tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-307971002011-04-21T13:54:22.759-05:00Don't take anyone else's definition of success as your own.Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comBlogger6291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-50588826400596593542009-05-13T10:53:00.003-05:002009-05-13T11:04:35.200-05:00

I tell you the following story not to brag or to make you feel bad, but only to inspire. We have needed inspiration many times along the way and I pray that you find the same for your family. If we can be that inspiration you need, then it’s worth putting our story out there.As of 9:00 this morning, our family became DEBT FREE!!!!!! We have officially closed the door on Baby Step 2, where all

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-21195026128668424672009-04-16T22:04:00.000-05:002009-04-16T22:04:00.081-05:00

I've been catching a lot of crap about never posting here. So I'm back. Hi there. For those of you who know me in person, you may not believe this post. See, I'm running. Running, as in fast walking. Me, who is not athletic. Running. I'm gearing up for the "fun" run in my local town celebration. I use quotes on that because I doubt it's actually fun. And while we're talking about quotation marks,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-11233421277799672102009-04-02T09:24:00.002-05:002009-04-02T09:25:42.786-05:00

Courtesy of Zig Ziglar

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-27573856192423737902009-03-21T10:11:00.003-05:002009-03-21T10:19:09.143-05:00

We can shed tears that they have gone, or we can smile that they have lived. We can close our eyes and pray that they will come back, or we can open our eyes and see all the good they have left us. Our hearts can be empty because we cannot see them, or our hearts can be full with the love that we've shared. We can turn our backs on tomorrow and live yesterday, or we can be happy for tomorrow

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-64977428909109548792009-03-17T21:42:00.003-05:002009-03-17T22:00:33.412-05:00

I was in the middle of writing a funny post, but then was hit with some sad news. Mark Cosens put up a good fight, but cancer has a mind of its own. We know Mark from his high school days in Jefferson. Most recently he blessed the Madrid School District with his presence as an administrator until his illness forced his resignation. The world lost Mark this afternoon. May God bless his wife, sons,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-24116249606122831722009-03-09T12:40:00.001-05:002009-03-09T12:40:32.373-05:00

http://trendydollar.com/archives/swimming-naked

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-16870614963155094682009-03-05T22:40:00.001-06:002009-03-05T22:41:25.607-06:00

I find it interesting that I still have a lot of people visiting this blog, but they rarely venture over to Trendy Dollar - which is where I spend most of my blogging time these days. I know personal finance can be boring, but really you only have two options regarding your money: to not pay attention to it and be broke and in debt OR pay attention to every penny and live a happy, successful and

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-55943299992456251922009-03-02T21:31:00.002-06:002009-03-02T21:39:48.765-06:00

I'm back in Iowa and have recovered from my Diet Mountain Dew withdrawal. Did you know that they DO NOT sell Diet Dew in Houston? You can buy it by the case but if you want to just run into a gas station and get one, you are out of luck. I don't get it. I did drink my share of Dr. Pepper while in Texas just to try to fit in. I happen to like it but it doesn't have the same amount of caffeine!On

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-73261468939281748462009-02-26T22:53:00.003-06:002009-02-26T23:05:11.815-06:00

I'm in Texas this week and having a great time!Today I spent the day in Lubbock visiting co-workers. I had a great day meeting everyone face to face rather than over email or messaging. Red Raiders are pretty nice people, even to a Cyclone.Tonight I flew to Houston and got to have a VERY late dinner with my grandparents. Tomorrow will be spent with family all day. Should be a great day! Saturday

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-87985921077659777712009-02-23T08:34:00.002-06:002009-02-23T08:36:40.810-06:00

"Mom, can you hot glue my blankets to the wall? I CAN NOT keep them on my bed at night!"GreenI'm headed to Texas later this week for a part business/part personal trip. I've been cold since October so it will be nice to be someplace warm for a few days! More on that trip later...

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-238378352114169222009-02-05T22:53:00.021-06:002009-02-05T23:01:20.003-06:00

Last night I had the opportunity to spend the evening with the boys at the Iowa State Women's basketball game. Three was a ball shagger for the game and Green and I sat in the front row. We had a great time and I proved that mom could hang with the boys at a sporting event. But I think there were a few times where Green was thinking to himself, "Why isn't Dad here?". Incident Number 1:Me: Wow,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-60105901755926355232009-02-03T12:50:00.006-06:002009-02-03T12:53:29.190-06:00

It's hard to explain what grief is like, especially when you are a few months or years out from the initial blow of it. This morning while reading the newspaper, I found it. THIS is what grief is. "At some point it becomes something bearable. It turns into something you can crawl out from under. And carry around - like a brick in your pocket. And you forget it every once in awhile, but then you

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-7812398447283850092009-01-29T13:05:00.003-06:002009-01-29T13:09:44.210-06:00

In case you haven't visited lately, I'm giving away a free book over at TrendyDollar.com. If you want to go directly to the giveaway, here's the link. It ends tomorrow night so make sure you get your name in. This time there is quite a bit more competition, though. In unrelated news, I cheated today. I cheated on my health kick by eating a huge sugar cookie and drinking a large cup of heavy Mt.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-3427079049271260762009-01-25T21:43:00.002-06:002009-01-25T21:45:11.296-06:00

Today was Payton's first day of doggie school. Her and mom are going to learn how to deal with each other, I'm guessing. Looks like she's all ready to go!

