photo credit mconnors

Three days before we left for vacation, I discovered water in the storage area of our basement (sigh).  Our hot water heater had broken and was leaking.  Hot water turned off, mounds of laundry to do for the trip, the idea of cold showers…not exactly the way I intended to be spending my last few vacation-prep days.

Thankfully that evening, a serviceman came out within an hour of our discovery and was back at noon the next day to replace it.  Thank you Taylor Plumbing!

If this had happened a year and a half ago, I would have been fretting over the cost of replacing a hot water tank.  But, a year and a half ago, we went through Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University.  Dan and I had previously been on the same page of finances.  We didn’t take on debt (other than the mortgage) and we held many of the same financial principles.  This class, however, gave us great direction, motivation and encouragement to take control of our financial life in a different way.

We started budgeting.  We formalized an emergency fund.  And through the budget, we started putting money aside into a house repair fund.  I didn’t sweat the expense of the hot water heater because I knew the money would be coming partially from the house repair fund and our future deck project fund (ok, so the deck will be put off a little longer…but hey, I have hot water!)

It was so nice not to be concerned about a household repair expense.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to check out Financial Peace University, I highly recommend it!  You will exchange your stress for a plan and true financial peace.