Here's to 2012

It has been SO LONG since I have managed to post something on here. My life has been a whirlwind as of late. Here's my year in review:

1. This summer, I had posted that I had paid off my Tech ring in full and couldn't wait to tackle my next debt. I started getting excited about my financial future this past February when I listed to Dave Ramsey's CDs that I borrowed from my parents' Financial Peace University. Dave Ramsey talks about getting mad a debt and living a debt-free life. He is a truly inspirational man, very enthusiastic, and I began to become enthusiastic as well. If you would like to learn more about Dave Ramsey and what he has to say, you can find out more here.

2. With my debt tackling underway, I decided I needed to get into couponing. What I have learned so far is that teaching full-time and going to grad school part-time leaves very little time for couponing. I am very thankful that I started this summer though, especially for the day-to-day things we use. As of right now, the only thing that has run out of my stockpile is shampoo and laundry detergent. Everything else (such as body wash, toothpaste, and deodorant) I still have stockpiles of. By doing this, I have more money in the miscellaneous category of my budget to spend on things I want, not just need.

3. I officially got accepted into grad school toward the end of August. It was a long struggle to get there, one that started way back in January, but I am hoping with all my heart that it will be worth it. This past semester was super busy (I only made 2 home football games and 1 tailgate, and for anyone that knows me, that truly is a big deal) but I managed to pull out an A and a B. Here's to going into the next semester with a 3.5 GPA! Woohoo!!

4. My old TV was a box. And when I say box, I mean a BOX. No flatscreens in this household! Eric and I had been looking at new TVs for what seemed like FOR-EV-ER. Yet, we were no closer to having one. Then *poof* Walmart had a fantastic deal for the start of school for a 40" Vizio LED. Like, better-than-black-Friday kind of deal. And I wanted it. What you might not know is that literally 1 month before, I had paid off my credit card. Yes, I worked my tail off during summer school and had succeeded. My credit card showed a blank, a zero, nil. But, now there was this TV and I really really really wanted it. And I convinced myself to get it, so I did. I love my TV very very very much. I love getting to watch DVDs and Blu-rays on it. But within a month, I had regretted it. My credit card had over $1000 on it again and I was mad at myself for giving into temptation. But, perhaps, it was for the best because it made me mad. MAD I TELL YOU!! So I decided that this was it, no more! EVER!

5. I told you that story to tell you this one. When I got mad, I decided Eric was going down with me. Trying to get debt free is like being on a diet; it does you no good when your significant other is eating (buying) so much goodness in front of you. So I saved up and spent the money to get the home edition of Financial Peace University for just Eric and I. It comes with DVDs & CDs that can be used at home or in the car. Eric listened to the CDs in his car in record time, and within about a week, he went from an "I want" kind of guy to an "I want to start saving for retirement" kind of guy. This could not have made me happier!!! But, I reminded him, that we needed to get out of debt as well as figure out how to pay for a wedding, and neither one of those would work too well unless we were in this together. and you know what, he was on board with me. It took us 3 months that were full of roadtrips, weddings, and family functions to get our Step 1 completed, but we did it!!! We just paid my credit card off in full last week, and I am now going to freeze that card so that we will never use it again!!! If you would like to see the Financial Peace University I bought for Eric and I, it can be found here.


For 2012, Eric and I have big plans for us, especially financially. Our hope is that by this time next year, we will have my car paid off in full and a good portion of our wedding paid for.

I hope that each and every one of you had a fantastic 2011 and here's to an even better New Year!!!