New Dishwasher, Thanks to Dave Ramsey

We've been listening to Dave Ramsey for two years now, and trying our best to get out of debt and spend wisely and save our money. Check out his website here. Dave's plan is pretty simple, using seven steps to get you on the right track.

7 Steps:

		$1,000 to start an Emergency Fund
		Pay off all debt using the Debt Snowball
		3 to 6 months of expenses in savings
		Invest 15% of household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement
		College funding for children
		Pay off home early
		Build wealth and give! Invest in mutual funds and real estate

It's important not to think the steps must be done at once. He explains how each step builds on the discipline and financial breathing room from the ones that go before it. I just can't recommend Dave Ramsey enough, and I think he's really preaching something people need to hear. I keep thinking what our economy would be like if everyone didn't rely on debt and the credit industry. Consumers probably buy a bit less, but it would be with money that was their OWN.

Thanks to Dave, we had our $1000 emergency fund in place, and were in the process of paying down our debt. We have paid off our two smaller credit cards in the last six months, and now only owe Lowe's and Home Depot. I really can't think of money that gave me more joy than sending the payoff amount to a card and thinking, "Now they can kiss it!"

Anyway, yesterday our dishwasher gave up the ghost. Toby checked it out, and it could not be fixed. So last night we loaded the kids in the van, drove to Joplin, compared prices, and bought a new one. The great thing is that this was an inconvenience, but not a disaster. We'll just put all our efforts and extra cash back into the emergency fund, then go back to serious debt reduction. By the way, I know a dishwasher isn't a necessity, but we barely keep up with the dishes as it is, so it's either sew less or have a dishwasher.



I talked to my friend Lucy last night, and when I told her about the dishwasher, she reminded me how broke and unhappy we were two years ago. We've changed a lot of things since then. We now work with Michelle, making bodices full-time. Our income is better and more stable than it was when Toby worked construction. Toby and I get to spend the days together doing something that is getting our family on the right track financially. Things aren't perfect, but they are getting better. It's so awesome to see that doing the right thing pays off sometimes.