Diaper Swappers

IsaacsMom2009 · 07-30-2012, 10:37 AM

We are here to support each other now while we live like no one else, so that in the future we can live like no one else.

The Baby Steps:

Pre-Step 1: Get current on your debts and do a budget
Before you begin the baby steps, you must be current on your bills and, if you aren't doing one already, begin doing a monthly budget.

Baby Step 1: Save $1000 cash in the bank
Start your emergency fund. If your income is less than $20,000, make that $500.

Baby Step 2: Get out of debt
With Gazelle intensity and using the debt snowball, pay off all your debts.

Baby Step 3: Finish the emergency fund
With the money you were paying towards debt, now with no debts, you can save 3-6 months of expenses into a fully funded emergency fund.

Baby Step 4: Save for retirement
Saving 15% of your income didn't seem possible before, but with no payments, you'll be ready for retirement and not have to take a job as a Wal-Mart greeter.

Baby Step 5: Save for College
Instead of taking out student loans, your kids will be eternally grateful you thought ahead and had a plan for their higher education.

Baby Step 6: Pay off the house

Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give It Away

---------------------------------------------
Expanded Baby Steps:
0.1 Commit to NEVER borrow $$$ EVER for ANYTHING other than possibly a house
0.2 Talk with spouse and get him/her on the same page as you concerning finances
0.3 Do a written budget
0.4 Temporarily stop all retirement contributions
0.5 Get current on the basics (You MUST have Food, Utilities, Shelter, Basic Transportation)
0.6 Amputate "toys" (bikes, boats, ATV's etc) if they will keep you from completing the snowball within 12 months
0.7 Cut lifestyle (Cut CATV, Cellphone, Regular phone "extras", Internet, Eating out, etc) and/or take a second job if $1000 EF will take more than 30-90 days. (depending on income)
0.8 Get current on ALL bills.
1.0 Save $1000 in Baby Emergency Fund (EF)
1.1 Chop up CC's. (You have an EF now, no NEED to keep those CC's!!!)
1.2 Get Health Insurance NOW (chances of getting sick w/major medical bills are larger than that of death), especially if you have children.
1.3 Get Life Insurance NOW if you have debt/your family couldn't make it financially if you died. Especially important if you have children! Social Insecurity only provides a small amount of coverage if you have dependents.
1.4 Amputate cars that you can't pay off within 24 months (you have an EF to fix "bondo buggy" if something should happen)
1.5 Consider raising insurance deductibles to $500 or $1000 and dropping full coverage on paid for "bondo buggy" (you have an EF ya know)
1.6 Draw up a will.
1.7 Get Long-Term Disability Insurance.
2.0 Do debt snowball, paying all your debts from lowest BALANCE to highest.
2.1 You can take your first vacation since finding Dave if you can pay cash for it. (no using the EF!!!)
3.0 Save 3-6 months EXPENSES in EF (FFEF)
3.1 Start replacement car fund.
3.2 Save up 20% for home purchase OR pay down existing mortgage to the point that you can drop PMI.
3.3 Start furniture or other non-essential stuff replacement fund.
3.4 Move up in car if you still feel the need to (must pay cash for it!, you can only buy NEW if you have a net worth over a million dollars)
4.0 Start contributing 15% of your paycheck to retirement.
5.0 Save for kids college fund.
6.0 Pay off the house early.
7.0 Live like no one else since you have lived like no one else! Give, Build Wealth and Have Fun!

Here's a link to some of Dave's budgeting forms - check them out if you need a place to start with creating a written "zero based" budget.
http://beta.daveramsey.com/tools/budgetForms

Some good quotes for motivation...

"If broke people are making fun of your financial plan, you’re on track." -Dave Ramsey

"Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain-

"What can you do when you have no payments? Anything you want!" - Dave Ramsey

"Debt is dumb, cash is King, and the paid off mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice" - Dave Ramsey

"People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily." — Zig Ziglar

"We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like." - Dave Ramsey

IsaacsMom2009 · 07-30-2012, 10:53 AM

A new week. I'm hoping to hear from the company I interviewed with last week.