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-22654678808053991382009-01-21T20:50:00.000-06:002009-01-21T21:05:47.978-06:00

A co-worker and I were discussing elementary school "back in the day" today. Looking back, I cannot believe how cruel school was. For reading, the class was divided into groups like group A, group B and group C. Group A was the good readers, group B was the average readers, and Heaven help you if you were in Group C. Same for spelling. The teacher read off two different lists. "Group 1, your

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-65887064502987298012009-01-16T15:47:00.001-06:002009-01-16T15:49:01.847-06:00

I promise I won't link you over to Trendy Dollar all the time, but this one is important! I friend of mine has a message he asked me to pass along to everyone at Green3 and Trendy Dollar. It's a very important one too. Please go read.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-57618287259531834372009-01-14T13:17:00.002-06:002009-01-14T13:22:41.201-06:00

It's done! Or at least done enough to share with everyone now. After many late nights and long weekend days, I am happy to say that Trendy Dollar is up and running! I hope you'll join me over there for a lot of information relating to personal finance. I expect Trendy Dollar to evolve over time in what people want to know and what resources they are looking for. I really want to help normal

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-54136885731497211682009-01-08T21:36:00.001-06:002009-01-08T21:52:55.854-06:00

I know you've all been sad that I haven't been posting. I usually write my posts late at night after Three and Green have gone to bed but lately I've been spending those hours on a new and exciting project. I won't tell the full story yet, but I can tell you that it involves a lot of HTML, CSS and PHP. Here's the bad news: I have never seen PHP before.I also don't know WordPress, which is the

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-15782244290536402932009-01-05T07:47:00.000-06:002009-01-05T07:51:33.706-06:00

Happy 2009!My postings may be slim around here over the next few days because I'm busy working on a project that is somewhat related to this blog. After the kiddos go to bed at night, I'm plowing my way through the project so I can be back in full force as soon as possible. Have a great week!

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-59094060756563538092008-12-30T12:40:00.001-06:002008-12-30T12:42:02.951-06:00

**This is a re-post of my 9/22/08 entry. I'm still reading Napoleon Hill's Keys to Success. I ran across this list yesterday in the book and think it's worth sharing with you. Below are some of his "Major Causes of Personal Failure." As you are reading this list, make note of which things are holding you back -- and make a plan to do something about them! The habit of drifting through life

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-85943988249753291652008-12-23T16:16:00.002-06:002008-12-23T16:19:14.150-06:00

It’s impossible to tell someone what it’s like to have someone close to you die without warning. One day they are there. The next day they are gone. Forever. It’s been 8 months since my Dad died while skiing in Colorado. How bad did it hurt to lose him? Wow. It was so painful, I could literally feel my heart breaking. The grief was unbelievably intense. I really thought our lives were ruined. We

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-62626525449390296782008-12-22T14:33:00.004-06:002008-12-22T14:40:49.753-06:00

Julie and Mark Gumm, who I introduced you to last week, got their kids today! Go read Julie's comments about the first meeting.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-56571412410867127442008-12-21T23:12:00.003-06:002008-12-21T23:15:58.475-06:00

I'm pleased to report that we made it through our first family Christmas without Dad.I know many of you are wondering how I'm doing. I've started that post, but it's not ready to go yet. It's difficult to write. In the meantime, enjoy this adorable picture of Three and Green with mom's puppy, Payton.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-23058461054096508912008-12-18T08:40:00.000-06:002008-12-18T08:43:01.642-06:00

Just because I'm not posting on my blog, do NOT assume I am slacking! Oh heck no. Besides work, I've got Salvation Army bells to ring, 3rd grade Christmas crafts to make, music concerts to attend, gift shopping to do, not to mention the regular laundry, house cleaning and supper making. Or maybe not so much the house cleaning. Hope you are enjoying your holidays. Remember, don't spend more for

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-59159282352112061982008-12-15T12:58:00.002-06:002008-12-15T13:04:33.046-06:00

As you know, we’ve been tracking our expenses to the penny since August 2007. Every evening, I update our spreadsheet with that day’s expenses. I always know exactly where we are at financially. Then Tuesday happened. Not only did I spend the afternoon in the ER from a possible overdose of stress and caffeine, but I also got out of balance on my family expenses spreadsheet. I’m now over $100

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-56114528479615357262008-12-15T08:11:00.002-06:002008-12-15T08:15:08.724-06:00

