I can’t believe that it’s been six years ago today that I said “I do” to the hottest guy around in our $500 wedding ceremony. That day was the official start to our real life on a budget and it has been quite the ride for sure!
When we said “I do”, I was still paying off the remaining crazy debt I had from my early adult life and my husband was deep in the trenches of his first year in business for himself. I was working fulltime as a project manager for an engineering firm in Atlanta and taking six classes a semester at Kennesaw State University.
We had two dogs, boxers and thought our lives were pretty much the greatest thing ever. Of course, our lives together have been wild – with amazing highs and very deep lows, but through these years together we’ve managed to do some amazing stuff all due to living a life by a budget:
We started our life off together without going into debt for a wedding or for our honeymoon.
We paid off the rest my crazy debt (about $7,000 at the time we were married) in the first year of our marriage.
We accumulated more debt together to the tune of about $145,000 (including the mortgage)!
We have paid off over $52,000 together in the last four years alone.
We have had 2.5 children in six years and gained another dog.
We went from being a two-income household to being a one-income household.
We went from keeping our money separate to having our money together in one account.
We went from having no emergency fund to being close to a fully funded one.
We went from believing we had to have debt in order to make a great life for our family to banning that word completely from our home as we work like hell to kill the debt monster.
Those are just a few of things that we’ve done together on this crazy adventure of sharing our life and our money together. And in honor of our wedding anniversary, we’re giving away a copy of my book, Real Life on a Budget and a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader!
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Happy anniversary!!
I did not know that you had been a project manager for an engineering firm (I’m an aerospace engineer and I’m currently a project manager, though I’m leaving my job next month to be a freelancer).
That’s awesome Kirsten! I worked for a civil engineering firm, not as awesome as aerospace 🙂 — I loved my job but leaving to be a SAHM, now WAHM was an amazing decision. You’ll love being a freelancer! 🙂
So excited for this giveaway! How do we live real life on a budget…hmmm…so many ways! We’ve used a lot of your advice, as well as some “ol yankee ingenuity” (as they say in New England) to do a lot of things with a little cash. You are a big ol inspiration and I just love your blog!
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!!! 🙂
Thank you so much for your sweet words Stacie! 🙂
Happy Anniversary!
We have a very unique situation so we are trying to get on a real-life-budget but things are about to change for us big time in a good way!! God is good, all the time!
Enjoy your special day! 🙂
Yes he is Lauren! 🙂 Thank you so much!
How do we live real life on a budget? We currently use the envelope system. So far it has done well with our family!
Have a fabulous Anniversary!
Thank you Amber and that is awesome that you’re using the envelope system! 🙂
Would love to win your book. I need to re-do my budget so it matches more of my real life.
Happy anniversary! The couple who budgets together stays together!!
Awe thank you Lydia! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! We got married at the courthouse and then a year later had an inexpensive church wedding. My grandma made my dress, the flower girls dress was from kmart and my maid of honor made her dress. Whether you spend a lot or a little bit on your wedding, the marriage will still be hard work.
Yes ma’am! My grandmama always told me that marriage is the hardest thing that you’ll ever have to work for in your life. I love that your Grandma made your dress – I need to work on my sewing skills. 🙂
We live life on a budget by being careful with every penny. It’s amazing how every little choice adds up each month!
Oh my goodness yes! Every little bit truly does add up quick!
I just recently found your blog and it has been such an inspiration to me! We are in the throes of paying off debt that we have accumulated in our 14 years of marriage. We are finding out that cash is the way to go. Too easy to just throw “one more small thing” into the cart when you are using a debit card! It has been a struggle for sure, but with the Lord’s help, we should be debt free in about two years. I cannot wait for that day!
Have a wonderful anniversary! 🙂
I’m cheering you on Rebecca!!!! That is awesome that y’all are on your way to being debt-free! Y’all got this! 🙂
Happy anniversary. We tried to live a frugal life and not upgrade our lifestyle when we eventually got raises so that we could budget for major expenses like a house and kids
That’s awesome Shannon and that is definitely not an easy thing to do! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I think the most important thing for a real life budget is always remembering what is important to you and spending your money on that instead of wasting it on what is not important.
LOVE THAT Sheila! Yes, knowing your priorities and what is really important to you is so crucial to knowing how and where to spend your money.
Happy Anniversary. We have been married 18 years and are still working on getting out of debt. Car loan, school loan and a mortgage. It seems that something always happens when we spend money….fix the fence with home repair money and the heating pipe is leaking.
