After a tough 4 years, I have finally done it! I'm debt free! Well, except for 60K left on the house. For anyone thinking of doing the Dave Ramsey plan, or a similar plan, I highly recommend it. Now I didn't follow it directly but none the less the principles are the same.
A little background. I had accumulated roughly 60k in medical and life expenses over the last 12 years (school, 3 kids, moving, job changes, poor spending habits etc.). My wife and I set a goal of getting out of debt when we moved to Nashville 4 years ago within 4 years. We had some help along the way, but we made it.
Now 11 months ago we were 40k short and didn't look like we could get anywhere close, but a motorcycle wreck turned into a blessing and helped us meet our goal. I don't suggest that route:screwy: but as the proverb says, "in his heart mans plans his path, but God directs his footsteps.
This meant we had one vehicle for the last 9 years, I don't buy clothes (If you've met me I'm probably wearing one of 2 or 3 outfits I own), moved 13 times in 3 years, and scimped and saved every nickel, except for gun stuff which I called investments! Most of which I sold when we needed extra money.
As of this week I owe no one! I have my 6.8 build nearly done, my Mossy 500 decked out, a Hi-power with all the frills, my Glock 19, mags and ammo, 2 nice paid for vehicles and will be adding 400 sq. ft on to our 758 sg ft. house and it was all done in cash!
I don't say this to brag but to encourage others that it can be done. It is truly feeing to be in no mans servitude, as the scriptures say, "the borrower is slave to the lender".
BTW - All this in a crappy economy and I have not made over 35k a year in the last 12 years. In fact I made considerably less. It's not how much you have, but what you do with it.