Stuffitis Do You think its Incurable?

As I constantly think about being debt free, I start thinking more and more about all the things I have gone without for the past 2 years and how happy I will be when I can REALLY shop again. But as I started to calculate the stuff in my head and the amount went up, I started to wonder if this STUFF would really be worth it after all this waiting.

If anybody knows me I have a true appreciation for nice stuff. I always loved decorating and making the atmosphere just right. I often brought new art work, or lamps just to give the room a new feel every couple months. If you look at the picture below (disregard my face lol) you can see my place when I was 22 . It was a small place but I thought I had it going on with the decor and my friends agreed.


Eventually I moved to a house where my decorating habit ended up getting the best of me and caused me to make very poor financial decisions resulting in my downfall. Ever since then I have had to suppress my urge to spend on creating the nice environment that I loved so much. Some days its been harder than others but I would say over all its been a success not spending. To cope though I have brought simple things I could use like a bed set, or a candle set that didn't take up much space.

I honestly can't tell you how good I (think) I will feel when I get to decorate for the first time in almost 3 years. But decorating is just one of the things I plan to do, I also want to get a NEW laptop, tv, and cable all of which I do believe will put a smile on my face. But for how long I don't know.

Which is why you all in blog land come in. Before I start spending crazy trying to make up for all the things I have missed over the last few years I wanted to ask everyone these questions.

1. Do you think the best things in life are REALLY free? If so what are the free things you have that bring you the most joy.

2. Out of the stuff you had to have, how many of those things do you use on a regular basis, do you light up every time you turn on the tv or the ipod or whatever it is, or did the excitement of it all eventually leave. How long did it take?

3. Of all the things you have purchased because you had to have it, do you look back and think you would be just fine if you didn't. Why or why not.

Those are my 3 main questions I hope people answer honestly here on this blog. Now once I am debt free I am definitely going to shop for new furniture but the other stuff, I am questioning if I am just buying because I can, or because these things are really going to make me happy. It will be interesting to see how things play out in the next 12 months post debt.

Tax Refund Money!

I was sitting here thinking about my refund from my taxes. I started working on them a couple weeks ago and they aren't finished yet. I kinda just wanted to get an idea of what I may be getting back. Looks to be around 1,100 which isn't bad considering I had more exemptions this year. Of course I intend to put all the money towards debt but I am just curious as to what the rest of you might do......

If your going shopping, saving, or paying debt tell me about it! I would love to hear!

Gratitude Friday and Mint.Com

My good friend Sunny put me up on this website called Mint.com. It helps you balance all of your accounts like, banking, home loans, student loans ect. Its a pretty cool site and very helping showing where your money goes when you use your debt cards or credit cards.

I am grateful for being able to really see the brighter side of things when ever possible. My house is the number one thing on my mind because a lot depends on the sale of it. I am confident things will go smooth and come out much better than I expect it to. My faith in God allows me to believe that anything is possible when God is at work and unless proven otherwise I have no reason to doubt. My first Fpu class went very well and I am even more excited to be able to call the Dave Ramsey show to say I had the opportunity. Im thankful for love and support and all the lessons that come with growing up.

What are you grateful for?

Divine & Debt Free Confession #1

There is a scripture in the bible that talks about how we should
 confess  our sins to one another so that the righteous
can pray for you and be healed "James 5:16".
While I am making light of the scripture in this
 particular matter because in my opinion its minor,
It still needs to be addressed or at the
very least be validated.
 
Lately I have been obsessing over my debt. Every day I
look at my budget and attempt to figure out ways I can
 be paid off faster. At first it was cool but now its like
 I have tweaked and tweaked til it can't be tweaked no
more!! In my defense being debt free is way over due,
 something that should have taken 15 months has taking me
3 years and its pretty annoying. I do admit in
2009 I wasn't very intense but I still cut back
in areas which made the time seem much longer
than what it really was or should have been.
 
Funny thing is, that while I have projected my debt pay off
(yet again) to be the end of the year,
I am fully aware that this still isn't etched in stone because just
like in the last 2 years, IT CAN CHANGE!! I
tell you it frustrates me so much feeling like you have
control but not really having it. There honestly is only
so much I can do and the ONLY thing I can do at this point is continue to
go to work every day and wait.......
 
Im tired of looking at the stupid budget hours at a time
knowing the only thing that stands between me
and no debt is time. So this really is my cry for help
what can I do!!! I really want to stop
feeling so overwhelmed with the idea, I just want to live life
and let things flow. Its not fun to be so
gazelle intense with no one to share the intensity wit.
Im so close to debt freedom im tasting it and im
almost afraid I won't know what to do when everything is paid off.
I just want it to get here so I can move on!! 
 
(insert sulking here)
 
 
 

The FREE E-Book “LOVEveryday”

Download it out over at Enemy of Debt!!!! and please leave your comments and thoughts!

told you it was coming, and now it’s finally here! The LOVEveryday E-book is now available for download and distribution. (Click the link or view the sideshow below.) We hope you enjoy reading it, as much as we enjoyed writing it. Sometimes the information you need to make certain changes in your own life are right in front of you. This could be one of those times! Don’t leave it to chance, as I am 100% convinced you will take away from this, something of value, you can apply to your own relationship or marriage. I sure plan on learning from it!