Thank you for your honesty and advice.
You are so welcome Emilie and I feel ya on it always seems that Murphy shows up when we least expect it. :-/
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! How exciting and such a happy day!
We live real life on a budget with a budgeting spreadsheet! Keeps us in line and accountable to each other
Just recently found your blog. I am really enjoying it and learning so much.
Thank you so much for reading Charlene! 🙂
First, happy anniversary! I’ve been trying to love real life on a budget and have shifted to swapping out dinner with my parents every other night – it means half of the meal costs and no wasted food!
Oh I love that idea Meagan! 🙂
I love coming to your blog and gleaming a wealth of helpful tips,suggestions,advice and information. My husband I are Celebrating our 16th Wedding Anniversary on July 31st of this year.
Congrats to you and your beloved Husband on your 6 years Wedding Anniversary.
Thank you so much Carla! 🙂 And happy early anniversary to y’all! 🙂
How do I live Real life on a Budget? My Husband and I truly just learning how to live our Life on a Budget. We have in the past lived beyond our means and now we truly are trying and wanting to live below our means. We have cut out Cable/Satalite. We are reducing our Eating out and Fixing more of our Meals at Home. We are enjoying spending more quanity and quality time just by being together as a family (going to the park, staying home playing boad games and talking and watching good wholesome Television Shows like Andy Griffith.
we try to do fun things that cost no money or little money instead of vacationing we go camping or go to the river for the day.
Camping is my love language! 🙂 That’s the best vacation!
Happy Anniversary! I am just now starting my journey on being debt free and look forward to learning more from your blog and books.
Thank you so much Candy for your kind words! 🙂
Happy Anniversary!
I live a real life on a budget by riding my bicycle to work each and every day. I figure it not only saves me on gas and wear and tear on our “one family car”, but it also saves me on medical bills because I am getting my exercise daily.
I also live a real life on a budget by following your awesome blog.
Jana, you are too sweet! 🙂 You rock for riding your bike to work! That is awesome and that is definitely living a Real Life on a Budget! 🙂
Congratulations! I have been a long-term reader and appreciate all of the advice. I would love a copy of the book.
Thank you so much Diana for your readership! 🙂
Happy anniversary!!!
Hmm, we consolidated our credit card debt with a home equity loan, are paying it down, and have not accumulated any additional debt. We’ve also increase our emergency fund, and have determined our big-picture financial priorities.
YAY Amy!!!!! I’m cheering for you and LOVE reading about your progress! 🙂
Grace, eating lots of leftovers, and YNAB. Mending clothes and being resourceful and frugal where we can so we can do the fun things we want to do. It’s all a balance, some months more “delicate” than others. Happy Anniversary!
Oh I love how you mention grace Kandace! Too often we forget that we have to be willing to extend ourselves grace when it comes to budgeting! 🙂
We are still working on a budget. My husband work 70+ hours a week and has a hard time curbing his spending because he works so hard. But I have been sticking to as strict budget and we are saving for our first family trip to Disney in March! My husband is on board with this so I am hoping that this is a new start to saving and budgeting better!
I was doing fine on our budget and limited income until I discovered baby number two was on the way and now I am struggling to come up with the baby items I need for the new baby and when I sat down to write out our new budget…it was not pretty…not even possible. UGH. Happy Anniversary and wishes for many happy years ahead.
Congrats Rachel on baby number 2! The best thing we did when expecting baby 2 was ask others if they had any old baby items they didn’t need/want anymore. We managed to get the crib and mattress that way for free and several friends gave us their hand-me-down clothes. I’m keeping y’all in my prayers! 🙂
Honestly, I have not been living well on a budget, and am here for tips! I am trying to find a way to control our debt, and still provide for the family.
Happy anniversary! My husband and I celebrated our 6th anniversary on the 11th. And as he said, here’s to the next 60 – for us and for you!
Happy Anniversary and keep up with the wonderful posts here, I always enjoy them! 🙂
Happy Anniversary! I just found your blog and am so excited to check it out!
We live life on a budget by using the envelope system and sticking to a strict 260 a month grocery budget for our family of four.
I’ll be honest, I’m going about this budget thing all wrong and trying to fix the debt issue on my own. Repeated attempts to engage my hubs has failed. He’s great, but I’m just not finding the right approach. But, I can’t wait forever to get rid of debt so I’m going for it anyway!
I just found your page blog through a friend. I am very excited to dig in and start budgeting. Our current system is so broken! I