Wow. Looking back and looking forward produce two different stories, two different lives, two different chapters. I never would have imagined in December 2008 where I would be today. 1) I didn’t know I was pregnant 2) I didn’t really have a website started.
The Story of 2009
December 2008 – January 2009 – I was a stay at home mom of a six month old little girl and I started Frugal Coupon Living (at the time Frugal Coupon Mom) for friends and family. I had been telling people over and over deals I was finding and tired of repeating myself, I decided to place it all on a website my friend and family could utilize.
February 2009 – March 2009 – I truly had no idea what I was doing when it came to running a website. Again, this was just something people I knew could utilize so when word started spreading I wasn’t prepared. I then found myself in two media outlets that were not self sought (God was in control). When US News and World Report wrote an article, I thought I had my 5 minutes of fame. When Dr. Phil called, I thought my family secrets were out of the bag. Instead, they somehow had found my small little site and wanted me to help another family save money. We actually didn’t answer the first phone call because we thought it was a joke!
March 2009 – December 2009 – I welcomed an audience I could never have imagined. I have met new friends, heard so many different stories, and have been able to get to know so many different people – and still 99% of you are strangers – but still a part of me. It has been so exciting continuing the purpose of why I began this website – to help others save money. I am not one to keep secrets (unless it is a necessary situation.) When I know something that works, I like to share it with many. When I know about information/facts, I like to share. I think that is why I enjoy/enjoyed teaching so much. It is a passion of mine and I still get an opportunity to teach, just from home with a difference audience (set of students.)
September 2009 – We welcomed a daughter. A little girl that is such a wonderful addition to our family. Completely God ordained. Had I known how busy I would be in 2009, let’s just say planning (though not planned) for a child would not have been in the picture. God wanted this little girl in our family so bad that my “success” came after she was conceived.
2009 Finances – This year we cleaned up finances, put more in savings, paid off both of our cars, and started working on the dreaded student loans.
Financial goals for 2010
January 2010 – June 2010 Our goal for 2010 is to have our student loans completely paid off. In addition we are big fans of the Dave Ramsey method, so our goal for the first part of the year is to create a 6-month emergency fund.
July 2010 – December 2010 Begin a long term financial plan with the goal of eliminating every penny of debt we have remaining, our mortgage. This will require an amazing amount of discipline and will take more than just 2010. This will probably be our financial goal for a number of years following. With a few bumps in the road, eventually a new car when we expand our family even more, we will tackle this with every extra penny we have.
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