It is given.

1000 more! Yeah, I said it! I went from 25 dollars one day to 1000 dollars the next. And I have been on this road for a relatively short time. The thing is though, I have been on this road for quite a long time mentally. I am just now putting it into solid action.

I guess it was like everyone else. I always thought that since I didn't have a huge amount to start with that it wouldn't make a difference. So, I just made a decision to do it. I started with zero dollars and a decision, and here I am a few weeks later and 1000 dollars was put into the stash.

Here is what happened. I am a very firm believer in reading books on the subject of making money and self-improvement. The reason being that if you want to learn how to cook, you read cook books. Well, I want to learn how to make money and I want to learn how to enjoy the journey along the way. These are things that I obviously have missed for 40 years. So, I have for the past year immersed myself in both subjects.

I don't have time to read. That would take forever, right? So, I download the books to my Ipod. That seems like it would cost a fortune, right? Well, each download is about 18 dollars or so. It takes me about 4--5 days to make it through one of the books. And I usually listen to each book once and then go back and listen to others that have made a particular impact on me. So, I am spending about 20 bucks a week on books. But, they are changing my way of thinking which is in turn changing my actions. This is in turn changing my future and the future of everyone around me. It starts such an unbelievable chain reaction that the minimal costs outweigh the benefits.

I keep the ipod on doing mundane tasks or in the car when alone, at the grocery store or at ballgames. No one knows what I am listening to, all the while the inspiration that is coming in constantly is overwhelming.

Anyway, getting back to the 1000 dollars. Right now, I am listening to a book which encourages setting a small goal for the week. My goal was 100 dollars. Then I thought, No way, Let's go for 1000. This was yesterday. Yeah, yesterday! My husband came in this morning and asked me to transfer 1000 into the stash (which would normally be used for bills). It was part of the tax refund check. His original plan for that was to pay off the credit card bills.

I have explained to him that that mountain will be there regardless, and that we need to set aside a goal amount. That money cannot be touched unless it is for the goal. As long as the bills are paid, and we have a big savings, then our confidence in our future will feel secure. Then we will not feel the need to use credit cards needlessly for we will know that we have a big bank account. It is a huge cycle, but a good one. But, the cycle has to begin somewhere. It sounds like a paradox, but it is not. There would be no need to have a debt on credit cards with several hundred thousand dollars in the bank, right.

But, the catch is... we have to pay off the credit cards while building the stash at the same time. Most people would not find that fun, but, hey, I guess at 40, you find your fun where you can, huh? If we can pull this off, we will have a blast... and honestly, I have no doubt that we will.. No doubt.

So, today I have officially opened the account, the money that had been put in the stash has been put into the bank and we are on our way OFFICIALLY! Join us!