I am a big fan of Dave Ramsey and his advice. I listen to him for years but never really got on the band wagon or followed through with what he said. It was to0 hard I thought. Truth is I did not want to change my ways. I did not want to give up buying anything I wanted, going any where I wanted. The debt grew and grew.
That all changed a little over a year ago. The roof fell in on my money house and hubby and I had to change the way we viewed our money.
We got rid of the credit cards and went on a cash system. We set up a budget and wrote it down. Hubby puts it in his excel program but I want it on a yellow tablet. I want to see it and feel it. We followed this budget day by day and that feels good.
We had decided to move back home to Minnesota. That cost us our savings but we are home with family and that makes it all okay.
Now we have to get back to the basics. Pinching Penny's until we get settled and start bringing in the extra $. We need to build up our $1,000 cushion fund and then work on paying off our van as fast as possible.
Yesterday I got another email from Dave Ramsey and thought it was a great reminder to get back to do what is necessary.
The following is from Dave Ramsey.. enjoy and hope that something helps you.

Wherever you are right now, these four tips will help you make your money—and Dave's advice—work for you!
Write it down: Dave is a big fan of writing down your goals. He talks and writes about it often. There's just something about writing things down that adds power and tangibility to them. A dream is just a dream until you write it down ... then, it's a goal! When it comes to budgeting, give every dollar a name by spending it on paper, on purpose before the month begins. And remember, the dullest pencil is sharper than the sharpest memory!
Start Small: You know how to eat an elephant, right? One bite at a time! It's like losing weight or getting in shape. If you try big, crazy, extreme plans or diets, you're setting yourself up for disappointment. Don't try to take shortcuts. Get on a plan that works, and stick to it. That's what Dave's seven Baby Steps are all about: adjusting your position a little bit at a time until you've completely turned things around.
Get Intense! You've got to get wired up and fired up about where you want to go! Do what it takes to keep yourself motivated, whether it's listening to people scream "We're debt freeeee!" on Debt-Free Fridays, reading powerful success stories, or making stuff with cut-up pieces of your credit cards. Continually think about why you're doing what you're doing. One way to do that is to keep a photo of your loved ones in your checkbook or envelope system, and remind yourself: I'm changing my family tree for them.
Get Support: Personal finance is only 20% head knowledge. It's 80% behavior change. That will make all the difference! That's why it's important to surround yourself with people who have the same goals, so you get the support and accountability you really need. There are thousands of Financial Peace University classes starting all over the nation. Take the step to get plugged into a community of support and encouragement that's a whole lot of fun for all involved. Find a Financial Peace University class in your area. You can attend the first lesson for free! Connecting with our new FPU Facebook page is another great way to get daily motivation to work your way through the Baby Steps! As the season changes, it's your chance to give yourself a fresh start! Good intentions won't change anything, but intentional action will do wonders. Jump in with both feet, and start doing the little things that make a big difference in your life! If you're new to all of this motivational talk and just want a way to get your head around the idea of looking at money differently, why not start at the beginning with Dave's best-selling book, The Total Money Makeover. Another great resource is Dave's Starter Special, an exclusive special for newsletter subscribers.
Thanks for stopping by... and Never Under Estimate The Value Of A Small Amount Of Money.. Grace