<img class="aligncenter" title="Not just about the money" src="http://i670.photobucket.com/albums/vv65/ANOTHERNEWSEASON/notjustaboutthemoney.jpg" alt="" width="640" height="480" />

Tonight we watched the first of thirteen videos in Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. We are doing this with a few of our friends and we're hoping to see major transformations in our finances and attitude about money. Tonight I've been thinking a lot about my attitude towards money and where that came from. I thought that instead of reviewing what we learned tonight (which can be found at <a href="http://www.daveramsey.com/fpu/preview/" target="_blank">Dave Ramsey's website</a>) that I would share what foundational issues FPU is helping me to address.

<strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Today I'll start from the beginning...</span></strong>

<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Family and Finances</strong></span>

When we got married my husband and I couldn't have come from more different financial backgrounds. In my family I am the youngest of 3. My parents were married very young and struggled financially most of my life. Kevin was an only child and his parents (although like most new parents had their share of struggles) seemed to have a much better solid foundation on finances and how to manage money.

Like I said, I am the youngest of 3. We were all born within 13 months of each other, so to say that my parents were financially strapped would be an understatement. My father worked a number of jobs while my mother stayed home to try to keep the peace and raise 3 toddlers.

<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Don't Pass The Blame</strong></span>

Finances were never a welcome topic at our house. Financial struggles continued for my parents through my adolescence due to a number of layoffs in my father's industry and many months of unemployment. I always knew that money was tight but never fully realized how bad it was until our home was foreclosed on. The mortgage was just outrageous and we couldn't keep up. I always admired my mother's frugality. We would sit and cut coupons, I got all the hand-me-downs and we were not spending lavishly. I have to say that I don't believe it was my parent's inability to manage money, necessarily, however my father experienced one layoff after another. Having a "nest egg", "cushion" or "Emergency Fund" could have bailed my parents out a number of times, however we had none.

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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Working for the Weekend</strong></span>

My first job was as a waitress at a ice cream shop and restaurant. I made great money there but as soon as it was in my hand I had it spent. I saved total of $0 until I was in my late 20's. I was in denial and couldn't understand why I was always broke. I always admired my friend Tracey who had literally seemed to save every penny, literally; I remember her having these tiny cups from the restaurant filled with change all over the place in her room; she was a saver! I believe she bought her first car with cash. You would think I would be so impressed that I would learn from her, but I was oblivious.

I now know what my problem was, and it was not my parents fault, it was my own <strong>false sense of entitlement</strong>. I figured I earned it, I can spend it however and wherever I wanted. I also struggled with valuing myself, let alone my future. I saw no need to save money, my focus was on today, my future wasn't even considered. I realized this years ago and when I did it was like a light went off and everything could be seen. Self Entitlement, that pride-filled attitude was holding me back from so much more.

Enter my money saving husband.

<span style="font-size: x-large;">To Be Continued...</span>

Where we're headed...