Game on!!

(photo by George Cavanaugh)

I’m on the Dave Ramsey boards and people over there are having a blast! Many of the members are working on being debt-free. They kick Sallie (Mae) to the curb. They throw snowballs. They KILL debt and treat every $5 paid off with more enthusiasm than scoring a winning touchdown in the last minute of the game. Everyone (and I mean everyone) over there cheers each other on. The day a bill is due isn’t good enough. The minute extra money is made on a yard sale – whap! there goes another snowball right smack on BillPay!

They are in the game and they’re winning. They know they’re winning because they’re keeping score. Everyone has a big fat signature line detailing every bill, every balance, every kill date and how much is left down to the last penny!!

The anticipated day comes! The last snowball is thrown (it’s usually over a thousand dollars) and the happy dance posts start flowing. The threads pile on for at least several pages congratulating the conquering victors and high fives abound.

Then comes the dreaded baby step 3 where they save, and save, and save some more. The score keeping stops. People are feebly encouraged to read a sticky thread about the dangers of this step. The fun is over and it’s just work, work, work.

I don’t understand it!! This is the part where we get to keep our money!! I guess the reticence is partly out of sensitivity to new people who are struggling to keep the lights on and partly due to the fact that we aren’t supposed to talk about money.

Baloney! I was a dirt-poor single mom at one time and believe me, being around stable couples who could afford food, clothes and nice homes for their kids gave me hope! Several took me under their wings and taught me how to be a good employee, to budget and to shop wisely.

It’s time for people who are past baby step 2 to realize that it’s a new season and there’s a new contender. They are still in the game and they’re national champions.

At least that’s what we’ve realized. Let’s discuss our plays and game plans. Has anyone won a big game recently?

Game on!!!!

No related posts.