Dave Ramsey and unfinished projects
 

not my idea, I saw it on facebook Quiltville Studio, but it is a good one.
Ramsey and many other personal finance organizers recommend taking your smallest debt, pouring your efforts into getting rid of it, then take the next smallest, do the same, and so on. Each time you roll to the next smallest you are adding what would have gone into the ones already paid off making the whole pile go faster.

The FB poster said she was going to take this idea, which worked so well for her finances and use it to tackle UFO's.
No flopping around between them all, just starting with whatever could be finished the quickest, digging in and doing it, then going on to the next smallest.

Thought this might give some Ramsey fans a little incentive or at least a fond smile :)

Not a bad idea... thank you for sharing it - this could catch on! 😊

Great idea-never had thought of all my UFO's getting done that way. I loved watching Dave Ramsey on TV. He always had great things to say that really made sense. Thanks for sharing

DH and I were given the same money advice by a neighbor when first married. He was a down to earth guy, retired and had tons of common sense. He had money sense that was eye opening for a young married couple. I can see how it would work with quilting projects too. The key thing is the want to part.

That could work really well - if you view your UFO's as debt and feel an obligation to get rid of them.

Sounds like a good plan.

Never heard of him. But I will apply it to my 2020 projects list.

I am sewing the longest strips together first. Shortest strips last. Guess I am working backwards.

It definitely works for finances, DH and I got out of debt in your younger days. It would probably work fine for UFO's. At the first of each year my Guild has a "Get-it-done" list. At the end of the year for every project you finished and showed the Guild, your name goes into a drawing for each entry and you win something. I keep my own list and go over it when I finish something and am in that limbo between projects.

My guild had that program for a couple years. I really liked it as I got lots done. I've tried making my own list the last two years - first year I did pretty good, this past year, not so well. Going to tackle more ufo's in 2020 and I may try this approach to knocking them off....thanks for sharing.

We lived by Dave Ramsy’s philosophy long before he came on the scene, so I can attest it works. We kept envelopes in the desk & added cash to them, just like he advises now. Christmas came, we had money. School shopping came, we had money. New tires needed, we had money. Right now I told DH we don’t need to buy meat until we run low. He loves to read the weekly grocery ads & stock pile. As for quilting, I don’t have a large stash, but I could make it my business to find enough on hand to keep busy for a long while, if I just apply myself.

This works! One year I started off my going thru my UFO’s and listing what needed to be done to finish. I was using Ramsey’s principle of “smallest to largest” payoffs. The sense of accomplishment is very motivational; after finishing a project that only needs the binding and then moving on to the one that needs the binding strips cut, sure beats bouncing around and still having as many Total projects.

Definitely a good idea for finishing projects, usually charity quilt tops waiting for batting and backing, but I wish i could learn an alternative strategy for fabric.

I find I am always thinking "I'll just use up these scraps, (generated by me and donated) before I cut the yardage of the lovely fabric I have". I spend ages cutting up scraps into different sizes, storing them in labelled boxes and then sewing into 4, 8, 16 patches, string patches and till roll strips. When the mood takes me I pull out a pile of patches to make a top. The problem seems to be that the end of scraps is never in sight so the stash of yardage never decreases. Is there a cure for this?

Total Projects Make Over! (AKA Ramsey's Total Money Maker Over.) Someone needs to let him know how we have given a twist to his financial advise and applied it to unfinished quilt projects. Do other artists and crafters have piles of unfinished projects? Bet they do and they could benefit from KalamaQuilts good idea!

I've been told that the one thing it's ok to stockpile is toilet paper. It never gets outdated/spoils and you will always have need of it. Not one of those things to go out to get when you discover that you have run out!

And FYI--2 rolls of TP will fit into an oatmeal box for storage in the bathroom.

I so love the idea this is turning into - maybe somebody could organize it and present it to the moderators for one of the challenges???

That sounds like a plan that could work for me. I need the discipline and direction that this plan offers. I have gotten a bit lazy and lacking in focus after retiring.

I’ve used this method I help my kids get their finances paid off. Sounds like a good idea for ufo’s.

There is a UFO group on our site already. I am part of it. It does not have this specific direction but the group encourages and challenges all who participate to "get 'em done". Everyone sets goals or personal challenges as they wish. It would be absolutely appropriate and fun for any who are interested to join the group, assuming it will continue in the new year, and to introduce the concept of "Dave Ramsey" style UFO finishing. Perhaps, I will see you there since I do have the required pile of UFOs. :o

i use a paper grocery sack for scraps. When sack is full it goes to a friend who makes scrap quilts. She gives the finished tops back to me and then church ladies tie them for charity. It’s interesting to see the familiar fabrics again.

I think that is a great idea. I will start that today.

Great idea. The faster smaller projects will be done quickly and you will feel a sense of accomplishment. Another thought is that you can donate or give away projects that you no longer love.

My theory is that, like rabbits, those pesky patches multiply at night.