Money Matters Monday

I am getting so much information about money and budgeting and I know many are out there who struggle just like me. I think I would be greedy if I didn't share some of what I've been learning with those who are interested, so in addition to my Monday IAHY blog post (here's today's) I've added a Monday edition to my blog, and as you can see from the title above, it will be about money. Hopefully you can take what is written and it will help you somewhere in your financial journey through life, just as it is helping mine.

I am taking a Dave Ramsey course entitled Financial Peace University and he has seven "baby steps" to financial success. Do them in the order they are listed.

1. $1000 in an emergency fund ($500 if your income is under $20,000 per year)--This needs to be done as quickly as possible. If it means you sell something to get it, then do it! But this is priority since you never know when an emergency will hit.

2. Pay off all debt except the house utilizing the debt snowball. I will get into this more in another post, but it is vital.

3. Three to six months expenses in savings. This is what I'm working on getting now!

4. Invest 15% of your household income into Roth IRAs and pre-tax retirement plans. Do you realize, if you put away $100 per month, every month from age 25 to 65 at 12%, you will have over $1,176,000? Who wants to be a millionaire? Get on it now!

5. College funding.

6. Pay off your home early.

7. Build wealth and give!!

So, there's a start for all those who are seeking direction financially. Trust me when I say it won't work unless you COMMIT and DISCIPLINE yourselves! Don't get discouraged if you fall off the horse a time or two--it is bound to happen, but get right back on and plow away at those money issues. It will be worth it!

"Live like no one else today, so someday you can live like no one else." --Dave Ramsey

Birthday Wishes

Happy Birthday
to the best husband and father
Ever!
We love you!

Funny Friday

What is with this Jimmer-craze?
Seriously.
Todd took my 10-year old to one game.
One!
And she came back with a Jimmer-crush.
Told my sister and she said her husband AND 15-year old twin boys
have a serious man-crush on him too.
Seems like every other guy I talk to does too.
Do you?

This is so funny. Had to share. Happy Friday!!!

Salt Lake Celebrity

Just have to share how cool our friend and 1st counselor in the bishopric member is. He is a nice guy, yes, but he can also put up a stink with all those important people on the hill when it really matters! This time it is about immigration issues. (Okay, I admit it, Sometimes I don't feel entirely smart enough to converse with the guy.) Looking at him, you wouldn't know he was/is a major Beastie Boys fan would you? Sorry Wes, had to . . . who didn't love them at one point or another? Check out the article that printed last week on the front page of the Salt Lake Tribune. Way to go Wes, I mean, Brother Smith!!

Funny Friday

If you want to LAUGH really hard,
enjoy GREAT WRITING,
and be INSPIRED all at the same time,
you must go to my friends' post on pregnancy.
Her name is Sarah.
She's an English teacher at what used to be called
Ricks College,
but is now BYU Idaho.
Maybe you will laugh as hard as I did.
With tears.
Just maybe.
Happy Friday!

Thoughtful Thursday

Today I want chocolate.
Really bad.
But I can't.
I am in my 6th week of a 12-week challenge
where I do (or not do) 10 things each day.
My least favorite challenge?
No sweets.
The hardest one by far.
(Sigh)
But you know what I'm learning?
Discipline.
But it is getting easier.
And I feel better.
Great actually.
Discipline in so many other parts of my life.
Food
Exercise
Scripture Study
Journal writing
Money
I believe when I become the Master of Myself
in one area,
the others become easier.
Tough now, rewards later.
So no chocolate for me today.
Skinny tomorrow.

"Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Hebrews 12:11)

A Family Shoot

I don't want to step on any of my photography friends' toes (you know who you are), but I wanted to share a photo shoot with you that took place in December. My brother, Dainon, so graciously hired his Lehi local but also world-renowned friend, Jonathan Canlas, to take pictures of our family (something that has been long-overdue). When I say world-renowned it is true! He went to Australia in January to teach a workshop (costing somewhere in the $2000 range if you wanted to participate!).

Our family shoot was a lot of fun and the thing that makes this photographer different is that in this digital age, he uses only film. He took a few shots and called it good. I was utterly amazed at the results. He even used a Polaroid at one point, another thing that makes him unique. I also hear he doesn't Photoshop or edit his photos. I guess with this sort of talent, who needs it? It's all the angle, the lighting, the lens and the masterful had. Take a look. I'll let you be the judge.

Thanks again, Dainon--it is the gift that keeps on giving every time I see the pics! And thanks Jonathan for doing us the honors.