STBXH and I had a fight this weekend and now he's threatening to cut me off completely (as in no money for food, no money for my school books, etc.) He's also decided he doesn't want to pay for mediation anymore and he told me to figure out the divorce on my own. Like I needed this right now.

I'm just going to let it lie for now. I know he's just having a tantrum. He won't really cut me off, because I'll tell his dad, and he doesn't want that. But the mediation? He might actually stand on that. We'll see.

I managed to make my minimum credit card payments, so I have another month to get funds together to do it again. I can't wait for this phase of my life to be over. Being so helpless in this is frustrating.

LadybugMonkey · 07-30-2012, 11:03 AM

Kearson, I really hope the jobs works out well for you. It will be such a relief to have the income coming in. What are you taking in school?

I had my first little setback this weekend. I think we should be okay though. The kids both ended up very sick, high fevers and super swollen mouths. So lots of Tylenol, and Advil alternated and the only thing I can get DD to eat now are those drinkable yogurts. Its one of those give them whatever they are going to eat times. They have had more Popsicle, ice cream bars and other treats then I would like to admit to this weekend. DD is on day 5 of not eating or drinking much. They are also both on antibiotics so we had to pick up the prescription. I'm so happy we don't have to pay for doctors visits here.

Marianna1988 · 07-30-2012, 11:22 AM

Fingers crossed for you, Kearson! I hope you hear back from the company soon, and that STBXH gets over it quickly.

AFM: I just made the first snowball payment to the first credit card!

I sold a bunch of stuff this month, so I let it build up in PP while I was waiting to make sure I didn't have any complaints about the items. I transferred all but $50 to the bank account and it cleared today, so I made the payment. So excited! I am trying not to get too hopeful, but I have a consignment sale (first of 4 this fall) next weekend, so I'm thinking we should be able to pay off the first credit card by mid-September. If I don't sell much though, I am fairly certain we could still pay it off by the end of September. As long as we keep our spending under control. I think our goal of one month "off" after credit cards are paid off is really motivating us. For instance, yesterday we walked to Fred Meyer to get a newspaper. DH went to look in the eletronics section, but didn't ask if we could afford anything, which is super progress for him. I looked around the various departments to see if anything was super marked down. I passed on the mark down doughnuts, even though I REALLY wanted doughnuts. But I had to think to myself "no, that's $4 we can possibly pay towards the credit card. even though this is "only" $4, it's all the "only" things that add up quickly. no doughnuts. They are just full of sugar anyway." We did buy markdown bagels though, it was only $1.25 for 12. We are out of flour, so I can't make bread anyway, and we can use bagels for breakfast or lunch.

hsleonard · 07-30-2012, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianna1988

Fingers crossed for you, Kearson! I hope you hear back from the company soon, and that STBXH gets over it quickly.

AFM: I just made the first snowball payment to the first credit card!

I sold a bunch of stuff this month, so I let it build up in PP while I was waiting to make sure I didn't have any complaints about the items. I transferred all but $50 to the bank account and it cleared today, so I made the payment. So excited! I am trying not to get too hopeful, but I have a consignment sale (first of 4 this fall) next weekend, so I'm thinking we should be able to pay off the first credit card by mid-September. If I don't sell much though, I am fairly certain we could still pay it off by the end of September. As long as we keep our spending under control. I think our goal of one month "off" after credit cards are paid off is really motivating us. For instance, yesterday we walked to Fred Meyer to get a newspaper. DH went to look in the eletronics section, but didn't ask if we could afford anything, which is super progress for him. I looked around the various departments to see if anything was super marked down. I passed on the mark down doughnuts, even though I REALLY wanted doughnuts. But I had to think to myself "no, that's $4 we can possibly pay towards the credit card. even though this is "only" $4, it's all the "only" things that add up quickly. no doughnuts. They are just full of sugar anyway." We did buy markdown bagels though, it was only $1.25 for 12. We are out of flour, so I can't make bread anyway, and we can use bagels for breakfast or lunch.

