We're just starting..need prayers?

**Barn Princess Tonya** · 02-08-2011, 04:21 PM

I just started taking FPU classes. We're in week 3...you know, the one where you have to come up with a bbbbbbbbbbudget.

Needless to say, I've been perfecting my procrastination streak. I have the forms printed, but I can't seem to reach that 8 inches over and get them and get to work on them. I'm beginning to think it could take days to find a sharpened pencil.

Part of it is that I know it's going to be painful. I don't like being restricted. I've been doing Weight Watchers for 8 months and have lost 20 pounds. Why? I'm afraid to 'feel the burn' and to just do it. I know both WW and FPU will be good, but it's that 'walking through the valley of pain' thing that I'm not diggin'.

Can you lift up a prayer that I can get over this block and JUST DO IT?

Thanks!
Tonya

**OOwl** · 02-08-2011, 04:45 PM

I'm a procrastinator, as well, so I definitely have compassion. Do it with a buddy and set goals your buddy will hold you to and ask you about.

I actually didn't have trouble setting up my budget; I had trouble being TRUE to it. All it hurt was myself by taking longer to accomplish my goal. I wish you the absolute best, and I will definitely offer up a prayer for strength for you.

**Debbie-cat** · 02-08-2011, 06:29 PM

You can do it!! This is your first step to having a debt free future! We have faith in you!

**Imarachne** · 02-08-2011, 06:47 PM

You can do it and then come back and tell us your successes !!

**sunshine** · 02-08-2011, 07:13 PM

Do I need to come over with a frying pan? Come on Tonya! You and dh can do this! You have to do this, for your kids future!

**photogal06** · 02-08-2011, 07:38 PM

Sending you positive budgeting thoughts........now go PICK UP THAT PENCIL!!!

LOL! You can totally do this. I actually love budgeting. I've had mine in place for years now, and I love to tweak it every couple of weeks to see how much more money I can squeeze out! The longer you go with the DR program, the more fun budgeting becomes (IMO!)

**waterbaby77** · 02-08-2011, 08:05 PM

I used to hate budgeting, it seems like such an oppressive thing. But once I started doing it, it became really freeing. Now that I use envelopes, I don't really think about it or tweak it very much any more. Before I used the envelopes, I was constantly fixing and adjusting it. So any budget you do right now is not set in stone. You can always add something that you forgot later, or gradually cut down or eliminate categories as you become more gazelle.

**rachelj** · 02-09-2011, 08:01 AM

Forget the word budget. Call it a spending plan.

You are just telling your money where you want it to go.

You knew this part was coming when you decided to sign up for the class.

You can do it.

**Greebo** · 02-09-2011, 08:26 AM

The feeling of restriction lasts about 2 months.

Into the 3rd month, you start realizing that you have money to make sure your bills are paid on time, your food is on the table, and you're making progress getting out of debt.

Into the 3rd month, the budget begins to feel like FREEDOM.

**Barn Princess Tonya** · 02-09-2011, 09:42 AM

I got the first pass done....then I realized that it didn't include things like "Critter Feed". So more tweaking today.

We have under $3K in debt and are already planning on having htat knocked out in the next 8 months. We're doing OK financially, but it's not secure enough and I want to have more in savings. As it is now, big things like a vacation mean that we have to skimp somewhere else for a few months. We vacay every 5 years, but this year we're going to WI to celebrate my parents 50th Anniversary. My brother and SIL are giving all of us their timeshare time and extra points, so it'll cost very little, but I still need to come up with extra gas and eats. It's things like that that strap us. If I had more in savings, it would be better.

**gmarie** · 02-09-2011, 10:22 AM

I am great at avoidance so I can sympathize. My place was always sparkling clean when there was a big paper due. And I used to avoid the pile of bills for months, and end up 60 days late on $10 payments. Just pick up the pencil!

**Dixie** · 02-09-2011, 10:23 AM

You can do this, Tonya!

**cottageliving** · 02-09-2011, 11:20 AM

I am a BIG procrastinator and can sympathize. I was also TERRIFIED of putting budget to paper because I always kept everthing in my head and was afraid to deal with the actual balances!

Here's the surprise coming your way though -- once you put it on paper you realize that you have LESS debt and MORE money to work with, and MORE flexibility than you've allowed yourself to admit.
You will feel a huge burden being lifted when you deal with specifics.

Good luck - sending prayers your way -- now get that step done and pat yourself on the back!! You are on your way!!

**khaski** · 02-10-2011, 03:38 PM

It will be overwhelming, at the start...but Greebo summed it up best- once you get over that hump, 'JUST DO IT' and live by it- it's FABULOUS. Not a DR phrase, a Suze OPrman phrase, but ' you gotta face it to erase it'. The budget is not bringing anything new to the table, it's just you, straightening it all out, taking the guess work every paycheck out of it. Imagine...once you're done, you'll know EXACTLY how you're gonna pay your ills etc each month. You'll realize, in hindsight, the 'pain' is actually when you DONT have a budget!

**Barn Princess Tonya** · 02-12-2011, 09:25 PM

I DID IT!!!!

I did a budget BEFORE I found out I could download the info from my bank to and Excell spreadsheet. After customizing the spreadsheets (had to take half of 2 statements to get one full month's snapshot) and analyzing it I've come to the conclusion that I NEED TO KEEP MY ARSE OUT OF WALMART. I thought I spent about $700 on groceries and household. WRONG. It's more like $1300.

So now I'm going back to a NO WAL MART dare. Can I stay out of that place the rest of February? I don't NEED anything from there-especially since I have all of my Valentine stuff and got my oil changed this weekend. If I need produce they have this place called The Grocery Store. I can go there instead....and bring my coupons.

I've found that I can't go to a Zero balance. I have about $300 in there that I can't allocate. I don't have enough faith in my budgeting skills to totally 'spend' every dollar. Maybe later, but not for a few months. Maybe it's because I grew up on the poor side or what, but I just can't do it.

Keep praying! This is going to be a bumpy ride!