Saturday, June 13, 2009

My Dave Ramsey Stroller

The deeper I get into Mommyhood, the more I am amazed by all the baby "stuff". As a mom, everywhere I go "stuff" is shoved in my face and I am told that I "have to have" this or that or I risk not being a good mom, or at the very least, not a very cool one. And at times I buy into it. I decide I really should get something so I can be "cool". Then I look at the price tag.

ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME?!?!?!?!

You want how much for that?! My kid's happy with rocks and sticks, for crying out loud!

When Mika was first born, Zarik and I took a class called Financial Peace University taught by Dave Ramsey. It's an awesome class that really shows you what you need to do to take control of your money and your life. It was a complete blessing for Zarik and I as he had just gone from working pretty much the max hours he could as a First Officer, to being a Captain on reserve. If we hadn't sat down to look at what we made vs. what we spent, we would have gone from only having car debt and student loans to adding a LOT of credit card debt to our lives. It was definately a God thing that Dave came into our lives at that time.

Since that time we've been trecking along on our Debt Snowball. We had lost sight for a bit, and were eating steak and lobster rather than rice and beans, but once I told Zarik he could NOT have a big screen TV until we'd paid off his dad (our last debt besides the house), we got gazelle intense again!

Just like Zarik and his TV, I get tempted too. Zarik has been encouraging me to work out with my stroller workout group. The only problem: I now need a double jogging stroller. So I started researching. It was hard, man.

Think of it in terms of cars:

This is what I dream of:



This we could afford with a reasonable car loan:



However, this is what we actually own - our "Dave Ramsey" Car we bought for $3000:



I quickly realized that it was much the same with strollers.

This is what I dream about:



This is what I found that we could technically afford:



But after doing the budget for the month and thinking about "WWDD" (What Would Dave Do), this is what I bought today for $30:



I've gotta say, I'm feeling pretty proud of my stroller and can't wait for people to give it weird looks so I can tell them it's my "Dave Ramsey Stroller"!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

Way to go girl! Live like No one Else, so later you can live like no one Else!
BTW I totally agree Dave has been a blessing to my hubby and I too. And WTG on the paid for car. We did that too.
HUGS

Dukymom said...

Can't wait to meet the stroller in person!! Good job!

Michelle said...

Nice buy!!!! :)

Nikole said...

You are awesome sweetheart, we need to start living like you guys, do you know of Dave Ramsey coming to Minnesota? Love you darling! - Bye the way I read your blog a lot just rarely have time to comment, it makes me feel like I get to see you everyday!

Mama4Real said...

Good for you!
I came from MckMama's blog b/c I saw you were from Woodland Park. We used to live in the Springs, and have very close "family" in WP. We'll be there the 13-20 of this month to visit!

Just a small world:)