Who am I?

I have cut up all my credit cards and closed all my credit card accounts. Chase was trying to get me to stay with them over the phone as I called to close the account. It's as if they were begging me to stay with them. They kept saying that I should keep it for my credit score and for emergencies (at 20.74%?! PLEEEEEEEEZE). I told them I don't need you anymore - I have cash available. There is no need to borrow money from you guys or anyone ever again.

I have just obtained a free credit report check, placed freezes on my credit reports, and will be mailing my Opt-out permanent request to stop banks and insurance companies from sending me pre-approved credit junk mail.

Why did I do all this? I won't be needing credit to buy ANYTHING EVER AGAIN. Freezing my credit report helps protect my name and my identity information from being misused. I can always temporarily lift the freeze if need be, but the freeze will be in place 99% of the time. I don't need pre-approved credit junk mail to tempt me into getting another credit card. Those days are OVER. I have drawn the line.

I feel like a burden has been lifted off of my shoulders. It's a great feeling of relief that these chains have been unshackled from me. I feel like lifting my hands up into a victory pose for a win over this battle, but the war isn't done yet.

I'm still on Dave Ramsey's Baby Step 2, but I'm looking at 8-10 months left before I am debt free!!! While working on my debt snowball, the possibility of job related moving has risen, so I'm making a separate emergency fund on top of my current $1000.00 emergency fund. This way I can plan for my possible unpredicted move and still have a fund for other emergencies.

I'm feeling motivated and excited about whipping my money into shape. I feel more in control of my finances by making a written budget every money, using an envelope system for food , and making a timeline for my debt snowball. My pocketbook is getting its swole on.

I plan to volunteer at the Dave Ramsey Live Event in Raleigh, NC on September 1, 2010. I've learned so much about not only prioritizing my finances, but also my life. It's a great feeling! I want others to have this great feeling that I have too.

I want to leave you with an episode of the Dave Ramsey Show that focuses on military families. These families go through a lot with the separation of a spouse going over seas to fight America's wars to protect and to serve. It can be hard for soldiers to stay focused on the mission when they're thinking about their house or car being repossessed. It's a matter of deployment readiness. It's important to keep your pocketbook in check prior to going out for deployment.