At Christmas time, we all want to hear and good story and be assured the everything is ok in the world, right? I want to share Julie and Mark's story with you. I've been following Julie since right after they decided to adopt two more children into their family. I've following their amazing (and sometimes frustrating) journey. As of this blog posting, they are on their way to Ethiopia with

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-9163404713028980732008-12-13T13:12:00.004-06:002008-12-13T13:16:02.044-06:00

Sorry, this is not a tip for how to get free shoes. ONLY I GET FREE SHOES! Or if I didn't want shoes, I could pick something else. I get one of anything I want!Quite, everyone. I have an announcement to make. I won KEEN shoes from Bloggy Giveaways! I can pick any pair of shoes I want from the KEEN website. ANY PAIR. JUST FOR ME. Bragging? Yes, oh yes, I am.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-15531797241261851782008-12-10T13:02:00.001-06:002008-12-10T13:03:46.699-06:00

It's not what happens to you that determines how far you will go in life; it is how you handle what happens to you. --Zig Ziglar

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-21684902163369893772008-12-07T22:54:00.001-06:002008-12-07T22:59:30.972-06:00

When I heard the news, I said, "Fuuuuuuuuuudge." Except I didn't say fudge. Over the past few days, I’ve found out that several acquaintances have been victims of the dreaded “D” word – downsized. It has really, really, bothered me all weekend, thinking of the situation these families are suddenly in. These people were the main breadwinners of their family. They have kids, homes, mortgages, and

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-53057987545192889962008-12-03T21:47:00.003-06:002008-12-03T22:01:55.328-06:00

A lot of blogs post about certain products and tell you how wonderful they are because they are getting paid to do so. This is NOT one of those posts! We have "Family Game Nights" here at the green3 household. Those nights are becoming more and more rare with the numerous activities we have going on, but we do still have them. Green's favorite games require a lot of technology, but my rule is

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-35789972403456973082008-12-03T13:00:00.003-06:002008-12-03T13:06:18.142-06:00

Any debt is too much, silly! This is for those of you who have never gone to the trouble to figure out where you are with your debt-to-income ratio. This is a very easy form to fill out, the press the calculate button and it will tell you if you are in trouble or not. Ok, some of you may already know you are in trouble but you should still do it. And if your results come back as "acceptable",

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-166598928488742802008-12-03T12:49:00.000-06:002008-12-03T12:50:56.490-06:00

"Come Jan. 1, Americans plan to say goodbye to credit card debt and hello to healthy savings accounts, a new report released today shows. About one-third of American workers surveyed plan to cut credit card balances and beef up savings." Des Moines Register, December 3, 2008One-third? Only one-third of Americans plan to say goodbye to credit card debt? And not until Jan 1, because of course

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-2072753132026556662008-12-02T12:51:00.003-06:002008-12-02T13:11:12.531-06:00

Some families have traditions of going to a tree farm and chopping down their own Christmas tree. They haul it home and work for hours trying to get it straight in the tree stand. Every year the tree had a different look and shape. That's what I grew up with and I loved that tradition. Unfortunately, the tree tradition at the green3 household is a tad different. Pool Boy: "We need all the K

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-6343084793980005192008-12-02T12:42:00.002-06:002008-12-02T12:49:37.310-06:00

As of this week, the balance of our home equity loan is HALF of what it was in January! We've been working on this last debt for 11 months now. That may give you some indication of how monsterous it was. Getting out of debt is harder than heck, but we are so looking forward to getting there. Not to mention the reward to ourselves - family cruise!

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-68770320206177133692008-12-01T12:31:00.003-06:002008-12-01T12:52:53.301-06:00

This Christmas I really tried to spend my Christmas money wisely. One way I did that was to shop at etsy. If you are not familiar with etsy, you must go check it out. This is a website where individuals can sell their handmade items. I love that my money is going to someONE rather than some big box company (ok, plenty of money went to them as well). I purchased two items through etsy and both

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-7059592865574978552008-11-25T07:10:00.000-06:002008-11-25T10:12:35.636-06:00

Retirement seems like such a long ways away. I’m aware that it’s hard to put away money when there is so much “cool stuff” to spend it on right now. But unfortunately, the cash won’t suddenly appear the day you walk out of your job. You need to work on it…NOW. How much do you need?Experts say you should have enough put away so that you can live on 8% of the money that you have the day you retire.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-5808537017359296482008-11-21T12:44:00.005-06:002008-11-21T13:29:18.373-06:00

The ten dollar sale is back! If you have not read The Total Money Makeover and/or do not have a strong handle on your personal finances, spend the measly $10 and buy his book...TODAY. This ten dollar investment will save you thousands - and will change your life. Don't think you need to read this book? Honestly answer these questions: Have you recently thought about bankruptcy or debt

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-18914375591776760502008-11-18T17:45:00.000-06:002008-11-18T17:45:00.379-06:00

