is experiencing paying off debt with you. They don't mean any harm but its just not a good idea to ask them to keep you on your toes.

Tip #2 Keep a blow money account no matter what - I must say this has been a downfall in my journey towards debt freedom. There are months where I am super intense and I am throwing every extra dime on debt, then there are other months where I spend more than I put on debt the month before. When you keep a blow/entertainment account you feel much less guilty about spending because its already accounted for. Don't cheat yourself in this area (I tried it). Even if there ends up being a few hundred dollars in the account, its better than dipping in to some other envelope when you get those "Im lonely so lets shop urges".

Tip #3 Use cash leave the Debit card home - This really is a universal tip and can be used single or married. I have had a major habit of spending outside my budget with my debt card in hand. I have found that when I take cash out of the atm I am more goal oriented and "focused" on what I need to purchase. I know that I better have a list because when the cash is gone, debt card at home there is nothing more you can do. I have found myself using my debt card a LOT more when I don't have a plan. It catches those cookies, cakes, and ice cream I mysteriously forgot to put on my list lol.

Tip #4 Spend more time with family and friends - The holidays can be a trying time when you are single. I have found the very best recipe for success is being around people you love. Round up some of your friends and have game night, or make a meal for them. There is a true sense of peace I find around my family and I don't often worry about "having that special someone" Because Im around lots of special someones 24-7 and most of the time thats free!!!

So these are my very best tips for singles. One thing I urge people to do is REMEMBER THIS IS ABOUT PERSONAL FINANCE meaning if you don't like it, don't try it. Not everyone will agree with my strategies and that is perfectly ok. If you have additional tips and Ideas we welcome them here at Divine and Debt Free because we want to reach as many people as possible with our message.

Happy Holidays!!

My Favorite Things (Blogger Edition)

I have always wanted to be at one of Oprah's "My favorite things tapping" Unfortunately since her show is going off the air I may not make it, but thats neither here nor Chicago. Today I am hosting my very own MY FAVORITE THINGS blogger style!! Here at Divine & Debt Free we focus on all things great and inspirational. I have a few sites that I just absolutely love and you won't even need to pay tax once you click on the site, how is that for a bargain!!

So lets get started

My favorite blog #1 - ENEMYOFDEBT.COM by Brad Chaffee. He is the best motivational money coach in blog land next to Dave himself! I heart Brads blog and I can't even begin to say how much his money tips and budget tools have helped me. His writings have been featured in CNN articles and who knows what else! He has such a passion for debt freedom its not even funny!!!

My favorite blog #2 - SLICKDEALS.NET Ok so im NOT advocating going to this site until you have at least paid off half of your debt (I mean it!). I haven't actually made any purchases from here but It is fun to look at all the ridiculous deals and things I don't need and make fun of the people who buy all this crap. If your not down for the entertainment value then just click on the freebies link and have fun signing up for any and everything free.

My favorite blog/podcast #3 - MARK GUNGOR RADIO. If you just want to laugh your butt off all day this site is totally for you. He is a pastor and a marriage/relationship speaker. I love listening to him during the day and I have learned a lot about what NOT to do in a marriage. Check it out and if you don't like it....... check your closet for your sense of humor!!

My favorite blog/podcast #4 - DEBBIE CHAVEZ SHOW. Ok so its another pod cast but I just love it too. If you want to get motivation, inspiration on a Godly talk show you have GOT to listen to Debbies show. She features different authors of books, pastors and the like on her show. You can also request a book from one of her guest if you like FOR FREE, how ya like those apples.

My favorite blog #5 - DAVERAMSEY.COM This is by far the best site you will ever click on if your smart. Dave has pod cast, money tools, books, money calculators and forums for those who need a bit more motivation to get going. He also has what they call E.L.P's a.k.a endorsed local providers to help you find insurance, sell a house, council, or help with taxes. Its all free unless you choose to buy something(including the e.l.p service) even if you do its probably a really good deal!

These are all my favorite things and hope these sites can be of much use to everyone. I know my days go much smoother when I have downloaded a podcast or read something inspirational from one of these sites. If you have any sites you would like to add just let me know!!

