Financially Ignorant Part 2

After high school I went to work with my mother again to save money for community college. Little did I know the pattern would repeat and I would be spending my money on clothes, a new car, food and helping with rent again. This went on until a couple months before my 21st birthday. My friend Cari asked me to move to Utah with her and go to the community college there. I put my first college application in and was so surprised to see they accepted me. I didn't know they accepted almost everyone. I'll never forget how I felt when I opened that letter. I still have it :)

So off to Utah I went in January 1997. I stopped in Tucson Arizona where Cari was staying with her parents. She informed me that she really liked it there and was going to stay put. I was a little disappointed but I made my way to Utah and stayed the first semester.

This was the first time I ever lived on my own. I had a new car and college to pay for. I had no job and no money 3 weeks after arriving. I took a job at as a telemarketer making $9.00 an hour. I hated this job! I'm not a sales person. But I had to pay rent some how. My parents couldn't help me and I needed to stand on my own. By May I realized I couldn't do this yet and called my friend Cari. I moved to Tucson and stayed with her family for almost a year. Cari got married that June and I didn't know what to do with my life.

I was 21 years old, living with my friends parents and broke. On top of all that I gained 60lbs living off Taco Bell food. Cari's mom was so sweet and encouraged me to look for work other than fast food. She told me how talented I was and that I could do so much more with my life. This was a real contrast to being told, all my life, how stupid I was and how I would never make anything of myself. She got me an interview with a temp agency and I was able to start work at a local bank. I was making $7 an hour. I still hadn't learned how to manage my finances.

Cari's sister Erin and I moved into an apartment with 2 other girls from church a year later (1998). That year I learned a lot about responsibility and what needed to come first in my financial life. I always paid my share of the bills first. Then I bought my groceries. But all my other funds went to fast food and entertainment. I just didn't have control. I thought I was doing fine though. I even bought a used car. However, I got into credit card debt before leaving Florida. I declared bankruptcy at 22yrs old. I was ashamed and I still hadn't managed to complete college. I had only 12 credits to my name. What was I going to do?

I decided to go to work full time. I knew I wouldn't be able to complete college and live on my own. I transferred to Phoenix when the local bank I worked for was purchased by a national bank. I bought another used car at %23 interest. )No one ever taught me about purchasing a car either! We only had 2 cars growing up and that was for only 4 years of my life.)

It was now 24 years old, single and in a better place emotionally than I had ever been. I met my husband in October 1999. We married February 12, 2000. Boy did he NOT know what he was getting into with me. Like I said, ignorance is bliss.

We have made a lot of financial mistakes over the years. Both of us! It's been 11 years now and I'd like to say that I have learned how to control my finances. But I would be lying. I am however much better at budgeting than when I was single. I have kids and a husband to think of before I can be selfish. But how far have I really come?

I am now, for the first time, budgeting out monthly expenses like groceries, gas and utilities. We have always had money for these things. But I would rack up credit card debt buying clothes and such. I've done this 3 times! Finally I can say that I am taking my finances one day at a time. I look at them each day and make sure I'm on track. That I'm not overspending and that I remember what is a want and a need. Priorities are everything!

So, at almost 35 years old, I am happy to say that I'm still learning and growing. But the difference from childhood to now is understanding my mistakes. Plus having the Lord's help is really great too!

I don't know why I blogged this but I have been making such good progress lately that I had to share. I couldn't just tell about my success until you heard about the failure first. Life is hard but two things are certain. 1 I will eventually die and 2 I will pay taxes even after my death!

I'm just hoping for a little fun and happiness along the way!