Sixteen months give or take a few weeks. That’s how long we’ve been doing this Damn Ramsey thing. Have I mentioned how hard it is? Have I mentioned that sometimes it’s a lot of fun? But most of the time it sucks big time. The budget, the restraint, the saying NO to everything, the giving up this and that and the stinkin’ envelopes!
But then….
at some point all that hard work and sacrifice pays off. That’s when you can start to celebrate a little.
And by celebrate I mean you go to Sonic and everyone gets a milkshake even though you really want a steak dinner and a nice bottle of wine.
We paid off our first debt. That red truck is now officially ours. We paid it off a little early too. Which was a really good thing because….
our mortgage payment went up quite a bit. Wow, Debbie Downer, man. Hey Clay! Stop your gosh darn bouncin’ around and get back to work Dude, we got bills to pay!
Here’s what we’ve done in those sixteen months.
1. Started writing a budget for every month.
2. Implemented the envelope system.
3. Saved $1000 for an emergency fun.
4. Used the emergency fund 4 times
5. Refunded that emergency fund and bumped it up a bit.
6. Paid down debt, concentrating on any extra money going to the truck.
7. Paid off the stinkin’ truck.
One down…more to go.
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Congratulations that’s awesome!
Congratulations! It gives you drive doesn’t it?? We’re probably about where you are…16 months with numerous setbacks, a slow economy for a self employed landscaper and a drought with water restrictions that nearly did us in. In all that, we made the decision not to touch the EF. We did take out a personal loan.
( It does suck but I think this will make us better people, right? That’s what I tell myself anyway.
But let me tell you the mini-celebration I had when I called in the payoff on my car! And when I paid off the Mastercard! 3 to go plus business debt and medical bills but we’re getting there!!!!
Woo HOO! I love the Littles cheering in the back.
Congratulations. Your dedication and determination is inspiring!
Congratulations!! You deservere to celebrate. Our vehicles have been paid off for quite a while now and both have over 150,000 miles on them. We can’t bring ourselves to go back to car payments so we have to save up for new (used) cars. It’s a race to see if we can save enough before one of our cars die. In the meantime it can be a bit embarrassing to get into the dented rust bucket parked next to all the brand-new cars but I figure humility is good for us.
April,
So proud!!! You keep up this Damn Ramsey business and you just might inspire me… my heart fluttered a bit when I typed that…
Have a super day, April!
Congrats!!!
Passing the bottle of wine through the computer.
I so love these photos. I am imagining the sounds…woo hoo!! yipeee !! wooooo!!!
Brightened my day
Yeah for you! You did it and are doing it!
Hooray for you guys! You deserve a little happy dancin’:o)
Congratulations! I paid off all my debt with the exception of insurance (which is never paid off) and one other small bill. But youngest son’s car costs a fortune to keep running and gave up and bought a new (used) one and now I am back in debt. I HATE it. But I’ll hang in there and try to pay if off before the 5 years it is financed for.
Congratulations!! Success stories give all of us hope!
Woohoo! Congratulations. Too bad we didn’t get pictures of your happy dance!
woohoo!!EXCELLANT!!! congratulations!!!
Congrats on paying off the truck! We’re struggling and trying to pay off debt too, so we totally feel your pain. It sucks so bad wanting to go out to eat or buy something for the house and it’s like the inside of you splinters and you silently (sometimes vocally) say CRAP! ;D
Congratulations on the truck!! You are folks to be looked up to. You made up your mind and you’re both sticking to it. Since you’re both on the same ‘pay off’ team, you’re going to win and then some.
Cool pics, btw. Man, white boys CAN jump afterall.
Congratulations to you and your family!
Nothing we are able to buy is as satisfying as having less (no) debt.
Enjoy your success and let it continue to Drive you forward to greater successes,
Janet
Congratulations!!! You’re on your way to no debt. Those pictures make me want to jump for joy, too. I think my family would think I was nuts if I got up from my chair and started jumping. So know I’m jumping on the inside.
Congratulations! I know it feels good. We’re doing Dave’s TMMO, too, and it is hard, but it feels so good…
Our “celebrations” are small in scale, like yours. Instead of a night away in a bed & breakfast sans children for our anniversary, my parents babysat, and we used a coupon for the Macaroni Grill. Still, it was fun.
Awesome! You inspired me to pick up Dave’s Total Money Makeover on audio book. Now I’m needling my hubby to get on the plan. We were in pretty good shape debt wise until we built a new house. Ouch. I always look forward to your “get out of debt” updates. Between you and Bossy you keep me motivated to say no.
April and Clay….way to go! I love it love it love it. It’s all so worth it, and truly, you’ll have so many happy fun memories along the way. No, really, you will! I love Clay’s happy dance and the little kids in the back cheering. You’re teaching them SO much! It’s all good girl. It’s all good. Sonic is better than wine, and being out of debt is better than chocolate. We’ve been debt free for over a year now and it’s freedom and weirdness all at the same time. Now that I have the freedom to do things, I still end up not doing them. You’ll see what I’m talkin’ about SOON.
