LLNOE Mentors or Accountability Partners?

[sominfun]

Wouldn't it be great IF (mind you I'm thinking aloud) we had some sort of mentoring/accountability partnerships on the board. People who are experienced with Dave's plan and have had success could be matched up with people who are brand new for one on one accountability and for support.

Do you think we cover this in the general community? Would you participate? What do you think - good idea/bad idea? Worth the trouble of implementing it? If there's support to try this, anyone want to volunteer take the idea and run with it?

Since you own this baby, Roy, what do you think?

[kelmickra]

I think its a great idea.

I second the motion!

[happyme]

Excellent idea!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bobeesha]

I think that we do a good job of that as a board in general, but think it would be great to have a single person to keep you on track as well. Some people aren't as open about their budget or overall financial picture with the entire group, but may open up to an accountability partner. Having someone to help guide you through the process lends to more people having success!

[KellyRHT]

I like the idea too.

[mai_lin]

Hey Lauren,

I think its a great idea!!

You live near me - you can be my accountability partner! :laugh4: I really need it :sadgirl:

I need to find an extra $700 this month... I just found out the week my DD was in the hospital I'm not getting paid, I've used up all my sick time with her being sick last year! :gwi:


Jen

[GeorgiaJillybean]

I think it is a great idea Lauren. I would definitely participate.

[northernmama]

I would love this too!!

[pcmedic]

That is an excellent idea! Roy is on the road the next few days, but I am sure that he will be checking in.

David S.

[Diane]

I really like this idea.....I could use the accountability right now :pan:

[buzzberry]

Sounds quite interesting!! I'd be game too :greetings:

[Roy Randolph]

Checking in here, I am still "on the road". I went off and left my laptop charger cord at home so operating on limited battery, will reply this weekend sometime, I get home late Saturday night.

Any ideas as how this is to be implemented?

[Timedess]

no ideas there, roy- but i like the overall notion, and would jump at the opportunity to participate if dh ok's it!

[buzzberry]

Any ideas as how this is to be implemented?


E-Mail Partner our budget and have them scour for anything new person may have missed or not re-visited recently?
Ensure they have life insurance, if not get quotes.
General help, ie: eBay if they're new to this sort of thing

Just a few things I've thought of...

[northernmama]

have people post if they would like to be mentors and partners, or if they would like to be matched up with a mentor and need guidance.

I have seen this on other boards and it works great.

[MeredithRX]

I have seen similar things also.

Generally you have a "pool" of more experienced members who would be willing to serve as partners. It'd probably be simplest just to post a thread and have people sign up to create that list.

Then you post a general offer in the new members section and allow new posters to come there and request a partner. Those that request one are paired up with one of the members from the pool. Then the older member contacts the new member via PM and does a general welcome and offer for assistance. It'll go on from there...

[Sharon34685]

Generally you have a "pool" of more experienced members who would be willing to serve as partners. It'd probably be simplest just to post a thread and have people sign up to create that list.

They may also want to post a bit of info about their own situations so people who need help can find people they think will be able to help them best and be most motiviating.

A childless couple living in Texas may not be the best match for a single mom with three kids living in New Jersey.

[Barb1954]

A good idea for those who want it. Personally, I prefer to get and read the advice others get from a number of different people.

[Timedess]

So..... any action on this idea yet?

[walshclan]

You know for the basic budget I would like as many ideas as I could get but for ongoing rah rah you can do it stuff I'd like to get to know one person who did it much better. Does that make sense? Or radically, people could find their own accountability partners in the step they are in. Someone who is struggling the way they are. Mentor or accountibility partner or both....I dunno.

[pcmedic]

OK. It sounds like there is some interest in this. How would you like it to work? We could have people "sign up" in the thread, or if you prefer it to be more private, you could PM me and I will try to match up some people. One thing that would help is that if you are looking to be a mentor or get a mentor, let me know a little about your background (family status, education level, ballpark income, etc). That way I can try to match people up that can "relate" to where their partner is. For example, it would be tough for a mentor with four kids and a $40K income to relate to a single person making $100K. Not impossible, but I would like to match people as closely as possible.

David S.

