Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Day 1, 2 and 3
I am really enjoying the book. I enjoyed reading the scriptures at the end of the book as well. I want to do some research on the scriptures references made about money as I continue on this journey and beyond. My goal is to continue to do this and only eat out if I am with family and friends as an outing; I am about to make a major life change and with that I must adjust and I truly believe GOD is using this fast to prepare me. I realize that this fast will change my mindset as the liquid fast changed my diet; I now want to eat well! And with this fast I want to be financial prosperous but that is with a condition. I must take responsibility. I must stop wasting money, I must be mindful of the fact that GOD has given me a work to do and I can/will enjoy this journey! I went to the grocery store and only purchased what I needed some breakfast food, juice and soup. I must admit being sick and home helped even more! But asked GOD to take the desire to want to eat out so much away from me and HE has answered my prayer. I believe it so that's settles it! Also, I realized I must purchase new items once what I have is gone I will buy more (I learned that from the book as well). One thing that has really stuck with me is that I realize since the age of 16 when I started working I have always put money to the side that I needed for (food, gas and transportation) and spent the rest. That habit has not changed all that has changed is that my bills have increased over the years. I remember when I had my first apartment in Laurel I furnished the whole apartment in one month using a credit card. And I wonder why I'm in debt! Bad choices. But I realized today - no need for pity, I can turn it around, everyday I can make a decision to save as much as I can and leave a great legacy for my children. I already turned it around because in August, 2008 I called the credit card company and told them to close the account so I no longer have a credit card. My debit card limits me but I have still been wasteful with eating out and splurges and not concentrated on needs. The assignments have been wonderful as well. I am now thinking of ways I can bless others with my time, finding free activities and coming home more so I can prepare meals. I realize I am not a home person and I love being out and about. I will keep children for the weekend while a single person or couple go out on the town. I will find an elderly person that I can shop for. I will pick my aunt and mom up from work more since they don't drive. As I completed my budget for the year (a friend motivated me) I realized that I can save. Further, I realized if I take the monies I am giving to debt and invest them I will have over 1 million dollars when I retire if I start investing after the debt is gone. This will take another 5-7 years since I have student loans. That is not including the funds that I will invest from my career. Today I called and had my car insurance premium lowered by $23 a month and I called Verizon for my home phone and that bill will go down $41 a month. I realize I don't have many extra expsenses and since I will stop eating meat excluding fish, salmon and seafood occassionally my grocery bill will shrink. I also will get my hair done every other month instead of every month. I asked GOD to show me what are some other things I can do - he told me to evaluate all that I have in my refrigerator and cabinets when making my grocery list and eat all of these items before buying more. So, my next few visits will be very cheap! And I love it! What are you learning? I made a decision today that I will be financially wise, frugal and simple.
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I had an awakening before even reading the book. Last week, I went to the bookstore to pick up my copy of the book. I was attempting to use my creditcard to purchase the book but what I didn't realize was that the card I had in my purse had EXPIRED. So, it forced me to use my cash. When I got a chance to read the first few pages of the book, I was tickled to read the do's and the don't. One of them of course is not to use credit card to make purchases. I have decided to keep the EXPIRED card in my purse instead of replacing it with the new card. For me, it will be a reminder that I have to use cash because if I use the card its going to be rejected.
ReplyDeleteAt the beginning of the year, I made a personal committment to get back on track with my finances, and everything has been going according to plan. When the idea was presented by Natalie, I thought this would be a greater challenge for me because now I'm not just making a committment to myself but I'm making a committment to a group of people who are trying to reach their financial freedom. I realized that I emotionally spend when I'm feeling down and have often used the credit card to purchase the higher ticketed items on the credit card instead of using my cash.
One of my biggest challenge is going to be stop eating out all the time and start preparing and cooking my breakfast, lunch and dinner. I realize that I have to denounce all the lies that I've told myself why I eat out all the time and put the bigger picture of what I want to accomplish and believe that God wants me to be financial stable and prosperous. I'm excited to be on this journey and hope that after the 21 day fast, I will have the discipline and adopt the lifestyle of continuing to increase my financial freedom.