Getting Out of Debt, Part One

A good friend wrote me an email today about a topic that is really important to me: Getting out of debt. And seeing as how there are lots and lots of people out there who could have written the exact same email (except that they don't know me, and she does!), I asked her if would be okay if I shared it on my website. Here it is:

Hey Melissa

How are you??? I am doing well. I'm actually emailing you for some financial advice. If you can't point me in the right direction, do not worry. I just thought of you when I was trying to figure some things out.

(My husband and I ) have gotten to a point in our life where we are making a substantial amount of money. HOWEVER, we have nothing to show for it minus a 401K and credit card debt. I just don't know where to begin to turn things around. I'm tired of living pay check to pay check and I know there is a better way.

Where do you suggest I start????

Woohoo! You have to understand something. Now that Jim works for Dave Ramsey in the IT department, we don't get to spend a lot of time working with people one-on-one to help them get out of debt. We rarely get to see firsthand the effects of Dave's ministry, since Jim's work is entirely behind-the-scenes. This email was a blessing to me today.

I am so, so passionate about this subject. Being debt-free has changed our lives. Actually, the process of becoming debt-free is what initially changed us. We started working together on our finances. Our marriage improved, our giving improved, our relationship with God improved, our stress levels improved...

A few years ago I heard Dave Ramsey say, "Imagine a life without any payments," and it actually depressed me. I couldn't imagine it. It seemed unattainable. No credit card debt? No car payments? No student loans? We had tens of thousands of dollars to pay off! I just didn't think we'd ever, ever get there.

But we did. We budgeted and we cut corners. We scrimped and we saved. And we did it. A life with no payments. A life that allows me to be a stay-at-home mom even after a giant move and a pay cut! A life that allows me to hug and kiss my husband when we talk about money instead of crying and storming off in frustration. A life that enables me to try my own craft business, a dream I have had for a while. A life that allows us to give cheerfully. A life that never has to worry about paying the bills.

I want so badly for other people to experience the same peace that we have. I want my friends to break the cycles of fear and fatigue, constantly working to pay for things that no longer bring them joy. I want other people's children to avoid the mistakes their parents made, so they too can have peace.

It's hard to break the cycle that our culture promotes. It's difficult to be different and do something uncomfortable. It isn't fun to make sacrifices. But very few things worth having come easily. I'm so excited to have someone I care about tell me that she is ready to be different and take the road less traveled for the sake of the reward. (And you can ask anyone who has traveled this road: The reward is indeed great.)

Do you know someone who is in the same boat as my friend: Someone who is sick of having, as Dave says, "Too much month left at the end of the money?"

Do want to know what I told my friend? Where should you start if you're sick of living paycheck to paycheck? This post is too long already. And I don't want to give out the answers without making you think first. If you want to know, you'll have to check back in the next day or two!