Blog Lack and Business Ideas.

Dear Dave,

Sorry I haven’t written in a while.  I think I’ve been discouraged/embarrased that things haven’t been going as great as I’d like.  This blog reflects real life I guess.  So things aren’t always going to be amazing or dramatic.  Sometimes it’s just going to be… life.  I think knowing that we actually have a couple of followers puts even more pressure on.  Not to mention the shout out that your team gave us on your FPU newsletter.  And we’ve been deeply encouraged by your team and the people that read the blog.  So despite the pressure I feel, I’ll type on.

I’m really trying to amp up some business ideas.  I should be starting guitar lessons in the next few weeks (My ad concept, above), and I’ve decided to do a little web design for some of the local businesses around Jamestown.   We’ve been gazelle intense about our budget and savings, but we could definitely be a little more intense about increasing income.  More on that later on.  Hopefully soon.

Also, there’s some news about our savings.  But right now I gotta go do life.

Grateful,

Zach LaValley.

just a few pics.

Dear Dave,

How does a couple on the journey to financial peace celebrate their 2nd anniversary (and also their last anniversary without children)? They save up some dough, and head to Pittsburgh. Yes, we did it on a budget and probably you could’ve told us some much cooler things to do while we were there, but we had an absolute blast! We stayed in hotel 20 minutes from the city because it was cheaper AND had a pool. We only spent money on food and just toured the city. It was in the triple digits which probably happens a lot in Nashville, but not here. We were miserable a lot of the day especially since our paid in full car has no AC, but we survived. It was a wonderful mini vacation and I’m so stinkin grateful that we were able to do it without breaking our bank, without feeling guilty and without worrying. Here’s a few photos.

Stupid Stupid Tax.

Dear Dave,

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahh!!

Sorry.  I needed to vent.

I got pulled over today. Speeding. 77 in a 55 work zone.  When I saw the cop car on the side of the road up ahead and then saw my speed, I felt my adam’s apple sink into my legs.  Yeah.

It sucks because Kristen and I were JUST talking about how we got our emergency fund back up to 900 pretty quickly.  Another week and it’ll be 1000.

And now, stupid tax.

Luckily the officer gave me a break because I didn’t jerk his chain or anything.  So he didn’t report it as a work zone violation. Work zone violations, for those of you reading, rack up outrageous extra fines and seriously screw up your insurance.  Don’t do what I do.

Anyway Dave, that’s the story.  Maybe I should rename this blog, FINANCIAL FAIL BLOG or something.  Maybe not.

Thanks for listening.

Zach.

Celebrating Our 2nd Anniversary.

Dear Dave,

This is the second time I’ll be writing about NOT SAVING MONEY. Go figure…

Monday, August 9th, marks our 2-year anniversary.  Last year, for our first anniversary, I was incredibly sick, so I miserably walked through a zoo with Kristen, and then we ate at McDonalds and went home.  I’m such a romantic.

Anyway, this year I wanted to do something special for her, especially since we got the mini-LaValley arriving in February.

So, on Sunday, we’re going to drive to Pittsburgh (3 hours south), eat at the famous Primanti Bros., spend the night, and then explore the city on our anniversary.  I’m pumped.  It should be epic.

Now, let’s talk money. I know we could pack  a cooler and sleep in our car to save money (of course, I don’t think that you would prescribe that).  But here’s what I’m doing. I’m getting a hotel on Priceline (Good discounts…  Although, someone reading probably knows of better deals).  There was a hotel in a similar location, but with a pool: 80 dollars more per night. Boo…  Also, there is an IKEA in Pittsburgh.  And we LOVE IKEA.  But, we’ve agreed that spending buckets of money at IKEA on stylish stuff we don’t need isn’t in the picture.  Other than that, we’ve budgeted for food, gas, and a couple inexpensive “attractions” (we are such tourists).

I feel like this post is about me apologizing to you and to our readers for spending money.  But it’s not.  I’m thankful because I can do something for my wife on our anniversary before Baby Butt arrives.  Without a credit card.  Or sending in a late bill.

I’m going to enjoy spending this money.  Maybe we’ll post some pictures.

Thanks Dave,

Zach.

12,000 Steps Forward. 1000 Steps Back.

Dear Dave,

Despite the excitement of having sold our car, escaped 12,000 dollars car debt, and paid cash for our own, it’s still annoying to feel like we’re back at square one.  See… we had to empty out our emergency fund to pay the excess on our loan and fork over the dough for the “cash car”, so I guess it’s like we took 2 steps forward, one step back. Or 2 steps back.  Or 12,000 steps forward and 1000 steps back.

And we got the baby on the way too.  So, we’re nixing the debt snowball in order to save every penny.  Which is also annoying.  But that’s what you recommend.  And you’re the rabbi. And it makes sense.  But still, annoyed.  The “mental” aspect of the whole financial journey isn’t working for me right now.  I’m itching to pay something down.  But I can’t. So I’m venting by continuing to work on all my side business crap that I may or may not have mentioned.  And it’s late, so I’ll mention it later.  Or you can ask Allen.  I think he read my blog.  And I think he’s on your team.

One of those days.

Zach.

Prego.

Dear Dave,

I don’t really know how to say this.  So I’ll just say it.

We’re going to have a baby.

We recently found out that Kristen is pregnant.  We’re so excited.  We heard the heartbeat and we got an ultrasound.  Amazing stuff.  The baby’s heartbeart is 160 beats per minute like a good Hillsong United song.  Nice and strong.

Kristen and "Goober"

You know what feels good about this whole thing?  Not freaking out about money.  I mean, don’t get me wrong.  I’m girding up loins.  I’m digging into to work hard so my baby is provided for.  But FPU has given us crazy peace (OK.  God gives peace, but you know what I mean).  I read one of your articles about what to do when you’re having a baby.  This one. And you say we need to pause our debt snowball and get busy with saving.  I’m OK with that.

Aaaaaaaahhhh!!  We’re having a baby!!

Diapers, formula, baby food, cribs, sleepless nights, crying, cuteness, college fund.  I can’t wait.

So there you have it.  The news.  The LaValley’s are prego.

Thanks,

Zach.

The Millstone, A Milestone.

Dear Dave,

The husband here.

The car is officially gone.

It took a lot longer than I thought,  but we sold our 2006 Chevy Equinox LS.  We had to fork over our emergency fund to pay off the excess amount.  But it’s done.  The millstone that was weighing us down has become quite the milestone in our journey to financial peace.  Thank you.

But that’s not all.  We found ourselves a 1993 Buick Skylark Custom with 149,000 miles on it.  We threw down the 575 cash, so now we are driving our own car.  Completely ours.  So… I know this is totally cheating but… WE’RE CAR-DEBT-FREE!!”  Sorry.  I had to.

On to the big stuff.  School loans.

Thanks.