Today, I'm really excited.
Last night, Caleb and I made the decision to fully commit ourselves to a better lifestyle overall, in every aspect. It was just a productive evening, and finally an evening at home just to ourselves (almost never happens with our crazy schedules!). We cleaned the whole apartment, did a TON of groceries for an insanely low price, and even made our new budget.
 |
| Obligatory photo for blog post ;) |
Caleb and I have taken Dave Ramsey's financial peace course 3 times.... THREE TIMES! You'd think it would be drilled in our head by now. However, our whole first year (and 2 months) of our marriage we weren't really living by the principals we knew we should be. We paid the minimum on our debt, or maybe a few bucks over, but not trying hard to get rid of it. We used the cash (envelope) system on and off again, and just were so-so with our savings. Since starting our new budget last night, Caleb and I are back to using cash, hanging up our debit cards on the fridge so we aren't tempted and paying off our nasty debt as fast as possible!! More on that to come.
Exercise...ohhhh exercise. We've been slacking like crazy at the gym (especially me). Correction, to slack at the gym, one must actually BE at the gym...and I hadn't been in weeks. After getting over 8 hours of sleep last night (which never happens), I woke up at 5:45 this morning, and got in 2.5 quick miles. It felt amazing, and I wondered why it took me so long to get back?! We're excited to do something active almost every day. Even if its just a walk after dinner together, its something!
We also agreed we need to eat better. After spoiling our tummy's on vacation with yummy crab legs, lasagna, fruit loops and ice cream bars, we decided it's time to home cook more often. We're committed to doing the best we can to make home cooked meals in our own house. Obviously there will be the occasional treat and pizza night in, cause you need those to stay sane, in my opinion ;)
This is definitely the start of a "new us". After we finished our budget, we even high fived afterward! ;) I can't tell you guys how excited I am. Sure, we'd been doing all of these things before...but I don't think being just alright in these things is okay for us, I want to thrive. We want to thrive! I'm so excited to see where this all takes us. Stay tuned!
I love my budget! I have been making one and tweaking it here and there since Aaron and I moved in together in 2009. It is such a time saver and really puts your mind at ease to know that you can or cannot afford something. I wonder if all of these things make us old? Or is it how excited we are over them that shos our age? Lol ❤️
ReplyDeleteY'all can do this. My biggest hurdle would be going to all cash, eek! Can't wait hear how it goes!
ReplyDeleteHow exciting!! I know you two can do it! I love the feeling of a fresh start :)
ReplyDeleteWe must be on the same wave length because yesterday was our first day back to "normal" as well with eating, exercise, etc after the vacation. Not that we didn't do any on the trip, or ate horribly, just not like what we normally do. It felt amazing! Good luck with the Dave Ramsey thing - I need to get Keith on board with a joint account before that. He doesn't track what he spends, I do, and it gets annoying.
ReplyDeleteThis is so exciting! My fiance and I want to sit down (before the big day) and go through the Dave Ramsey steps to set up goals for ourselves. That way we can start tackling our debts immediately. Good luck with all of your goals - you can do it!
ReplyDeleteWoo hoo! You go girl! It just goes to prove you don't need a new year to set new goals. Good luck on them!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE budgets! It's like new years resolutions - it's fun to set one but super hard to stick to it. But I'm a HUGE fan of the envelope method. Every time I get cash I stash it away for vacations. I haven't read the Ramsey book but I need to!
ReplyDeletegood luck! it's hard to start but so worth it!
ReplyDeleteSo I have read one of Dave Ramsey's books and loved it, but would love to learn more! How did you do the financial peace course?
ReplyDeleteBetween you and Erin today, I'm ready to get my stuff together!! :) Time to start sticking to the budget again and seeing my debt go down!
ReplyDeleteDid you and Erin plan this? You two are great motivators of debt elimination today! I love it!
ReplyDeleteNo, everyone--- we're just soulmates ;) LOVE you guys and can't wait to see you reach all your goals!!!
ReplyDeleteexciting! Those type of planning and goal setting evenings are the best!! I like the idea of the debit card on the fridge...all I know is I need to get mine out of my wallet stat!
ReplyDeleteWe took FPU two years ago and could definitely use a refresher. The envelope system is especially hard to stick to! Good luck on your goals!!!
ReplyDeleteWe love our budget too! We always seem to go over in the gas department though, due to spontaneous road trip adventures. Here is how we do our budget: http://www.rainbootsandbeef.com/2013/10/saving-money-for-newlyweds.html
ReplyDeleteDoesn't it feel so good to recommit to your goals? You guys totally got this!
ReplyDeleteIsn't this exciting?! And I think it's so easy to forget about goals and to "slack off"....so easy!! So it's great, like you're doing, to revisit them every now and then. It really does feel so great to get up and exercise. I need to do that more often.
ReplyDeleteLove this! It feels so good to make positive changes and have a spouse that is completely on board, too.
ReplyDeleteLove your blog, by the way!!
Love this!! So glad you're setting goals for yourselves and doing things to achieve them!! You should be proud of yourself (&Caleb!) for making the first steps!
ReplyDelete