Dave Ramsey Update {The Importance of an Emergency Fund}

 

Hey guys! You didn't think my last post about buying a car would be the end of our Dave Ramsey journey? I wouldn't leave you guys hanging like that. So I decided to do a follow up post so you wouldn't feel alone out there with your financial struggles or even financial successes. Having people in it with you, and supporting you is so important. As I have posted before 2020 was insane to say the least. I know everyone has had their different financial situations. Which is why I wanted to dedicate a specific post to the importance in having an Emergency fund. I think everyone can either say "I wish I had had an emergency savings." Or "I'm so glad we had an emergency fund." After this last year kicking us right in the butt. Parents being forced to work from home and basically home school their kids. People losing their jobs and their businesses. It amazes me on what is still standing and it saddens me the local businesses we lost. Thankfully we fell under the category of "I'm so glad that we had an emergency fund." Not because of loss of a job. But for two important reasons. 

Reason 1: 

The world did not stop moving we still had financial emergencies come up in 2020. We have now lived with no credit cards for about a year and a half. Any major or minor emergency is going to be coming out of that emergency fund. That way we are not still owing someone after our financial emergency like we would if we would've on a credit card. 

It felt like a lot of emergencies too. Annoying as they were we still made it work and we just go back to rebuilding it afterward. We PAY OURSELVES BACK not a bank, or credit card.

2020 financial emergencies

April: Car Maintenance $636.74

May: Locksmith $184

{freak incident where the lock mechanism broke on a bedroom door and wouldn't open}

June: Plane tickets for a funeral. $473.92

Washer broke got a new set. $1423.96

Dec: Transmission $4909.67

{Ended the year with a new transmission}

TOTAL= $7628.29

In just emergencies alone. I couldn't imagine having to deal with loss of job, unemployment, etc.

Even now that I totaled it all out seems so insane that we managed to do all that without using a credit card.

Reason 2:

With our financial freedom we were able to help and give to others. Tithing to our home church not only  helped pay the staff but was used to help others in the community who were having financial hardships. We supported local businesses in the area. Supported friends small businesses financially by buying their product etc. I also had a new years goal last year to give everyone a birthday and Christmas present for 2020 and I did that successfully. {I'm big on birthdays}

 

Emergency fund should be $1000 at the minimum and 3-6 months expenses (i.e electric, water, groceries bills etc.

Ways to earn extra money to fund your Emergency fund

We didn't just rely on my husbands income from his main job. We also did a lot of side hustles. 

These are the ones we have used and we always finding more.

DoorDash driver

{A great way to earn money by delivering groceries, food etc}

Shopkick {Scanning, shopping}: 

{I've been using this one for a few years now and it has helped fund a lot of things}

USE CODE: EARN642480

MyPoints  {Surveys and shopping}

https://www.mypoints.com?rb=71146176 

 Fetch {Shopping/scan receipts}: 

USE CODE: DJ69T

Home is where the heart is {Guest Feature}

One day I had an idea. While I love home decor and I love giving home tours of each houses we've lived in. I've been slacking for the last few years. I thought to myself while I was visiting a friends home recently. I'm always complimenting friends on their home decor. I have a handful of friends who just have amazing homes. They always find random things from thrift stores, yard sales, even the side of the road. They bring it home polish it up and make fit so nicely into their home. Not only have I been inspired by their homes and their unique ideas. I was inspired to do guest featured posts about their homes on the blog. My first featured friend is Jessica. I first met Jessica in a women's bible study and I later took Christmas photos for her of her sweet daughters. I loved how she found unique pieces for her home. I knew she was going to be one of the friends that I asked. 

I hope you are inspired as much as I have been.

 

Jessica used this clever way to camouflage her electrical chords from her TV.

Jessica got water color pictures done of all their previous homes. Then paired them with these inexpensive white frames from Wal-Mart. An awesome and unique way to personalize your home decor.

 KITCHEN & DINING

Army Wife Deployment Checklist

I've been an Army wife for about 12 years now but have been lucky enough to have gone through one deployment since being married. But I have been through my fair share of long absences. Three 4-6 week long ones this last year and we are coming upon a longer deployment. 

So I thought I would put together a little deployment survival list. These are just some things I've done or plan on doing to get through the time apart. It is so hard even more now with kids and you need those extra little things to make it a little easier!

ENTERTAINMENT 

Netflix/Hulu Subscription to binge on.
{Just waste time and plow through those shows.}

::Bingeworthy shows::
Stranger things
New Girl
Xfiles
Friends...of course

Movie nights/Game nights with friends or your kids

Books
Use that Library card so you don't have to buy books.
E-books/Audible Books
Podcasts
{These are super fun because you just subscribe on your phone and listen very little effort put in}

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

At home spa
{great to do if you have a daughter or have kids and can't get a babysitter}
Facial masks
Bubble bath
{with candles, little debbie cakes my personal fave, candles}
Caddy Tray  link {perfect for combining the entertainment and pampering yourself}

Dessert for one:
Microwavable cakes or pie for one
Low calorie ice cream like Halo {peanut butter chocolate is my fave}
Bark thins

Gym Membership:

Keeps you busy and keeps you healthy.
If you have kids make sure it has childcare.


HOME 

Paper goods so you don't have to do dishes all the time.

Cleaning lady
{If not all the time have them come once or twice a month for a deep cleaning. If you play your cards right you might not have to touch those toilets for the whole deployment}

OR if cleaning is your thing then you just go to town!

PROJECTS

DIY projects
{I have a lot of furniture to redo:}
China cabinet
bench
dresser
several chairs

BABYSITTER

This one is important for your mental health honestly.
Mommys' need those breaks even if its just to go grocery shopping by yourself.


