Tag / Dave Ramsey

Are You On A Hamster Wheel?

There are mornings like today in which I feel like I’m on a hamster wheel.

I listen to Dave Ramsey and I keep hearing that if someone is truly interested they will go through something with you.  Do you feel like you’re the only one that is seriously trying to change life for the better?  With Dave Ramsey there are many people that call and talk about how much they want to get out of debt, but their spouse is resistent.  Sometimes Dave says that the person could buy the course or book but the other person won’t bother to read it.  What do you do? You are just continually on this hamster wheel and never getting very far to making an actual difference.    This goes for more than just money – think fitness and other things that are lifestyle based.

How do you get off the hamster wheel?

This is something I’m trying to figure out.  I know that all of these lifestyle issues are connected.  You save money as you eat better, stop going out or ordering in, and spending time exercising. The money you save will pay bills, pay off debt, and build wealth.

So why is it that cookies are continually baked, pizza is brought home, massive laziness overtakes and food is ordered? Why is it that the gym is put off?

I wouldn’t mind the hamster wheel if it was only a metaphor for getting in better shape. Unfortunately, it means that I’m spinning my wheels and getting no where with a number of lifestyle issues.

Are we simply lazy or is it that I’m not leading my family properly?

I am happy to say that I am making slow and steady progress in changing my behaviours when it comes to buying stuff.  I killed off the desire and pseudo-need of getting an iPhone 4S.  I know that that I should appear like I’m sleeping in a bed of money (like all photographers right), but I’m a weird photographer trying to have zero debt.  I got fired up and said that I would rather have the feeling off shoulders and a cleaned up past than to strut around with an iPhone 4S right now.  How else am I going to make any movement towards the 1% right?

Anyways, this post is because I’m getting more and more angry with this rusty and squeaky hamster wheel.

It’s time to win.

 

 

I’m All In with The Great Recovery

I watched the Great Recovery with Dave Ramsey the other night and I was pretty moved. He talked about the USA but most if not everything could be related to Canada as well.

I’ve noticed that most people think the way to fix the economy is to spend money. Dave Ramsey didn’t really talk about that but instead talked about the hopelessness of people. He talked about how people expect the government to save them and the nation.

I’ve never looked to the government for much of anything. In my own city, I’ve never understood the massive political craziness that goes on. I didn’t know where to look for help until this year. I have a mother-in-law to thank for her inviting us to church.

I am all in on with the Great Recovery. I plan to talk about it and spread the idea like a virus. I’m not a church pastor or a Financial Peace University co-ordinator but I may become the latter one day. I think I could do that right from this blog if anyone follows along.

Either way, it’s time. I believe that it’s time, very strongly.

Along with the Great Recovery, I’m going all in with fitness and health on Monday. I’ve been on and off for the past month and I’m going hardcore to change my life all around. You’re welcome to join in on the ride.

A Great Recovery

I started reading a book by Dave Ramsey called My Total Money Makeover.  Not only that, I started to listen to his podcast and some audio files from his Financial Peace University course.  Never before have I been given such clear and simple advice around money.  I wish I had discovered him a month before.  However, I (we) didn’t and we’ll have to make due at this point since we can’t go back in time.

The amazing thing about reading and listening to Dave Ramsey has been his relation to the church and faith.  Since January 2011, my wife Marika and I have been going to church every Sunday – we’ve missed maybe 3 weeks or so.  Going to church isn’t even questionable now, but I still wonder why I’m nervous in mentioning God or Jesus Christ around people and in blog posts.  I shouldn’t feel that way at all.  Even when we first started going to church, I would tell myself that I am not religious but I do believe in a universal consciousness, an energy source, a spiritual higher vibration, ect.  Over time, I’ve come to realize that they are all the same. I don’t remember when it was, but I finally surrendered myself to God and walking with our Lord.

It’s amazing the connection between faith and money.  The peace we have of knowing that the Lord will provide for us no matter what is an amazing feeling.  We’re guided and understand the meaning of service.

Dave Ramsey holds people accountable to themselves. You are the one that got you into the mess and you are the one to get yourself out.  I left TD Canada Trust because I couldn’t take it anymore.  I couldn’t handle the mindset, the culture, the internal workings, and the passionless employees.  I needed to follow my dreams and do something with my life that could actually make a difference for us and others.   No matter what, we were going to learn something about money.  We were given this challenge by God.  And we’re so grateful that it was given to us so early in our lives.

In less than 2 years we are going to be debt free. This is MY goal. A more realistic goal might be 36 months; however, the one thing I did learn from TD was to create a stretch goal.  I want to be debt free except for the house in 12 months and totally debt free at 24 months.  God is going to help me everyday.  Listening to Dave Ramsey is going to help me everyday.

Every night I imagine such an amazing recovery.  Soon we’ll be leaving visuals in a number of places and messages to keep us on track. This kind of message is what I expect to hear from Dave around the great recovery message.  In 19 days, I can’t wait to see what he has to say.   I’ve already passed the website on to one of the pastors at Forest City Community Church and who knows what may come of it.  I  can honestly say that I’ve very excited for the future.

My faith is growing stronger everyday and I know that we can achieve this debt free goal along side God.  Things need to change and we’re the only ones that are going to turn the economy and world around.

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