A Year (a life?) Without Credit Cards

Well, it has been well over a year since we have used a credit card. Unfortunately, I don't know the exact date we shredded the credit cards, but we freed ourself from consumer debt six months later on February 22nd, 2007, by making the last and final consumer debt payment we will ever make to payoff a chase credit card. The only debt we have left to payoff are our student loans. Tamra and I have vowed to never have consumer debt again. It's one of our "No Matter What's".

We have to thank Dave Ramsey and his book, The Total Money Makeover, for sharing the wisdom of living debt free along with a plan to become debt free that works. Living below our means has changed our life and we are planning a debt free life for us and our girls. We do plan on getting a small mortgage on a house that we can payoff in five years or less while we payoff our student loans. We hope that we will be able to help our girls start a debt free life by setting a good example, planning to help them pay for college and maybe even help them with a starter home.

Over the next few weeks, I'll share how we did it. But for now, I would recommend renting Dave Ramsey's book at the library. It's a quick read (it's motivating) and this book has the potential to change you life, too! You just have to do it!!!

Potato Harvest

This past weekend we went to the Howell Living History Farm for the annual Potato Harvest. We saw horses pull a plow like tool through the dirt that lifted the potatoes to the surface and then we went out and put them in buckets. We filled two buckets full of potatoes and then enjoyed some cookies and lemon aid. We also packed a picnic lunch and enjoyed it by the farmhouse. After lunch, which included fresh potato chips cooked outside the farmhouse, we visited the farm animals. The potato picking is on the first video and the animals are on the second video.

Howell Farm Potato Harvest

Howell Farm Animals

Ron Paul Takes Them On!!!

Someone created an interesting, but brief, compilation of Ron Paul's night with good music in the background. You can hear them (the neocons) mocking and snickering at him like highschool kids, but HE WON!!! Listen to all of the applause!!! I wish the person would have left more of Paul's answers in there. He was good. If I ever find myself in a debate like that I could only hope to do as well.

Ron Paul - Going the Distance!

If you prefer a longer unedited summary of what he said, here it is:

Yesterday's Outing

Tamra, Kaitlyn, Ellie and I go to Dessert Moon for some delicious Mexican and then to the Mall to walk around. Google Video is down, so I put in on Youtube for the time being.