WEEKEND ADVENTURES
w/kids

Trampoline parks
Laser Tag
Roller skating
Theme park
mini golf
Bowling
Theme/water park

GETAWAY ADVENTURES

Road trips
Visit family out of state
One adventure a month that your spouse is gone

HOBBIES

Photography
Learn an instrument
Learn a different language
Volunteer somewhere

Conversations with an eight year old

Riley: lalala sing a happy song

Mommy to Caleb: She's singing a happy song

Riley: It's from The Smurfs don't judge me.

Brings Caleb to play in her room

Riley to Mommy: You can have peace and quiet now my dear

Mommy: Riley don't sit on your brother.

Riley: ugghhh I sit on him because he's my chair 

{Face swapping on snapchat}

Riley: Can I do an old face?

Mommy: {looks through pictures} I don't have an old face.

Riley: Your face.....

Conversations with an eight year old

Riley: I tried to wait for you mommy but my tummy said "eat, eat, eat"

Mommy: Mommy needs a break

Riley: She means she doesn't want to take care of the crazy children.

{Going shopping}

Mommy: Riley I need to use your gift card.

Riley: Toys R us is also available. 

{Listening to her ipod before going to bed}

Riley: I put "All of me" on. That's a sleepy song.

{Watching an Aurora Teagarden movie}

Riley: Someone threw a body out of an airplane? How terrible. Must've hurt.

Mommy: Probably. 

Riley: Mommy sometimes I can't believe this is real life.

Mommy: You watching too much tv?

Riley: Yeah. 

{Riley finishing last few bites of dinner}

Mommy: Come on you can do it! I believe in you.

Riley: I believe I can. I believe I can fly. 

Mommy: Ok R. Kelly. 

Riley: Huh?

Conversations with an eight year old

{Brother annoying her}

Riley: He keeps yelling at me and I don't want to deal with it. 

{Starts clapping from across the room}

Mommy: Thank you Riley

Riley: I don't even know what we are clapping for.

Riley to Grandma: Mom said you had hot chocolate. Do you have marshmallows?

Grandma: No

Riley: Of course you don't.

{Sits on mommy}

Riley: You want a massage or something?

Mommy: I did just have a 2 hour massage.

{Starts chopping my back}

Mommy: Actually he didn't massage my head you can do that. 

{starts scratching my head}

Riley: You have sand in your hair.

Mommy: hahahahah that's dandruff

Mommy: What's daddy doing?

Riley: He's on the computer 

Mommy: What's he doing on there?

Riley: Either the bank or sports they both look the same.

Conversations with an eight year old

Riley: Faith is homeschooled

Mommy: I know they are all homeschooled

Riley: I want to be homeschooled you already teach me so much !

Mommy: What's that in your pocket?

Riley: A card

Mommy: haha 

Riley: I TAKE ALL THE CARDS HAHAH!

Mommy: why? 

Riley: Because they are free!

{Come home to mail box messed up }

Riley: I got good news and bad news

Mommy: What's the bad news?

Riley: It's bent and wobbly and won't close.

Mommy: What's the good news?

Riley: We have mail!

{cutting tags off package}

Mommy: Here let me do it.

Riley: I want to do it so i can show you I'm a big girl !

Riley: Can I watch a show?

Mommy: Yeah. {changes channel}You don't need to be watching Vampire diaries.

Riley: Whatever I'm not interested anyway.

Scotland Day 2

Day 2

We booked the Glenfinnan, Mallaig and Jacobite Steam train tour via Discover Tours. I was so excited because I never realized that there were a few Harry Potter locations filmed in Scotland. To be honest I was horrible in Geography and didn't realize Scotland was so close to England. I know ...horrible! We started off in George Square in Glasgow. That's where a lot of the tours pick you up at. Very convenient once we got the hang of it. It wasn't too far from our hotel either. We drove north passing Loch Lomond with a short stop in Tyndrum. Then up to Glencoe which was used in Skyfall and Harry Potter. Going to film locations for me is just as awesome as going to movie or tv show sets. I absolutely love it! It's like those stories really come to life for me.

But we also didn't realize that Glenfinnan was where the Jacobite Rising started in 1745 with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Which I would've never known if we hadn't been huge fans of Outlander. 

The monument there is to remember the historic event. 

Next we went to the Mallaig train station where we were to ride the Jacobite steam train back. The famous tracks are used in Harry Potter as well for the Hogwarts express. I was totally geeking out hardcore. I love riding trains! Usually at night because they rock me to sleep like a baby. We made some friends on this tour so it was fun to talk about Harry Potter and Outlander on the ride.

We ended the tour at the Drovers Inn which is said to be haunted. So, I am glad we were only staying for a little bit. But apparently a little girl died there and people say they see her ghost. It was really old and dark but still awesome to see such an old place still in working condition. It was like traveling back in time. I was busy taking artsy pictures around the property and realized I was missing my husband. Eventually I found him in the restaurant already sipping away at his guinness beer alone at a booth. Typical.

 Our last stop was a potty/picture taking break. Somewhere by Loch Lommond. Of course I didn't think to take down the name of this awesome looking castle. It could be a hotel or estate. I'm not really sure. My husband insisted on taking his shoes off to put his feet in the water. It's like his weird little tradition to put his feet in the ocean, lake,... puddle any body of water in different states or countries that we go to. He even got our new buddy David to do it with him. Fun little memories. He makes me laugh. If you know what the name of this place is please let me know. I can't stand when a mystery goes unsolved.