Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Planner

A couple of weeks ago I bought Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace Planner. So many people swear by his methods for getting out of debt and getting ahead financially that I figured it was worth a try. I'm tired of being broke and want to get ahead. Right now, I'd settle for just breaking even every month.

The Financial Peace Planner by Dave Ramsey

The planner has weekly exercises to work through and I am starting week two today, although it feels like week one since I didn't do too well during the first week. Part of the planner involves setting spiritual, relationship, physical, and mental goals. I managed to do only a few of those goals on a few days last week. I'm planning to do better this week, starting with today!

During the first week, I listed my top five money fears:

1. There will never be enough money.
2. An emergency will happen, wiping out any progress I may make.
3. I will never be out of debt.
4. I will never own a home.
5. I will just end up in more and more debt.

My goals last week were:

• Spiritual: deep breathing and empty-mind meditation at bedtime (I'm not religious so changed this up from Ramsey's intended spiritual type goals).
• Relationship: Go on a daily walk with my son.
• Physical: Do yoga on odd numbered days and Jillian Michael's Shred DVD on even days; eat 2 servings of fruit daily.
• Mental: read, write, draw, journal daily; study languages daily
• My own other goals: write 3 blog posts; earn $20 on Etsy.

Of those goals, I managed to eat two servings of fruit per day on four days, earned $1 on Etsy, and did my mental goals on three days. That's about it. Pretty pitiful.

Handmade ceramic piggy bank by jlynnepottery on Etsy

This week, one of the thought/writing prompts is what would you do if someone gave you a million dollars? My response: I would pay off all of my debts and bills, fix up my car, get my son a car (nothing fancy), buy a townhouse to rent out and buy a townhouse to live in, and pay for both my son and I to go to school. I would invest a ton, and after I finish school and start on my career path, earning money from the rental property and my job, I would buy an apartment in Europe and rent it out half to three-fourths of the time and visit the other part of the time.

My weekly goals for this week (September 28 to October 4):

• Spiritual: deep breathing and meditation at bedtime; bedtime by 2am unless I work the evening shift.
• Relationship: 4 or more walks with my son; write him a note every day.
• Physical: 30 minutes of cardio daily; strength training Tues/Thurs/Sat; 2 servings of fruit daily.
• Mental: daily reading, writing, journaling, drawing.
• Other goals: 3 blog posts; earn $20 on Etsy.

I also listed my top 5 priorities:

1. My son's health and happiness
2. My health and happiness
3. My financial stability
4. Success at work
5. Learning

Finally, a I made a list of ways I could cut back expenses or earn more money to work towards a $1,000 emergency savings fund, and I went over all of my spending for September and made a budget for October.

Downloadable, printable stationery from my Etsy shop, Marbles and Jam

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