Gazelle Intense

Here's the first update on how our Total Money Makeover is coming along: Fantastic!! You would not believe how well it is working. We've been at it just around three weeks, and have paid down $1,000 in debt, put a few hundred in savings, and have been able to put money in the collection plate at church for the first time in a looooong time. On top of that...we have money left over at the end of the pay period!!! And y'all, we don't have any more money coming in! I haven't gotten another job, we haven't had a yard sale...none of that. We just got smart about money, created a budget (and stuck with it), and decided we were going to get 'gazelle intense'. We've started to treat our money with respect, and watch every dollar we spend. And most importantly we've gone after this carefully and prayerfully. We've got the debt snowball rolling, and will actually have one (but probably two) of our three credit cards paid off in two months. We're going after this, guys! It's amazing to go to sleep at night not at all stressed. It's done wonders for our marriage (not that it was bad to begin with, now it's just better!) We've gone from having literally 5 bucks in the bank the night before payday, to having way more than enough. As Dave Ramsey says, "it's just gravy." It goes right into savings. I can't wait for the day when I can give to all the charities I want to...the SPCA, Harvest Hope (our local food bank), March of Dimes, St. Jude, and the list goes on...

For those of you out there doing this program too, get intense! You can do it. I can do it. Imagine that day when we are free from the burden of debt, and can give to our churches, give to our communities, and go to sleep at night with a full heart.

Deuteronomy 15:10-11
"Give generously to him and do so without a grieving heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command to you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land."