I have been binge watching The Chris Hogan Show on Youtube for the past week, and he keeps asking the question, "What was your wake-up call?"
The wake-up call he's talking about is realizing that you cannot continue living your life like this and you need to make a change! Honestly, I have had many wake-up calls, however the one that screams the loudest is a deeper look at our spending habits as a family. I was teaching my two girls that you can buy whatever you want with this plastic thing called a credit card.
THE BAD HABIT
This is going to be embarrassing, but I believe in accountability and maybe someone reading this blog will have a wake up call of their own.
My family and I, EAT. OUR. MONEY!
Our number one wealth building tool gets spent on restaurants and snacks. How often do you go out to eat? Really think about this. I wanted to make sure I got accurate data on this, so I printed out our bank statements, credit cards etc.
I added it up. I feel like throwing up. In January of 2020 we spent $1530.53 on restaurants, milk-tea, Starbucks, stripes tacos, gas station snacks.... Yeah you read that number correct, one thousand five hundred thirty dollars and fifty three cents.
It made me want to slap myself, slap my husband, and hide. Dave Ramsey tells us, personal finance is 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge. We are the problem! I 100% agree with him.
I got MAD. Mad at myself, mad at my upbringing in foster care, and mad at my understanding of money. Just plain ticked off!
We just hit Day 65 on our journey towards financial peace. (Yes I count them!) My word for the year is Self-Discipline. I journal daily on our spending habits and the struggle is real! I really just want to find that perfect milk tea recipe so I don't have to spend $4.60 per cup, sorry Kung Fu Tea, I miss you Mo!
BREAKING BAD HABITS
I wanted to compare and contrast January 2020 spending to January 2021 spending and Chris Hogan I am Pumped!
For January 2021 spending on restaurants and snacks I am happy to report is......
Drumroll Please!
$309.43!
That is a $1,221.10 difference and I am proud of us!
Hopefully this will push some folks out there to analyze their finances and set boundaries!
Love yourself enough to set boundaries, make this personal, you can do it.
Love Y'all, tomorrow is Day 66, let's do this!
A Letter to the Ramsey Team
(If anyone reads my little blog)
Sow The Financial Freedom Seed
Dear Dave Ramsey & Team,
Foster kids in America do not have the support system needed in order to understand the value of money and making it work for them. I know you all have a curriculum for high school students. I would love to see the program implemented in Child Protective Services in order to help empower foster kids to seek financial freedom! Help them win with money!
Thanks for Listening,
Eva Morgan
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