Well at least they are honest

Was I really dumb enough to buy not one or two, but multiple items from a place called Conns? At the start of this journey, Adam and I had 3 Conns accounts for various items. In the past we have purchased from them many times, the first was a 19” TV when I was 18. How exciting, my very first financed purchase on my own. So proud, I actually still have that TV, somewhere… I can’t say that Conns has been bad to me, but man if you don’t make the payment on or before the day it’s due when they open they are calling you nonstop all day. Seriously I have never been late with them in 10 years and I have purchased many items from them yet the feel it’s necessary to harass me the day a bill is due. That’s why they were #1 2 and 11 on our list. Not only because we have paid them down, but because just seeing that number come across my caller ID is enough for the nervous twitch in my eye to kick in. No I don’t want to set up a payment over the phone, I would like to go by the store wade through the used car salesman rejects and physically hand over my payment coupon and payment. I like that feeling. I love to have a receipt in my hand with the payoff; I don’t like being pressured into paying over the phone. We have one more account with them which was in the number 11 spot but has moved up to #1, and the payment was due yesterday, which I didn’t have time to pay on my way home from work. With the fear of the nonstop phone calls escalating, I ran in on my lunch break and paid three payments. HA! I was pleased with myself that I had outsmarted them and hadn’t even gotten one phone call, which was odd. Then as I was walking out, smug grin on my face, I remembered that they only have Adam’s cell for that account.

Houston we have a problem!

This past weekend, we decided that now is a good time to start working on things around the house to spruce it up. I wanted to paint the kitchen red and blue and off we went to the local home improvement store to get the supplies. Not only would this be a fun family project, but it would also keep us at home and busy instead of itching to run around. When we got to the store I paid with my debit card, well my son who is 6 saw and asked if I was paying off our debts, yes he has gotten on the payoff debt wagon too J. I told him yes that we still were on our family journey and that I was not paying with a credit card. He then asked how much were on credit cards, as in how much credit was on them, and I told him it could be different amounts hundreds or thousands of dollars. He then looked up at me and said WOW, I hope I get $1,000 on my credit card. YIKES!! That was a scary moment for me. I had to tell him that it was better to have no credit cards and to use your own money, that credit cards weren’t our money but other people’s that lend it to us and we have to pay back plus some. It’s hard to explain to a 6 year old, especially when they see their parent’s using debit cards and giving them gift cards. To them it’s all the same thing, a way to buy Pokemon cards.

Lord Give me the Strength

Tonight will be my first huge challenge. I have overcome the malls and the grocery stores and the kids saying "I want, I want", but tonight I go to the Houston Rodeo, which I have dubbed my favorite holiday. The food, the drinks, the candied apples, and cute children's clothing and the boots. Oh I LOVE cowboy boots. We are also taking the kids so I know they will want to ride the rides and be sucked in by the carnies to play the games. What do I do in times like these? maybe make a "rodeo" savings account like most people have "Christmas" savings accounts? Should I wear my hat and tip it low and let Adam guide me through all the shops?? Three years ago I got so excited about the rodeo I went out and bought a horse. yes a horse. I guess when I bought a the new car I heard horse power and wanted the real thing. I grew up riding horses so it wasn't so far fetched for me to want one and to introduce my children to them, but seriously I live in the burbs, a horse doesn't really fit in the back yard. Thank goodness I couldn't keep him that long because we had a hurricane on the way and I was so scared he might drown or something that I sold him. we were told that the hurricane was going to be as bad a Katrina so a horse drowning was a legitimate concern. it turned out to be a good thing that I sold him because we were without lights or water (i don't mean hot water, I mean we had no water period) for over 10 days, then I go back to work my boss has me get everything caught up then lays me off, eventually she ended up laying everyone off and starting over, so i couldn't take it that personally, but still kick me while I'm down why don't ya.
So back to tonight, the rodeo. I'm thinking envelope system? leave debit card at home? rely on the hubbys glares as I walk into the little shops to keep me from spending?  where pants so tight that I can't possibly enjoy the fried oreos and pickels? I have 5 hours to make a game plan. Wish me luck!

Be good little girls and boys and you will be Rewarded

I have found this to be true. Adam and I are sticking to the budget, throwing all extra money at the debt snowball, and any cash we have at the end of the day goes into a big water jug, and I know I saw a $5 and a $20 in there. Well today I get home and check the mail and to my surprise I have a bonus check in there from my old job. It was totally unexpected but nice, and it will save us a month on our debt snowball. I see it as a motivator and a blessing. I have found that God has a way of providing, and this is a prime example. I listen to Dave Ramsey's radio show every day now and hearing all of the people calling in with their stories and problems and they feel so down and out. It's sad to hear how many people have buried themselves, but it's so motivating to hear that for the most part he can take this problem that is literally consuming the caller's lives and make sense of it and offer options and solution. I can literaly feel the weight being lifted from them and I get a little bit of hope from each caller that my family can do this as well.