I am so happy for you!!!!! great job on avoiding temptation

MamaJules · 07-30-2012, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IsaacsMom2009

A new week. I'm hoping to hear from the company I interviewed with last week.

STBXH and I had a fight this weekend and now he's threatening to cut me off completely (as in no money for food, no money for my school books, etc.) He's also decided he doesn't want to pay for mediation anymore and he told me to figure out the divorce on my own. Like I needed this right now.

I'm just going to let it lie for now. I know he's just having a tantrum. He won't really cut me off, because I'll tell his dad, and he doesn't want that. But the mediation? He might actually stand on that. We'll see.

I managed to make my minimum credit card payments, so I have another month to get funds together to do it again. I can't wait for this phase of my life to be over. Being so helpless in this is frustrating.

Any idea how long it will be before your STBXH becomes just your XH? That has got to be frustrating. Sure hope that job comes through for you, and that you hear something soon!

IsaacsMom2009 · 07-30-2012, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadybugMonkey

Kearson, I really hope the jobs works out well for you. It will be such a relief to have the income coming in. What are you taking in school?

Paralegal Studies. I have to do 3 semesters to get my Associates in it (since I already have 2 associates degrees, it won't take as long). I should graduate December of 2013.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marianna1988

Fingers crossed for you, Kearson! I hope you hear back from the company soon, and that STBXH gets over it quickly.

AFM: I just made the first snowball payment to the first credit card!

Thank you, and congrats on making that first payment!

Quote:

Originally Posted by MamaJules

Any idea how long it will be before your STBXH becomes just your XH? That has got to be frustrating. Sure hope that job comes through for you, and that you hear something soon!

No idea how long it will be. We haven't even filed yet because he can't make up his mind what he wants to do, and if I make a move without him, he'll get evil on me, so I kind of have to play it by ear for now.

mjg2043 · 07-30-2012, 04:39 PM

Dd broke her foot Friday night. Urgent care visit Saturday morning with walking boot and X-rays. Specialist visit today with full cast. Thank God for insurance!!!

keonli · 07-31-2012, 08:21 AM

Mortgage is due tomorrow, but we have the grace period until the 15th. Trying so hard to be able to make the payment but we're not sure if we can. DH is going to call the bank for an extension. We've budgeted and cut back so that we're not in this situation again, but we'll only have $100 or so in savings next month...

LadybugMonkey · 07-31-2012, 10:20 AM

Kearson- I hope you can figure out an agreement with you stbxh.

mjg2043- that sucks about your DD foot. I hope she recovers quickly!

keonli-

I should be able to finish up my contract work at lunch and then I can get the bill out for this month. It was really difficult to get it done with the kids being so sick and DH being away. I should be able to bill about $550 but I like to set aside 40% to go towards taxes at the end of the year. Every little bit helps I guess.

