Finally, our 2014 goal!

Hello! Back in January I wrote about doing more research on our newlywed goal/resolution as a couple. BUDGET!

We struggled with concrete goals for us, but starting a family is what we both are chomping at the bit to do. I will not lie I did give my husband a “list” of things we had to accomplish before I was willing to start a family. I know that sounds crazy to some, I have had to explain why I gave us a to-do list before having kids.

I grew up with parents that had me a little later than all my friends parents in high school had them. They provided for me, were READY for me, and taught me so much. I kid you not my dad would sit me down and teach me about stocks and investments when I was really young. I mean emptying out the piggy bank on the kitchen counter and demonstrating how my pennies will grow in different kinds of accounts. I bought stocks in Walt Disney World when I was 8 or so.  I would get so excited when the yearly investor reports would come to the house, and I could read about how my stocks in Disney were doing, and looking through a glossy book of what Disney has planned for the next year.

I am 26, and I some how feel behind now for not having kids. I blame living on base, it is normal for  women look at me crazy when I use the ” I am ONLY 26! ” excuse on to why we do not have children yet. I mean most are finished having their kiddos by then it seems.

When I got my first job out of college, I moved away from all my family and friends to Missouri.  For someone getting a $700 paycheck every 2 weeks, living on my own in an Apartment that cost $450, and refusing to take any of my now husbands money – saying I was pay check to pay check would not even cover it.  Broke does not even cover it, sleeping on an air mattress so broke starts to cover it.

My parents helped me so much when I first started this job. My dad sent me money to start my first Dave Ramsey emergency fund, my mom came and visited me for Thanksgiving and bought me a mattress, and I never could save any money but I was not opening up any Debt either. So fast forward engagement, deciding to move in with my Fiancé, planning a wedding, honeymoon, etc. There were poor choices made. Although we never really increased our debt, we never really saved much either at all. Now, my husband is enlisted- please do not let media confuse you he does not make $$$. There is a drastic difference between Enlisted and Officers.

So to the last few people that emailed me when I talked about living on one income: I didn’t respond to you because I didn’t know how to politely tell you how wrong you were. No worries I have both family and friends that do not get it still. 

 

I am so thankful for my parents being able to help me, and I think my Husband and I have really grown after our wedding. It is not always focused, and I think that is where we fail a lot.

I want to be secure and set up before starting a family, so we started a goal to save 15k this year.

This literally will mean we are going to be paycheck to paycheck again. You may know I am a beauty/health product addict err.. junkie.. you know so I have some behaviors to change. Making spending changes are a huge part of our plan, but really we just need to save our faces off.

The plan. We have used Dave Ramsey lightly on and off and got this amazing kit 2 Christmas’s ago for around 30 dollars ( our Christmas present to each other as we didn’t really do any presents.) His return from Deployment on Christmas eve 2012 was present enough, but we never really got to use it. Wedding came and went. Then another deployment happened, and here we are!

We are going to go all in to CASH. It is kind of scary I tried using cash only in Disneyland ( Note my Disney trips were part of last years budget and the parts not covered I worked my tail off nannying to cover) It is HARD. I get frustrated and I give up easily. It also does not help that I am very easily sold on things. Which I should then be able to turn to the husband and have him redirect me/say no. This never happens.

Case in point= While injured limping through Princess Half Marathon, I text and say OMG LETS DO WINE AND DINE HALF MARATHON to him. He says ” When is it? ” That means yes. It always means yes.

No we are not doing it. Our goal would be shattered, and well my stress fractured foot/all the other issues say JUST SAY NO. So debt crisis avoided. Nearly.

We have been emailing back and forth a lot of our plan, and really have been waiting to be together to talk it through. It is so hard having a thought, then waiting 24 hours to get a chance to talk about it. I have also likely changed my mind five things or given up. True story.

Our Goals:

• Save 15k.
• Set up an IRA/Roth IRA for my dear husband/Contribute to mine
• Save for a car. We have my 1998 Ford until then…uh.oh.
• Set up special “big purchase” fund so we can save for the car, baby, vacation etc.
•  Do not try to “Keep up with the Jones’s.” We do not need new things. We both give into our wants too frequently when they are not needs. We also like to turn the wants into “must have need right now” … yeah. working on that. . .

I know that our goals will change, but as it will soon be April and we are still working on this– I think we will succeed in our plans!

 

It isn’t just about us saving money, but changing habits. We will be making changes to how we eat, entertain, and overall live our lives. I hope to bring you through our experiences tips on how to live healthier, travel more, and have fun on a budget!