Quiet...

Its been pretty quiet in here lately...

Things that slow with everyone?

I put Christmas lights up on Sunday night - while Garrett did dishes I can't wait to get a tree!!!! I LOVE Christmas time - it makes me happy!

I'm having to re-evaluate my life and put together a REAL 2-5-10-20-50yr plan. Its kinda scary to be honest and I have some reservations - but oh well...big risks have big payouts!

Well, in that plan somewhere, you better make sure you're ready for a young'un! Cuz when you get one of those, your life goes literally topsy turvy!

On the serious side of things, keep good credit!!!!! Don't have more than 2 credit cards. Try and put up at least 3 months worth of bills - this part I'm not kidding about - still haven't been able to do it, but still working towards it, for those "lean" months. Buy a house - is great for the asset side of things. If you get a vehicle, keep it for at least a year after it's paid for; take that money, that you spent every month and put it on another bill. Pay $20 more on every bill, including house, credit cards, installments, etc.

7Cs - you're so good!!!!

Right now I'm trying to pay stuff off - Garrett got himself in WAY over his head before we met and is SLOWLY digging out! I'm in a slightly better situaton but not much... Lately we've been trying to figure out where our budget can be realistically cut - hmmm, easiest and quickest spot is - you guessed it - horses!!!! We figured it out and on a very conservative estimate it is costing us about $140 a month PER horsie in the barn - when you have FIVE of those buggers up - it ads up VERY Quickly into a HOUSE PAYMENT - so, we have been cleaning house!
Boss - sale pending
Itsy - in foal with stud fee taken care of for next year (turned out)
Darcy - he will be kept indefinately but I'm seriously considering sending my sister a bill for him monthly!
Randolph - in race training
Tessa - in race training
Ruby - in race training (Co-owned by Garrett's dad so she isn't going anywhere but his dad pays vet bills etc, we pay feed)
Duck - turned out - will come up at the end of December and go into training again

Itsy foals in Feb and that will add another horse - oh boy...fortunately I won't have to feed that one as it is a perk where Garrett works...

we REALLY have to cut back though - if we can each get down to ONE horse and share the broodmare that would make our lives SO much easier! I have a 6 month goal on that. Then if we just put that money to other bills - YAY!

Me, was selling down on horses then this KY thing came up, so we have changed our minds and are going to raise a few more foals.
Tucker Died, and has me in a Tail spin about that in the world am I going to breed to..

I agree about the 3 months thing, Selling a Ky Incentive fund colt to pay off my 2 charge cards and a very expensive Sewing machine. Then we will be able to put money back.. No Problem. Finally. Kirts lay offs, hurts the ole' Savings account. It goes up and down during those times. Construction, scary business at times.

My advise is dont take to much for granted, Love your parents. You never know how long you have them.

My whole life is budgeted. I married Dave Ramsey's twin brother. Okay, so Blake is not really Dave's twin, but we live by Dave Ramsey's philosophies. As much as I hate to admit it, it really has changed our lives for the good. Everything is budgeted for. We know what's coming in and what's going out and we have money set aside for whatever might come up.

I second what 7C's said about setting back money. If you start out by putting $1000 in an emergency fund and gradually build it up to 6 months living expenses, you'll be in good shape. Don't use it except for bonafide emergencies. Oh and by the way, finding an awesome new horse that you really need does not qualify as an emergency...or so I'm told.

LOL - yeah -I'm getting there slowly - the problem I'm having is Garrett is saying that it is MY horses that need to go but HIS get to stay - HA...

how sadly is he mistaken - I told him this morning that he has 6 months to figure out who gets to stay! I'm tempted to sell BOTH of mine so there is NO question and buy one further on down the road or keep my foal thats coming - I have to keep it until it is a yearling anyway.

Garrett is AWEFUL about money - he is the world's WORST! Painfully so...

>>>Oh and by the way, finding an awesome new horse that you really need does not qualify as an emergency...or so I'm told.<<<<<

What! Oh, my goodness, Get him on here we will get him straight in a hurry!

I know...it's just ridiculous.