Once you read it, PLEASE come back and let me know how we did. Your thoughts and comments are always appreciated!

Please be sure to check out the authors and their respective sites to learn more about the authors behind the curtain computer screen.

LOVEveryday: Thoughts On Loving Amidst The Chaos Of Life

Time Starved: Why Don’t We Have Time For Each Other
Paul Byerly – The Generous Husband

The Alarm Clock: Starting The Day Off Right
Dan Miller – 48 Days

The Snooze Button: Is Your relationship On Hold?
Carrie Burgan – Make Mine Happen

First Cup Of Coffee: Awaken Your Relationship
Corey Allan – The Simple Marriage

Behind The Wheel: What’s Steering Your Relationship?
Jeff Nickles – My Super-Charged Life

Fuel Your Relationship
Dr. Michelle Gannon – Marriage Prep 101

At The Office: Working Couples And Stress
Trudy Sargent – Love Talk

Business Time: Keeping The Sex Alive
Alisa Bowman – Project Happily Ever After

Traffic Jam: Get Back Up To Speed
Damien Riley – DamienRiley.com

Waiting In Line: What Are You Waiting For?
Pat Flynn – Smart Passive Income Blog

The Sock drawer: How Being Organized Helps You Both
Lori Byerly – The Generous Wife

Playtime: How Kids Bring You Closer Together As A Couple
Samantha Mellen – Mama Notes

Changing The Light Bulb: Viewing Your Relationship In New Light
Mandi Ehman – Organizing Your Way

Cleaning Up After A Mess (Apology and Forgiveness)
Brad Chaffee – Enemy of Debt Self Reliance Exchange Logos4You.net

Pour On Love: How To Love Your Spouse Generously
Lori Lowe – Life Gems

Grocery Shopping: Feeding Your Relationship
Chelle Stein – It Might Be Love

Diner Time
Kathleen Quiring – Project M

Dish Duty: Sharing Responsibility
Maureen Shaw – Feeling Flirty

Pocket Change: Using Money To Enhance Your Relationship
Nate Desmond – Practical Manliness

Checkbook Balance: Stop Fighting Over Money
J. Money – Budgets Are Sexy

What’s On TV? Television and Relationships
Stu Gray – The Marry Blogger

Logging On
Isabella Mori – Change Therapy

Evening Rituals: 10 Ideas To Get You Going
Sheri Kruger – Zen Family Habits Serene Journey

Putting The Kids To Bed: Balancing Kid Needs And Adult Needs
Cindy J. Taylor – Affair Care

Pillow Talk: Romance Through Words
Dustin Riechmann – Engaged Marriage

Let’s Go Out: Dates To Bring You Closer Together
Toni & Alisa DiLorenzo – One Extraordinary Marriage

Sunday School: Finding The Spirit In Your Relationships
Denee King – She Just Got Married

NOW GO CHECK IT OUT! Download it, send it to friends, tweet it, share it on Facebook and with everyone you know. One thing we know is that whether you are married or single, you need good relationship skills. Help us get our message out there for ALL to read. I am pretty certain that I can speak for the group when I say, we appreciate your efforts to do so, no matter how big or small they may be.

We just want you and everyone you know to have lasting and fulfilling relationships that stand the test of time. Love each other much! Love each other often! And of course love each other every day! SAVE this e-book and refer to it often!

(Expect to see an E-book from Enemy of Debt in the near future. I am working hard on it as we speak.)

LOVEveryday

Emergency Funds

Im sure if you are an avid reader of any money blog you have come across the topic more than a few times.

Yesterday was my first FPU class which went great by the way, and we watched the lesson on super saving. I remember when I first had to save up 1,000 and how much of a pain it was. I have had to "dip" into my emergency fund a lot over the last 2 years and each time I have been thankful that the money was there.

If you don't have a mini emergency fund, please use this tax season to get one. You dont want to waste your whole refund on shopping and gadgets this year again. Set some money aside and start building that fund up. If your heart is beating you can count on you having emergencies.

Whats stopping you! do it now!

Time Management Challenge Update

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know what has been going on so far. Though I haven't kept a super strict time chart I have managed to do a few things differently that has helped me over the last week:

1. Started getting to bed most nights before 10pm - I figured out that I now need at least 7-8 hours of sleep to not walk around zombie like all day.

2. exercising - Last week I did 10 minutes a day and while that went very well I have yet to move up to 20 minutes but I need more motivation!

3. eating breakfast - The benefits just go without saying, but I realized how important it is to not be starving soon as I get to work.

4. Started cooking - Less eating out has been very good to me and in a weeks time I have only eaten out once!! I feel great about that.

5. Bible study - I managed to get in at least 1 hour a day but I am still spending to much time online instead of getting other things done of more importance.

Week two is underway !