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WE’RE DEBT FREE!!!!!

Rejoice with me friends! WE’RE DEBT FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Recently we paid off the remainder of our townhouse and now we’re 100% debt free! I had always told Barry that when we were done with the house debt that I wanted to take a trip to Nashville and do our scream live on The Dave Ramsey Show. So, for my 30th birthday, Barry took me, Annie, and my mom to Nashville to celebrate.

Financial Peace Plaza is a must visit. You can watch the Dave Ramsey show live from the lobby and Dave comes out occasionally so you can meet/speak with him. There is a great bookstore there and a lovely little snack area where you can get homemade goodies and free coffee (or in Annie’s case, milk). You do your debt free scream from the bookstore on a little phone they have for that purpose. Plus, you get to meet all sorts of like-minded people who have traveled far and wide to scream that they are also debt free!

Every time someone does their yell on the air, the whole lobby stops what they’re doing and everyone begins to clap and yell. It’s AWESOME!

Once you’re done on the air, you get to sign your name on the Debt Free Wall. I was afraid I’d misspell something or write something totally lame and it would be there for all of eternity….I am NOT the Queen of Spelling. Of course, I was the obvious choice since Barry’s writing looks like chicken scratch. Annie was quite perplexed as to why Mommy got to write on the wall, but she is not permitted to do so at home. She was more concerned that her Nina was eating her brownie in the other room while she was busy with her Mommy writing on some wall.

Here is our inscription…..no spelling errors. Whew. In 8 months, we were able to pay off $20,000 by cutting our budget to the bare bones and doing lots of extra side jobs. One thing I’ve learned about paying off debt is that you HAVE to be focused. If you’re not focused and determined, it makes your job longer and harder.

We were very excited and honored to meet Dave Ramsey. I got so excited that I just so happened to tell him that he “rocked my face off.” I know he had absolutely no idea what I was talking about. Uh, oops? Leave it to me to say something totally dumb. If I meet you for the first time and say something dumb, just overlook it.

It was a really great trip and one we’ll remember forever. We’ve changed our family tree and we’ve also changed how Annie will always perceive money. “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Proverbs 22:6We were able to get our call taped because I wanted to share it with you. Let it be an encouragement to you. If you’re on the road to being debt free, you WILL make it! And things are so much better on the other side. 😀  Please know that Barry and I are always here to help you however we can.“Debt is normal. Be weird.” –Dave Ramsey

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  2. What are your thoughts on renting? We are a large family (7) in a small townhome (1800sq.ft.). We live in an affluent county and my hubs has a big time job but we sold our house in March. Now I have the itch to buy but we still a have a rental property in Texas that we owe 66K (we’ve got it on the market but no buyer yet) on…then we’d debt free but were renting this small townhouse.

    I’d love to hear from you both.

    Reply

    • Barry – Renting is not necessarily a good or a bad thing. It is a choice that should be made based on your current situation and your short- and long-term plans. Some think renting is “throwing away” money and often they are right. At the same time, there are plenty of good reasons to rent. I wrote about this some in this article: http://www.barrymyers.me/should-i-rent-or-buy-a-home/

      Stacy – It wouldn’t be smart to buy another house right now. Then you would have two payments instead of just the one. I would work as hard as I could to get that Texas house sold, and then sock money away like no one’s business to get a downpayment on a house. 🙂 Hope that helps!

      Reply

  3. Congrats! I know this is an older post, but it still feels good! We have also done Dave Ramsey’s program and have enjoyed living debt free!

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  4. Wow, Great to read your story and glad that you are in debt free now. It is really such a nice feeling being a debt free.

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  5. WOw oh wow! I just bought Dave Ramsey’s book, and it has been amazing! Watching your video got me all teary’d eyed. Its wonderful to see a family happy and debt free! Amen!
    You are truly an inspiration. My husband and I are 27yrs old, no kids, no mortgage but with credit card and student loans and let me tell you its been tough. It definitely is a behavior change, please keep us in Prayer, I know we can do this. THank you so much for your website and blessings to you and your family!

    Reply

  6. This is soooooo awesome! You should be so proud! I am a huge fan of Dave Ramsey and we too are debt free! Life is great with one less worry in the financial area. We plan to make a trip to see Dave next May on our way to Florida for a family vacation. Just stumbled on your website thru Pinterest and think we have a lot in common. I’m trying your fajaita chicken recipe for dinner tonight. Can’t wait! Thanks for sharing all this great information! You Rock!

    Reply

    • Financial Peace Plaza is awesome!!! You will love it! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by – and I hope you like the fajitas. 🙂

      Reply

  7. Oh my goodness! I REMEMBER hearing this one! 😀 We listen to Dave Ramsey’s show on an almost daily basis, and somehow I recall when I’ve heard an episode before. So excited for you all. We’re hoping to visit Financial Peace Plaza by the time we turn 25 (some student loans from my husband’s first two years of college)!!

