Learning to budget... oh geez...

I am so many days into my budgeting course and already I am finding myself wondering why I ever volunteered for this mess... ok... I didn't exactly volunteer... but it feels like volunteer work. I mean, it's not fun, it's slightly rewarding, and I am sure there is at least one person out there who is pointing and laughing saying "If only she knew better."

This last week, through our Financial Peace University, we had to come up with what they call a "Quickie Budget" and put the basic premise of our financial lives on paper. Oh boy, did that suck. I mean, in real life, I like believeing that I am making it... but on paper... I am like a billion dollars short each month. Ok... not quite a billion... more like a million... but I am not one for real numbers.

So, I hate stereotypes, but they make the world easier to make harsh generalizations... and based on Dave Ramsey's generalizations, I am the nerd of the relationship... and my husband is the Free Spirit... now, in real life, he is much more the nerd... and I have a better chance of being mistaken for a Free Spirit... but whatever. So, anyway, it was my job to do the budget and then hold a "Budget Committee" to review the budget with him... and it was his job to attend. And then I was supposed to let him change.the.budget (all you other controlling nerd types together now ::::GASP::::).

I don't think I learned anything from this exercise... but a few thoughts have become more engrained in my mind...

- My husband is selfish! When we are trying to make things balance and making sacrifices... his $300 personal allowance each month needs to also be sacrificed... even cut in half... it's still phenominally generous!

- I am on my own when it comes to balancing this stuff.

- The only way to get him to stop spending is gonna be to cut up his credit cards and freeze the little little peices in a coffee cup. One that isn't microwave safe and was autographed by Nolan Ryan so that he won't want to get it wet with hot water to rescue his cards. Oh... and call the card company and unauthorize him from getting a new card.

This stuff isn't new... but it's also not fun. Spending less than you make... what a concept... let's just hope it doesn't ruin this ignorant bliss we call marriage.

Money isn't Everything...

I've always asked for the chance to prove that money can't buy happiness... or explained that although money isn't everything, it sure makes life fun. But I never thought that I wouldn't have money.

Now, don't go thinking I am loaded... because I am not... or that I am at least smart with money... because I fail there, too... but this week has been a huge money reality for me.

Dustin and I had our bank account emptied from some saavy moron (oxymoron, I know) who decided to buy airline tickets with our debit card numbers. Although we still held the plastic, we no longer carried the cash. And it was very sad. I never before felt so violated as I did when I got the call saying that I didn't even have the money to pay for my groceries that I had in the cart at the moment. I knew that things like this happened... but not to me. Aaah... the great philosophy of NIMBY.... it's what allowed me to sleep soundly for so many nights without worrying about things like theft, fire, run by fruitings... and now I was right in the middle of it all.

Thankfully, the bank did give us back our money after 48 hours of being flat broke. And now... we are working to make the most of our money since we know what it's like to not have any now and worry about where the money is going to come from to pay the next bill... We are headed to Financial Peace University.

Now, I know that this is the most flower child name for a 'university'... but it's by Dave Ramsey and his Financial Peace University is supposed to teach us the principles of cash and budgeting and basically living on less than we make... go figure. The class is being offered through our church... but it's offered online and in other settings as well... and once you pay for your materials once, you can go as many times as you want for refresher courses... for free!

It's a 13 week long course... ending right about Christmastime... so I am hoping that 2009 can be the year that we are debt free and living without credit cards... one less thing to worry about at night!

Ryan's Haircut!

Little Bug's hair has been getting pretty long. and I understand he's supposed to be a baby... and that his long hair is part of being a baby... but I have a serious probably with the baby-mullet. I guess I could call it the bullett... but eh.

So, I was thinking I'd be that mom that makes everything a super special occassion... so I called up SnipIt's, a local child's hair place that boasts a fun atmosphere and cool haircuts for kiddos. What they don't tell you is that it costs less for my hubby to go to GreatClips than it does for Ryan to get a basic haircut... $17! And that doesn't even include a shampoo... what a jip... so I said forget it and decided that I did it once with my hair.... the baby should be a walk in the park.

I grabbed the scissors, a squirt bottle of water, and a comb. Then I pushed the highchair in front of the mirror in our entryway. Et Voila! A barbershop for one! I loaded up the tray with Veggie Pirates Booty (a great alternative to Gerber Puffs, but thats a story for a different day) and got to work!

Ryan did good... and I decided not to take off too much. Just enough to get rid of the bullett and make him super cute for all the baby girls... and to make sure that the next time we are out, I don't get the ubiquitous "SHE".

I think he's pretty cute... but I'm his mom... so I think I am biased... what do you think? (Yeah... that's a shameless ploy to hear about his cuteness from you!)