We did a thing... {Dave Ramsey Update}

 As many of you may already know we are big Dave Ramsey people. In a post from last year {almost 1 year exactly} we paid off all our debt. It was probably the millionth time we had paid off our credit card. We paid off a personal loan. We then moved on to putting money away for an emergency fund. Dave Ramsey calls for $1,000 for emergencies right off the bat. Then move onto saving up 3-6 months of expenses for emergencies. If you don't have job stability it's best to save up the 6 months expenses. That's all the money you NEED to survive if you were to lose your job. Thankfully with the army the hubby's job is secure enough that we did the 3 months plus the $1,000 emergency fund. 

Once that was all done we started work on our new goal. A new car for yours truly. There wasn't anything majorly wrong with my old one. It was in fact old and things were slowly falling apart and not working well anymore. We needed an upgrade, badly. After listening to many Dave Ramsey podcasts and binging Financial peace University we were confident that we were going to save up the money and buy a new {used} car in cash. 

We had told a lot of our family and friends that we were doing this. Not to brag or anything. Just so they could go along on this journey with us. Rooting us on from the sidelines and celebrating with us when it came down to get the car. 

We picked up doordashing on the side. Thankfully it was very lucrative during the quarantine and we were able to move our timeline up.. A LOT! Our plan originally was save as much as we could and by next February tax refund time we could get a new car. We decided on a budget and went hardcore. We were out almost every single day delivering food to hungry people. Some of them not so nice. But we did it! We even brought the kids along a lot of the time and they absolutely hated it. But they saw their parents hustling for a goal. It was a teachable moment for sure. Between the stimulus money, money from our move, saving from our paycheck and supplementing our income with delivering food we moved our timeline up 8 whole months!!

I still can't believe we did it. I still can't believe this shiny new car is sitting in my garage. 

Dave Ramsey also had some helpful tips on buying used cars and negotiating with dealerships. Our first test run didn't go so well. We ended up walking away. We got what they call "sticker shock". Not realizing the crazy taxes and dealer fees that get added on to the price. We felt defeated and almost didn't want to look again. We put it off for another week. We kept doordashing in the mean time just in case we needed to up our original budget. We went back to the drawing board and researched the car we wanted in our vicinity. There was this particular car from the beginning that had been hanging around the AUDI dealership. It wasn't my first choice because it's a 2016 and I wanted something a little newer. Did you know the value of a new vehicle can drop by more than 20 percent after the first 12 months of ownership. Then, for the next four years, you can expect your car to lose roughly 10 percent of its value annually.

NEVER BUY NEW! Unless you are rich and can do what you want I guess. 

But for us small town folk. It's a pretty ridiculous notion. 

We walked in and asked for this car specifically. They brought it around we test drove it and we practiced our negotiation skills in the car on the way over. We knew what he would say and we knew what we were going to say. They gave us their first offer and we declined. We told them another number and he went in the back {wherever they go} to work on the numbers. 

He came back right at our budget "out the door" all taxes included. It even has a 2 year warranty on it and we treated way better at the dealership then the other one. 

Then I pulled out my checkbook and wrote the biggest check of my life. 

It can be done folks! You can work hard, save and be patient and buy a car in cash. You don't have to have car payments. As much as anyone will try and tell you to finance. 

You don't HAVE to be in debt!

The kids can't wait to ride in it. We haven't let them yet. I'm afraid to get it dirty.

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.

Conversations with an 8 year old

 

 

 

 

Riley: Caleb just farted!

Grandma: Yeah that's what babies do.

Riley: He just farted on the way out {grossed out face}

Putting up canopy in her room.

Riley: I'm just going to watch the professionals 

Grandma orders two small sides for dinner

They bring food to table

Riley to Grandma: Where's your real food?

Walks into kitchen with Pj's and cowgirl hat doll dressed the same 

Riley points to doll: It was her idea!

Conversations with an 8 year old

{Standing outside of back door staring inside.} 

Mommy: what are you doing?

Riley: we want to watch

Mommy: why?

