Goal #1: Grocery Budget of $100/week

As I mentioned in my first post, we are finally budgeting. It's fun stuff, you really should try it! 

Something that really struck me from the Total Money Makeover is that if you don't tell your money where to go, it will leave. Think about that for a minute. I certainly don't want our money to just "leave." Hence, the new budgeting plan comes into play. 

Since I just started our money makeover a month ago, I'm still trying to work out the kinks. Right now my goal is to only spend $100 each week on groceries. So far I've found that if I plan a weekly menu and grocery list every Friday night and then stick to the list that I can stay very close to or under my budget. Sticking to the list means no more splurge buys and no more mindless shopping. Its actually been nice to have a menu that I can go off of when the hubby asks the dreaded "What's for dinner?" question. 

Another change that I've implemented has been the cash only system. I only bring my budgeted amount with me to the store: that means NO credit or debit cards are being used. I stopped using credit cards altogether now. (my new mantra is that you can't get out of debt if you are still creating it) One day I may actually have the courage to completely cancel and get rid of my credit cards but for now I'm just not using them. Plus, we don't want the hubby having a heart attack over here. ;)


-Lara

New Town, New Home, New Life

As many of you may know, my husband is currently going through the Military Physician Assistant Program at Ft Sam Houston, Texas. His acceptance into the program meant a cross country move for our family from our beautiful home in North Carolina to a rental home in San Antonio. While it was hard leaving behind "home" (to me home is where the heart is.) and our friends, it has been fun making a new Texas home and meeting more friends. Lately, I have met some very inspirational friends, online and in person. A good friend of mine recently introduced me to the book that has begun to shape my life into something filled with financial hope and inspiration. Its the Dave Ramsey book, "The Total Money Makeover." For those of you that are struggling with any debt, big or small, you should totally check it out. If you are like me, you'll wish you had read it 10 years earlier!

Because of this book and some very inspiration blogs and news stories I have read lately, I am revamping our family, starting with a BUDGET! Some of you may cringe at the very word "budget", while some of you may be in complete shock that my husband and I have been married for over 5 years and are just now making one, yikes!

I hope you join me on our family's crazy journey to better finance (being DEBT-FREE!) and a healthier, happier living style. Think: less processed food, more home cookin'! Yep, I'm trying to become "Susie homemaker" here! 

-Lara