It is with great joy and elation that Greg and I are pleased to announce that we are debt free (everything except the home mortgage)! By the Grace of God we were able to pay off $123,146.22 of consumer debt (including a second mortgage) since November 2006. Since that time in 2006 we gave birth to two children, had a child diagnosed with Autism, miscarried 1 daughter, lost my mother Barbara Andreani, survived cuts in pay due to the economic downturn and had to pay for childcare for 4 children (including 1 with special needs). Our road has not been easy but we have been blessed!
It was our friend Beth who tried to talk to us about money & budgeting early in our marriage in 2000 in Indianapolis. We did not listen. We even enrolled in a Debt Managment Plan at Consumer Credit Counseling Services (non-profit). We were buried in student loans and filled our lives with our wants despite being in the Debt Management Plan. Delayed gratification, what is that? The damage was done. We bought 2 new vehicles. We bought a house that was & is too big for 1 salary. Our journey out of the financial morass began when we both attended a Crown Ministries Journey to Financial Freedom Seminar (now called a Crown Money Map Seminar) on November 4, 2006. It was at this event that Greg and I were able to begin to communicate about money in our marriage for the first time. We began tithing and acknowledged God as the owner of all we were entrusted with, even if we had horribly mismanaged it so far. Most importantly we cut up our credit cards even thought we had balances remaining and vowed to never use them again. We promised to incur no more debt. In the fall of 2008 we participated in a small group Crown 10 week Biblical Financial Study in our church. We attended Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University in January of 2009 which solidified the lessons we still needed to learn about budgeting and working together as a couple. In the summer of 2011 we facilitated our first Financial Peace University at our church St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in St. John IN. And in the fall of 2011 we joined Dave Ramsey's Great Recovery.
We want to encourage and support others in our families & community who may be in debt, that if we can do it despite life's adversities, anyone can. There IS hope if you are drowning in debt! If you know of anyone who needs help or encouragement, we are here to help let others know that it can be done. Bankruptcy is not the only way out of debt. We believe and are the living testimonies that God WILL provide.
Two verses that inspired us during our journey out of debt:
"The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender." Proverbs 22:7
"Steady plodding brings prosperity; hasty speculation brings poverty." Proverbs 21:5
We are eternally grateful to those of you who have supported, inspired and encouraged us through this struggle. We pray that God blesses each of you abundantly!
Yours In Christ,
Greg & Louise Carr
September 2011
Financial Peace University will be offered at SJE beginning September 5, 2012. For more information or to register online, please visit our website.
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