A Major Goal?

If we are able to accomplish this, it will definitely be a God thing. We were at Grandpa's Sunday night as we usually do, and in the course of conversation, DD brought up that she would love to go on a cruise for their 16th birthday, which - yikes! - is 1 year and about 3 weeks away. We've casually discussed a big trip to celebrate that over the years but with the economy and my work situation and debt increasing in 2009 instead of decreasing, it was looking more and more like that wouldn't happen.

So when DD brought up the cruise again yesterday, I told her that if, and only if, we were able to pull together and pay off all the credit cards this year, that we would financially be able to do that next spring. Her eyes just lit up! If things going according to plan, and there are no major financial disasters like last year, I had hoped to get 2/3 paid off this year and finish off both the credit cards and the mortgage with the 2011 tax return. Of course, that's what I was saying at this point last year about this coming return! I also have the goal of paying cash for either a new refrigerator or hot water tank this year, an approximate $600 goal to be safe. (Those are the 2 things that, if they died, would need replaced immediately. If they both went and I had the extra cash set aside, I could use the emergency fund for the other. The rest of the appliances, while inconvenient, would not necessarily need replaced immediately.)

In the next couple days, I think we'll have a short family meeting and see if this is something they truly want to attempt. It will need to be a family effort that requires more planning ahead for purchases and driving than they are used to, doing without a few things they are accustomed to having and definitely developing the fruits of patience and perserverance for all of us! We could be in for a very interesting 2010, and if we are able to do this, to God be the glory!