The Debt-Free Family: 2012

It's not that nothing exciting has happened in the last 6 months, I've just been too busy enjoying it I forgot to share! We love posting about all Ethan can do, but for the next few months we need to be motivated to kick our last 3 student loans out of our lives! I was inspired to make an envelope for every $1,000 we are still in debt this week. In each envelope is a note card with an encouraging word, fun activity, or scripture verse. Some of the activities are absolutely free others will cost a little money to do. I figure it will motivate us all the more to keep going. By the time we open some of the envelopes I will probably forget what I wrote, so it's a surprise for me too! We have been paying off debt faithfully for 3 years now and I would love to be completely debt free in 2 more years. Enter the Tortoise and the Hare!! We are so proud to be the tortoise!
In January 2009, we took Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University Class and we woke up to the situation we were in and found the tools to do something about it in our 2nd year of marriage. Many of the couples in the class with us were older and change was going to be a huge challenge for them. We weren't set in any financial ways yet. So glad we are now Dave Ramsey poster children and can testify to Biblical finance everyday of the week!

In January 2009, we were in debt $56,000. We thankfully didn't own a house to add to that amount. In the last 3 years we have paid off $24,000. Mathematically, we should only owe $32,000 now right? Nope, interest loves our company so we have $35,000 at least to pay off. We're hoping to change our relationship with interest someday to make it work with us, not against us! Whew- there is a lot of shame with debt, it's hard to share the amount without feeling like I need to justify it. I am not proud of it, that's why it has to go!

Here is where we keep all of the envelopes $2,000-$35,000

We've had this cute little locked box for a few years and we always tell people that it's where we keep Chris' gallbladder, now we have a better story! :)

Here's the first envelope. If you can't see, we have already made a $508.66 payment and we are already halfway to opening it. Are you excited to see what is inside??? So are we! :)