    Reply

    • Yeah, Barry is pretty memorable. I’m glad I didn’t get to talk. I would have said something like “Dave, you rock my face off!” 🙂

      Reply

  8. This is FANTASTIC!!!! I just finally finished reading the article and listening/watching to the video 🙂 🙂 🙂 I love listening in to the callers who scream “We’re debt free” I”m still looking for a job, so I can pay off my student loans for GOOD…oh, this is fantastic!!!! Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂 🙂

    Reply

  9. Yep, this is definitely the article I saw 🙂 🙂 Thanks for reposting the link. I”ll listen to your video tomorrow 🙂 🙂 🙂 I LOVE that Dave Ramsey proves that it IS POSSIBLE to live a debt free life 🙂 🙂 It really is freedom 🙂 🙂 Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 😉

    Reply

  11. That is amazing! Good for you. I can’t imagine how great that must feel! How would one go about getting this Dave Ramsey program?

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  14. CONGRATULATIONS!! We love Dave Ramsey and did great with FPU last year. We paid off a lot in a few months. I saved a lot couponing…but found I have a hard time gardening, canning, and couponing. 🙂 Then we had a year of just trying to survive a family trial. Excited to get back on the envelope system and couponing in the new year! Thanks for all your wonderful information!

    Reply

    • 🙂 Good luck in your new resolve! Secret – I have something coming out for my readers very soon along this same line. 🙂

      Reply

  17. I don’t know what it was, but I actually teared up during this video! Thank you for being an inspiration to many people! Congrats on being DEBT-FREE!!!

    Reply

  18. Congrats!!! This is an AMAZING feat–especially at 30!! What a testimony to so many people! The video was amazing! I watched it the other day but am just now getting to comment. Annie is an absolute doll! I just love her pig tails!!

    Reply

  22. Wow, that’s amazing! Congratulations! I have to admit to jealousy that only $20K would pay off your mortgage. 🙂

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  24. Congratulations! You and Barry are an inspiration to young couples everywhere. Enjoyed the video and enjoy your columns…you’re a hoot!

    Reply

  25. Congratulations! That makes me so envious (but in a good way). Made me want to cry… I am very happy for you guys! It must be the most awesome feeling to be completely debt free! I really hope to be in your shoes soon! Take care god bless and THANK YOU and Barry for all your help and guidance!!!

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  29. PRAISE THE LORD!!!! So proud of you guys! I got “Ghost bumps” watching this. The Lord is smiling on you today!! Bless you for your ministry to others and your wisdom! You inspire so many! Thanks too for sharing this awesome event with the rest of us!! Love you! S<

    Reply

  30. Don’t cry! Laugh! Just think about the reason why I was giggling with Annie – she burped really loud during the call. LOL

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  31. Congratulations!!! I’m working on it, too. Sometimes it seems like the end will never come, but a little good news, like yours, helps a lot.

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  33. Way to go! Before we started having children, we made sure all debts (except the house) were paid off. Because of that I was able to stay home full time for 1.5 years with our oldest (and through my huband’s 4 month very unexpected layoff) and 1.5 years if not permanently with our second. We often say that if we won the lottery tomorrow, we’d first pay off our house and then invest/save the rest. Frugal we are (which sometimes even works against us). In fact, my husband’s favorite book (that I read too) is the The Millionaire Next Door. People often ask how we live on one income and eat primarily local and/or organic food. My response is that we have chosen to invest in our health rather than fancy cars, big houses, or extravagant vacations. Finally, I love Barry’s response that it has nothing to do with money and everything to do with behavior. I can’t wait for the day we pay off our house! In the meantime, congratulations and way to practice what you both are preaching!

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  34. That’s totally awesome! Keep up with your “rockin” website posts, so the rest of us can achieve the same goal :o)

    Reply

  35. Hey Guys! Congrats…
    We are slated for that accomplishment just before Christmas… (It’s my Christmas gift!)… 100% debt free (including the house… the way it should be…) Our plans after that are to set up 529’s for the kids so we can continue to stay debt free! Take care guys, and congrats again!
    -Blake

    Reply

  36. Congrats!!!! That is such a HUGE accomplishment, especially when u have a small child… We will have have our home paid for in less than 5yrs and that is the only thing we owe for….. congrats again on ur hard work!!!!

    Reply

    • It already aired….that’s why we taped it to play on the website. 🙂 You can hear it if you play the video at the bottom.

      Reply

  42. That is so exciting Stacy!!! What a wonderful feeling it must be to accomplish sure a huge goal and not have debt hanging over your head!! We are down to just our house payment, which is wonderful, but we’re aiming for 100% debt-free, too. 🙂 Way to go!

    Reply

  44. So happy for you. Great feeling isn’t it. As I have said before, you and Barry are doing a great job with Annie. What wonderful examples you are showing her.

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  46. Yay!! I am so happy for you guys!! If we could sell our house in VA, we’d we debt free, too! Of course, we wouldn’t be homeowners either :-p at least not for a little while. Congrats again!!

    Reply

  47. FANTASTIC!!!
    All of that would rock my face off too, not just meeting Dave, lol!
    High five to you guys, nice job! 🙂

    Reply

  52. WooHoo! Congratulations! You are an inspiration…we hope to be there someday too.

    Reply
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