“Keeping Motivated” Archive

On this page you will find the search results for the search term that you queried.

Staying Motivated…

I struggle a lot with motivation. Sometimes, I actually convince myself that $19,000 in debt isn’t that bad and start to wonder why I’m working to pay it off so quickly.

Working to become debt free would be an easy journey if it were only a few months, but when it stretches to years, that’s when you discover who you really are in terms of dedication.

It’s been just shy of 18 months since we began our journey and to be honest, I find myself growing weary – especially when my personal life gets slammed (more on that tomorrow). I find that when my personal life gets messy…so do my finances.

I was browsing iTunes for free podcasts and stumbled over the Dave Ramsey radio show. His podcasts are free (shorter versions of his radio program – there are some commercials) and you don’t need an iPod to listen to them. You can listen directly from your home computer. I was feeling down this morning and for some reason, listened to his podcast on my way to work. A family had paid off nearly $100K in debt and drove all the way to Dave’s studio just to shout, ‘We’re Debt Free!!!’

It made me smile. Today, it was what I needed.

Check out the show. It’s free and a good source of encouragement.

You are going to get tired. You are going to get weary. You are going to flounder in your decision to live below your means. But we can stick through it because one day, it’s going to be you and me screaming…

WE’RE DEBT FREE!!!

Posted by Beks on March 11, 2010 at 5:00 AM in Keeping Motivated | 15 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Unemployment Update…

The unemployment checks have started to arrive with somewhat regularity. What we didn’t understand at the start was that the unemployment office in California requires an interview. You receive no checks until the interview has been completed. My husband’s interview with the unemployment office wasn’t until 6 weeks after he filed the claim. Claimants have no control over this date and cannot request a sooner time.

My best advice to the recently unemployed, be ready for a long ride. Prepare your finances immediately and don’t assume a check is coming anytime soon.

Our finances took a hit since we were carrying our mortgage and bills on my paycheck and savings alone but we’ve been able to level out a bit since the checks arrived. Whew!

Looks like I can finally buy some splurge items – and by splurge, I mean an occasional sale priced ground beef instead of a cart full of Ramen alone.

Posted by Beks on December 16, 2009 at 5:00 AM in Keeping Motivated, Saving Money, Spending Money | 7 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Financial Frustration…and Weariness…

When I went on my search to find a dog, my goal was to own a fat lazy dog. In fact, I chose him specifically because he sat on the floor, completely lethargic while the other dogs barked and jumped in the kennel.

Maybe it’s because he’s happy, maybe it’s because he’s eating healthy, or maybe it’s because he’s out to SPITE me, but he’s the most energetic dog I’ve ever owned.

Saturday, I went hiking and took him along to see if I could finally wear him out.

We hiked for HOURS.

Up hills, down hills, up steep mountain faces, jogging on trails, climbing through brush, he chugged along beside me. Naturally, I expected him to be exhausted and ready for a break…

But he wagged his tailless butt with fervor, suggesting no rest was necessary.

Drenched in sweat and resting my hands on my knees trying to catch my breath, I couldn’t help but compare him to my debt. I push, I fight, I struggle, but it pursues me with unending vigor. I feel like I can’t win.

My husband’s job loss and our recent setbacks have felt like an overwhelming stumbling block to our journey.

I pushed a while longer and ran a few more hills before going home. I took off his leash and tossed it on the counter. As I gulped a giant glass of water, I looked to see where my endless ball of energy went.

He was curled up on the couch fast asleep…and he didn’t wake up for a solid two hours.

I had two words for my energetic ball of fur…

I win.

Be stubborn with your debt fight today.

Eventually, we’ll win.

Posted by Beks on November 13, 2009 at 5:00 AM in Keeping Motivated | 15 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Learning to Stop Complaining…

I was watching the weather report last week and was surprised to see ‘Weather Alert’ scroll across the bottom of the screen – surprised because I was sitting in front of my TV in a tank top and gym shorts. The anchorman was filming on location to demonstrate the ‘bad weather’. He donned a poofy parka as if he were standing in the armpit of Alaska. He held up a giant thermometer that hovered at 60 degrees and lamented about the ‘frigid’ weather.

