I Wish I Was Married!!!

Would you be able to sip champagne, while lying in a hammock slung between two palm trees on a white, sandy beach, with your romantically linked partner beside you, without spilling your drink? Well then, you may just have what it takes for the Ultimate Job in Ireland (and probably the world!).



‘Due to massive international demand, closing date for applications has been extended to 7th April 2010 (midnight GMT).’

To celebrate the launch of Ireland’s most exciting destination wedding and honeymoon website, The Irish Times have teamed up with Runaway Bride and Groom to find the right candidate to do 6 months of research… researching the most romantic and ultimate wedding and honeymoon venues around the world - with their partner.

We are looking for the right person (and their partner) to research and test out the most romantic and ultimate wedding and honeymoon destinations all over the world and then report back with their verdict (on the place, not the partner!) to their boss, 4,000 miles away.

You will need to:

* Have good communication skills
* Be passionate about travelling
* Appreciate good service, fine dining and luxurious surroundings
* Have a friendly personality
* Be able to work on own initiative
* Know how to enjoy life
* Have good organisational skills
* Have a romantically-linked other-half, who also has the above qualifications and who is willing to accompany you on your trip (in a voluntary capacity).

The Role:

* Involves 6 months of travel
* Remuneration: €20,000.
* Travel and accommodation for you and your significant other to accompany you on this ‘horrendous’ assignment.

How to apply:

The successful applicant will be required to research some of the world’s best wedding and honeymoon locations. Ireland is one the world’s best places to have a wedding and we want to tell the world about it! To apply you will need to make an 80 second webcast telling us why Ireland is a great destination wedding location and why you, as a couple, are perfect for the job.

CLOSING DATE 7th April 2010 (midnight GMT)

CLICK HERE TO APPLY!!

Murphy Rears Its Ugly HEAD!!

I would like to preface this post with "its totally my fault" before I go into detail with what happen so I don't get sympathy cards n such lol.

It all started 3 weeks ago when I heard a ticking noise in my car. I had intended to get it checked out but the sound went away. So I did what lazy people do FORGET ABOUT IT. Fast forward today I find out I blew my engine!!!! I usually am good about taking care of my car but I have been so engulfed in the rest of life that maintenance on my car was so far from my mind.

Prayerfully the car will be fixed because I refuse to by a beater im clueless about and I have fallen in love with my busted engine car. I figure im almost debt free and I will have to come out of pocket either buy getting another beater or fixing the one I have. I figure if I can fix the one I have I would feel better about it. Its been interesting though to hear peoples opinions about what I should do. I have heard everything from junk my current car, to get a loan for a new one.

My conclusion is that life is so much easier when you have the money to take care of life's little opposes. I remember when Dave ramsey talked about how when you are broke everything seems to go into drama mode and crisis overload. With my emergency fund in place I have been able to sit and think rationally about the solution and seek counsel about my choices. My friends have all been very supportive in this time so when I get back rolling I am going to do something for all of them that have made sure I don't get overwhelmed with my car troubles.

I learn more everyday that God is so amazing and he really loves me sometimes more than my little brain can fathom. Im so happy and grateful for lessons, even the hard ones that you think after 2 years of playing the money game you would get! But hey im human and I make mistakes too!!

So with all this said I can not stress the importance of having an emergency fund. It can keep you from really going insane literally !

Back In Motion

Its Monday and I am finally back in the swing of things!! These last two weeks have been very interesting to say the least! I just ended a 12 day fast on Friday and boy was it good! Though I wasn't able to complete the full 21 days, I did gain a lot from it as there was a LOT of prayer involved. More than prayer however I had to prepare a lot of my own foods and basically slooooooow down!!

The two weeks amazingly allowed me to get proper rest, and just take time to reflect on what has been taking place in my life. I kept a journal of prayers over the two weeks which I will share sometime this week. Probably not the whole thing because its lengthy but I can take a few out that I think I should share.

I feel like since I was able to complete the 12 days the next time I do this again, I should be able to go all the way. There were some days that ended up being more challenging than others but for the most part each day! I can't say that while I fasted for those 12 days did I have one bad day! I felt good and the days at work went good. I have learned there is power in prayer if are consistent.