When I’m not feeling well, I shower and dress – but that’s pretty much it. I have sympathy for those who have to look at me with air-dried hair and no make-up (sorry family) and for those who stop by unannounced (that’s your own fault, CC). I made it through my Dad’s birthday on Sunday but mostly because I was asleep on the couch for most of the day. When I was awake, I was holding my head in

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-39458429644828431802008-11-13T22:40:00.003-06:002008-11-13T22:44:45.254-06:00

I'm around, just not here at the ole blog. I've been busy with THIS during the evenings. Want a chance to win free lodging in Mazatlan? A Great Wolf Lodge getaway? A chance to meet Jeff Gordon? Tons of other free stuff? If you know me in real life and want a raffle ticket (only $10!!), let me know. It's going to a great cause.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-44554201879381991952008-11-11T12:55:00.002-06:002008-11-11T13:40:00.207-06:00

I’m not a big health nut. I’m not a runner (I’ve tried) or a dieter (I try to eat somewhat healthy all the time rather than fad dieting). So basically what I’m telling you is that I’m no poster child on what I’m writing about today. But I have learned something over this past year – you oftentimes don’t get “redos” when dealing with your health. If you don’t pay attention to your health,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-16749645354169533972008-11-10T12:55:00.002-06:002008-11-10T13:03:40.930-06:00

As you can see on my sidebar, I'm currently reading Half Time: Changing Your Game Plan from Success to Significance. I just read a paragraph that I think it worth sharing because it is so true. Author Bob Buford says,"One way or another, our minds will be filled with something. I shudder to think of what kind of person I would be today if I had given myself a steady diet of talk shows, soap

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-68165735293716208992008-11-09T21:04:00.002-06:002008-11-09T21:18:01.075-06:00

It's funny, the things you think of in the midst of the worst ordeal of your life. In those first few days after Dad's death, one thought kept coming into my mind. "Damn. The email will arrive and it will shatter me when it does." Well, today it arrived. My Dad was a book lover. He was always had at least one book in progress. It's a trait I was lucky to inherit. For his birthday, I always bought

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-53791733586173692702008-11-05T21:52:00.002-06:002008-11-05T22:06:46.078-06:00

Entreprenuers are thinking of new businesses to start every hour of every day. Sometimes you can zone in one on idea, get your cash saved up to get it started, and get the whole family excited about it. Then when you sit down and try to determine how you will fit this new venture into your already-too-busy schedule, the idea dies. After many weeks of discussion, soul searching, planning, thinking

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-27674784616961607402008-11-04T07:40:00.001-06:002008-11-04T08:46:34.887-06:00

As of this writing, only 7 people submitted responses to my survey. ­­­==========>And I had waaaaay more hits on my website than that. So that tells me one of three things about those of you who did not respond:You are not willing to admit to the world that you are ignoring your debt.You don’t have any debt.You didn’t see the survey. If it’s number 2, you are awesome. If it’s number 3, it’s ok –

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-29678065276712868372008-10-30T13:06:00.002-05:002008-10-30T13:08:44.993-05:00

And if you know where that line came from, then we could totally hang out together. Boomama is having a Soup Carnival right now. I'm not participating but I did find lots of great recipes.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-61326156733929370222008-10-28T21:48:00.002-05:002008-10-28T21:57:47.519-05:00

My cousin could be labeled a Blog Goddess. She knows all things about blogs and spends much of her life working on blogs. Even though she doesn't need the press, I thought I should send you over to the Fall 2008 Bloggy Giveaway in case you want to sign up for some free stuff. As of this posting, there are 1180 people who are giving away free stuff this year at the Bloggy Giveaway! Seriously, 1180

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-64322347940397128682008-10-28T17:30:00.000-05:002008-10-28T17:30:00.446-05:00

Someone said to me this weekend, “I can’t agree with everything you are doing with your finances. I mean, you need to have a life too.”This person was under the assumption that my family is suffering. Go ahead - ask my kids if they suffered this past weekend, due to our inability to spend a lot of money. We spend money on entertainment – just not as much as a lot of other people. Do we have to

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-49198492773239936422008-10-26T19:57:00.002-05:002008-10-26T20:06:08.706-05:00

I hit "kid overload" at approximately 6:37 this evening. Friday night we had a slumber part for Green's 9th birthday. Great kids and we had a great time. Saturday we went to the Iowa State tailgating festivities. Lots of kids. Then we - just me and Pool Boy - took all 14 of those kids to the movie High School Musical 3 movie. Again, the kids were great and we had a good time. Today our boys sang

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-40942604696276836492008-10-23T12:47:00.002-05:002008-10-23T13:11:44.887-05:00

I had a dream last night that I quit my job and started working at a local grocery store bagging groceries. And if I'm recalling correctly, I was damn good at it. Don't get me wrong - bagging groceries is a respectable job and is certainly a very important job. But it's not a full-time job that is appropriate for someone who is supporting a family. Awhile back, I had a discussion with someone

