The main points Dave highlights are:

1. Be specific.
2. Make your goals measurable.
3. Make sure they are your goals.
4. Set a time limit.
5. Put them in writing.

Check out the article for more details.

I am almost finished setting my goals for the year. There maybe 1 or 2 more that come to mind in the next few days. One of my main goals is to do something fun with my daughter each weekend. Whether it is a craft, a kid-friendly recipe, visiting an attraction (using an entertainment book coupon of course) or trying a new restaurant, I want to expose her to new and different things besides the typical trip to the playground. Although that’s always a lot of fun as well and it’s FREE!

When I was in high school, Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Frosting was my favorite. Red Velvet Cake is the current winner when I am looking to satisfy my sweet tooth.

This extra chocolatety cake with chocolate frosting prepared by one of Dave Ramsey’s staff members looks extremely scrumptious.

I plan to give it a try – maybe for Valentine’s Day. The double chocolate cake would be the perfect ending to a memorable dinner with your sweetheart…or sweathearts in my case since it will probably be a family dinner.

Of course I will substitute the shortening in the recipe for butter.

Here ya go.

Cake Ingredients

• 2 cups sugar
• ½ cup shortening
• 4 eggs (at room temperature)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 squares (1 oz. each) unsweetened chocolate
• 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ cups of buttermilk

Icing Ingredients

• ½ cup butter (softened to room temperature)
• 1 3-oz package of cream cheese (soften to room temperature)
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• Dash of salt
• 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons of whole milk
• 2 squares unsweetened chocolate (1 oz. each) melted and cooled

Visit Dave Ramsey’s site for directions on how to prepare More than Enough Chocolate Cake and Icing.

The 7 Baby Steps are listed below.

1. $1,000 in an Emergency Fund
2. Pay Off All Debt with the Debt Snowball
3. 3 To 6 Months Expenses in Savings
4. Invest 15% of Income into Roth IRAs and Pre-Tax Retirement Plans
5. College Funding
6. Pay Off Your Home Early
7. Build Wealth and Give!

Dave explains the details of each baby step in his book, The Total Money Makeover and if you would like more in-depth study, you can sign up to attend Financial Peace University (FPU). There you will learn more about budgeting and household finances via a video series of powerful lessons taught by Dave! After the video, attendees usually participate in a facilitated group discussion.

I attended FPU at my church and was so inspired that I purchased the videos so I could view them at home and share the message with my family and friends. It seriously changed the way I look at debt and household finances.

Now, not only am I motivated to get out of debt, I am just as fired up to share this powerful information with others! Check out this printable version of Dave Ramsey’s 7 Baby Steps. Make several copies and pass on the knowledge with someone else today!