Budgets, Dave Ramsey & making progress

I have always hated budgeting. I have a BA in Mathematics. Mathematics and finance are two VERY different things. My mother is an accountant. She is self taught; no college. It comes natural to her. From the time I was in college I have had trouble balancing my checkbook. I would often run my account into the negative, much to my mother's frustration. It has always frustrated me that money confuses me. I know how to work excel, I have worked as a bookkeeper, I can use financial software like a pro. When it comes to my personal finances, I am baffled.

I am a fairly frugal person and after college I had a series of jobs that paid me well enough that I didn't really need to worry about budgeting. Fast forward to today. Stay-at-home mom with two small kids (boy 4, girl 2), married to a youth pastor living in the parsonage of a country Midwest church. Budgeting has become a necessity. I have been actively struggling for a year.

About a year ago I found the Dave Ramsey website and began playing around. Here are some things I learned:

• My credit card debt is bad. It is stealing from my family.
• My student loans aren't any better.
• I need to make sure we spend less than what we make. (My phobia of budgets had to be conquered)
• I need to trash my debt card and start dealing in cash. This is super hard for me.
• I need to create an emergency savings to prevent me from "needing" my credit cards.
• ONLY THEN could I safely start paying down my debt.

What have I accomplished so far?

• Credit cards are cut up.
• My husband and I have decided to help our kids NEVER have to deal with student loans. That does not mean that we will be paying for their entire education, but we will make sure they understand the dangers of loans. We also have 14 years to decide our policy on college funding.
• I HAVE A BUDGET!! And, I am sticking to said budget.
• My debt card is only used for buying gas. Sam's Club has the cheapest gas and does not take cash. The debt card is under a VERY tight leash.
• The emergency fund has been started.
• I am looking forward to making some real progress on our debt.

So, this math nerd is learning to love finance, budgets are tamed thanks to Dave Ramsey, and I'm making progress.