• Book: “Super Red Racer” by Dave Ramsey

    This is one of Dave Ramsey’s kids books that the girls enjoy –  The Super Red Racer  The story is about a boy named Junior who really wanted a red bicycle.  He learned that by working hard for several weeks on a local farm rather than expecting his parents to just give it to him was a rewarding way to earn enough money to purchase the bike for himself.  The story carries a great lesson for children about working hard, earning money and patience.

    If you are trying to teach your children more about finances, including working hard to save so they can buy something big this is an excellent book.  Our girls have both read and listened to this story several times over the past few months.  It has helped encourage them to save more too!

  • CONGRATULATIONS to Our “More Than Enough” Book Winner!

    The name has been drawn for the giveaway!

    CONGRATULATIONS to

    Lynette

    for winning a

    “More Than Enough” by Dave Ramsey!

    Thanks for making a comment in honor of our Giveaway!

    An email has been sent to you with more information*

    Enjoy your new book!

    Don’t forget to enter our next Giveaway (the next giveaway will be announced later this morning)!

    *Giveaway must be claimed within 5 business days of the prize being announced.  Failure to claim the prize within the allotted time frame means you forfeit the prize.

  • Intentional Living: Weekly Goals

    The week started off with some one-on-one time with Jake and I as the girls returned to school followed by some fun family time together.  It is rare to have several hours at home alone with Jake so we spent some quiet time talking, relaxing, playing games and working on projects together.  Having those few hours together was refreshing which helped jump start our 2012 year.  I am ready to pick back up on speed with setting and following my goals, thanks for your encouragement and keeping me accountable.

    Here is the update on last weeks goals:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Spend extra time with my family while the girls are on Christmas Break!

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week – didn’t quite make it this week
    2. Listen to Dumping Debt by Dave Ramsey

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day

    Business Goals

    1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Pay off remaining debt – We made it, the final payments are being made on the last two items!  Now we can start working on saving for  our 3 month Emergency Fund

    Here are my goals for the upcoming week:

    Family Goals

    1. Spend 1-on-1 time with each child everyday
    2. Read a book to the girls everyday
    3. Have each girl read 1 book to myself or Jake 5 days this week
    4. Set up a Date Night for Jake & I and a Date Night for the Kids
    5. Thank You notes written and sent for the Christmas Gifts

    Personal Goals

    1. Exercise – walk at least 5 days this week
    2. Go to bed by 10:30 pm or earlier Monday to Thursday
    3. Finish reading The 60-Minute Money Workout by Ellie Kay
    4. Read and listen to the next section of  Desiring God: Finding Complete Satisfaction and Joy in God by John Piper (our church Community Group is going through this book together).

    Home Management Goals

    1. All laundry for the week washed, folded, and put away in one day
    2. Weekly Dinner Menu planned and written by Monday
    3. Spend 30 minutes every day picking up / cleaning the house
    4. Dinner ready by 5:30 PM (Monday through Thursday)
    5. Spend time re-organizing and de-cluttering the office

    Business Goals

    1. Pay all bills that come in the mail this week
    2. Work on ideas for upcoming blog posts
    3. Spend 10 minutes a day cleaning and organizing my desk
    4. Plan new implementations for blog
    5. Schedule client meetings at least 2 weeks in advance

    Ministry Goals

    1. Email our weekly Community Group update including upcoming events on the calendar, praises, and prayer requests
    2. Meet a friend or family member for Breakfast or Lunch
    3. Write and send out Meeting Notes from our January Alms & Legs Team Ministry meeting

    Financial Goals

    1. Stay within Budget on Groceries $40 for 4
    2. Emergency Fund – start saving 3 months worth of living expenses

    I think it is important to share and encourage each other as we seek to improve our lives and the lives of those around us.  I want to live intentionally not just hope all my dreams and goals come true.  When I focus on small steps of improvement I am able to see results as I get closer to my goals.  Some weeks I get closer to the goals I have in my life and other weeks a take a few steps back (life happens, emergencies occur, people get sick).  Once the goals are written down and shared it provides a guideline for what I aim to accomplish this week.

    Why Share My Goals?

    • To keep me accountable
    • To share a piece of my life with you as I strive to be a better Child of God, Wife, Mom, Friend, Homemaker, Entrepreneur and the many other roles I have each week
    • To have my goals consistently written down so I can gauge progress more accurately
    • Create healthy habits in my life
    • To encourage you to share your goals with me as you continue to grown and learn

    How did you do this week on your goals?  Feel free to share or link to your list of weekly goals.

    The picture above is one that I created for my own purposes, however, The “SMART” acronym was originally coined 30 years ago by Peter Drucker in his classic work, Management by Results

  • Gift Giving: “The Graduates Survival Guide” by Rachel Cruze (Dave Ramsey)

    Do you have a family member or friend who is graduating from High School this year?  Are you looking for a unique gift for a reasonable price to give them that can help for many years?  You can order “The Graduates Survival Guide” for $19.95 on Dave Ramsey’s website.

    “The Graduates Survival Guide” includes:

    • Quick Reference Book (132 pages) – Question & Answer Format that includes information and resources about:
    1. Balancing a Checkbook
    2. Credit Cards
    3. Debt
    4. Part-Time Jobs
    5. Collision and Liability Insurance
    6. Student Loans
    7. Giving
    8. Compound Interest
    9. Saving
    10. And Many More Valuable Resources
    • 4 Track DVD – information and discussion on college topics:
    1. College Life
    2. Marketing & Debt
    3. Practical Saving
    4. Navigating Academic – schedules, classes, internships, and goals.
    5. And More!
    • Commemorative Gift Case – that holds all the goodies for your graduate

    Description:

    “The Graduates Survival Guide” is designed to prepare graduating seniors for college.  Rachel Cruze’s “The Graduates Survival Guide” is for graduating High School Students as they step into the next phase of their life as a freshman in college.  The guide is humorous and informative.  The DVD about college life has helpful tips and stories (regarding schedules, finances, eating out, college life, roommates, and more) from Rachel Cruze, Christy Brown and Jon Acuff.  

    More about Rachel Cruze:

    Rachel Cruze was taught the basic principles of money at an early age.  She is part of Dave Ramsey’s team and has traveled across the country to speak to young adults at high schools, colleges and youth conferences about finances.   Some of the topics she discusses with teenagers is how to budget, save for cars & college, and giving.

  • Book: “The Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey

    Seven years ago my husband and I read through The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness by Dave Ramsey with a group of young couples from our church.  It was a great time in our marriage to review our spending habits and find ways to get our finances in order.  In just a few years we paid off all our debt (with the exception of our mortgage) college loans, cars, credit cards, and saved up enough money for emergencies, 12 months of expenses, and to start our own business.

    It was freeing for us as a couple to have structure with our money including doing a budget together and being smarter when spending.  It took some sacrifices to meet our goals but reading this book and going through it with friends helped us stay on track.  We are still learning and adapting as we adjust to what life brings are way (including some financial setbacks, 12 weeks of bed-rest and beautiful twin daughters who spent time in NICU).  The neat part about the setbacks is you now have guidelines already in place to help you get back on track.

    Dave Ramsey’s has a lot of great financial tools for your family.  I encourage you to start by reading or listening to this book.  He has a Workbook that goes along with the book and a CD if you prefer listening over reading.

    Workbook – The Total Money Makeover Workbook.

    Audio Cd – The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness

    I wish you the best as you find ways that work for your family!  Going through this with friends provides an additional support structure while you learn together.  We have given our book out to family and friends numerous times!