Money--Post Script

A couple of days ago, someone let me know that I sounded very haughty and angry in the post about family finances. The person said that I sounded like a know-it-all and was basically saying, "Oh, you stupid people." To the five or so people who see this blog, I apologize if I came across like that. It certainly was not how I wanted to sound or the point of the post. If I thought anyone was stupid, it was myself and John because of our past mistakes with money. Indeed, I do not think I know everything---it's amazing how little I know. What the post was meant to do was to share what dumb things we did in the past and what we have learned and are doing now.

I stand by my opinion that buying cars, homes, anything we can't afford is a bad idea. Perhaps, as we were, it is stupid. :)

Comments, whether positive or negative, are welcome. It keeps it real.

Money, Money, Money

Whenever I hear about newlywed couples financing new or newish used cars with the excuse of “we needed this”, I want to take them by their shoulders, shake them and yell, “Noooooooooooo!!!!!!!!” Early in our marriage John and I made this same mistake. We paid the stupid tax that Dave Ramsey talks about. People go buy a car that they can’t afford naively thinking that it is necessary. Truth is, it is not. There are very good and extremely safe used, inexpensive cars that can be bought for thousands and thousands less. Saddling oneself with a hefty car payment just does not make sense. We’ve learned (through mistakes) that this is true. We paid for four years on our Ford Explorer before selling it when we moved to Bremerton. Was the car fun to drive? Absolutely. Was it worth it? Absolutely not.

Now, I look at the old car(a stable and safe car) we drive as a badge of honor and wisdom gained. We have no car payments and no debt except the mortgage (we will have John’s school debt, which we plan to pay off ASAP).

Recently, I found out that my sister and brother and their families would be taking a trip to St. Louis at Easter. This is something I would love to do. This is something that I cannot do though, without having the money saved for a trip like this. No amount of coaxing or subtle guilt trips should persuade one into doing something that financially would cause a family instability. And we do not want to borrow money from family for a trip. When I have the cash—and I said CASH—no credit card charges, I will go in a couple of months.

I encourage all those sticking to a budget (a necessity) that you owe no apologies or explanations to anyone for the choices you make for the financial well-being of your family.

For great practical and common sense tips on getting out of debt, check out Dave Ramsey's site and his Seven Baby Steps.