Cash, Friend or Foe?

I have been listening to Dave Ramsey for quite some time, after some gentle urging from my husband to get on board with him and his financial outlook.

Now that we are on the same page, and working through our debt snowball (which will be finished by the end of 2013 with our current habits) I have decided that "hey, this guy really does know what he is talking about and I should put more faith into ALL of his ideas."

This all boiled to down to CASH. I despise CASH. I am nervous to carry it around with me, I feel like I should use it all right away, and I forget to actually use my change so after a while my purse weighs a few extra pounds ;) I have gone to a cash only budget and quickly given up after running out of money within the first week. Since I am more of a "I want it NOW" kind of girl my debit card has always come in handy during these moments.

Now that it is a new year I had this great idea that I should follow the principles laid before me and actually listen to Dave Ramsey (and my husband) when they tell me that if I use cash, and only cash, when I am out shopping, that I will spend less.

It's been 9 days. 9 long days. After-Christmas Sales, Spring Apparel Arriving Sales, Christmas Gift Cards (that don't cover the whole bill), the list goes on and on. However, I have come to resist a few of the sales, I have stayed away from most stores, and I have only used gift cards that were going to expire or was buying something I actually wanted. I have especially been staying away from the grocery store (how does food cost SO MUCH!?)...

Look at my pantry below and you will realize why I really should stay out of the grocery stores... there are only 1.5 of us (my husband travels overnight most days throughout the week so he is only 1/2 home)

Payday is now only 5 days away before I get my next allotment of cash to spend, and I have plenty to get me through!

I am so excited by my progress and I plan to stand firm, stay out of the stores and put my extra cash each period into a special fund so that I can splurge on some of our monthly dates that we plan to have throughout 2013!

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