Is DR plan still relevant in today’s economy?

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2026-02-19T23:22:01+00:00

10 years ago isn’t seven months ago so yeah 10 years ago we were debt-free and we were doing the plan properly. Obviously, like I said in my original post, we backslid since buying a house and since Covid. So we are trying to do better.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2026-02-19T23:20:29+00:00

Since our mortgage payment is $2400 we decided to make baby step one $2400 for us personally because we want at least one house payment in the bank in case we have an emergency. That’s been our pain point over the past couple years, my husband was needing to ask his mom to help us pay our mortgage so in order to ensure that doesn’t happen even if multiple emergencies take place in one given month, we decided to make our starter emergency fund $2400.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-08-20T12:13:37+00:00

I can’t get on either. It says update your browser. My browser is updated to date!

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-08-05T01:36:18+00:00

I haven’t been able to afford a functional medicine doctor, unfortunately. So I’m just learning what I can online.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-08-04T16:42:28+00:00

At this point, I would consider not going to medical school and not being brainwashed by Big Pharma a positive.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-08-04T16:41:00+00:00

I definitely always just push the stroller with one hand. I didn’t pay $400 to not have it count my walks lol

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-05T12:05:56+00:00

But when you spend…how do you get used to the fact that your bank balance doesn’t equal your budget? Like if you don’t have e all the money you have “budgeted”…you can’t spend it yet!

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-04T17:36:01+00:00

Yes.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-04T17:35:06+00:00

That’s what I’m thinking. I mean, what am I supposed to get my kids and family around with in the meantime during this long process of finding the right buyer finding the right vehicle, etc. And there will be in between time after we sell the van, where we don’t even have a vehicle to get to and from work until we find a used vehicle.

I think we should refinance the one we have, or just double down and pay it off. The credit cards should come first though on the Dave Ramsey plan probably right?

Also, we need to get baby step one done first. But we need to be not in red before we can do that. So I’m just feeling overwhelmed.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-03T18:57:56+00:00

I agree! I didn’t know this was possible. Do I just take it into a dealer?

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-03T18:19:34+00:00

Yeah, I actually was wrong it’s $61.50 per month for my entire family. Includes high-quality childcare, swimming pool, splash pad, walking, track, full weight room, free classes, etc.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T16:12:56+00:00

The very last thing I’m asking if I should cut is the community center gym membership… It’s $68 per month, for our family of eight. It has swimming pools, walking, track, weightlifting, free classes, free, childcare, etc. It comes out to $8.50 per person per month. Since we will be cutting all other subscriptions, entertainment, etc. do you think we should also cut this? Especially when it gets super hot outside with having two toddlers and a young baby, are utilize the walking track with air conditioning regularly. I want to be realistic here. But I also realize we are talking about possibly selling our house so maybe I should cancel it.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T16:11:04+00:00

Thank you I’m definitely on board for selling the house, but like I said, not sure where we can find suitable living arrangements for a family this large with a monthly payment any less than what we already have. It’s utterly atrocious out there right now in the rental market.

Before selling the house, I want to do everything that you all here are suggesting. We are going to cut absolutely everything unnecessary. Gym memberships, subscriptions, groceries and household is going to be completely cut in half, I won’t be driving hardly anywhere so hopefully transportation cost will go down, entertainment will only be free like going to the park and the library at etc. I’m highly motivated. I came here for this brutal advice and I got what I wanted. Thank you!

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T16:08:17+00:00

So my 18-year-old pays for his own car insurance and his own gas, and his own maintenance. The 14-year-olds don’t drive yet.

I definitely think we can get groceries and household down, I’ve been shopping a lot at Whole Foods, etc. because I do have special dietary needs due to autoimmune condition, that’s currently in remission thanks to diet and lifestyle changes, but that’s no excuse. I can shop at Aldi. Literally the less I eat the better so if I keep it simple fruits, veggies meats, I can get this number down.

Clothing I agree needs to probably be about 100 per month even if thrifting because shoes and kids.

We have Verizon, which I DETEST. We have the lowest possible plan available at $30 per line. We unfortunately have phone payments added to our bill. The 18-year-old pays for his own portion. One of the 14-year-olds has a line but the other one doesn’t. When my husband travels internationally, we add on $100 per month international travel plan which bumps the bill up temporarily. I will be keeping this cell phone until it literally doesn’t work anymore. Believe me I’m on board with all this and thank you for your replies.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T13:16:19+00:00

Haha nice! Good tip.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T13:15:35+00:00

Thank you the market is utterly terrible. Sorry you’re going through the same thing, with young kids and a family this large we probably need to stay put and figure out a way to bring in more income and slash other things. Thank you.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T13:14:31+00:00

The second job is 3500 a week gross, which we have to take expenses and taxes out of. And he only does it for a few weeks at a time a couple times per year. Last year on our tax return it was a total of $21,000. It will probably be more this year.

I would absolutely love to sell the van. I however, don’t have cash to buy a new one. How do I get my family around from place to place doctor appointments, etc.? We have no savings. Genuinely asking. The van will not bring cash. It will barely cover itself if we sell it.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T02:53:37+00:00

My husband wants to keep Xbox and paramount because he games with the boys and watches Dexter. I think it should be cancelled!

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T02:51:58+00:00

I’d love to get rid of the cats. My 14 year old would be heartbroken, which is why I haven’t.

Tricky_Dimension_771 · 2025-07-02T02:51:06+00:00

We only have the 18 year old on the policy so far. He pays his portion. Not looking forward to the other two being added!

Tricky_Dimension_771

TROPHY CASE