Barbara Schwenk

BIO

My name is Barbara Schwenk and I am a full time Christian, wife to Heiko (the best husband in the whole world) and full time working mom of three driving (uggh) teenagers (Caleb is 19, Billy is 17 18 and Andrea is 16,) and a first time grandmother (I’m Mimi) to Haley, who was gifted to us by God on September 30th 2009.

A few years ago I had a revelation, that one moment when you realize you don’t know anything - I looked around and realized this isn’t where I thought I’d be, which is completely opposite of where I was at 18.  Financially, I was in over my head.  We had a lot of credit card debt (over $60k) and even though I was making my payments every month, I had nothing to show for it.  We ate out at least 5 nights a week and lunch was eaten out daily.  I truly believe we ate $60,000 and the sad part is: I can’t remember if it was good.

I knew I wanted to be debt free so that Heiko and I could enjoy our lives and not panic every time we were thrown a curve ball financially.  Worry is the stone I carry.  I am trying to shake it; but, that darn thing holds on to me something fierce.  I didn’t know how or where to start so, I prayed.

A few weeks later I was watching a T.V. show about a family of 16 kids (The Duggars.) They talked about how they were debt free, including the home they were building.  I didn’t move or blink; I just watched and absorbed. As soon as the show was over I began to Google “debt free” and came across Dave Ramsey and the Total Money Makeover system. I read every inch of his site and decided to give him a try.  I was still a little undecided that this would work.  And I kid you not, true story, I tried to pay with a credit card.  I stared at the screen and clicked all around trying to find where to put my credit card in and then I saw it: We are trying to help you get out of debt; we don’t accept credit cards.  First, I was to conditioned paying for things with a credit card that my brain had a hard to recognizing I could pay other ways.  Second, this guy practices what he preaches.  I started The Total Money Makeover and along the way, I learned how to manage my household, finances, shop for groceries and clothes.  Now, financially, we see the light at the end of the credit card tunnel.  Today, we spend an average $300 a month for groceries and household expenses and we lack for nothing. That’s the most amazing part.

My personal quote: Being able to sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee is so much sweeter than one that is gulped on the run.