The great thing about him is that Dave Ramsey also teaches action. All the hope in the world is not any good if there is not some action backing it up. Planning, preparing and doing are all components of hope.

Yesterday there were a few of us discussing the state of society and how so many of us are dependent on the government. Think about it – could YOU last for a month with out electricity? You rely on the government to get that electricity to your home.

The conversation reminded me of a man that decided to stay in his home along the coast of Louisiana when Hurricane Katrina came ashore. When rescue workers FINALLY found him his house was surrounded by ten feet of debris. He and his dog were on the back deck. He told the workers to go on and find those that really needed help and that he was fine. This man had no electricity, no running water and no cell phone service but he felt he was fine.

Steps to Lead from Hope to Having

1. Create a back up plan. It is impossible to know what tomorrow holds but if you know what you will do no matter what tomorrow holds then circumstances will not be able to steal your hope.

2. Do it yourself. Learning to do things on your own is a great way to explore new hobbies, save a little money and build the ability to do things on you own IF you are ever in the position to have to do them yourself.

3. Reduce dependency. The fewer things you require from others then the easier it will be for you if those others remove their support. You will also reduce the amount of control that others have on your life.

Hope is not a mysterious feeling. It comes from knowing that no matter what the circumstances thrown at you or your family you will be able to survive and even thrive.

1. Debt enslaves. You are forced into the terms of the lender no matter how your situation may change or what you may feel the need to do in the future. There is no way you can have complete control of your life because you are in debt (under control) of another.

2. Debt ensnares. Once you fall for the whole debt scenario it is only a matter of time before most people fall under its spell. Debt is easy and quick and provides instant gratification for needs, wants or desires.

3. Debt entraps. It looks good on the surface, particularly when you are dealing with things that are the so called “good debts.” In the end you are caught in a cycle of financial obligation that only debt can draw you into.

4. Debt impoverishes. Interest paid on the debt is often enough to buy what ever you wanted in the first place. Debt eats away your extra income (or all your income) until you have nothing at all.

So how do you get away from the socially expected journey into the depths of debt?

1. Set AND FOLLOW a budget for you spending. Balance out what you make and what you spend so that you bring in more than you send out.

2. Be sure to put aside some money (no matter how small an amount) for savings for the big items that you want and then wait patiently to purchase those items (it may turn out that you don’t want them after all).

3. Look at the finally total. Before you sign on the dotted line, look at what you will really be spending. Most people who buy mortgaged property today will never be able to recoup what they actually spend on that house when they buy using debt.

4. Trade up (when it comes to houses). Start with a small (ironically called in most places) “starter” home. Sell it and use the proceeds to trade up. Continue the process until you are in the home of your dreams.

5. Start now. The longer you wait to break free from debt the harder it will be.

Forget what “they” say. Avoid debt with every fiber of your being. Teach your children to avoid debt. You will see that financial freedom will reap more blessings on you and your family for many generations to come.

I’d like to say it’s just “the man” keeping me down. In reality, it’s the little splurges on fast food, sodas when I gas up, or a new blouse that is keeping the balance down. There is no one to blame in this mess but myself.

When the reality finally set in – that I was spending more than I earned – I decided it was time to do something about it. I tried the “save a penny” routine where I put all my change in a jar. Instead of saving, I ended up rolling it and cashing it in to pay a bill here and there. I tried taking out cash only to spend, but if my tab happened to “runneth over” I used the debit card. Now I had the purchase and the cash withdrawal to dent my account.

I was missing the magic beans. Fortunately for me, I found them before the creditors came to repossess the kids.

There are two things you have to have to make ends meet (after a job that is). There must be discipline and diligence in keeping up with the finances. I lacked both. As soon as I put a realistic budget on paper AND I actually stuck with it, my finances took a swing towards the black.

1. Cook instead of eating out. Use the slow cooker so that you have a meal ready at the end of the day.

2. Pack lunches and snacks for work or school. Saving just $3 a day will give you well over $500 at the end of the school year.

3. Freeze food. When I find a buy on meat, I bring it home and package it immediately into individual freezer bags. Some fresh fruits and vegetables are also great choices for the freezer treatment – onions, celery, carrots, and mushrooms can all be chopped and frozen for convenient use later. Blueberries, blackberries, and even strawberries are all good for freezing. Frozen food will last longer than fresh and you are less likely to end up just throwing it away.

4. Keep a list of what you have in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry. This keeps you from over-buying at the store, but also reminds you to use the items you already have in stock.

5. Combine errands. The less driving you do, the less gas you use. If you have to take the kids to ball practice, then go to the store while they are there. Swing back by the field on your way home – two birds with one stone, so to speak.

6. Turn up the air or turn down the heat. Just two degrees can save you lots on your electric bill.

7. Give up some of the luxuries. Do you NEED a pedicure or manicure? Do you NEED the gourmet coffee? Do you NEED the brand new car (or boat, or four wheeler)?

8. If you must have clothes (for work specifically or maybe some special need) then consider waiting for sales or shopping at a thrift store. This is especially great for kids’ clothes, since they seem to grow out of the new pants before you can get them home from the store.

Finding a balance in my checking account required balancing my life. It wasn’t easy to cut back on the treats, to cook instead of eating out, or to wear the same sweater for a second season. The little that I saved here and there slowly began to pay off. I’d like to say that all the debt is gone and accounts are busting at the seams, but at least they do have a positive balance. Either way, I’m back in control.