Riley: you’re such a good singer!

Mommy: haha thank you.

Riley: you’re so awesome!

Mommy: {laughing}

Riley:....but you laugh funny

Little brother starts having a fit because he doesn’t want to sit next to Riley

“He’s so dramatic”



Little brother shaking his head around at table

Mommy: He doesn’t need a haircut. 

Riley: Yeah he's got flowing locks!

Conversations with an 8 year old

                              

Mommy: What's that smell?

Uncle: It's outside! Oh that's horrible!

Riley: It's the smell of nature so deal with it.

 Riley: Wouldn't it be cool to jump on top of a car? I think it would.

Mommy: While it's moving?

Riley: No....

Mommy: Just sitting still then?

{Driving up to Starbucks drive thru and sees long line}

Riley: Are you sure you want to do this ?


{Getting nails done and Grandma decides to get gel and it takes longer.}

Riley: Why does Grandma have to be so fancy and take a long time?


{Thunderstorm}

Riley: Did you hear the precious sound of thunder? The rain is precious.


{Little brother jumping from coffee table to couch. Riley catches him mid-jump}

Riley: I caught him! I popped the weasel!

Nashville you stole my heart.. {part 1}

So this summer I did a lot of traveling. I guess moving from Hawaii back to the mainland wasn't crazy enough for me. I wanted to add more to my plate. I planned a birthday trip with my friend to Nashville. I like to come up with crazy ideas and love planning them out. A girls weekend in Nashville seemed pretty crazy to throw into the moving mix. It was totally worth it though.

I went before we moved to Hawaii and got hooked. We barely had any time to explore or do touristy type things. This was the perfect opportunity to do just that.

Day 1: First stop was Broadway! We at at Acme Feed & Seed again which was really good. Of course it was pouring rain by the time we left. We ran with everyone to the nearest gift shop to buy umbrellas and ugly plastic cover ups. You know the ones...basically going around Nashville in a trash bag. The rest of the night was going back on forth across broadway. We listened to all the different bands all night, met new people had a blast. We even found the Coyote Ugly bar....nothing like the movie, ....well maybe a little. It could've used some more Piper Perabo. 

Day 2: Went to the Johnny Cash museum again. I had to show Amber she's a Johnny Cash fun. I think it's a pretty fun museum. Last time I went though they had a separate room to watch old concert/tour footage. They took it out and replaced it with a green screen and a photo op with "Johnny Cash". I like the concert footage better the idea of posing with Johnny Cash was a little creepy. Then across the street to the GOO GOO shop which we didn't get to go to last time. However it was where Kim Kardashian was parked last time so maybe that's why. She was in the way of the chocolatey goodness! Then we had lunch at Merchants Restaurant. That place is really awesome loved all the black and white. All the bartenders had beards and mustaches it was great!

Conversations with a seven year old

Riley: I think I want to live alone 

Mommy: You never want to get married ? Why not ? 

Riley: Because it's boring 

Mommy: Boring ? Is that what it seems like it 

Riley: It's like sitting in a Dr's office for a long time 

It's just boring.

.....later that day

Riley: Why do you have to share a counter with daddy 

Mommy: Because we're married.
Is that why you don't want to get married because you have to share

Riley: Yeah 

Mommy: Do daddy's feet stink ?

Riley: {Smells feet} They smell like a vacuum cleaner with rotten eggs in it.

Mommy: Did your grandma call us or did you call her?

Riley: I don't know I'm not an expert in phones 

Daddy:Help me with this creed

::Reads the fiddlers green:: 
 

Mommy: This is a little depressing 

Daddy: Not for a soldier

Riley: I didn't understand one bit 

Family Pictures 2016

I know we just took family pictures last summer in Nashville but we had to do it again. I don't know if you know this but babies grow fast. They are like completely different people now. There's so much personality and sassiness. Not to mention the cuteness!

We found our lovely photographer on IG @sunnyjunebug and had a blast. 

Here are just a few of our favorites

All Photos by Sunny of sunnygoldenphoto.com