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I am almost finished reading the book (see other post in this forum) and was inspired to get going on my own Total Money Makeover.  I'm off and running!!  Baby step #1 is to save $1,000 as fast you can so that you've got some fall back money.  This is to prevent you from using your credit card in case of emergencies, which always happen when you don't have the cash to deal with them.  So I listed some books on half.com and am prepared to sell some things on eBay.  I even broached the subject of getting a second job with my hubby.  And then it occured to me - I've been in a stock club for a few years and have a small amount of money in that group.  Enough to cover the $1,000 and pay my DH back for an airline ticket he pre-paid for me.  So I made the tough decision to dissolve my partnership in that group.  I know it's the right thing to do, and I'm still going to pursue other "found" money.  I am lucky to have the $1,000 cash already and I am blessed not to have to take drastic measures to get that first $1,000; but I don't want to stop the momentum I am feeling!   :yipee:  I am taking my recycling this week, and I am returning a Christmas gift to Old Navy that didn't fit.  Instead of buying something else, I'm going to take those dollars and apply them toward my debt.  Every $1 counts!  :D

Great news!   :clap:  Keep that positive energy flowing!

happy dance happy dance :diva:

Behavior changes are occuring!  I was all set to get a pedicure yesterday; I was driving home from a breakfast meeting and had the shoes, the cash in my wallet, and the time; but I remembered my financial goals and DIDN'T GO!  Yeah, me!  I decided it's high time I learned how to do what millions of other women already do:  their own toes.   :D  I am proud of myself and DH is super supportive and happy for me, etc.   :dude:

Murphy's Law is real.  My car needed it's 90,000 servicing, plus I wanted them to check out a couple of other things.  Grand total when all is said and done after the repairs that will be needed:  $1,150.   :eek:  The book (TMM) talks about Murphy taking up residence when you aren't able to deal with it, and the book is right!  Luckily, I have that money coming from my stock club buy-out, so I can pay cash (and DH will loan me the $ for a week or so until the cash arrives).  I was really looking forward to paying off 2-3 cards with that money.  Oh well.  At least I won't have to dip into the $1,000 emergency fund.  (I so hope I didn't jinx myself by saying that........)

I'm off to photograph future eBay listings. 

Doesn't it just figure?!  At least you can pay cash instead of having to charge it. :thumb:

YES!  That's a major relief.  MAJOR. 

 :hug: Hugs and keep up the good work!

I paid off my first credit card today!   :yipee:  It was a small balance, but it was also the highest interest rate, so I'm very happy.  The stock club money arrived, and I still have my $1K emergency fund in tact, so I was okay to start attacking the debt.  :D  Now that I have a small cushion I am changing my withholdings on my paycheck from 0 dependents to 1 dependent.  If I have to pay taxes at the end of the year I'll be able to do it.  Hopefully DH and I will buy a house in 2008 so I won't have to worry about additional tax payments.  :D

Way to go!   :dude: :clap: :not:

That's awesome!!!   Wait till you get to the point where you don't need to use credit cards anymore!! Such an awesome feeling to work towards!

MURPHY LIVES.  More car repairs.  My $1,000 savings is gone, but at least I didn't use a credit card.  And my car is working, with only 3 payments left to go.  Easy come, easy go I guess.  So I start building the $1,000 again.

In a very non-TMM move, my DH and I talked to a mortgage broker.  With SoCal home prices at a 20 year low, and the interest rates staying low, we would be crazy not to think about buying something when our lease is up.  I know Dave Ramsey would not be happy to read this.  LOL   :D  Anyway, I am further motivated to pay down this debt ASAP so that we can buy a home.  I still don't know if we'll be able to do it, though.  Good thing DH's finances are so strong.

I've read some negative stuff recently about not combining finances, but you know what?  DH and I don't fight about money, and we know we would if we combined our accounts.  In the process of talking about a mortgage and the associated tax implications we developed a framework where all tax refunds will go into a shared account.  That would be our first and only shared account to manage, which I still kind of like.

Anyway, blah, blah, blah.  Woe is me and my car.  LOL  Actually, I'm NOT totally devastated because I'd taken the steps to get that emergency fund, so the TMM plan is working!

I feel stalled on this area of my life; can't the paychecks come more frequently?!  LOL  I had such momentum, I think I'm just feeling it relax into everyday practice at a normal pace.  I still need to post some stuff on eBay to supplement my income.  I will say there has been very little frivilous spending.  A couple of lattes and that's it.  That is a huge life change for me!  :yipee:

LOL about the more frequent paychecks - wouldn't that be nice?!  Keep at it - slow and steady wins the race. :D

I used to get paid bi-weekly, and now get paid weekly at my new job. While I am basically still making close to the same amount, it feels like I always have "more" money on hand now.

Check your debt to credit limit ratio too, before you buy.  If you have a $100 credit card, keep the balance under $70, preferably under $50.  It's ok to keep your cards open, and to have some balance on them, just don't max them out.   :smileflower:

Good for you! Awesome job! I need to start taking bigger steps in my money issues and investments, one small step at a time though!

Update!  I just wrote the check for my final car payment.  :D  :dude:  :yipee:

Congratulations!  :D

Go you! I recently paid off my car, and now DH and I are thinking of getting a new one.  I so do not want another car payment though!!

New update:  my $1,000 savings is back in tact!  YIPEE!!  With the car paid off and the savings in tact I can now really work on that debt!  :yipee:

Go you!

That's fantastic!  :D  Way to go!

Congrats on paying off your car and building up your savings!!!
 :hug: :dude: :clap: