New eBook! FOR YOU – PREGNANCY 2nd/3rd Trimester

Managing Money like a Mother Hi, friends here on Lively Girl Fitness! My name is Carly Hill, and I am thrilled to be writing a post for my friend here, Rachel. Rachel and I met in our mom's group and I knew I’d like her when I overheard her say one morning “my husband and I are Dave Ramsey fanatics!” 🙂 I’m gonna chat with you today about the plan, mindset, and priorities my family has adopted for our finances, and share some of the mistakes we’ve made along the way in the process of achieving our financial freedom and living debt free! “Three Easy Steps to Stay Home with your Kids Today!” Step 1: realize that shortcuts like this don’t exist. If they did, someone much richer and smarter than me would already be talking about it! 🙂 We’re following a 7 step plan The steps are simple, but they’re not easy! We all want to hear the small, practical tips to living on less and saving more, but these only help you when they fit into a big picture plan. So as much as I know you want to hear a few easy steps, I’m first going to focus on the less glamorous work of understanding your situation and making a long term plan. You must begin with honesty. Take off the blinders and be honest with yourself about your situation. If you are married, take time with your spouse to apologize for lack of communication or hidden purchases or misguided priorities, forgive, and commit to being on this journey together. If your spouse refuses to discuss such matters or change their current lifestyle (I know many of you are, you are heard and seen and your efforts are still worthwhile!), do what is within your power to change while first and foremost honoring your love and commitment to them. Lead by example and pray for the humility to stay the course in love. My husband, Kyle and I took Financial Peace University in the summer of 2016 right after we had become debt free. We say this all the time: that class was equal parts money planning and marriage counseling and we wish we took it before we got married! If you haven’t taken it and you ask me how to communicate with your spouse about money, I’m gonna help you sign up for FPU. 😉 [...]