live like no one else, so you can live like no one else...

Consider it done.  Certificate of completion in hand. My first million made and saved.  Wait, no, that actually hasn't happened....yet.  BUT, I just finished up Financial Peace University--a 13-week course by Dave Ramsey about how to manage your money. While the general public undoubtedly won't hold this diploma

in as high esteem as the 4-year degree which I carefully placed in the bottom of some drawer (I'm fairly sure that's where I elected to place it), I consider this course far more imperative than any college course offered today.  I'm not kidding--I drank the kool-aid.  I loved every single class and I only wish I would have learned this stuff back in college...or high school...or junior high...

In fact, if they did offer it in high school, you'd be calling me Ms. Duncan in the fall. 

So it's week after week of many different topics including budgeting, debt repayment, insurance, emergency funds, investing, mutual funds, mortgages, and giving. You read this book...

and fill out this workbook during your meetings.  Yes, meetings.  Kinda like the "I'm Annie, and I know nothing about how to handle money" meetings.

It's tough--nobody likes talking about finances (particularly me--I really, really don't like numbers in general, whatsoever).  So, after creating a good ol' budget for myself and living off an "envelope system" for a couple of months, I've retrained myself in this spending area and have some serious goals. Pretty sure the most effective part of this so-called "envelope system" for me was not wanting to whip out 9 wadded up envelopes with "gas money" or "food" written across the front at the store, so I just opt to not purchase anything.  He didn't teach that but I can make just about anything happen. 

No, I haven't become a tightwad, I still drive my car and put gas in it weekly (although that budget item increased recently), and believe it or not, am happy to eat out should you ask.  Let's just say I'm at least aware of what's going out now--the beauty of a budget.  Yuck.  Nope, by no means do I love it; actually, borderline hate it, but it's good for me, it's a challenge, and now I know how to get where I want to go and know I can do it. (please don't ask about that "where I want to go" part--still to be determined, and changes daily)

And so his motto, "Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else."  I don't have that one mastered yet...to be continued...