Dollars and Sense: I'm glad I found the way

My husband gave me the paper from our mortgage company that declared we own our dream.  My house is paid for.  The money my husband had been putting towards our mortgage he now puts into a savings that is four months old.  He gave me the paper because he knew things like that mean something to me.

I cried and hugged him and then still in his arms, thanked him.  We own my first dream.  My husband made my first dream a reality when we simply moved into this home.  I wanted my own home, hummingbirds and a garden.  Tearfully, I can say someone did that for me.

My husband said we did it.  I know we did, but I told him that I still appreciate the man that got up each day and successfully ran his own business and how much that meant to me.

My husband taught me everything I know about finances.  I don't know how I got through life without someone really sitting down and showing me the ropes of money.  My parents didn't.  It took meeting the right person to show me some practical notions about life.

This year my college loans will be paid off.  And I am proud.  My car is paid for, again my husband and I both pat each other's back about our first Luxury car.  We didn't plan on getting Betty when we did, but I went 38 years without a single accident, and then walked away from my Impala without a single scratch on me.  I over-corrected on a curvy road, lost control and ended up rolling my car.  What is more amazing was the insurance adjuster, and my first new car I totaled still ended up getting the maximum amount to put towards Betty.  My almost five year old car was in perfect condition and my husband was proud of me for that.  I endeavor to do the same with my Buick, except maybe not have another moment with OnStar.  For those of you that wonder.. I am so grateful to the people at www.onstar.com for being there to save the day.

I rolled in this Impala and nobody but the car was hurt.

I'm getting to more things I've learned over the years.  I've been taught to never carry a balance on a credit card and to pay it off each month.  My husband told me it makes no sense to put money in a savings while paying interest on debt.  He's right of course.  He doesn't believe in check cards, but I had to say I have one, but monitor things much closer than he does.

We differ in checkbook balance.  I balance to the very penny.  He rounds to the next dollar.  We stopped messing each other's paperwork up a long time ago.  However, I've turned into the savings queen.

I use U-Promise if I online shop, and have it linked to an online savings account.  I also have the credit card for those extra dollars and cents.  I fill out surveys for money through www.upromise.com  I also utilize the work I already do emptying my inbox through another survey website that pays you just to open emails.  They are pennies, but hey, it seems they are mine.

But time makes a person lax.. and that' what I've been.  So I'm loaning myself from savings to pay everything off and just sat here and figured up when I'd have my accounts straight and my savings paid back.  By fall all will even keel, and I am writing about it kind of as a promise to myself to not forget all I've learned in pursuit of a deal.

I went from no credit to Excellent credit.  I can buy my own home if I wanted.  But in one stupid decision, could screw that up.  The bar is high these days and there is no room for error.

My family must come up with a new dream.  I tell my husband that when we decide to find that retirement home, I'm bringing my front door.  And I mean it.