Sunday's Inspiration

Inspirations for a Fall Saturday

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Personal Finance Inspires Me

“The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.” – William Arthur Ward

I love this quote!  I consider myself an optimist but when it comes to finances however I am also a realist!  First let me say...I am not a Financial Blogger nor do I consider myself a financial guru.  I am just a person who is very much inspired to break my bond with credit card debt.  I am just like so many others - I have a few credit cards and if I allowed it to happen - I could be in serious trouble.  Let's face it - it is so easy to buy today and pay later...and because of that...many of us make those payments each and every month to someone else instead of having that money in our checking/savings account or emergency fund account!

I am just a normal person who is on a quest to become debt free within the next three months.  I am reminded daily that it is baby steps.  I can not expect to shell out a large sum of money (to the tune of $20K to pay off all my credit card bills) - so I have to remind myself to stay committed and focused to achieve my goal of being debt free!

 

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My goal of Financial Freedom as a goal motivates me in  my quest to become debt free so it inspires me to look at it as a daily challenge.

The first thing that I did on my road to financial freedom was create a spreadsheet that shows each credit card, due date, balance due, my monthly payment - and this is important - the current interest rate.  I update this spreadsheet each and every month and when I do - I get excited when I see the balance due going down...down...down!

I also schedule all my payments the first day of the month for each and every account (using my spreadsheet as my reference) so I do not have to worry about it during the month.  One other thing that I do is always pay more than is due.  Have you ever seen those little notes on your bills where it shows you how long it will take you to pay off your balance if you only pay the minimum?  THAT to me is SCARY -
we could be talking years to pay off if only paying the minimum amount.  Just remember - you do not have to pay an enormous amount over the minimum amount due...even if it is only $10...you are making progress....

There are two schools of thought on paying off your credit cards.  Dave Ramsey advises us to use the snowball plan...in other words...pay off the smallest credit card first then the next and so on and so on.  Why do this?  Well - it is exciting to pay off that credit card...it is a thrill to know that you have accomplished that small step toward Financial Freedom and it will pump you up to keep up the good work!

Suze Orman suggests that we pay off the highest interest rate card first.  This is simple reasoning - pay off the highest interest rate card and you will save more $$.

Both Dave and Suze have very valid points on how best to off credit card debt.  I use a bit of both.

I am going to share with you my journey to financial freedom...it works for me but it may not be for everyone.  As noted - I pay a set amount on each card per month...$100 per card.  This is always over the minimum due amount so I am consistently paying a bit more.  Once I then pay off one card...I take that extra $100 that I would normally have paid on the now paid off card...and apply it to another card.  This is a form of the snowball process by Dave Ramsey.  I also have a small inherited IRA that I am required to take a distribution from each year.  I took that amount and paid off another credit card.  All in all - I have now freed up $700 a month that I can use to pay off one of the high interest rate cards in October.  Again - this is what works for me but it may not work for you.  The one thing that I can say is that it is so rewarding to see those credit card balances become a big whopping ~zero~.

My goal and my dream is to be in control of my money...and not let my money control me.  To take control my money inspires me!

Well Hello October and why Fall inspires me

Do you feel it?  

Do you feel the chill in the air?  

Do you hear the crunch of the fallen leaves when you walk on them?

Can you smell the special fragrance that belongs to the Fall Season?

Pumpkins begin to appear everywhere you look!

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The leaves begin to change colors and you know it is just a matter of time when you will need wear a sweater...it is here!

Let's embrace the changing of the seasons and enjoy a good cup of hot chocolate!

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And let us not forget the glorious fall decorations!  Wish my front door looked this good!

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I love Fall!  There is such a special energy that the cool, crisp fall weather brings! 

Let us embrace the days even though they grow shorter and embrace all that is special about October!

Wordless Wednesday - Do not allow life to pass you by

Inspirational places - Monte Sano Mountain - Huntsville Alabama

Today is Travel Tuesday and I wanted to write about a very special place from my past.

Monte Sano Mountain - Huntsville, Alabama.

I grew up in a house at the foot of this glorious mountain. Each day I would walk outside and see this magnificent mountain in all her glory! It has always been a special place for me as it holds so many special memories of my life.

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As a young girl - we would take the short ride up the mountain to have a picnic and play on the playground there.  I can still remember my dad pushing on the swing and feeling like I was going high enough to touch the clouds!  I can close my eyes right now and hear the laughter of a little girl begging her dad..."push me higher Dad...higher"

My Girl Scout troop would take trips up to this mountain to help us earn our badges.  It was always so beautiful and breathtaking...with the hidden trails and meandering paths every which way you could look.  There is a huge covered pavilion at the edge of the mountain overlooking the miles and miles of valley below.  There was also a huge rock fireplace in the pavilion where you could have a roaring fire and toast marshmallows.  OOOH...those were the best S'mores ever!

As I grew older Monte Sano Park became my "special go to place" especially after my dad  died when I was a teenager.  Once I started driving I often drove up the mountain to my favorite place to sit and just think.  You see - there is a hiking trail right behind the pavilion that leads downward into one of the most spectacular places I have ever seen.  As I hiked down - I found a rock that jutted out over the valley which provided an incredible life changing view of the valley below.  I would hike down to my special rock and sit for hours just letting go of my pain from my loss and just reflect on life going forward.  It was not only my inspirational secret spot but it was also my way of meditating (I just didn't know at that young age that I was meditating).  It was the one place where all my worries, all my troubles would just disappear and all was right with the world!  I oftentimes found myself writing here as well.  This special place really inspired me!

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I also introduced anyone visiting me from out of town to my favorite spot and they too recognized the tranquility and peacefulness first hand.  We would just sit and not have to say a word...the universe surrounding us spoke all the words that needed to be said as we feasted upon the beauty of the mountains and valley.

Monte Sano is beautiful all year round but I find that Fall is my most favorite time to truly take in all the beauty of this oh so special place.  Mother Nature does her best artwork in the fall on this mountain.  She paints the bold golds and reds that  leave a gently kiss upon the trees and just takes your breath away

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Once I left Alabama I would always find my way back to my mountain each time I visited my Mom.  Monte Sano always called me home with each visit.  It has now been way too many years since I have been to my special spot but oh how I long for it.  I crave it like I crave a cold glass of ice water on a hot summer day.

For the time being...I will have to allow my memories to take me back to my special place until I can once again find my way back "home"

Looking for Inspiration this weekend

I was so very ready for this weekend!.  This week has been a crazy week especially since I currently have 4....yes 4 work projects on my plate right now!

I always look forward to weekends but now...I live for Saturdays...can not wait for Saturday to arrive so I can just forget about the craziness that is known as my job right now!

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The weekend is so very short...not really enough time to run away or to totally unwind...I decided to come up with a few ways that I could find my inspiration for the weekend and motivate myself for Monday morning!

I decided to make a list of things that I could do during the weekend that would allow me just release the stress of the work week.  Here are some of my ideas:

1)  Go to a movie

2)  Shut the kitchen down for the weekend

3)  Read a good book
4)  Not that I would even think about this but there is always retail therapy!

5)  Find a local Bed and Breakfast for a short staycation.  
6)  Make plans to have dinner with friends (this is always a good pick-me-up)
7) Go to park and write in your journal
8) Take a nap

But the one thing that keeps me motivated...gets me through the week and to the weekend is the fact that I find inspiration in knowing that there is something else around the corner!

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