As Of Today, Its The Dave Ramsey Way

Hi Family and Friends,

Thank you all who came to visit my blog for my first entry. Don't worry, it wasn't a one entry, one time, kind of blog. I am looking forward to continuing this blog throughout our two years and our experiences along the way.

Since I was not able to write yesterday, I will recap yesterday and then talk about our first official day on the Dave Ramsey plan!

Yesterday was such an amazing afternoon. We are seriously so blessed. Grant had texted me as he was finishing up work that he had some good news, I text him back that I had good news too. When we finally talked he told me that his work mentioned that he would most likely be getting a raise in his year review this month! How amazing will this be if/when it actually gets implemented. And what perfect timing. So then he asked what my good news was. I got my first customer to do craft work for! It is seriously beyond exciting and such a motivating feeling. I am definitely ready and so pumped for this. And then later last night I saw this quote "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity"How suiting is that to my day! Times are going to be difficult, but I hear a big opportunity knocking! I can't help but think that God wanted us to be on this road and making this journey. It's times like yesterday that I get reassured that everything happens for a reason.

Now on to today. Day one of Dave Ramsey. We had an amazing start so far. One of his tips/rules is to use the envelope system. Basically you take cash instead of a card and you can only use that amount. So today for example, we went grocery shopping. We budgeted for $100 a week. So today we took only the $100 and off we went. Grant had the calculator open on my phone adding up every item we placed in the cart. I can honestly say, I have never done that. I had another first time experience. I can honestly also say that I have never weighed produce items to see how much things would be. So we calculated and we weighed and we checked off every item on our list. Which by the way, making a list was a huge help. With a list it is easier to go in, get what you need and leave so you aren't roaming looking for extra things that you "need". So we calculated, without tax, $93.23. We were a little nervous to be honest. Grant placed a few items that could be put back, in the very back, just in case. I don't think I have ever watched the number as each item was added so closely. As we got closer to the end, we were feeling good. Guess how much our total was? $87.58! We did it! It was such a small victory, but it felt so amazing. But it got better. We get in the car and we are getting a little organized before we leave the store and Grant is reviewing the receipt and at the bottom of the receipt, was a coupon for 10% off our next grocery trip. Seems silly, but I was so excited! It got me to wonder. Before this, every recipt I got would get shoved in my wallet or in my purse and I would not ever look at it before it finally got thrown away. I wonder how many times I have had a coupon attached to my receipt and it went unnoticed.

I think that small victories like this will be able to keep us on track. So far, we are doing well. It may the first day, but it was a real great place to start.

Thanks for coming by!

XOXO
Mrs. Renee Farrell

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as Jesus did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all thing right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. (My favorite prayer and currently so relevant)