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-89439075696614840392008-10-20T22:42:00.000-05:002008-10-20T22:49:47.953-05:00

But I'm not going to tell you who it is. While I love election night and the excitement that goes along with it, I despise the campaigns. I'm sick and tired of people getting mad at each other just because of who they are voting for. The next time someone tells you who they are voting for, instead of telling them how stupid they are for voting that way please take a moment and thank God (or

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-44180128482574729132008-10-16T20:05:00.002-05:002008-10-16T20:11:23.755-05:00

The lack of comments on my blog doesn't bother me. Really it doesn't. Ok, maybe a little - I'd like a little feedback from the 50+ people who stop by here daily! But when I put a new header on and nobody bothers to tell me I have a typo in there until tonight, that is where I draw the line!I have no idea what I mean by "draw the line". I just do, ok?I'll try to fix it tonight if I find the time.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-14539427494080901482008-10-16T12:49:00.002-05:002008-10-16T12:52:13.829-05:00

I recently went through my August expenses. I wanted to see how much we could save if we cut ourselves back to the bare necessities. I figured I would come up with a lot of extra money spent, but I really didn’t. Granted, we’ve already cut our lifestyles back tremendously, but I still thought there should have been more to cut. Or maybe I’m leaving things in there that really should be cut out.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-2847767379492451802008-10-13T22:48:00.000-05:002008-10-13T23:06:13.675-05:00

It's been almost a week since I've made an extra payment on our debt. A week! I'm used to making an extra payment every few days with extra small amounts we have coming in. But now nothing since last week. Now it's to the point where it's painful for me to log on to my loan and not see the amount change for several days. PAINFUL! Not only is that painful, but I had to dip into the emergency

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-8610574055455057642008-10-13T12:45:00.000-05:002008-10-13T12:47:00.106-05:00

I needed to read this to myself today, so maybe you could use it as well. Repeat this to yourself every single day. If there are things in here that are not true about you, hopefully by repeating this every day will help you get to that place you need to be.I, (insert your name here), am an honest, intelligent, goal-directed person.I am organized, responsible and committed.I am punctual, a

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-4813548781392708282008-10-12T22:28:00.002-05:002008-10-12T22:31:51.211-05:00

I've added some new links to the right. It would rock if you would click on all of them but if you don't, at least click on this one:The Truth About Debt Reduction. Myth: Only the rich can be debt free. Truth: Anyone can become debt free. True debt reduction is plain common sense and hard work.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-88086268539125863352008-10-12T22:20:00.003-05:002008-10-12T22:27:46.143-05:00

I was not aware of this until I was browsing the web tonight, but there is a 12-step program for those who use debt - Debtors Anonymous. Here are a few of the questions they list on their website for you to see if you could benefit from their help:Are your debts making your home life unhappy?Does the pressure from your debts distract you from your daily work?Do your debts cause you to think less

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-60456839063923733872008-10-07T12:30:00.000-05:002008-10-07T13:31:59.267-05:00

Dave Ramsey’s most common advice to his callers is, “Sell the car.” Up until last year, I always told myself and others that I would always have a car payment. “I need one that is dependable.” Or “Now that I have kids, I want to make sure we are never stranded anywhere.” I know some of you may be using similar excuses. Those excuses may be what are dragging you down and keeping you from getting

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-17959319574642395282008-10-06T12:28:00.000-05:002008-10-06T16:29:37.938-05:00

My tires need replaced on my car. Like, tomorrow. One had started to go flat yesterday and was completely flat this morning. Pool Boy put air in it this morning and took it to work, but it blew out him. The Pacifica is riding on a donut now! So all 4 tires are getting replaced tomorrow. It’s interesting how this happens on October 6 – when I’ve just sent our leftover September money to debt. But

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-12116440561244506502008-10-03T13:37:00.001-05:002008-10-03T13:38:22.531-05:00

"You can and you should shape your own future. Because if you don't, someone else surely will."--Joel Barker

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-38880049804657969932008-09-30T22:07:00.003-05:002008-09-30T22:16:52.554-05:00

I'm watching the news right now (and playing the very addicting Chain Factor). The news is all about the financial worries of citizens. Here are people's main concerns:Not being able to get a loan for a carHaving to pay a high interest rate on a carNot getting high enough credit limites at places like Lowe's or Home Depot to cover their so called "needs"People are upset. Scared. Very, very

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-75108554679957836952008-09-30T12:26:00.002-05:002008-09-30T12:39:50.103-05:00

If you haven't seen Maxed Out, I strongly suggest it. I watched it again last night. Here are some interesting items I pulled from that movie:The average family has $9,000 in credit card debt. The most popular customers that credit card companies go after are those who have recently filed bankruptcy for two reasons:They won't be filing bankruptcy anytime soon. They have the "taste" for credit,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-7650516845012180662008-09-29T12:45:00.002-05:002008-09-29T12:48:51.590-05:00

