I'm SOOO excited!

**mnmarty03** · 10-18-2008, 06:45 PM

Okay. Tonight (just now) I figured out my bills for the rest of October and all of November. I took into account what would be coming out of which paychecks (I get paid weekly) and underestimated my paychecks by at least $20 a week (80 a month!).

What I figured out is.... that by Nov 1st I'll be able to sock $400 (most likely more) into my EF/Wedding Expenses fund (getting hitched in March)!!!! I'm sooo excited. I am down between $50 - 100 this month because of money that got lost/stolen (don't know which) so I was afraid I'd be low on my savings. BUT since there are 5 weeks in Oct, I'm still okay!

Then by the end of Nov I will be able to stick another $400 in my account!!!!!

I'm so happy!

So..here's how it's looking -

$$ In EF/W.E. Now - $225.00
$$ In EF/W.E. 11/01 - $625.00
$$ In EF/W.E. 12/01 - 1025.00

If I were following Dave Ramsey's plan, that would put me at my fully funded Baby EF and I could start paying debt down drastically. Unfortunately (or fortunately) with my wedding coming up this isn't an option. What IS an option (and WILL BE HAPPENING) is paying CASH ONLY for my wedding...

First up is my wedding dress. I need to purchase it ASAP so that it is ordered on time. I am spending a bit much on it, unfortunately. My dress is the single most important item in my wedding for me and though I have looked and looked for a cheaper dress.. I have fallen in love with one that at the most will be $661.00 (including tax). I believe it is a little cheaper than that though.

Since I have to order this asap, the $1025.00 will have to pay for it.. leaving $364 in the EF/W.E. fund.

Yes, I know, ideally I'd have $1000. If something goes wrong I may be screwed. But the way I figure it, that's still more money than I have now and my dress will be paid for (and yes, I'm selling my dress after the wedding to get some money back). Like I said, I tried to find something cheaper..but simply couldn't. And for me, the money is ok because I could get married in a dumpster for all I care - as long as my groom is there and I feel gorgeous. And in this dress, I feel GORGEOUS.

Oh and there's more good news! In December I have my 3 month review at work, and will potentially be going on Salary w/a pay increase! That means I'll get benefits too!! At the very worst I'll be able to still put $400 a month away in Dec, Jan, and Feb. That's $1200 alone... not including the left over $364 after I pay my dress. My savings will be 1,564.00!!! I'm so happy.

Course, then my fiance will be here with out the ability to work (not an American) for about 3 months or so after he gets here. My extra $400 a month paycheck will have to go towards making ends meet for 2 of us then. Sigh. But as soon as he is working then we will make sure our EF is up to $1000 and will pay off the debt.

My financial future is looking so wonderfully awesome. It feels sooo good to know that I can pay my bills AND save. And that we can pay for our dream wedding w/o going into debt!

Ok. This is long enough. I'm just really excited!

P.S. I forgot to mention - I'll also be getting a few hundred dollars in Nov sometime from a bonus for working with the company I worked for in the summer. It's 0.50 per hour you worked for the season.. I worked there three months. It should be at least a couple hundred, possibly even 3 or 4 hundred. That'll be added to the EF/W.E. too, though I didn't add it in since I don't know how much it'll be.

P.P.S Of course there's taxes too. I plan on filling ASAP so that I have my return in Feb or March at the latest. That should be at least another $500, probably more. This year it was $549 (just federal) and in 2008 I worked more and paid more into Federal...so I'm guessing it'll be more. Again, since I don't know the exact number, I am not adding it in here.

**Darlene** · 10-18-2008, 07:44 PM

I'm so happy for you! It's been neat watching you grow & change over the past couple years & I have no doubt that lots of good things are ahead for you. You've got a plan and will find your way no matter what.

:woohoo1:

**Mom23boys** · 10-18-2008, 09:00 PM

You seem to have a plan that is working for you. Congratulations on the upcoming wedding!

**mnmarty03** · 10-19-2008, 06:50 AM

Thanks guys!

Aww... it's nice to know people know who I am!

