On The Table

Have you caught any of the Oprah’s Debt Diet episodes? I think these are repeats, but this week she’s running a few of the shows. I saw parts of Monday and Tuesday, and plan to watch again today.

Basically, three financial experts are taking on three out-of-control families. The experts actually moved into the homes of these spendthrifts for a while to understand what made them tick. In once case, Jean Chatsky spent 12 hours with the lady of the house, just opening bills (some several years old, which had been stuffed unopened into boxes….) before they could begin to assess the damage.

One thing I noticed about these couples: They each have items at which they throw scads of money which they’ve labelled “non-negotiable.” One chick spends eleventy billion bucks per week on her hair, and won’t settle for less.

Her hair looks OK, I guess.

It got me thinking, though. When you come to the place in your life when you know you need to change, do you still maintain a list of non-negotiables? Areas that you won’t let God or anyone else touch?

When it comes to our finances, Doug and I are laying all the cards on the table. There are no secrets, no fudges, and well….no fudge.

But I digress.

We’re starting at zero spending. It doesn’t take Quicken to show us where our money’s going. For the past month, it hasn’t gone anywhere. Unlike one of the chicks on Oprah, I don’t have a $20 per day allowance on our new plan, which I spend any way I want. Gradually, we’ll add back in those expenditures which we both deem reasonable and necessary, but starting out at ground zero first has been way more of a revelation to us than if we’d just decided to “cut back” in a couple of luxury areas.

I’m approaching my diet the same way. Cut out all the nonsense (not just part of it…) and go from there. Back to basics. Simple, clean, and remarkably effective.

I never was much of a gambler anyway. Might as well show all my cards and be done with it.

Posted by Katy on 07/12 at 11:38 AM

Fallible Comments...

Good post, Katy. Food (or not) for thought. Got me wondering what my “non-negotiables” are in various areas of life, not just finances. Deep thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon…

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/12 at 02:28 PM
Have you ever read or listened (daily talk radio program) to Dave Ramsey? His “Total Money Makeover” plan certainly works. He was on Oprah once but was edited in a very very strange way.

Posted by AC on 07/13 at 05:50 AM
Jen—We all have non-negotiables, I guess. Situations that we think we “just can’t live with.” But the more I let go of stuff, the clearer I can see what I truly value. And sometimes those non-negotiables (“I’ll give up sugar, white flour, rice, potato, and pasta, but I’ll NEVER sacrifice my Starbucks!”) are downright childish. I’ve decided that I want to be a grown-up woman!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/13 at 11:53 AM
AC—We just started getting Ramsey on the radio a couple weeks ago!!! I hadn’t read his books, so hearing him has been great. I love his attitude—the whole take no prisoners thing really works for me. I’ve become a huge fan in a short time! I will look into his Total Money Makeover. Thanks!

Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/13 at 11:56 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Rachelle Gardner at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Recent Posts Some Things, You Know Ticking The Boxes Happy Ninth Blogiversary to ME! NaNoCryMo Predictability? Don’t Count On It It’s That Time Again! Losing It Acutely Not That Funny Coming To Terms With Writing Terms Another Great Conference! Catching Up Again, Or Still? Crazy! If Doug Had Seen This Movie Of Me As A Baby, He Might Not Have Ended Up With Chatty Katy I Can’t Believe We’re Finally Here Why I’m Always Glad To Have Written Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	On The Table Have you caught any of the Oprah’s Debt Diet episodes? I think these are repeats, but this week she’s running a few of the shows. I saw parts of Monday and Tuesday, and plan to watch again today. Basically, three financial experts are taking on three out-of-control families. The experts actually moved into the homes of these spendthrifts for a while to understand what made them tick. In once case, Jean Chatsky spent 12 hours with the lady of the house, just opening bills (some several years old, which had been stuffed unopened into boxes….) before they could begin to assess the damage. One thing I noticed about these couples: They each have items at which they throw scads of money which they’ve labelled “non-negotiable.” One chick spends eleventy billion bucks per week on her hair, and won’t settle for less. Her hair looks OK, I guess. It got me thinking, though. When you come to the place in your life when you know you need to change, do you still maintain a list of non-negotiables? Areas that you won’t let God or anyone else touch? When it comes to our finances, Doug and I are laying all the cards on the table. There are no secrets, no fudges, and well….no fudge. But I digress. We’re starting at zero spending. It doesn’t take Quicken to show us where our money’s going. For the past month, it hasn’t gone anywhere. Unlike one of the chicks on Oprah, I don’t have a $20 per day allowance on our new plan, which I spend any way I want. Gradually, we’ll add back in those expenditures which we both deem reasonable and necessary, but starting out at ground zero first has been way more of a revelation to us than if we’d just decided to “cut back” in a couple of luxury areas. I’m approaching my diet the same way. Cut out all the nonsense (not just part of it…) and go from there. Back to basics. Simple, clean, and remarkably effective. I never was much of a gambler anyway. Might as well show all my cards and be done with it. Posted by Katy on 07/12 at 11:38 AM Fallible Comments... Good post, Katy. Food (or not) for thought. Got me wondering what my “non-negotiables” are in various areas of life, not just finances. Deep thoughts on a Wednesday afternoon… Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/12 at 02:28 PM Have you ever read or listened (daily talk radio program) to Dave Ramsey? His “Total Money Makeover” plan certainly works. He was on Oprah once but was edited in a very very strange way. Posted by AC on 07/13 at 05:50 AM Jen—We all have non-negotiables, I guess. Situations that we think we “just can’t live with.” But the more I let go of stuff, the clearer I can see what I truly value. And sometimes those non-negotiables (“I’ll give up sugar, white flour, rice, potato, and pasta, but I’ll NEVER sacrifice my Starbucks!”) are downright childish. I’ve decided that I want to be a grown-up woman! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/13 at 11:53 AM AC—We just started getting Ramsey on the radio a couple weeks ago!!! I hadn’t read his books, so hearing him has been great. I love his attitude—the whole take no prisoners thing really works for me. I’ve become a huge fan in a short time! I will look into his Total Money Makeover. Thanks! Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/13 at 11:56 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Name: Email: Location: URL: Add a fallible comment... Remember my personal information Notify me of follow-up comments? Next entry: R-E-S-P-E-C-T Previous entry: Imagine << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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On The Table

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri