I attended Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover conference a few weeks ago, and I'm just now getting to the recap. I think I just have so much to say, I don't know where to start. After this past weekend at home, I know exactly where to start. Two words, SWAGGER WAGON!
Alex and I got hooked on Dave Ramsey's radio show a little over a year ago, and now every morning all I hear is, "Wee'rreeee dddeebbbtttt fffrrrreeeee!!!!" blaring out of the speakers. After hearing that so many times, it really makes me want to be the next caller. Thankfully the only debt Alex and I have are school loans. We did however have a credit card for a long time that we would use for all our expenses, and then pay the card off on time every month. The only reasoning behind this was we were getting the free points, and yes, we got A LOT of free points. Probably over $2,000 worth of points we accumulated, which is basically free money. BUT, the point is that we would casually spend more than we had every once in a while, because we had that safety net...that little shiny credit card that always had our backs. Wrong! Dave finally convinced Alex that the "points" really don't help much in the long run. Now, we have officially stopped using our credit card, and are now pretty much using cash for all purchases.
Now, back to the Swagger Wagon. I was lucky enough to have most of my family attend the conference with Alex and I after a little arm pulling, and it was great to open up to each other about the problems we face with money. At the beginning of the conference I remember my sister, Nacona, saying, "I know he's going to say that I shouldn't have a car payment. I'm not going to give up my suburban! What does he expect me to drive? I have 4 girls, and live in the middle of no where on a bumpy dirt road." I tried to think of a car that would fit her family and their needs, and I couldn't think of too many cars that would fit the criteria and be affordable. Sure enough, Dave touched on large car payments, and how many people's debt problems can be solved by selling their cars and downgrading while getting out of debt.
Two weeks later my jaw dropped when I heard these words come out of my sister's mouth, "I'm buying a Mini-Van." Yep, something just clicked, and she decided to give up her big 'ole Chevy Burb. Now, in a family that has pretty much driven Tahoes and Suburbans most of their lives, that can be a very hard thing to give up. I was and still am so proud of my sister for making such a huge change. I still kind of laugh that she bought a mini-van (I don't know if I could do it), but now we just call it the Swagger Wagon. Her girls didn't care, and were so excited to get a new car, "Aunt Rae Rae! Look at our new car. It's awesome!" Thanks Nacona for being such a great example to your family and children!
I hope in a world of the "Keeping up with the Joneses" mentality that we would stop and realize that the Joneses are probably unhappy and in debt because they tried their whole life to please everyone around them. What kind of life is that?
What are your thoughts about debt? How do you manage your finances?
I hope in a world of the "Keeping up with the Joneses" mentality that we would stop and realize that the Joneses are probably unhappy and in debt because they tried their whole life to please everyone around them. What kind of life is that?
What are your thoughts about debt? How do you manage your finances?
2 comments:
It's official. That was the best 2 1/2 minutes of my day. Thanks for sharing.
Well, I'm glad I could make your day a little better! Thank goodness the weekend is here!
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