So our closing on our home is on Monday. Wow. I'm gonna own a home?? For real?
We've been waiting for like a month now. Since we bought a foreclosed property... yes... it's taken the bank FoReVeR to get the paperwork all finished on their end- One thing I've really not enjoyed about banks out west that own homes here and have not real emotion ties to the property- or the people in general.
Anyhow, time has finally come. I feel like we have been waiting forever. Like.. 3 years ago, I was happy to be off purchasing Dr. Pepper chap-stick. Actually, I'd still be really happy to have Dr. Pepper chap-stick. But I've been really proud of Willie and I for working hard to save our money and not spend lavishly. I really was spending money like it was going out of style my freshman year of college. I really would have been broke and crazy working through school, had to take some time off to work, or gone deeply in debt.
Luckily when Willie and I's relationship started to get serious, he really helped me understand the importance of money management for the future. We were able to go into our marriage with no debt :) - and we did a real glamourous job for a few months selling.. dun de dun- pest control. Since then we have been able to stay as students without loans and with working at the same time, we have saved a lot of money.
Willie got into Dave Ramsey after he got off his mission in France. His father had really discovered the blessings of following this financial advisor while Willie had been gone for two years. Hoping to help his son learn more about proper money planning, his dad shared with him the books that Dave has written about financial management.
Dave always says that it's the "same advice your grandmother would give you- only we keep our teeth in". I really encourage anyone who has never read the book "The Total Money Makeover" to obtain a copy. Most likely, someone you know has it. If they don't have it- go buy it. I really think that it will change your life and attitudes about money. Whether your broke so much that you feel like all the kings horses and all the kings men can never but you back together again, or whether your the high flyin' Queen of England- you need to read this book. I believe in the principles it teaches. I dont believe that every thing in it is right for everyone, people are at different points in their life. But there IS SOMETHING right for everyone in it.
I've never given a book to someone as a gift before, but I gave this book to someone that I really care for this past week because I want others to be able to see that we can see change in ourselves and our family's future with the right advise and tools.
Yes, reading a book wont make your debts, or excessive spending go away, school loans, mortgages, 2nd mortgages, etc go away. It's not going to take away the tension in a home where poor money management is present. It's not going to make fights with parents, siblings, spouses, children, friends, etc. go away. (Wouldn't that be nice) But I really believe that if the things in this book are implemented you'll begin to feel the "financial peace" that Dave talks about.
The things that you'll learn in reading this book are not things that you can do easily. As Dave calls it, you have to get "Gazelle Intense" << watch this and I promise it will be worth it.
I really am saddened by the sorrow I see people have over money troubles. "Man are that they might have joy." We let money and possessions rule our lives. Honestly, that seems a little off to me. Be a steward of yourself and your family and your finances. Things will work out. Dave teaches us that we work to get our of debt so that we can have money and spend the rest of our lives giving it all away.
The book is only like $25. Should you like it, I think the envelope system is $20. You would spend that going out for a night, so do yourself a favor, take a night off from what you want to do.. and REALLY do something for yourself- change your habits and your future.
If you buy it and like it, share it with someone else, give the gift that keeps on giving.. education.
