We suffered from the same issues until I decided enough was enough. I pulled out a regular sized envelope and each month we take receipts and put them into the envelope. This is a daily task and everyone in our household is on board. But before the receipts go in the envelope it goes into Microsoft money so we can track our expenses.

We are all about the budget. Yes the “B” word. Get over it, it’s really not that bad.

Each month we get a new envelope and start over again. It now it’s a house hold habit and we are much more in control of our paper work and finances.

If you asked me to find a receipt to return something – I would be looking for hours. My paper files are an absolute mess for this year. I have about three places around the house where there are piles of papers that are just waiting for their homes.

Blogging Away Debt » Blog Archive » What Number Confession am I on Now??

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If you are serious about getting out of debt than it all starts with creating a game plan. In this case you need to know how much money you have coming into the household and how much is going out of the household. Once you know how much money you have left at the end of the month you can then add the extra to your debts and create a debt crushing snowball.

I hate to say it but it all starts with a budget. You have to have a BUDGET if you want to get out of debt. If you do not figure out your household budget you will fail at your debt reduction efforts.

If you can not measure it you will not be able to manage it. Period!

People would rather go to the dentist and have teeth pulled than create and live by a written budget. Like anything worth while it just takes a bit of discipline and desire. With out these two “magic” ingredients getting out of debt will be tough and almost impossible.

So get real honest with yourself and know your future and the future of your family are dependent on you taking control of your financial destiny. Once you have a budget you have a game plan.

Would a football team enter the super bowl with out a game plan?
Would we try and land men on the moon with out a plan?
Would your Doctor cut you open with out a plan?

No!!!  Getting out of debt is no different.

So take the time to create a game plan and stick to it. This is the key to getting out of debt. There are no silver bullets or magic pills. Just hard work and desire and I believe each and every one of you can do this. It will be hard but in the end getting out of debt is simply to important to not take the challenge.