07-30-2012, 10:37 AM	#1
IsaacsMom2009 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 4,416 Ratings: 407 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Dave Ramsey Support Thread July 30 - Aug 5 We are here to support each other now while we live like no one else, so that in the future we can live like no one else. The Baby Steps: Pre-Step 1: Get current on your debts and do a budget Before you begin the baby steps, you must be current on your bills and, if you aren't doing one already, begin doing a monthly budget. Baby Step 1: Save $1000 cash in the bank Start your emergency fund. If your income is less than $20,000, make that $500. Baby Step 2: Get out of debt With Gazelle intensity and using the debt snowball, pay off all your debts. Baby Step 3: Finish the emergency fund With the money you were paying towards debt, now with no debts, you can save 3-6 months of expenses into a fully funded emergency fund. Baby Step 4: Save for retirement Saving 15% of your income didn't seem possible before, but with no payments, you'll be ready for retirement and not have to take a job as a Wal-Mart greeter. Baby Step 5: Save for College Instead of taking out student loans, your kids will be eternally grateful you thought ahead and had a plan for their higher education. Baby Step 6: Pay off the house Baby Step 7: Build Wealth and Give It Away --------------------------------------------- Expanded Baby Steps: 0.1 Commit to NEVER borrow $$$ EVER for ANYTHING other than possibly a house 0.2 Talk with spouse and get him/her on the same page as you concerning finances 0.3 Do a written budget 0.4 Temporarily stop all retirement contributions 0.5 Get current on the basics (You MUST have Food, Utilities, Shelter, Basic Transportation) 0.6 Amputate "toys" (bikes, boats, ATV's etc) if they will keep you from completing the snowball within 12 months 0.7 Cut lifestyle (Cut CATV, Cellphone, Regular phone "extras", Internet, Eating out, etc) and/or take a second job if $1000 EF will take more than 30-90 days. (depending on income) 0.8 Get current on ALL bills. 1.0 Save $1000 in Baby Emergency Fund (EF) 1.1 Chop up CC's. (You have an EF now, no NEED to keep those CC's!!!) 1.2 Get Health Insurance NOW (chances of getting sick w/major medical bills are larger than that of death), especially if you have children. 1.3 Get Life Insurance NOW if you have debt/your family couldn't make it financially if you died. Especially important if you have children! Social Insecurity only provides a small amount of coverage if you have dependents. 1.4 Amputate cars that you can't pay off within 24 months (you have an EF to fix "bondo buggy" if something should happen) 1.5 Consider raising insurance deductibles to $500 or $1000 and dropping full coverage on paid for "bondo buggy" (you have an EF ya know) 1.6 Draw up a will. 1.7 Get Long-Term Disability Insurance. 2.0 Do debt snowball, paying all your debts from lowest BALANCE to highest. 2.1 You can take your first vacation since finding Dave if you can pay cash for it. (no using the EF!!!) 3.0 Save 3-6 months EXPENSES in EF (FFEF) 3.1 Start replacement car fund. 3.2 Save up 20% for home purchase OR pay down existing mortgage to the point that you can drop PMI. 3.3 Start furniture or other non-essential stuff replacement fund. 3.4 Move up in car if you still feel the need to (must pay cash for it!, you can only buy NEW if you have a net worth over a million dollars) 4.0 Start contributing 15% of your paycheck to retirement. 5.0 Save for kids college fund. 6.0 Pay off the house early. 7.0 Live like no one else since you have lived like no one else! Give, Build Wealth and Have Fun! Here's a link to some of Dave's budgeting forms - check them out if you need a place to start with creating a written "zero based" budget. http://beta.daveramsey.com/tools/budgetForms Some good quotes for motivation... "If broke people are making fun of your financial plan, you’re on track." -Dave Ramsey "Whenever you find yourself on the side of majority, it is time to pause and reflect." -Mark Twain- "What can you do when you have no payments? Anything you want!" - Dave Ramsey "Debt is dumb, cash is King, and the paid off mortgage has taken the place of the BMW as the status symbol of choice" - Dave Ramsey "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing—that's why we recommend it daily." — Zig Ziglar "We buy things we don't need with money we don't have to impress people we don't like." - Dave Ramsey __________________ Kearson: Mama to DS (03/09). I am a 31 Gifts Consultant! Ask me about this month's specials Please check out my ISO/IHA. I leave feedback if it is left for me first, due to my issues with people doing it incorrectly. Can't stand those yellow notepad icons .

