Slave To The Lender

One thing I am really looking forward to when I am out of debt and living within my means is the ability to decide what I will or will not put up with at the workplace. Right now I am so dependent on my job that I am very unlikely to ruffle any feathers. It sure will be nice to be able to stand my ground without having to bluff. With a fully funded emergency fund I can really speak my mind.

Based on many recommendations, I am getting a term-life policy for my family. Most of what I have read recommends 8-10 times your annual salary. I chose 8x. My work provides 2x term life, but if I change jobs that policy goes away. [Read more →]

When I set this site up, I used GoDaddy.com as I had seen their commercials and their price couldn’t be beat. However, I quickly realized that their economy plan was very limiting. I have another domain other than this one and I was interested in running them on the same hosting account. With this plan that isn’t possible. So I searched out FatWallet and found a solution. [Read more →]

Through the discussion forums on My Total Money Makeover, I learned about a great way to purchase food for our family. It is called Angel Food Ministries, and they have been around since 1994. I haven’t had a chance to order from them yet, but I am looking forward to doing it next month. They take orders through a local church near the beginning of the month, and then deliver the food to that church for pickup near the end of the month. Here is an description of what they do from their website: [Read more →]

We went to the second session of our FPU class last night. The topic for this week is cash flow planning — the dreaded “budget”. This word brings up some unpleasant thoughts for so many people. When you spend all of your money on paper, there is no question where it is going. Doing a budget airs dirty laundry, so to speak. [Read more →]

I often come across other blogs relating to debt, but this one really stood out. Joel Maxwell went into serious debt. Serious in the amount of $556,848. In little more than a year he has cut this number down to $365,568. When I read stories like his, I am really inspired by his courage and faith. If he can get out from under this monster, then I can get out from my measly $38,000.

Well, I looked at the checking account this morning and the tax refund arrived! Yay for us! I mean yay for the credit card companies that are about to get it!

If I were smart, then I would have set up my W-4 so that I had a minimal refund. Giving the government a interest free $3,700 loan is not smart money management. That money could have been put towards bills and debt during the year.

Oh, well, I now know better. But it feels really great knocking out 10% of your credit card debt in one fell swoop.

Lesa and I have had a joint checking account at Washington Mutual ever since we were married. I can’t really say I have any complaints about the bank, but I sure hate paying $7 every month for the “privilege” of storing my money there. [Read more →]

I hate budgeting. With a passion. So I had to find something that would work without being a total pain. I learned about the envelope system. [Read more →]