Finances

I'm taking a hard look at our finances. I don't feel in control of them and I want to know where the money goes. I've searched the internet for resources to help me budget. I don't think I've got it down; I just seem to make a lot of lists. Does anyone have any good suggestions on how to make a budget? I know how to list all my expenses versus my income but that doesn't tell me how to save. It just lets me know I have no money. At church they are offering a class from Dave Ramsey's "Financial Peace University." Curt and I are going to give it a try and see how we fare.

I want to be debt free. I need a better job, one closer to where we live. Curtis would like a better job too, of course, who doesn't?

I've been thinking and reading a lot about screen printing. Is this my new calling? Who knows but it sounds like fun. It's inexpensive but none the less, there are still start up costs to acquire supplies. It doesn't help that everything needs to be ordered online since there aren't any Dick Blicks close to where I live anymore. How I miss the days on campus and art supplies were always at my fingertips. I don't want to forget my sewing abilities either. I enjoy sewing a lot and wish I could go back to working at the costume shop at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. It was fantastic there! All good things come to an end I guess.

I don't know what's coming next. Curtis mentioned a bed & breakfast idea yesterday. I thought it sounded interesting to try. I don't have the slightest idea how to establish one or the funds to build one. But it sounds good anyhow. I think it would be fun to run a small b&b with my husband but I heard tons of warnings about working with family. Hey, if we get the chance, I wouldn't mind giving it a try.

Going back to the debt thing, we want to get a house. I don't see how it could happen anytime soon but maybe after we go through those classes at church we will be more on our way? I don't know. I long for a house. I am done sharing walls with strangers that wrestle at 2 in the morning, throwing each other around, seems like they are going to bust through the ceiling and come falling down on us in our bed. I can't wait to have my very own washer and dryer that I don't have to share with people I don't know and don't have to feed quarters to. When I want to wash clothes at midnight I will wash clothes at midnight! I hoped that the next time we moved it was into a house and we could use movers! But our lease in up in July, and I don't know how we can get money like that together in time.

God has his plan and we will see what he has in store for us.