Lifestyle shift

[lorraineb]

What was it that finally got you to make the lifestyle shift to get your money matters in order?

[Eagle]

What was it that finally got you to make the lifestyle shift to get your money matters in order?

We got pregnant with our first. We realized our lives were going to change and we wanted to be debt free. Particularly if we ever planned to buy a home.

How about you?

[corn18]

I joined this forum. Then read The MIllionaire Next Door.

[lorraineb]

I got to the point where I was so sick of my debt that I decided the stress wasn't worth it anymore. I was sitting trying to juggle bills and just said, "This is ridiculous. I don't want to live the rest of my life this way."

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

What was it that finally got you to make the lifestyle shift to get your money matters in order?

I had really bad money management skills for a long time. About 10 years ago, I came across Dave Ramsey's screed about debt, which to me change my life. The idea of "debt as slavery" was a very helpful way for me of contextualizing the subject. Although I never listened to his radio show, or his investment advise, I was able to shed about $3k worth of credit card debt and save a nice chunk of change living in a very expensive city.

Now I was able to live at this level for quite some time, however, my money isn't as good as it could have been, but it wasn't bad enough for me to take action on it. Recently I had acquired some "nagging debt" which never got to be a crisis, but it still bothered me. However I did not have the motivation to change it as it never became a crisis. Then, this past month, it turns out that my spouse has substantial student loan debt (which I had "sort of" known, but I figured she was handling it), and my tax return was offset (which means "taken" in IRS-ese).

The whole experience has made me resolved to solve this money problem,

[T1985]

I am almost 30 and my 401K is pretty sad. No debt but still behind in my opinion.

[gradi]

Getting older and seeing my friends who are more successful than I helped motivate me

[dawnwes]

We have always been ok.

But about 8 years ago we took a Crown Financial class at church and got more serious. We became teachers of the class and are still teaching it. It keeps us on track.

Dawn

[feh]

If there's a frugal gene, I've got it. Never had issues with overspending.

[bjl584]

I've never really had money issues. I've always been a saver.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Frugal gene-- yeah, me, too.

[Reggie]

I grew up in poverty. I hated when kids made fun of my garage sale clothes, free lunch card, my rundown house, etc.etc. I hated not being able to play sports or do after school activities because my parents didnt have money for the fees and I didn't have a way home if I missed the bus. I hated he electricity always being turned off and waking up cold in the winter. i hated my childhood so much that I was never going to abuse my kids like that.

It worked well for me!

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Like reggie I grew up poor but i learned frugality from it.