Keep on keepin’ on.
Awesome! In the words of some 70′s heart throb…keep on, keepin’ on!
Congrats April and Clay,
I too started an emergency fund this year, on top of our normal savings account. And boy was I greatful for that emergency fund when the fuel pump went out on my car. Now I am in the process of building it back up.
It sure makes a body feel good.
Charity
Great jumpin Jehosaphat!! We are ‘giving every dollar a name’ and most of those names begin with “Dr.” so and so. But, you encouraged me to keep pressing forward; keep not taking vacations in order to pay off that stinking debt. Good job, and by the way, great jumping!
We’ve used D Ramsey for three years now. Mortgage is all that is left. It’s been wonderful! Good for you. Hang in there! Keep working but keep jumping and dance once in a while too! It’s so worth it!
This one just made me grin!!
Hooray! Right on!
i think i might have to go see this man, Ramsey…
Clay certainly can…
CONGRATULATIONS on one down. And who said white men can’t jump
Fantastic!!! Congratulations!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I started the debt snowball last summer. I can’t wait to do the happy dance when my car is paid off next year!!! Keep up the good work!
Feels so good to do that! Car loans are the worst–and I was just as happy when I paid off our car early. Good job!
That is awesome! And while the truck is still shiny and new looking too! Congratulations!
I really like the idea of emergency fun….seems like a really overlooked category…you are seriously on to something!! love your blog
Congratulations! this is very inspiring! keep up the hard work
Congrats! Doesn’t it feel good. We’ve been doing the “Ramsey” way for over two years now. It helped our marriage sooo much. Keep going!
Congrats!
And stick to it…we are now fully debt free and have our big fund thanks to Damn Ramsey! 
Next it is 15% into retirement and then college funds for the kids. Our oldest was starting to get nervous about a college fund…she’ll be 16 this year. Great bouncing Clay!!! 
Wooo hooo that’s a wonderful feeling! And I love the pictures! Congrats you all! And a little hooray for your kids, I’m proud of them for sticking to it too!
Way to go April and Clay, living like no one else, so later you can live like no one else. Although after that chicken spoinking post from a while, back, I’d say you live like no one else even without Damn Ramsey!
We read the books and even went to FPU and I am still having trouble getting the snowball rolling on our debt. It’s ugly. Thanks for the inspiration to put on my big girl pants and deal with this.
Wow you have had a busy year. We are self employed so Ramsey doesn’t work. What works is we pay off all our debt then we bill our clients then we wait. Then we starve. Then we send out late notices. Then we wait. Then we eat dirt because we have no money for groceries. Then we send out second notices. Then we run out of dirt and pretend a boil full of air is popcorn. Then we send out third notices. Then our ribs stick out and our skin hangs off us like a blood hound. Then we beg and settle for 1/2 of what the client owed us and wait. By this time we are but mere shadows of our former selves and we break down and use the card to buy a few groceries. Then we send a second notice for the settled on amount and on and on… THat is how I NEVER get out of debt. The End By Gladys
Awesome!! Congratulations.
)
Congrats to all of you! After reading your get out of debt posts I was inspired to read Mr Ramsey. We are just beginning the program (have my $1000 emergency fund) but are inspired to hang in there untill we can call in and scream “we’re debt freeeeeeee” BTW Clay looks so cute jumpin’ all around like that.
Congratulations you guys!!!! That is reason enough for Sonic milkshakes!!!
Oh, and Damn Ramsey is ruining our lives as well. Er. I mean helping us towards being debt-free.
just have to throw a little caution out there. I paid off my car in May. Put a double payment on it to pay it off. I jumped for joy and had a little celebration and what did it do but break down. Now I have a mechanic’s bill that is worth 5 months of car payments and I can’t drive the darn thing. My emergency fund hasn’t been built yet. But I figure when that is paid I’ll be good. I just won’t let the car know I’m done paying on it. LOL
yay!!! I felt the same way when we paid off the credit card! (Thanks D Ramsey!) keep goin’ Clay and April!
Congratulations! No more truck payments… THAT is a good thing!
Hey, that’s awesome! Congratulations and keep up the good work.
Feels good,doesn’t it? We’ve also jumped on the Dave Ramsey snowball train. Since January, we’ve paid off three smaller debts which feels really good compared to the years I would have spent paying the higher interest debt off first.
Sonic is a great way to celebrate. Mmmm, cherry limeades.
Does Dave know??? Congratulations, well done!
Hooray for Dave Ramsey-ing your way to solvency!
Best wishes!
The envelope system is working for us too—I may actually be debt free by Christmas!
WOOT!
Yea!! I know that someday I will have to budget my money to pay off all of those old nasty student loans that i ahve racked up!! But at least I know it can be done!!
Congradulations!!