[pcmedic]

So far, I've only had interest from one person. Anyone else?

David S.

[walshclan]

I'm game...here's my deets.

I don't know whether to put myself down as a mentor or a mentee. I am finished BS2 but I have so much more to learn.

I'm married, I'm an engineer, we make about 85,000, we have 2 kids, I'm female, My hubby is on board, I'm on BS3.

[pcmedic]

I'm game...here's my deets.

I don't know whether to put myself down as a mentor or a mentee. I am finished BS2 but I have so much more to learn.

I'm married, I'm an engineer, we make about 85,000, we have 2 kids, I'm female, My hubby is on board, I'm on BS3.

Sounds like you would be a good mentor.

David S.

[mai_lin]

Ok, I'm in...

I'm a 28 year old married w/ kid computer programmer. We make a little over $100k and are half way through step 2 - Dh is FINALLY on board and we have a goal of finishing step 2 this year (although its looking like it may be a daunting task at this point). This year is a struggle for us as I had to go part time to keep my daughter out of daycare (she has fragile health) and my DH is looking for work with benefits so we can stop mine. Things in my job are looking 'iffy' this year - senior management may be leaving and we may not have any new work... our plan is for me to stay home with my DD once finished with Step 3 but we may need to get to step 3 earlier (save up 3 months before finishing step 2??), depending on my work and my husbands work...

Confusing yet? Anyway, I'd love an accountability partner! I think I need a mentor. We're pretty good with the steps and follow it very well, but it will still be nice to have someone to hold me accountable.


Jen

[northernmama]

I am interested. We will be done with BS1 at the end of the week. Make about $60K a year, 3 little kids, total owing in my sig line.

Would love to be matched up with a mentor.

Thanks for doing this!

[3hungryboys]

I am interested in being matched with a mentor!

We are just starting BS#2-tax return comes on Friday and we are knocking out 5 credit cards to get our snowball rolling! I can't wait! Anyway, I am a 29 yr old SAHM to 3 boys ages 5,3, and 1. Dh is 33 and makes 60k plus yearly bonus (7-10 k average, coming mid-March which will hopefully knock out the rest of our CC debt. Then we will be down to student loan, car pmnt, and mortgage). DH is on board with the budget so long as he gets a NICE allowance :crazy: (he insists he cannot live on less than $100 a week-I am tired of fighting about it, so it is a budgeted "expense"), which I know will slow us down, but am willing to deal with in order to keep him on board (just the fact that our entire tax return and his entire bonus is going to debt is HUGE for us, so I am happy with that!)

Anyway, that's my story! :)

[KellyRHT]

I'm willing to be a mentor.

We are planning to be done with BS2 late summer / early fall. I have dealt with a DH who wasn't on board & although he is on board now, he's still not as gazelle as I would like. So I can sympathize with that problem.

I'm also a huge nerd. I love to play with budgets.

[pcmedic]

Glad to see people are interested. I will leave the idea open the rest of the week, and then try to match up everyone over the weekend. Thanks guys!

David S.

[Diane]

I'm in :wtg2: I am a mother of two (5 & 3) I work f/t and make $63,000 yr. DH just quit work this year and is going to school f/t. He has applied to grad schools and we will find out in the next month or so if he has been accepted. We started out with approx 25,000 total debt which we whittled down to 15,000 prior to starting DR plan. Since we have been on DR plan we have paid off 13,500 and then incurred addl $2,500 with not staying on budget and grad school expenses (GRE, application fees, etc):ksense: I feel that I am not in a place to be a mentor at this time, but would like to have an accountability partner to help me stay focused.

[Diane]

Oops, forgot to add I am 35 years old, college grad and I administrate large construction projects for an insurance broker.

[Roy Randolph]

Glad to see people are interested. I will leave the idea open the rest of the week, and then try to match up everyone over the weekend. Thanks guys!

David S.

This is really a good idea, I like it. We just need to make sure the accountability is there,
As someone said, it would be nice to have a Accountability Partner if nothing else. So maybe accountability partners can be matched up.

You will post WHY you should be a Mentor and list your qualifications. (not unlike what you have done here already) David (pcmedic) will be in charge of matching Mentors up once a week with those that would like to be assigned a Mentor.