As for my debt snowball, I am still hanging in there! My car went fritzy on me over the weekend and today I am going to have it looked at. I pray it doesn't cost much to fix because right now I need all my funds for my DEBT!!! Anyways I am glad to really be back and share with you guys again, thanks for being patient and I look forward to new beginnings!!

Gratitude Friday and Weather Changes

I am feeling sooooooooooo sick this morning and I know its because of the weather. Last week the sun was shining and I was walking around without a coat or jacket. This week its been cold and raining!!

In spite of all this I am going to not only get up but be on time for work because I am determined to go on vacation this fall for my birthday or the beginning of 2011 celebrating debt freedom. I looked at my annual hours accumulation and I have 9.5! haven't seen that number in a good while (sad huh). I am going to be working super hard these next 8 months and I am hoping you are all gonna be there with me in the end. I am grateful for a new perspective and second chances in all area's of my life.

What are you grateful for today?

Blog Check In

Hey everyone I just wanted to update, you guys so you don't leave! Seriously there has been a LOT of things going on behind the scenes that I would love to share right now but I just can't!!

I do know however when I do get the opportunity there will be much blogging on my end!! So please oh please stay tuned!

Snowball Update

I haven't been able to post much lately because I don't have much to say lol. So I figure today would be a good time to update my progress.

Debt free by 10/14/2010 is the goal

$5,178 401k loan balance
$10,800 student loan balance

total 15,978

Im still in the game!!!

Paid off about 4,000 this year!! woot woot!!

The Process To Debt Freedom

I remember when I first learned about Dave Ramsey and his get out of debt plan. I can recall being so excited that I wanted to know everything about what he had to say including the good the bad and the ugly. I can recall browsing the internet one day looking for information about Dave Ramseys program being a "scam" if you will, and I came across a 4 year old thread. Today I can't recall exactly what it was about, but I remember it being about someone not liking Dave's principles. A year or two later the post had hit so many people that it was still running years after the original writer had posted it.

Over the last 2 years I have come across many skeptics and "unbelievers" as I would call them. From time to time I would wonder why they just don't get it but, I had to remember I use to be a nonbeliever myself. However now I share with people all the ups and downs of getting out of debt and all the logistics of how it works, but I have never really been able to explain the other parts of this that are guaranteed more important than becoming debt free. While Debt freedom is the biggest deal from the material perspective, there is much more to it. Let me explain:

I came to Christ - Now you must understand that I was baptized when I was 12 and received Christ at a relatively young age. But up until about a year ago my lifestyle in no shape form or fashion did not reflect being a child of God. I was reading an old blog of mine and it reminded me of my former ways and I had to give thanks to the Lord that I didn't have the same mindset. Now please understand being in financial peace itself didn't bring me to my new salvation, but a serious of events that occurred over the course of a year that lead me that direction. I honestly believe that had I not been in the program, I would not have learned what I did in that time.

It builds Character - Now I understand most of us aren't just down right heathens, but I know in my life there have been area's where I certainly could have done better. For example: I did not really respect authority as much as I do now. Every thing was an argument and I was going to win! During this process I have also learned about what it means to delay pleasure in all areas of life, and not just my finances. It has taught me that I can be committed to something and not give up just because it gets hard.

My family grew closer - The other day I was on the phone with my family. I recall my mom asking my little brother to pray and he did pray, a powerful prayer I might add. Never in a million years would I have imagined us praying together as a family unit. I now have the ability to speak good into my families life and teach them about budgeting and how to get on the same path to building wealth. We had always spent holidays together but this Christmas is going to be like no other!

I am a more mature person - I started on this program when I was 25 and this October I will be 28 years old. Usually one might attribute my change in attitude to being older, but I beg to differ. A lot of the Dave Ramsey teachings have a lot to do with your outlook on life, where you want to go in life and how you plan to get there. I believe it takes a special kind of person to not only become debt free but change other peoples lives in the process. Those who at one point were selfish, are probably givers now. Those who started out not loving their spouse, probably now love them more than ever. I know I have come a very long way and I know I wouldn't be the same person I am today had this process not taken over 2 years.

I am thankful for everything Financial Peace has taught me. My hope is to one day be able to share this information with millions of people, because its not just about getting out of debt, its about becoming the best person God would have you to be.

What are some lessons that you have gotten from the "Best" teachers in life.