Ever had had one of those moments when you hear something that makes so much sense and you know it's the right thing to do and you would be so much happier if you did it but oh God please don't make this the thing that I have to do to be happy because it looks like I am going to have to change and that would be really hard and I really want life to be easy even if living like I do now is going to make life harder in the long run it would be easier right now if I didn't do it til later blah blah blah
Yeah, we're doing the Dave Ramsey Fiancial Peace University classes at church on Sunday evenings.
Okay, that's a little dramatic. But hopefully the change will be dramatic. The ideas behind his plan are very sound. Pay off your debt, have money in savings, prepare for retirement and retire with dignity. Maybe change your family tree. Isn't that the point anyway?
We've been to one class so far and I really like what he's saying. It's just so different from the way we've been living that it seems uncomfortable, outside of our comfort zone.
But any big change does make you feel that way. I really don't think it's going to be that hard. We really don't have like a buttload of debt. We're already cutting back on expenses.(see previous post)
But it still seems like a really big deal. It will take discipline and patience, two things I lack. Maybe it will help in those areas too.
Something I worry about, too, is what kind of example Jonna and I are setting for Kate. I hope to share what we learn with her because we haven't been the best examples of stewardship.
Jonna and I have decided to make this our financial plan. All prayers are greatly appreciated.
And that's all I have to say about that. Again, updates as events warrant.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Update on the resolution
Jonna hasn't been able to blog much lately, and then only on items of great interest or impending doom. So maybe I should sacrifice my blog to things that are going on that aren't as earth shaking such as Jonna's new found business interest, freebie laptops (always a thankful shout out to Craig an Daryn), and romps in the snow for a wireless card.
So, we made a resolution before Jan. 1 that we would try to buy as much non-new stuff as possible. So far we've done pretty well with it. Nothing new except the expected, such as car parts(we figured used brake pads and shoes were probably not the way to go and our starter was a rebuilt one), groceries(and even then it's a lot of MC Sales stuff), tape and insulation for water pipes, and Jonna's wireless card and router. Pretty much gotta be new things.
And the strange thing is it isn't that hard. It's actually kind of fun. Because when you think about it, how much stuff really has to be new?
Clothes are probably the touchiest subject when you're talking about new vs. used. Thoughts of highwater pants and store brand gym shoes come to mind. Because who didn't have a pair of Sears Toughskins jeans when they were a kid? You know, the ones that were indestructible and lasted until they were almost up to your knees but you had to keep wearing them because "They're perfectly good pants" and you just knew everybody was laghing at you because....ok, maybe that's just me.
I'm not a clothes hound by any means, more of a jeans and t-shirt or button up shirt type guy so maybe it's easier for me to do the Goodwill thing. Since we started doing Goodwill I've found(and purchased) brands like American Eagle, Columbia(two fleece jackets), Patagonia, Levi's, Perry Ellis, Cutter and Buck, Arrow shirts, Quiksilver t-shirts, Sketchers and Dr. Marten shoes, Preston and York leather jacket, Gap, Hollister, Lands End, and Geoffrey Beene. And the list goes on.(my favorite being my red high top Chuck Taylor's)
So maybe I am a "Brand Watcher", but I can be at $3.95 for shirts and shoes, and $4.95 for pants and $7.95 for coats.
All this to say I ain't hurtin'. Heck, at those prices, you can shop for fun.
On a more serious note, all proceeds go to programs helping people with handicaps enter the workforce or retraining individuals with new career skills. It is most definitely an asset to the community and individuals alike. So it's a win-win situation.
All that being said, it will be interesting to see what happens come birthday and Christmas time. I am not a maker by any means. Time will tell.
I mentioned MC Sales earlier. It's on Charlestown Rd. just before you get into Sellersburg. This is a salvage foods store and it sells items(food mostly) that have had the packaging damaged or have been on the shelf a little too long. At a great savings to the purchaser. It would be wise to check this place out. Everything from staples(sugar, flour, spices) to bread to chips to baking supplies to chocolate to some organic foods. This store is by far our our most lucrative find. Again, I highly recomend this store.
That's the news so far.
As Calvin said,"More updates as events warrant."
So, we made a resolution before Jan. 1 that we would try to buy as much non-new stuff as possible. So far we've done pretty well with it. Nothing new except the expected, such as car parts(we figured used brake pads and shoes were probably not the way to go and our starter was a rebuilt one), groceries(and even then it's a lot of MC Sales stuff), tape and insulation for water pipes, and Jonna's wireless card and router. Pretty much gotta be new things.
And the strange thing is it isn't that hard. It's actually kind of fun. Because when you think about it, how much stuff really has to be new?
Clothes are probably the touchiest subject when you're talking about new vs. used. Thoughts of highwater pants and store brand gym shoes come to mind. Because who didn't have a pair of Sears Toughskins jeans when they were a kid? You know, the ones that were indestructible and lasted until they were almost up to your knees but you had to keep wearing them because "They're perfectly good pants" and you just knew everybody was laghing at you because....ok, maybe that's just me.
I'm not a clothes hound by any means, more of a jeans and t-shirt or button up shirt type guy so maybe it's easier for me to do the Goodwill thing. Since we started doing Goodwill I've found(and purchased) brands like American Eagle, Columbia(two fleece jackets), Patagonia, Levi's, Perry Ellis, Cutter and Buck, Arrow shirts, Quiksilver t-shirts, Sketchers and Dr. Marten shoes, Preston and York leather jacket, Gap, Hollister, Lands End, and Geoffrey Beene. And the list goes on.(my favorite being my red high top Chuck Taylor's)
So maybe I am a "Brand Watcher", but I can be at $3.95 for shirts and shoes, and $4.95 for pants and $7.95 for coats.
All this to say I ain't hurtin'. Heck, at those prices, you can shop for fun.
On a more serious note, all proceeds go to programs helping people with handicaps enter the workforce or retraining individuals with new career skills. It is most definitely an asset to the community and individuals alike. So it's a win-win situation.
All that being said, it will be interesting to see what happens come birthday and Christmas time. I am not a maker by any means. Time will tell.
I mentioned MC Sales earlier. It's on Charlestown Rd. just before you get into Sellersburg. This is a salvage foods store and it sells items(food mostly) that have had the packaging damaged or have been on the shelf a little too long. At a great savings to the purchaser. It would be wise to check this place out. Everything from staples(sugar, flour, spices) to bread to chips to baking supplies to chocolate to some organic foods. This store is by far our our most lucrative find. Again, I highly recomend this store.
That's the news so far.
As Calvin said,"More updates as events warrant."
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