Several people have asked me how I paid off my debt so quickly, and honestly it wasn't difficult. The first thing you've gotta do is set a B U D G E T.
Ugly word, I know. It's 6 letters, but it might as well be 4. Seriously, when I sat down and looked at where my money was going, it was disgusting. SO much wasted cash on stupid stuff!
If you have a budget, I tip my imaginary hat to you, my friend. Dave Ramsey and I think you're awesome and we'll all be living the phat life when we're 60. Mad props to us.
If you don't have a budget (Anyone else smell a challenge coming on!?) it's time you get one. It's past time, in fact. If you're thinking, "Pshh, this chick is nuts. I don't have any money as it is, what good is a stupid budget going to do?". Then I highly suggest you take a peek at what you spent your moulah on in the last 30 days. If you're anything like me, way [I'm talkin' WAAAAY] more went to shopping, eating out and general crap, than went into savings.
I did my budget the easy way, but Dave (we're so tight we're on a first name basis, yo) has some bomb-diggity forms on his website for you to use as well. Check 'em out here.
For me, it was easier to just put my info into an Excel sheet since I don't have a crap ton of expenses right now. I put all my bills in one column, with the due date of each in the column next to it. Then, I put them in due date order so I could split the budget in half. You know, cuz I get paid twice a month... Now I know what bills I've gotta pay out of each check. I also then know exactly how much goes into savings (pay yourself first!), grocery money for that 2 week period, tithes, spending money, etc. If there's any left over from any "section" of my budget (every penny goes into a section), I will use it somewhere else. Typically something fun for me and the H-Bomb to have or do.
That's all there is to it! Adjust the budget monthly, for the first few months, as you get the feel for what you're actually spending on NECESSITIES. Remember, when you're 60 and unable to retire, you're really going to wish you'd passed on that $300 shopping spree or new toy and put that money into your savings/roth/401K. Just sayin'...
If you have a budget, toot your own horn in the comments! If not, let me know if you're taking my challenge so I can harass you about it in a month and see your progress. :)
