Family

Budget Power

My wife and I sat down to do our May budget.

Here’s how the conversation went:

Me: So, how much do you need for kids’ clothes this month…
Her: Oh, about 100 bucks…
Me: Cool. What about groceries/food?
Her: Maybe 500/600 dollars…
Me: Sounds about right. Let’s see, that’s 150 for electricity, 65 for cable, 100 for phones…
Her: Oh yeah, I’ll need a few extra dollars for next weekend…
Me: Say…50 bucks? And I’ll need about 50 for golf this Saturday, is that cool?
Her: Sounds great…
Etc. Etc. Etc.

We talked through each bill, each situation, each event…

Notice what we never, ever had to talk about? DEBT!!! Credit Cards!!! Auto Loans!!!

Why? Because, we are debt free, and when you are debt free, your conversations about money take on a brand new TONE. Why? Because, you are talking about how you are going to spend, save, and give away your money, NOT how much you are going to give to the finance company, the credit company, or the bank.

In other words, you plan for your FUTURE, instead of paying for your PAST!!!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, there is nothing like looking at your paycheck and realizing that you can do “whatever” you want to do with the money. Spend some? Check. Save some? Check. Give some? Check. Freedom, baby, freedom.

If it feels this awesome JUST to be debt free, I can only imagine how awesome it will feel to have a fully funded emergency fund, 15 percent going to retirement, and college savings stashed away for our two kids. It’s gonna be SWEET. And, it’s only a few (months, years) away!!! Yes! This “planning for your future and telling your money what to do” is awesome! You really should try it. Are you up to you eyeballs in debt? Do you just love your rewards mastercard b/c it “makes” you money each month? Do you fantasize about that new car a zero percent? Wake up, my friend!!! If you spend just ONE DAY debt free, I don’t think you’ll ever want to borrow money again. I dare you to try. I dare you to try to get debt free, stay debt free, and live debt free. I double-dog dare you. Stop making the bankers, finance people, and credit card companies rich. You deserve to prosper.

Make a plan, stick to the plan, use the plan, work the plan, live the plan, enjoy the plan…

And then sit back and watch “Twenty-Four” with your wife with a smile on you face because the two of you don’t fight about money any more. This stuff rules.