We are NASCAR fans. We live in the midwest, a mere few hours from Kansas City. Yesterday was the annual NASCAR race at Kansas Speedway. We are season ticket holders of 4 tickets, at a price of over $1100. We did not go. We sold our season tickets for 2008. This is what it means to sacrifice and live like no one else so that LATER we can really live like no one else. Next year at this time we plan

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-49837436682300708492008-09-26T10:53:00.005-05:002008-09-26T12:11:36.789-05:00

Soooo…the dreaded HELOC. Hate it. According to my survey, some of you also have a HELOC. I hope you hate yours as much as I hate mine. The mature date on my loan is June 14, 2017. I can’t imagine hating something this much for that long. I’m hoping the actual ending date for this thing is closer to June 14, 2009. It’s definitely going to happen, if not before then.Since February, we have made 47

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-36905591524434704922008-09-25T08:04:00.002-05:002008-09-25T08:05:31.510-05:00

Yesterday was not a spend-free day...$125.00, approximately. Gas bill, vitamins, prescription, a few groceries.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-11391090572828902442008-09-24T08:15:00.002-05:002008-09-24T08:16:28.692-05:00

Today would have been my parents' 37th wedding anniversary.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-74420257421205971652008-09-23T22:11:00.000-05:002008-09-23T22:12:10.214-05:00

Total spent today - $0.00!!

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-87995632636151836062008-09-22T22:02:00.002-05:002008-09-22T22:11:25.266-05:00

Pool Boy and I have made a mission of spending as little as possible these last two weeks of the month. We have the opportunity to make a substantial payment toward our debt this month (yay extra paychecks!) so we're saving every single penny we can to make this amount as high as possible. To help keep me focused, I'll be posting everything I spend money on for the rest of September. Total for

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-82208526624723597902008-09-22T12:55:00.000-05:002008-09-22T13:10:00.364-05:00

I'm still reading Napoleon Hill's Keys to Success. I ran across this list yesterday in the book and think it's worth sharing with you. Below are some of his "Major Causes of Personal Failure." As you are reading this list, make note of which things are holding you back -- and make a plan to do something about them!The habit of drifting through life without a definite major purpose Meddlesome

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-45060000479428876132008-09-21T21:13:00.002-05:002008-09-21T21:16:56.393-05:00

"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." Proverbs 22:7

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-27198836630734435352008-09-19T20:58:00.004-05:002008-09-19T21:17:44.820-05:00

"It's important for you to know that if you have a bad credit score, it's not your fault!"The above advertisement has been screaming over the airwaves lately. It scares me to think of the number of people who may be listening to it thinking, "Hey, this dude is on to something. It's not my fault. I've been screwed by the credit card companies!"But it's so wrong because if you have a bad credit

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-47387544170310787782008-09-19T12:07:00.002-05:002008-09-19T12:20:31.840-05:00

Joe Biden says it's the "patriotic duty" of wealthier Americans to pay more in taxes. "We want to take money and put it back in the pocket of middle-class people."He considers "wealthy" people to be those making $250K and above. I don't make anywhere near that amount of money. However, this still isn't sitting well with me. Let me talk this out here to make sure I understand. Those who work hard,

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-33888541363261951832008-09-17T12:54:00.001-05:002008-09-17T12:55:40.532-05:00

I normally won't double post at both sites, but this one I really want to share this tip with other parents out there. Check out my Busted! post over at IowaMoms.com.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-79574334173431105652008-09-16T22:08:00.004-05:002008-09-16T22:52:15.138-05:00

It's official. I'm a contributor to Iowamoms.com. I have the button to prove it. Darn Blogger is all horked up so I can't show you the Iowa Moms Contributor button right here, but it is on my sidebar. Scroll down a little bit to see it. Cool, huh?First I was totally on board with helping with this project, then life ran me right into a brick wall so I told Iowa Mom, "Girlfriend, I am so out." But

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-85879258140395938592008-09-15T22:45:00.003-05:002008-09-15T22:57:06.415-05:00

I want you to read something. I've run across the story of a young couple, Stephanie and Christian, with four children. The couple was in a plane crash in August and are just beginning down a very long road to recovery. I ask you to read it at this time because Stephanie goes in for skin graft surgery on Tuesday. They say this is a critical point in her recovery. Please send your prayers to this

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-88774014319019910102008-09-14T22:37:00.002-05:002008-09-14T22:52:27.134-05:00

So apparently it's starting to be "hip" to be without debt. I'm down with that. The news is full of articles about debt. Unforunately, most of those articles are full of crap. Like this one, for instance, from the Des Moines Register's Business section. For consumers, "it's OK to borrow for items that you know will last beyond the payment period, like a car, or a washer-dryer, or furniture," Iowa

