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After listening to Dave Ramsey’s CDs regarding “Financial Transformation”, I had a major guilt-trip about how I have been managing my finances.  Or rather, the lack of management thereof.  He identifies 7 “baby-steps” to getting to financial peace:

1. Emergency fund of $1,000.00 (got it)
2. Pay off all debt using the debt snowball (working on this step at the moment).  This could take a while… how did I end up with this much debt?  Where did the money go?  The ONLY debt you should have is your mortgage.  Shouldn’t even have car payments.  Need to make major adjustments in my financial management.
3. Save enough money to cover 3 to 6 months of expenses (real Emergency fund)
4. Invest at least 15% of your income for retirement
5. Put aside money for children’s university
6. Pay off your mortgage.  Totally debt free!
7. Build wealth and GIVE.  (Investment, donation & fun)

The most important step: STOP spending.  That should be easy… but I hadn’t realised how easy it is to spend money.  I’ve had to make myself a budget…  What’s that?  Well, preparing it is easy enough.  Living by it is a little more difficult.  No more impulsive buying.  Only the essentials.  Only what was planned for.  But, I do it in the office.  Now I just have to do it at home.

So… all about discipline in this part of my life.