The Smiling Stewarts

I am so excited! The only debt we have is our mortage! It has taken us about 3 years to pay off about $50,000. That number just makes me sick to see it...but it is gone! I always thought we were doing okay with finances through out our marriage.

It wasn't liked we lived on credit cards--but we did use them occasionally. I always justified that our income wasn't quite enough & the little we put on the credit card was just until our income went up. Our first year of marriage I think our income for that year was only like $12,000....so surely $3-4,000 in credit card debt would be easy to pay off when that income went up (meaning when we were done with school)......then we played the "shifting" of our debts to make us think we'd paid them off.....so we decided to get out a student loan to pay for our credit card debt---better interest rate & tax deductable.......what a way to make a debt last longer in reality!

So as you see, we didn't really make good financial decisions along the way. I think I vowed to be credit card debt free several times---& we have been credit card debt free a few times in the last 11 years.....the only difference was that our student loans just kept increasing.....& somehow, we still used credit cards & racked up more credit card debt.

I remember getting so frustrated because we wouldn't use our credit card for 8 or 9 months, & then we'd somehow justify using them & before you know it in just 2-3 months time we were yet again in about $5,000 worth of debt. (It's amazing how much money you can spend when it is on a credit card!)

So 3 years ago practically to the date, we hadn't used our credit cards for almost a year, we had got our credit card debt down to just 1 card around $5,000......when we decided with company coming to visit we "needed" a trampoline, a futon couch, & food, so we justified using our credit card for those purchases & then the card was in my wallet & before you know it I had decorated our bathroom, bought new bedding for Andy & me (& I have to say I do love it....even though I shouldn't have bought it!)....not to mention whatever else I bought & used my credit card because I didn't want to worry about balancing my checkbook or overdrafting my checking account......

3 months later I was sick with guilt & frustrated with my weaknesses for using credit cards....not only did we have the 1 credit card with about $5,000 on it.....we managed to take a card that had a zero balance & charge $6-7,000. Sickening, huh?

& that's when I had my "Ah-ha" moment. For several years at church we have been taught not to go into debt & to live with in our means....but I only followed that council "most" of the time.....

I realized, I don't watch rated R movies because of our churches council, & I have no problems with that. I have no problems with keeping the word of wisdom & staying away from alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea......I have no problems with keeping the sabath day holy.....I have no problems with paying my tithes.....& then it hit me, my struggle was credit cards. We all have our weaknesses & it doesn't matter which one it is, they are weaknesses & we're supposed to learn to overcome them.....so I vowed from then on to be done, finished, with using credit cards.

I knew I needed God's help to overcome this struggle. I prayed every day for a few months to keep me strong from using credit cards. I fasted at least once a month sometimes twice a month to overcome this weakness. Andy & I attended the temple once a month for a few months as well. It was so hard....but luckily Andy's job paid adequately to provide our needs & even some of our wants. We were doing okay. I remember making my 1 year mark with out using credit cards! My confidence grew that we could do this!

Then, Andy had the opportunity to take a new job that would result in less pay but the potential for more pay, not to mention that he would be home pretty much every night & myself & the kids really hated the travel associated with his job in Arizona.....so we made the decision to move to Indiana.

This last year in Indiana has proved most difficult in our quest to not use our credit cards. Andy's income was enough for the essentials, but nothing more. My kids didn't play sports for a year. They no longer took piano lessons. We did not eat out at all (okay so maybe taco bell every other month...but really I cooked every day)....it was so hard to not go out & buy things that I realized are not essential....but seem so.

I didn't buy my kids new school clothes. Christmas was really hard. I usually keep a "gift" closet up so I don't have to always go buy presents....& that is what my kids got for Christmas....we spent practically nothing on Chrismas....I think I spent $100 (which for a family with 4 kids....not much & the items that I spent the money on were new shoes....it wasn't like I was out spending $25/kid at toys R us for a new toy)....Andy & I went without gifts (although thanks to all my friends that got me a little something--it was definitely appreciated).

I also am thankful because someone from my church gave us snowboots & snowsuits for all of my kids! It was something I had wanted to buy, but just was not in the budget.

I had also started listening to Dave Ramsey! I highly recommend his radio show, tv show & his books....check out his website www.daveramsey.com He is the one who really motivated us to become DEBT FREE!

I had already vowed not to use credit cards, but because of his "baby-steps" for financial success, we had set aside $1,000 for an emergency fund (which we had to use some of it for car repairs--to prevent us from having to use credit cards). I also really stepped up selling Pampered Chef. We were on our way. It's amazing how much easier it is to get out of debt when you aren't continuing going into debt.

When we got our tax return this year, I used all of it to pay off debt.....we did not buy those things we were going with out, like a light for our kitchen (we continued to use the light from the microwave & the light just above te sink--but no overhead light), matt's for our doors--we have to sweep constantly with the amount of dirt that gets brought in, we didn't re-do the floors in our dining room (which I have to tell you are disgusting--whoever puts carpet in a dining room with kids is crazy....I can't wait to have the money to put wood laminite flooring in the dining room)....

By doing this, we were able to use the "snowball" method which Dave Ramsey teachings & were able to continue paying off our debts. We also decided to take out our annuity to pay off the student loan debts & in doing so we are now DEBT FREE! & we haven't used credit cards in almost 3 years.

Now our goal is to continue on with Dave Ramsey's baby steps & set aside a 6-month emergency savings account. Which isn't as much as is sounds because we only need enough for mortage, utilities & food! Since we no longer have debtors!

So there you have it. We are debt free! I'm just excited & I'd love to help anyone who wants to do a jouney that is not easy but is smart. Most people are worried with the economy these days & how nice it feels to know that we do not have debtors.

Dave Ramsey always says, "Live like no one else, so that later you can live like no one else!" I'm excited to be one step closer to living like no one else as the reward. We certainly have not been living like most people lately.....which has been difficult.....Dave Ramsey's way is not the get rich quick program...it is one of hard work & putting aside wants....or acting like an adult & not a child.......It took me what like over 10 years to realized just because I want it, doesn't mean I get it....especially if we do not have the money to buy it.

I just wanted to share my story for those who might be in the position I was in 3 years ago, sick of using credit cards & sick of just continuing on as society lives telling us we can have it just by using our credit cards. If you want a way out from the stress of drowning with credit cards--let me know & I'd be more than willing to lend my support when things are tough--when you don't get to buy something that might seem like a need but because you don't have the cash for it, you don't get it! I'd love to help anyone along the way so that they could shout, "I'M DEBT FREE!"