_ My husband and I were in the middle of a staycation (much cheaper than paying for an actual vacation, and quite relaxing and fun) when we received a letter in the mail.  We opened it and discovered that we owed $500 for an unfortunate life happening.  A few days later, another envelope came.  It said we owed $500 to the CRA.  My husband received a Graduate Retention Tax Credit last year, which we already applied to his student loan.  After calling them, no one seemed to know what was going on.  They finally said he didn’t file his taxes in 2006 and 2007.  He actually did, with the help of tax professionals that year.  We are still trying to straighten out that situation. I knew I had two choices when we got those letters in the mail.  1.  Become very discouraged about trying to pay off our debt since a good chunk of our emergency fund would be gone.  Or 2.  Be thankful that we had an emergency fund in the first place, remember that God is ultimately in control, and press forward.  I chose #2.  We will continue to press forward in paying off our debt, even though we do have to back-track a bit and re-save our emergency fund.  Life happens to all of us.  We can plan all we want, but disappointments and setbacks take place anyways.  What matters is that we press forward.  If we take three steps forward, and two steps back, we will still be one step ahead of where we were before.  I don’t know where you are on your financial journey, but if you’ve make the conscious choice to pay off your debt, you will have setbacks along the way.  Satan doesn’t like that you are tearing off the chains of financial bondage, and he will thwart your attempts.  Last week, after feeling on track with paying off our debt again, I was referred to the Periodontist for an issue with my gums.  Next Friday, I will be having gum grafting surgery (some skin off the roof of my mouth will be cut off and stitched onto my gum line).  The surgery is partially covered by our dental insurance, but will still cost us $268.  Another hit to the emergency fund.  However, I chose again to not be discouraged.  We have still taken many steps forward financially despite the steps back we’ve had to take.  The good news is that God ultimately prevails when you continue to honor Him financially. We know we will win as long as we press forward with Him and continue to fight for financial freedom. 

_ I enjoy going onto Dave Ramsey’s website to read the “We Did It: Inspiring Success Stories.”  If you don’t know who Dave Ramsey is, he has made it his life’s work to help other people build solid financial foundations.  The “We Did It: Inspiring Success Stories” on his website are posts by ordinary people who have paid off their debt and achieved financial freedom.  One story in particular struck me today as extraordinary.  The link to this story is here: http://www.daveramsey.com/articles/article-list/category/lifeandmoney_wedidit_user_generated/  During the 30 months the family in the story spent paying off their debt, their car broke down 4 times, they totaled their car in an accident, they had to buy a new cheap car, their house A/C went out, and their house water heater died.  They pressed on and now are debt free with some savings in the bank, just in time to have their car and their furnace both needing major repairs.  They could have gotten discouraged many times and given up on their debt free journey, but they didn’t.  They took many steps back, but they still had enough steps forward to win financially.  They ran towards their goal and broke the chains of financial bondage holding them down.  They are an inspiration.  You and I need to press forward.  One day we can post our story on Dave Ramsey’s website and encourage others who are on their debt free journey.  Now that’s what I call financial encouragement for a long debt-free battle!  May God bless you as you pay off debt.

Have you been discouraged by a recent financial set-back?  What can you do to find encouragement for your journey?

If you are just tuning in to my blog, I love to feature fun frugal fashion finds whenever I acquire a new item for my wardrobe in order to inspire other budget-conscious women to bargain shop.  My husband and I are living on a strict cash budget in order to pay off all of our student loan debt, and I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothing.  I have been encouraged to find that there are wonderful, cheap clothing finds out there for anyone who is willing to look for them. 

Today's Item: Skinny jeans found at Mark's Work Wearhouse.

If you want to accentuate dress boots while wearing jeans, skinny jeans are a must.  This pair is ultra comfortable with a stretch band waistline.  

Price..... drumroll please.... $9.99!!!!!   

I couldn't believe it when I saw the price tag - Mark's Work Wearhouse is currently clearing out their old denim inventory, and lots of jeans can be found for ridiculously low sale prices.

What is your fun frugal fashion find?