Since joining, I have...

[baselle]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Fantastic Job. I think you've put your finger on the big leaks. Since you have "spending leaks" it will really be useful to you both to keep track of your expenses. If nothing else it will give surprise you and give you clues on the next steps.

[tgavin71]

Re: Since joining, I have...

I wish you well with your debt payments. I recommend that you write down everything you spend money on to see exactly where your money leaks are. We have gone from having a cc debt of $4500 to as of Friday having $5343 in the bank with a cc balance of $0. Our income didn't change just our attitude to spending. It feels great to be debt free.

[Tree0164]

Re: Since joining, I have...

You can do it! My husband and I were in 20k of debt and have been now credit card debt free for 2 years now! It takes a lot of hard work to accomplish and a mind set. You can do it!

[Ima saver]

Re: Since joining, I have...

I made a new year's resolution to pay off my cc debt about 3 years ago and I did it. Now I never charge more than I can pay the following month! So, no cc debt for me!

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Since joining, I have... tried to learn to cook!

[Ima saver]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Have you lost weight yet?? The short time that I was single, I did not want to cook for myself either!!

[sakigt]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Congrats! I turned into a coupon-crazy lady and eat in a lot more than I used to. Doing that and shopping less has allowed me to pay off things a lot faster and I still enjoy everything I want to do! In fact, In about two weeks I get to check off the next "X" in the list in my signature

Sounds like youre on the right track! May I suggest starting a savings blog on this site? Look under "Journals" and read a few to see how its done. Definitely keeps me in check.

Good luck!

[Bookie]

Re: Since joining, I have...

And one benefit of digging your way out of credit card debt is that you gain a new perspective. Never again will I reach so casually for the plastic as I did in the bad old days.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Have you lost weight yet?? The short time that I was single, I did not want to cook for myself either!!

Who, me?

If so, I don't think I've tried this "cooking for myself" thing long enough to know. Being a guy and all, I'm not uh particuarly concerned with my weight to begin with. Although, my co-workers will ask why I don't want to go get lunch, and I would joke that I'm trying to watch my girlish figure.

My weight has been hovering around 170 to 180lbs for quite some time now.

[Ima saver]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Well at least you are saving money eating at home more often.

[Broken Arrow]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Yeeessss!

That and not getting lunch at work. $5 per day, 5 days per week, 52 weeks = $1300 saved each year!

[starving_student]

Re: Since joining, I have...

3. The biggest step I have taken is looking at our electric bill, which I just did yesterday, after being motivated by some posts here. I decided it was ok to turn the A/C up to 74. That's much better than 68! We both still really like cooler sleeping conditions, so I turn it back down to 68 at night, but I figure it is easier on the unit to cool it that much in the evening hours anyway! Small steps, right? I also went around and unplugged unused appliances. I wasn't going to do that, but as I did it I was surprised I had as many as I did. I've started turning off the computer at night. In so doing I realized how much the computer heats up the room it is in! Upstairs, in the computer room, I also closed the curtains which keeps the blazing sun out. Even with turning the air up (or down, depending on how you look at it...I made it warmer ), I think the computer room is cooler than it was!

We're going to get that debt down, penny by penny. It will happen!

We keep the Ac at 82 in Summer and the heating at 68 in the winter.

[smooper]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Good luck with the debt thing, you can do it; we have. The only $$ we owe anyone right now is $29,000 for the remainder of our mortgage. If all goes well (knock on wood, kids entering college within 2 years), we can have that paid off in less than 3 years. Even right now its awesome only having that bill.No car, cc, debt... its great! Again, good luck and wish us some too!

[Ima saver]

Re: Since joining, I have...

Since joining, I have saved over $10,000 in cash and paid off about $10,000 of my land payment.