Confronting Reality

This past weekend my anxiety level went through the roof. We checked out the cost of installing a new, high-efficiency wood-burning fireplace insert and were floored by the $4,500 price tag. Then we returned home to two totally unexpected bills from the boys' therapists office totalling almost $1,000! I can't figure out why they weren't billing us monthly instead of sending such a huge bill.
My youngest just had 6 teeth pulled ($500) in preparation for braces ($4,800).
We had just cancelled an additional life insurance policy dh had through work, planning to apply the extra $260/month to our debt. I didn't realize, however, that the basic policy dh has at work is only 2X his salary. With our debt level, two kids still at home and two to help in college, that amount isn't adequate.
DH left yesterday for a week of travel. He promised not to die before we can add more life insurance.
So, my weekend was spent staving off hyperventilating and implementing a new debt-repayment plan a la Dave Ramsey.
If we can follow the plan, we should be completely debt free, except for the mortgage, in 24 months. I'm excited and scared at the same time. There's nothing like confronting your money situation in black and white and realizing that, while you could go on the way you were, it's not financially smart to do so.
So, it's time to tighten the belt and get serious about those credit cards.
The word "budget" will now dominate our every day life.
And, hopefully, in 24 months, we'll be completely debt free.