Organization - The Budget

So, my newest obsession these days is money management, better known as BUDGETING. The term budget has only ever been a part of my vocab when referring to things I don't do. Mark and I are in our 10th year of marriage and undeniably this is an embarrassing little tid bit to share, but once again, this is Jamie, queen of all things backwards. I don't typically do things in the correct order, in fact, I think I'd make a great poster child for Experiential Learning Cycles, (maybe not, I don't think there's a 10 stage learning cycle). Better late than never, right? Just think of all that I have learned from NOT budgeting all these years, think of all that gusto now that I've finally found the last stage of said learning cycle.

The scoop...I now have a four page budgeting spreadsheet, along with two additional 2-page spreadsheets for the kids to manage their money as well. (If they inherited their momma's backward tendencies they need to start their experiential Learning cycle a bit early, right?) We're using a little bit of Dave Ramsey's envelope budgeting method, an ounce of my friend A's method and a dash of my own method that seems to be evolving on a daily basis. Really, it's all just common sense, with a few tools that force you to see what you thought you really didn't want to...but in the process you've realized the more you see the better you feel. I could compare it to good housekeeping- Everything has a place; but instead of the "stuff" having a place, we're talking about dollars. Instead of cramming everything in a closet for the instant gratification, we're planning where it all needs to go. Imagine that!
No, this is not rocket science.
Yes, we've always know we should be doing this.
No, you cannot have any of our money when we're rich like Thurston Howell.

We are super excited about this, and have spent a LOT of time planning and adding and getting real. More than anything though, I'm excited that our kids will get to see what it's like to WANT, and then to GET once they've achieved their goals, instead of wanting and then magically getting.
For example, last night we went out to dinner, (our planned Friday night dinner) and the kids both ordered sodas with their meals (a Friday treat). Fast forward...we're on our way home and they ask to stop at Mc Donalds for an ice cream cone. I told them that we already spent our budgeted out to dinner money for the night, but maybe next time if that's what they want to do they can order water with dinner and use that money for ice cream afterwards. They didn't push the subject because how can you, once the money is gone, it's gone, there is no other option.
If we don't have the money for something, there's no reason they shouldn't know that. If it doesn't fit within our budget, they should know that. We are teaching them nothing about being responsible with money by shielding them from the fact that YES, we do have a limited amount of money. With that being said, they now have a bi-weekly paycheck, just like Mark and I, that they have to manage. They have a register where they keep track of their money, just like a check register. They also have a savings register where they deposit 10% of their "paycheck" for whatever it is that they are saving for...for Ash it's a car. Alex doesn't have anything he's saving for yet, but that's the cool part, it doesn't always have to be for something he wants now, it can be for something unplanned. The point is to get them to experience the thinking process that should go along with spending money, which up until now, has only been an action...for kids and parents alike.

...The Brave.

This morning Alex woke up with a mission. He came to me and said that he wanted to learn the National Anthem. I'm not sure where this came from, despite all of my inqiries, and I suppose it doesn't really matter. He asked if I would print out the lyrics so he could practice. I did; he did; and therefore, we were a little late to school, but that's ok, because now my son has a new dream. He took the lyrics to school and is going to ask his Kindergarten teacher if he can sing it to the class, and then his plan is to convince the principal to let him sing it during the morning announcements. From there he plans to practice enough to be invited to sing at a baseball game.

Where did this child COME from? His genetic path has wandered off course a bit. For that, I am thankful.

A wee little bump in the road

Had I created this post four days ago, I'm sure the tone would have been much less positive; but here we are four days calmer, four days wiser.

On Tuesday, after being with Dell for over 10 years, Mark was laid off. While the initial shock of it was a tough blow in so many ways, each day since has been better than the last. In fact, this has been one of the best weeks in a very long time. Mark is consistently happier than I've seen him in so, so long. While he is obviously concerned about what the future holds, he is coming to accept this new road before him with an open mind.

I really believe that he has been given a gift. Mark is an amazingly dedicated man, and worked hard to provide for his family despite being completely unfulfilled at the end of each day. I know that this is EXACTLY what he needed. This is the kick in the toukus he desperatley needed to seek out more...from life and from his career. What may come of it, I don't know, but I do know that this experience will be nothing but positive for our family, and I have no doubts that we will be just fine. We have ALL learned so much from his hard work and dedication, and will in turn continue learning in the weeks and months ahead.

Revin' up the engine for 2008

The first step in making progress of any kind is to set goals. Here goes.

In 2007 I began reading regularly...something I've always wanted to do, but never believed I could. I set some goals, and followed through with those goals. This past year I read 21 books and picked up a very fulfilling pastime.

Goal #1

In 2008, I will read at LEAST 21 books. I have other goals that will more than likely interfere with my reading, so I don't want to set that goal to an unachieveable height.

This past year has also been a time of self discovery. I've discovered that I want more out of this life than I have allowed myself to believe I'm capable of. I have limited myself and had not realized this until I really sat back and listened to what I was teaching my children. I want them to believe that they can do anything they want, and that there are no walls, or ceilings in this life. There is NOTHING they can't do.

Ding dong.

Gradually, after hearing these words come out of my mouth time after time, they finally echoed back to me. I realized that I'm teaching this, but I don't live this, nor did I believe it to be true for myself. It's not as though I've ever told myself that I CAN'T do something, I've just never allowed my mind to grasp that I CAN.
I'm not exactly sure why that is, but I really don't believe that it's beneficial to me to expand on that thought.

All I know is that something has sparked inside me and I know that I'm ready to do whatever it is that will make me happy. What this equates to is getting an education, finishing school and allowing myself to dictate my future. I want to teach. Why can't I teach?

Well, I think that everytime the thought entered my brain I refused to allow it to process, because I KNOW that in order to teach, I must have a bachelors degree and for some reason I had sold myself short and decided that this goal was unattainable. I've finally allowed myself to realize that I CAN DO THIS!
I WANT this!
I'm 30 years old and don't have a degree. At 30 I'm finally realizing that there is nothing standing in the way of what I want out of this life. Which leads me to my next goal for this year:

Goal #2

This year, I will tackle the most challenging classes first and not allow the fear of them to hold me back.
I registered for College Algebra yesterday and start in two weeks!
I will take at least one class each semester of 2008.
I will also continue to believe that I too, can do whatever I want in this life, and by doing this, I am in turn teaching my children far more than than I ever could with words.

I tend to do things a little backwards, but somehow in doing this, things tend to work out far better than I could ever imagine.

Goal #3

In order to get the best results out of the previous goals, I must be healthy and strong. I will make better food choices and put forth my best efforts to excercise EACH WEEK. I have really not given adequate attention to my body lately and in turn feel the results physically AS WELL AS mentally. I have a gym membership that I will use each week.

I have many more personal goals relating to friends and family, but I thought I would document just a few to get me started.

I challenge ALL of my friends and family to set some of their own goals, without the thought that this is some sort of cliche' attempt at doing what everyone else does at this time of year. I challenge you to set goals that matter to you, that you genuinely believe that you can and will follow through with.

If you have a blog, consider this a meme that I'm passing on to you, just DO IT! :)

Happy New Year everyone!