Why Become Debt Free?

As stated in the last post, I started my debt free journey 2 years ago and it been a crazy wild trip. It hasn't all been fun, matter of fact about 35% of the time I have struggled. I have moved 2 times during the process, worked 2 jobs, and fixed my car at least 4 times without resorting to throwing in the towel and buying new. Its not all that easy refraining from a habit you have kept most of your adult life.

When I share my story with people I get a variety of questions and responses like : "you could die tomorrow" or "you never get to have fun" or my very favorite one "good luck with that" Its never really bothered me much because from day one I started seeing progress. However the biggest question would always remain "why do this?" Well let me tell you my list could get rather long but since this is a new site and I want folks to come back I will just leave you with my top 5 reasons.

1. Being broke sucks!! - Yep I said it, I never realize in all my 27 years how much I DIDN'T get to do, until I started getting out of debt. Sure I ate at the occasional steakhouse or took a trip a state or two over once a year and I even shopped when I felt like it. But man once I started focusing on paying off debt I saw how much of a life I DIDN'T HAVE. My friends were always going on trips, going to parties, buying clothes every other day, driving nice cars and doing things I dreamed of when I didn't have money. I never noticed because I was too busy keeping afloat so it didn't seem like life was really happening around me. Now that I am almost debt free I have found a million and one things to do AFTER im debt free, and prayerfully I get to do them now that debt won't be holding me back.

2. I can't ever give to people in need - Have you ever said to someone "Im sorry can't help you money is tight" 20 or more times?? I know I have and its not a good feeling when you can't help those especially in your family, when they are in need. Becoming debt free has given me much financial backing enough so that I COULD do for others, not all the time but way more than I ever could before. Not only can I give money, I don't even have to (nor will I ) expect it back. Talk about a good feeling eh?

3. I hate telling folks I like to travel but never do - I went to south Africa when I was 17 and that was a couple months shy of 10 years ago. I would love to travel outside of the country again and even go to cool places in the states, but money has always been an issue, im looking to renew my passport soon and hopefully this time I can use it more than every 10 years.

4. I want to get married one day - Ok guys so be serious with me for a moment, have you ever dated someone and have one of the requirements be "you must have a credit score of 700 or more to date me" Ok me neither but I don't plan on it either lol. Seriously who wants to go into a marriage with LOADS of debt? Money fights is one of the main causes for divorce and I do not want to end up being like 50% of America.

5. I want to pay for my kids college - I don't actually have children yet and I pray the lord blesses me with 4 little ones, but I want to be prepared. I don't want to have college NOT be an option for my kids or have them be bogged down by financial problems that they can't focus on their studies. I know how difficult it has been for me in the past and I want my kids to not only have an opportunity to experience a debt free college but I want them to graduate knowing how money REALLY WORKS which apparently you can't get that in college.

So these are my top 5 reasons for wanting to be debt free. I am aware that some people might not actually agree with the path im on but its been very rewarding. I look forward to sharing more about my progress and one day you will get to hear me scream IM DEBT FREEEEEEEEEE!! So if you have reasons for wanting to be debt free let me know, or if you think its all crazy you can tell me that too lol what ever you do though give me a buzz!!

My Debt Free Beginnings

I started my debt free journey January of 2008. I was a little over 40k in debt and sinking into a very deep depression. I had just purchased a new home and a car to top everything off. To make matters worse my job was a little over an hour away (try driving in Michigan weather). In December 2007 my car was totaled and my home was broken into, my wadges which was 0 at the time started being garnished and I was just about to lose my job as well....

One day everything changed just when I was about to give up. My mom turned me on to this guy named Dave Ramsey and everything was completely turned around. Now I am 50% debt free 2 years later and this will be my final year in debt God willing!!

This site serves as an inspirational as well as a motivational tool for those already going through the process or wondering how you too can be apart of the debt free revolution. I will provide helpful tools and tips on money, travel, shopping and my own personal story. Hopefully it will inspire others to do the same!!

Thank you for reading enjoy your stay!