[BreakingFree]

I'm in if needed, but cannot get on during the day- just evenings and weekends.

Single, college grad and pursuing my master's, ~$70k/year (at full bonus), and currently on BS2- $2k in credit cards and $5k in student loan. I know the plan very well and am committed to it, but I think being a mentor or at least having a like-minded accountability partner would also give me a much needed boost. My only "deviation" is that I am going to save a 3 month storm clouds E-fund before I pay off my student loan since I am commuting 35 miles in a 10 year old car.

Also, regarding income level. I recently raised my income about $20k/year, so I could also mentor someone who makes less, or feels like they are being underpaid and wants to learn from my success and many mistakes along the way. :laugh4:

If there is nobody to match me up with as a mentor, I wouldn't mind having a mentor who is on BS6, since I'll be hitting that by year-end. Would love some one-on-one BS4 mentoring and encouragement for BS6.

[Sandy M]

I've worked with a few people off board going through the budget - following up with how to make it work and how to tweek it as needed, etc. I've found that there are some people who understand what they need to do - get gazelle and move onto their own, some people understand what they need to do and decide thisisn't the time in their lives that they want to do it and some people who I keep in contact with as we move along.

Given my experience (and I'm wondering if others have had similar experiences), I think this would be a great "sicky" and/or a great post to revisit every quarter or so. It might be a reminder for those who are accountability partners to get accountable to one another again and/or it may be a chance to re-match people for what ever reason.

Sandy

[kelmickra]

I'm in if someone needs a mentor. Boatgirl and I have been supporting each other off board for months now. It is so helpful, you just can't imagine. We bounce ideas off each other all the time, vent & yell, and just come to grips with things. This will be great to all.

[Timedess]

I wonder if there anyone here who can relate to me, to be an accountability partner and/or mentor? Mom of a large family; extremely variable self-employment income; "old fashioned" SAHM/homeschooling mom.

[Momma2Nathan]

This is such a great idea! I am willing to be a mentor also.
Maybe when Roy gets back he create a Accountability/Mentor board!
If we had a sticky thread that listed each mentor and a bit about them and how they could help all on one post, the mods could update it as things change and then people could PM the mentors if they want to be anonymous.

Lauren, what a great idea!!!

[boatgirl]

I'm in if someone needs a mentor. Boatgirl and I have been supporting each other off board for months now. It is so helpful, you just can't imagine. We bounce ideas off each other all the time, vent & yell, and just come to grips with things. This will be great to all.

Absolutely!!! :wtg2:

I'm in if anyone needs me. Or if I need it. :one-eye:

I'm 35, hubby on board, been working bs2 since Oct. '05, we've paid off about $50k and have about $6k left to go. One teen at home, she'll be hitting college later this year. I don't even pretend to be perfect, but am a good listener and cheerleader. Will give cyber hugs or kick in pants if needed and will accept the same from all. :one-eye:

[northernmama]

any news on this? I would love an accountability partner

[momof4angels]

I would love to be included. I would like to have a partner, but could also be a partner. I find it easier to work my own numbers when I have to show what I have done to someone else, to be an example.

I have read TMMO & FPR, and am just finishing FPU. Talk about his program with anyone who will listen, and am the "NERD"....

Married, early 30's, 4 kids (13, 12, 8 ,5) dh on board, and incredibly committed to changing my family tree. We are post my being a SAHM who homeschooled, to now being a 2 income family. We share 1 vehicle, and make it work :) I work FT in A/R

Peace to all!

[pcmedic]

Sorry, guys. I got buried with work the last week or so and haven't put together the list yet. Soon I promise.

David S.

[kolson_justme]

I am 40 yrs old this month, brand new to the program and DH is not on board. We make $40,000 a year and the "baby" is in college. I could use all the help I can get!

[kelmickra]

I am 40 yrs old this month, brand new to the program and DH is not on board. We make $40,000 a year and the "baby" is in college. I could use all the help I can get!
This has been. Its in the New Member section here (http://www.livinglikenooneelse.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17777).

[kolson_justme]

On my way over there now.