May Totals Are In!!!

So, you could say this is a huge post for me. A milestone of sorts. I've been putting off blogging in general waiting ever so patiently for the day that I could say we had reached this little goal of mine. We are by NO means ready to call old Dave on Debt Free Friday and scream, "I'm Debt Freeee..." but friends, we are making progress and love helping others get started!!! Pardon me for being redundant, but if you are just tuning in for the first time you should take time to read through my first post here. We began Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover in January 2009. Now, just 17 months later I can proudly say we have paid off............. $40,156!!! Months and months of budgeting, saving, couponing, nickel-ing and dime-ing, saying 'no', not eating out, praying, crying, and being thankful are NOTHING compared to the joy of being able to write this blog and tell someone else, "I've been there. You can do it. Keep trying. Don't give up. I'm here for you."

I took my kids to the dentist yesterday. Before we stopped using credit cards I would have had that sick feeling in my stomach as I pulled out the Discover and chalked up another $400 bucks for fillings. It sounds silly, but I was actually excited to pay for it since we had budgeted it in and I knew I wouldn't be receiving a bill in the mail a few weeks from now. I can't imagine how free we will feel in the future when we have completed our debt snowball. I can hear y'all thinking, "Dang, Julie Brown! How much DO you owe?!" Haha! Well stick around...and you'll find out. I think I'm earning my bragging rights by foregoing my pedicures and tans all summer. Hmm...I wonder if could budget those in....???