Play Money

Dear Anonymous Reader,

Play money...no not like in Monopoly. I'm talking about the money we set aside each month to just blow on whatever our hearts' desire. Play money, blow money, pocket change. For some this kind of money is spent on an occasional Starbucks treat or pair of shoes. For others it could be a quick trip to Vegas or a long weekend up the coast of California.

I coordinate a financial class called Financial Peace University. It's a program through Ramsey Solutions...aka...Dave Ramsey. He's an amazing and inspiring money expert who has spent the last 30 years teaching people how to "win with money" as he says. Dave Ramsey's teachings are what put me in the financial position I find myself in now. I am debt free, have a six month emergency fund, am investing in my retirement, and will have my condo paid off by 2021-2022. That's pretty amazing considering I bought in 2013 and started his practices in February of 2014. My fire for the program is why I was able to quit my job four months ago to press re-set on my career and my future. Financial peace...two words that don't commonly go together, but that I have right now...even without employment. :-)

I believe in the program so much, I wanted to be a coordinator. I have a class of six and we meet every Sunday for nine Sundays, watching Dave's teachings and working through his course. I can't even express how wonderful it has been to watch and be a part of the financial breakthroughs my class is having. Last night two members each cut up one of their credit cards! That's so impressive! No looming 26.9% APR on a zero-balance credit card they "hope" they never have to use in an emergency. Now, they both have an emergency fund for their emergencies. I'm so proud of them!

When I was starting, my play money, blow money, pocket money was $20 every two weeks. I was on a TIGHT budget, but I loved every second of it and every cent of it because I was working towards something. I was working towards my financial goals. No Starbucks drink was worth more than paying off my student loan. Over the years I would increase it to maybe $60 every two weeks, but if anything needed to be cut while I did my zero-based budget that $60 moved to $40 or $25 pretty quickly.

Anyway...now...even though I'm unemployed...I budgeted $700 this month to just blow on whatever! That's huge, man!!! I decided to set aside the money to just see how much I actually would spend. As of right now, 10 days in, I have $565 left. I've bought a magazine, two theatre tickets, treated a friend to dinner, had coffee with a friend, and bought a pair of flip flops. Next I'm thinking about taking a little trip up Hwy 101 for a few nights, or maybe going to see a Shakespeare play in Ashland, Oregon.

I may not blow the whole thing, but I sure as hell plan to continue to have fun playing with my well deserved play money!!

Win with money, A.R.,
XO
Kel