Lol... I always think everyone will forget me. I need to work on my self-esteem!

I do have a plan. And it feels sooooooooo good. I've waited many years to be able to save some serious dough. It feels great.

**Cricketlegs** · 10-19-2008, 10:12 AM

Looks to me like you are following Dave in an amended way.

1. Cash for wedding = NO NEW DEBT--that is Dave
2. Reasonable wedding= LIVING IN YOUR MEANS--Dave again
3. Budget= YOU HAVE ONE--Dave
4. Life on track to start the EF AFTER the wedding--learned that from Dave did ya? lol

Yep, you are on the Dave train. Keep saving and stay on budget for the wedding and ANY extra needs to go to the EF.

Start married life in the green and not the red.

You can do this...and I hope you have the wedding of your dreams.

**Jskell911** · 10-19-2008, 04:35 PM

That is such great news. It has to feel so good to pay cash for your wedding. What a wonderful way to start a marriage (w/o the debt of the wedding)

**Greebo** · 10-20-2008, 08:49 AM

Originally Posted by Cricketlegs

Looks to me like you are following Dave in an amended way.

1. Cash for wedding = NO NEW DEBT--that is Dave
2. Reasonable wedding= LIVING IN YOUR MEANS--Dave again
3. Budget= YOU HAVE ONE--Dave
4. Life on track to start the EF AFTER the wedding--learned that from Dave did ya? lol

Yep, you are on the Dave train. Keep saving and stay on budget for the wedding and ANY extra needs to go to the EF.

Start married life in the green and not the red.

You can do this...and I hope you have the wedding of your dreams.

What she said - you've drunk the kool aid! Have an excellent and joyous wedding!

**BlessedMomof2** · 10-20-2008, 09:00 AM

Sounds like you have a great plan and a beautiful wedding planned! Congratulations!

**HappyMama** · 10-20-2008, 12:41 PM

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. Great job and great way to be starting off marriage with a plan, budget and debt free wedding.

**hmcart** · 10-20-2008, 01:00 PM

I think that it is awesome that you are paying cash for your wedding! So many people end up with so much debt over weddings! WTG!

**peanut** · 10-20-2008, 01:09 PM

That's great! You're doing such a good job!

Jean

**mnmarty03** · 10-21-2008, 08:03 PM

Wow. It's been a few days since I've checked on this. "you've drunk the kool aid!" makes it sound like I'm now crazy

! hee hee.

Yup. Cash is the way to go. We're still working on our wedding budget... hashing out the details. But no matter what it'll still be a perfect day. And it will feel good at least to have no new debt!

I guess I do follow a new type of Dave Ramsey plan. hmm. you all finally seeped into my brain!

**Momof3girls** · 10-22-2008, 12:54 AM

What a great attitude and an inspiration you are!

**madhen** · 10-22-2008, 01:04 AM

It's creepy how many times FV seeps into your brain, isn't it?

Actually, being on here daily keeps my mind flying right, and I find myself saying things like, "Yes, but if I unplug the laptop charger, my Kw usage goes down a whole two points!!" and getting excited when I see something in Freecycle that I have been thinking about getting. (I think Freecycle sends radio waves to my brain and figures out what I want, because it is just a LITTLE too coincidental how many times that has happened....)

Sounds like you are on the right path for a wonderful and debt-responsible life!! You'll have to sneak a pic on one of your fittings and let us see this GORGEOUS dress.

**mnmarty03** · 10-22-2008, 07:43 AM

If I can get a picture of the dress and me in it sometime, I will. Here is a link to the dress on the designer's page: http://www.maggiesottero.com/dress.a...=8&style=A3157

Isn't it amazing? It is so my dream dress. Better be, I'm paying enough for it. lol. I'm planning on getting it in diamond white and wearing the just past the elbow length gloves during the ceremony. Jewelry will be my mom's diamond earrings and my grandma's amethyst necklace. I will be pretty. That'll be a nice change from my usual "i clean up animal feces all day" look. lol.

I WISH freecycle worked for me like that!! I seem to never find anything I need on there. Course, I could probably look more often too!