$88,000 and a family becomes debt-free after 3 years

My favourite line of the whole video was Carole Caroll (a slightly difficult name for me to say) saying that they didn’t want to declare bankruptcy: “We made the debt, we should pay for it!

And Don Carroll — “You learn to live with what you need, not what you want.

How inspirational. That’s $29,333 a year net that they paid towards their debt.

They had a goal, they cut back, didn’t feel deprived even though they must have cut back drastically in their spending and made it work. They said that all the extra spending they were doing was extraneous and not required. This is exactly what I feel about treats like Starbucks and electronics now. It’s fun, it’s a want, but it isn’t required.

Link came via Sharon of Midlife Mom Musings

NOW FOR A BREAK FROM ALL THAT FRUGALITY

For a really funny read, check out this article from the Atlantic by Sandra Tsing Loh called “The Frugal Divorcée” – How to survive—and even thrive—in the new age of austerity.

It’s a bit frantic in its writing, but I found the style humorous and engaging.

Teaser:

Struggling with my finances, nudging toward 50, I sometimes daydream about being happily married to a matching frugaholic husband in a matching Christmas-red tracksuit with matching walkie-talkies as we troll Ralphs, excitedly comparing triple coupons.

(Did I mention that Steve gave Annette her very own custom-made coupon box? You see, her coupon wallet had become too small—coupons were falling out. She was thrilled!)

How satisfying it would be to have a von Trapp family–like army of homeschooled children whistling as they spin their chore wheels—doing the dishes, folding the laundry, mowing the lawn—while I meticulously reward them in 25-cent increments, according to a complex yet motivating point system, dropped in three glass jars (spending, saving, tithing).

Thanks to Moneyapolis for the link to such a funny article. 🙂

About the Author

Just a girl trying to find a balance between being a Shopaholic and a Saver. I cleared $60,000 in 18 months earning $65,000 gross/year. Now I am self-employed, and you can read more about my story here, or visit my other blog: The Everyday Minimalist.