07-30-2012, 10:53 AM	#2
IsaacsMom2009 Registered Users Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orange, CA Posts: 4,416 Ratings: 407 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Dave Ramsey Support Thread July 30 - Aug 5 A new week. I'm hoping to hear from the company I interviewed with last week. STBXH and I had a fight this weekend and now he's threatening to cut me off completely (as in no money for food, no money for my school books, etc.) He's also decided he doesn't want to pay for mediation anymore and he told me to figure out the divorce on my own. Like I needed this right now. I'm just going to let it lie for now. I know he's just having a tantrum. He won't really cut me off, because I'll tell his dad, and he doesn't want that. But the mediation? He might actually stand on that. We'll see. I managed to make my minimum credit card payments, so I have another month to get funds together to do it again. I can't wait for this phase of my life to be over. Being so helpless in this is frustrating. __________________ Kearson: Mama to DS (03/09). I am a 31 Gifts Consultant! Ask me about this month's specials Please check out my ISO/IHA. I leave feedback if it is left for me first, due to my issues with people doing it incorrectly. Can't stand those yellow notepad icons .

07-30-2012, 11:03 AM	#3
LadybugMonkey Registered Users Formerly: Confused mum Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,978 Ratings: 34 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Re: Dave Ramsey Support Thread July 30 - Aug 5 Kearson, I really hope the jobs works out well for you. It will be such a relief to have the income coming in. What are you taking in school? I had my first little setback this weekend. I think we should be okay though. The kids both ended up very sick, high fevers and super swollen mouths. So lots of Tylenol, and Advil alternated and the only thing I can get DD to eat now are those drinkable yogurts. Its one of those give them whatever they are going to eat times. They have had more Popsicle, ice cream bars and other treats then I would like to admit to this weekend. DD is on day 5 of not eating or drinking much. They are also both on antibiotics so we had to pick up the prescription. I'm so happy we don't have to pay for doctors visits here. __________________ Christine ~ married with 2 wonderful children Monkey(0 5.11.2009) and Ladybug (01.21.11)

07-30-2012, 11:22 AM	#4
Marianna1988 Registered Users Join Date: May 2011 Location: Tacoma, WA Posts: 1,759 Ratings: 57 Feedback: 100%	Re: Dave Ramsey Support Thread July 30 - Aug 5 Fingers crossed for you, Kearson! I hope you hear back from the company soon, and that STBXH gets over it quickly. AFM: I just made the first snowball payment to the first credit card! I sold a bunch of stuff this month, so I let it build up in PP while I was waiting to make sure I didn't have any complaints about the items. I transferred all but $50 to the bank account and it cleared today, so I made the payment. So excited! I am trying not to get too hopeful, but I have a consignment sale (first of 4 this fall) next weekend, so I'm thinking we should be able to pay off the first credit card by mid-September. If I don't sell much though, I am fairly certain we could still pay it off by the end of September. As long as we keep our spending under control. I think our goal of one month "off" after credit cards are paid off is really motivating us. For instance, yesterday we walked to Fred Meyer to get a newspaper. DH went to look in the eletronics section, but didn't ask if we could afford anything, which is super progress for him. I looked around the various departments to see if anything was super marked down. I passed on the mark down doughnuts, even though I REALLY wanted doughnuts. But I had to think to myself "no, that's $4 we can possibly pay towards the credit card. even though this is "only" $4, it's all the "only" things that add up quickly. no doughnuts. They are just full of sugar anyway." We did buy markdown bagels though, it was only $1.25 for 12. We are out of flour, so I can't make bread anyway, and we can use bagels for breakfast or lunch. __________________ Marianna married to C mama to P (05/10) and J (12/11) [SIZE="3"] Buy Scentsy - Join Scentsy - Book a Scentsy Party Buy Velata - Join Velata - Host a Velata Party Serving the USA and now CANADA! - Paypal accepted

07-30-2012, 04:39 PM	#8
mjg2043 Registered Users Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois Posts: 992 Ratings: 28 Feedback: 100% My Mood:	Dd broke her foot Friday night. Urgent care visit Saturday morning with walking boot and X-rays. Specialist visit today with full cast. Thank God for insurance!!! __________________ Full time high school administrator and wife! Full time mom to Gabby (9/04) and Anthony (1/08)