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-17347058171970159242008-09-12T06:57:00.000-05:002008-09-12T09:00:17.241-05:00

My grandparents flew to Texas yesterday in hopes of watching the Cubs play this weekend. And not just Texas - HOUSTON, TEXAS. All of my Dad's siblings are there this weekend. That's all I really have to say about that.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-43720565995411742892008-09-11T12:21:00.003-05:002008-09-11T12:26:30.867-05:00

I have something to share with you that I hope you follow up on. It won’t make you rich, but it will help.www.checkingfinder.comThis website, endorsed by Dave Ramsey, helps you find checking accounts that offer high interest rates. That’s right! Interest on checking accounts!These aren't invisible banks that you aren’t sure whether or not they even exist. These are real life banks. The one that I

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-46584506308199226712008-09-09T16:07:00.002-05:002008-09-09T21:39:02.639-05:00

Where do you see yourself two years from now?No really. Stop and think. I’ll wait.So now let’s say I asked you this question two years ago. What would you have said about your life in 2008? Are you right where you wanted to be?If so, Pool Boy would tell you, “That’s phenomenal!”If not, it’s time to evaluate what you are doing – or not doing – to improve your life and to reach your goals.I

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-50100034594246680532008-09-09T12:54:00.001-05:002008-09-09T12:56:10.484-05:00

If you are living on a monthly financial plan, and you get paid bi-weekly on the same schedule I do, it’s should be extra paycheck time for you!My extra paycheck will come on Sept 19th. The next check will arrive a few days into October, but I will accommodate for that by leaving some extra money in checking to cover the Oct 1 bills that are automatically deducted from my account.As I’ve said in

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-77497224781786439672008-09-04T21:58:00.002-05:002008-09-04T22:23:58.294-05:00

If you happened to stop by my house on any given evening, it would be clearly obvious that our household is in the midst of Busy Season. Or maybe it wouldn't, since I would let you in the door. I would take picture examples for your entertainment, but I have no idea where my camera is. Most likely at the bottom of one of the 4 bags I have with me at all times. And mostly without charged batteries

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-55300451574419157612008-09-04T12:28:00.003-05:002008-09-04T12:35:04.833-05:00

That's how much I was paying for a 24 pack of pop. Out of the pop machine at work. Yes, I'm a pop drinker. I know I should quit but it's not happening anytime soon. I drink a bottle on my way to work each morning then I have a can in the afternoon. I always got my afternoon pop out of the pop machine because, "it's only 65 cents."But "only" adds up. I was in Wal-Mart yesterday and spotted a 24

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-81340862818139417232008-09-02T21:24:00.002-05:002008-09-02T21:41:59.985-05:00

We like to set aside money to take short weekend getaways now and then. It's fun to hang out with just the 4 of us, away from the distractions of television, laundry, work and school. This past weekend we went to the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee, Minnesota. It was a favorite spot of my parents' and they spent many anniversaries there. It was exciting to introduce Three and Green to a family

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-83262675938622849352008-09-02T12:51:00.002-05:002008-09-02T12:54:13.968-05:00

There are two types of people who don't succeed. There are those who never do anything except what they are told to do. And there are those who cannot do even what they are told to do. The people who get ahead do things that should be done without being told. And they don't stop there. They go the extra mile and do much more than is expected of them. --Napoleon Hill

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-81627591319749534212008-09-01T22:00:00.002-05:002008-09-01T22:13:12.608-05:00

I read a Dear Abby letter today that broke my heart. I can't find the online version of it, or else I would link you to it. It was a letter from an 11 year old girl. She said her Dad never played with her. He was always too busy working, hanging out with friends, or sitting in front of the television. Being a parent is way more than bringing home a paycheck and hanging around the house. Do things

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-18216633050387844962008-08-29T12:20:00.000-05:002008-08-29T14:09:33.386-05:00

There are three types of people:Those who make things happenThose who watch things happenThose who talk about what happenedThose who make things happen get involved. They make a difference in the world around them. If a problem arises, they fix it. If an opportunity presents itself, they jump on it. They are constantly reading and learning, all in order to better their life. Hard work and

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-77309602313273298832008-08-28T12:44:00.001-05:002008-08-28T15:49:42.960-05:00

Since I’m on the kick of getting you to read, let me keep right on going.Keys to Success: The 17 Principles of Personal AchievementBy Napoleon HillThis book I’m reading now is so full of valuable information, I haul a notebook with me so I can take notes as I read it. To give you an glimpse into the book, here are a few of the lines I’ve underlined and notes I’ve taken while reading it:If you are

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-78944963891454402752008-08-28T08:26:00.002-05:002008-08-28T08:28:42.697-05:00

You are all winners, but only three of you are BOOK winners!Congrats to LeAnn, Rick and Tug! I think I know who LeAnn is and the other two I'll get in touch with to get your mailing information. My books haven't arrived yet, but hopefully they will today or tomorrow so I can get them to you right away. Now it's your turn to do some work - READ THE BOOKS!