Hey buddy – its 60 degrees. Residents in other states call this a heat wave.

In this economy, it’s easy to complain about our ‘sad, sad’ lives as Americans but compared to the rest of the world, we’re pretty darn fortunate. I didn’t get shot at, my house hasn’t been bombed, a tsunami didn’t harm my family, I was able to eat today (though probably too much), and I can worship as I please.

Thank you anchorman. Thank you for reminding me that, even with no job and bills filling my mailbox, life ain’t all that bad.

Smile America… it’s 60 degrees.

Posted by Beks on November 9, 2009 at 5:00 AM in Keeping Motivated | 14 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Poof… there goes the Health Insurance…

I received a letter of healthcare cancellation for my husband this weekend. His benefits run out at the end of the month.

I expected his benefits to expire but I did not expect the high cost to maintain his health insurance through COBRA. We’re looking at $250 a month for an active healthy guy who hasn’t been to the hospital for a medical reason since birth.

This expense isn’t an option for us. It’s either healthcare or our mortgage payment and since healthcare won’t keep us sheltered at night… it lost.

In light of this, I have restricted him from doing anything dangerous. He is officially banned from riding a dirt bike, surfing near sharks, standing on ladders, and clipping his toe nails. I have also encased him in bubble wrap and tied large sofa cushions to his stomach.

I think it will work.

Posted by Beks on October 20, 2009 at 5:00 AM in :), Keeping Motivated, Misc, job loss | 34 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Financial Advice from an Odd Source…

My office is putting my through a 12 week management training course. While I have sincerely enjoyed the teachings about management techniques and understanding people, I have benefited the most from one statement…

Begin with an end in mind.

OK, so here’s the sad part, I don’t remember how exactly they applied that statement to management. BUT, that statement is HUGE for me personally.

Often times, I pick a task with no end. I want to get more fit or I want to eat a healthy diet or I want to live as a penny pincher and on and on and on. Here’s the problem: Unending goals like these will lead to burnout.

Head smackingly obvious right? Then why do I keep making these stupid never-ending goals?

I think that’s what I appreciated about the Dave Ramsey program and why it has worked for me. I was convinced to pay off one debt at a time. It’s a goal with an end followed by another goal with an end. I also think that’s why training for a marathon and a triathlon has kept me more motivated than working out without an end in mind. If I want to quit after I finish I can, but I have a feeling I’ll be signing up for another one as soon as I cross the finish line.

Rather than say, ‘I want to be debt free forever’, say ‘I want to pay off my car by next summer’.

Begin with an end in mind.

What is your end?

Posted by Beks on September 15, 2009 at 5:00 AM in General Personal Finance, Good Info, Keeping Motivated, Reducing Debt, work | 16 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Still Pushing…

As I mentioned earlier, the motivation from the results of reducing debt has pushed me to set other goals I did not think possible. I’ve been training to run in next year’s marathon (though the heat wave has halted me for the last two weeks). A close friend of mine has decided to participate in her first triathlon and asked me to do it with her… in 6 weeks. She is doing a Sprint (half triathlon) so I crazily thought maybe I had a chance to be ready despite the fact that…

I don’t know how to swim.

I won’t drown, I’m simply limited to a doggie paddle and as it turns out, that won’t get me very far.

Even worse, I SHOULD know how to swim. My father set a state record in competitive swimming. As if that wasn’t bad enough, I married a competitive swimmer who also played water polo.

Unfortunately, I realized that three of the six weeks before the triathlon are blacked out for wedding events and will severely cut down on my preparedness – and I have yet to stick a toe in water. I turned my friend down but now I’m looking at the next one in March and… I think I can do it.

Posted by Beks on September 10, 2009 at 5:00 AM in About Me, Keeping Motivated | 8 Comments »
You can leave a response or trackback from your site. |

Older Archives »