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-85771745402941970092008-08-27T22:17:00.003-05:002008-08-27T22:26:53.429-05:00

If you've read through the recent comments, you've seen that some people heard Dave Ramsey mention my name on his radio show the other day. And not even my blog name - my REAL name!Sadly, it was not on Debt Free Friday. That's for another day. I sent him an email telling him that I had purchased several of his TMMO books to give away on my blog and to thank him for letting us take advantage of

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-69498871344753327142008-08-27T13:44:00.003-05:002008-08-27T13:48:02.941-05:00

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-26980197258707759872008-08-27T12:17:00.000-05:002008-08-28T08:26:32.501-05:00

**Sticky post. Scroll down for current posts. If you know me at all, you know I hate to spend money unnecessarily. But you also know that I like to help people.Dave Ramsey is running his $10 Labor Day sale. I took advantage of that sale and just bought 7 copies of The Total Money Makeover. That’s $70 I’m not sending toward debt, so that’s how strongly I feel about sharing this with other people.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-17618716313831241712008-08-26T21:35:00.003-05:002008-08-26T21:38:46.448-05:00

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-23591343347024739192008-08-24T21:55:00.001-05:002008-08-24T21:56:31.564-05:00

The door of opportunity is always open. You just have to be willing to go through it.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-46442829684612227612008-08-23T10:01:00.003-05:002008-08-23T10:03:26.570-05:00

This morning I collected all the change around our house, some small misc checks we had, and went to the bank and placed it as a payment toward our heloc. It came to $40.12. Laugh if you want, but I bet it's a larger principal payment than most people made today.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-13398011554595905392008-08-22T20:58:00.005-05:002008-08-22T21:15:00.234-05:00

As we were celebrating our "Dave" anniversary the other day, Pool Boy asked how much we had paid off in one year. I'm kicking myself for not keeping an exact number like those people on Dave's Debt Free Friday calls do, but from my rough estimates it's around $45,000. IN JUST ONE YEAR! That is a lot of sacrificing, a LOT of selling stuff and a lot of focus. I heard a phone call of Dave's today

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-16708914413284155832008-08-21T22:21:00.004-05:002008-08-21T22:44:12.915-05:00

I don't talk politics around here too much, but it's VP time! Obama has picked his VP, he says, but won't give a name yet. Joe Biden - Has anyone ever seen this guy smile? Bill Nelson - Well, this just cracks me up for reasons only a few of you will understand. I guess I had no idea he was interested in the job. Evan Bayh - Maybe, although it's just another strange name we have to get used to.

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-34883137018014268052008-08-16T14:54:00.002-05:002008-08-16T15:04:13.598-05:00

Before I get to the attitude thing, let me fill you in on Tana. She was, in one word, amazing. I ended up buying some of her stuff and subscribing to her enewsletter. If you have the opportunity to listen to her speak, DO IT. I pray that the people in her audience last night listened to what she had to say and will make changes in their lives. And now, attitude. I was planning this long intense

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-31595952809450892512008-08-15T09:20:00.000-05:002008-08-15T09:21:32.103-05:00

Tonight I am going to listen to Tana Goertz speak. You know Tana. Apprentice? Bedazzler? Iowa? Well now people pay her cash to speak, I guess. I’m not sure on what but since I don’t have to pay for it I’m totally going. Food in involved. But wait. I just checked her website out. This might actually be completely awesome! I love motivational books, quotes, and the like. This could be right up my

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-46172697758676566212008-08-10T22:14:00.002-05:002008-08-10T22:22:10.815-05:00

Life is slowing down for the summer around the green3 house. That's great news, except for one thing.I now have more time think about how much I miss my Dad. Don't worry - I'm fine. I just miss him. He's missing out on so much. WE are missing out on so much. I know I'm supposed to say that "he's in a better place now" but how could it be better than being here with us?So with that, I'm ready to

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-46561284505809715852008-08-07T13:07:00.002-05:002008-08-07T13:12:58.893-05:00

One year ago I discovered Dave Ramsey.Pool Boy and I were talking last night about where we were at financially one year ago. He had just bought a brand new, cherry red zero turn mower for $3000 – financed, of course. We had two car payments that equaled $785 per month. We had credit card debt of several thousand dollars. We had a home equity line of credit loan with a very large balance. We owed

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30797100.post-13253743483011898232008-08-06T20:49:00.001-05:002008-08-06T20:50:33.489-05:00

Because I’m a nerd, I did a little more analyzing of my line of credit loan tonight. I mostly like looking at the running balance along the right side of the page and to see how fast that has gone down. Our real push on this (OUR LAST) debt started in January. Since January, we have made 34 payments toward this loan for a total of $14,000 knocked off the principal. (insert happy dance here).

Heidi @ Trendy Dollarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08497246011650271768noreply@blogger.com