Comments on: How To Get Out Of Debt! http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/ Frugal Living, Money Saving Tips, Debt Free Living, Free Recipes Fri, 10 Feb 2012 14:56:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Lucia http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-96378 Lucia Sun, 29 Jan 2012 04:57:18 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-96378 When I was over my head 2 yrs ago on my credit cards, I cut down on my expenses this way: - Caught the bus to work instead of driving, - Made more meals like stews, curries and soups for dinner as they are cheaper. - Changed from a AT&T cell phone contract to Tracfone's SVC phone with a prepaid plan (phone costs $14.99, service $7/mnth) Over a year I saved $880, which went towards paying off my credit card. - We only went to a restaurant if we had a Groupon voucher for it. - I only bought the groceries mentioned on my list, no spontaneous buying. I also changed to cheaper brands and started couponing. It is such a relief not to be in debt anymore, I now live a frugal life and have more peace of mind about my financial future and don't stress so much as a result. When I was over my head 2 yrs ago on my credit cards, I cut down on my expenses this way:
- Caught the bus to work instead of driving,
- Made more meals like stews, curries and soups for dinner as they are cheaper.
- Changed from a AT&T cell phone contract to Tracfone’s SVC phone with a prepaid plan (phone costs $14.99, service $7/mnth) Over a year I saved $880, which went towards paying off my credit card.
- We only went to a restaurant if we had a Groupon voucher for it.
- I only bought the groceries mentioned on my list, no spontaneous buying. I also changed to cheaper brands and started couponing.
It is such a relief not to be in debt anymore, I now live a frugal life and have more peace of mind about my financial future and don’t stress so much as a result.

]]> By: Sandi http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-95367 Sandi Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:05:23 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-95367 I just realized that for the last 20 or 25 years we have had the microwave I haven't used a teakettle, and didn't even realize I didn't have one until I wanted to heat water without the microwave. I use the microwave to cook my oatmeal in the morning, to cook baked potatoes for supper, to reheat leftovers, to heat water for a lot of things, to cook microwave dinners when needed, and for microwave popcorn. When I did have a teakettle, I had to have one with a large enough lid to get inside to clean it out when deposits collected inside. I would also need more pans than I have for all the cooking I do in the microwave now. Since my kitchen is so small, I only have the most basic pots and pans that I use often. When I need more humidity in the house, instead of a teakettle I fill my dutch oven with water, add some cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, and whatever other smell good items I feel like, and let it simmer on the back of the stove. I set my timer for 30 minutes to an hour to check on it whole time I have the burner on, and watch it closely. I just realized that for the last 20 or 25 years we have had the microwave I haven’t used a teakettle, and didn’t even realize I didn’t have one until I wanted to heat water without the microwave. I use the microwave to cook my oatmeal in the morning, to cook baked potatoes for supper, to reheat leftovers, to heat water for a lot of things, to cook microwave dinners when needed, and for microwave popcorn. When I did have a teakettle, I had to have one with a large enough lid to get inside to clean it out when deposits collected inside. I would also need more pans than I have for all the cooking I do in the microwave now. Since my kitchen is so small, I only have the most basic pots and pans that I use often. When I need more humidity in the house, instead of a teakettle I fill my dutch oven with water, add some cloves, cinnamon, rosemary, and whatever other smell good items I feel like, and let it simmer on the back of the stove. I set my timer for 30 minutes to an hour to check on it whole time I have the burner on, and watch it closely.

]]> By: rose http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-95286 rose Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:19:22 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-95286 sandi .. i got a really nice tea kettle for my daughter at the thrift store .. check them out .. i got it for $2 (i think) . and new (same item) is over $18 .. granted she wanted a red one but this one was white and for the price she can paint it red if she wants .. she loves it just the way it is bc for that price u cant beat it .. we have a microwave .. hubby with his leukemia, can have his stuff heated up in a microwave .. so i heat/re-heat his stuff on the stove in a sauce pan .. b4 i got this microwave, we went about 4 months without one .. and well .. it didnt bother me at all .. i dont use it as much as i did in the past with the others .. but in a pinch i think its nice to have .. and yes grandma, ur so right.. save ur change .. my daughter saved all her change for one full yr last yr and she have over $400 saved by xmas .. :D .. sandi .. i got a really nice tea kettle for my daughter at the thrift store .. check them out .. i got it for $2 (i think) . and new (same item) is over $18 .. granted she wanted a red one but this one was white and for the price she can paint it red if she wants .. she loves it just the way it is bc for that price u cant beat it ..
we have a microwave .. hubby with his leukemia, can have his stuff heated up in a microwave .. so i heat/re-heat his stuff on the stove in a sauce pan ..
b4 i got this microwave, we went about 4 months without one .. and well .. it didnt bother me at all .. i dont use it as much as i did in the past with the others .. but in a pinch i think its nice to have ..
and yes grandma, ur so right.. save ur change .. my daughter saved all her change for one full yr last yr and she have over $400 saved by xmas .. :D ..

]]> By: Shelly http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-95263 Shelly Tue, 17 Jan 2012 22:55:31 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-95263 People hide their heads in the sand over many things and money is one of the most common. My favorite saying about money is: "Sometimes it's easier to do without the things money can buy than to earn the money to buy them."(Dolly Freed, Possum Living.) Another thing to remind yourself of is Jesus' words at Luke 14:28 : "Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it?" These thoughts are good traits to teach others. It doesn't mean no spending, just careful, thoughtful spending. People hide their heads in the sand over many things and money is one of the most common. My favorite saying about money is: “Sometimes it’s easier to do without the things money can buy than to earn the money to buy them.”(Dolly Freed, Possum Living.) Another thing to remind yourself of is Jesus’ words at Luke 14:28 : “Who of you that wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense, to see if he has enough to complete it?” These thoughts are good traits to teach others. It doesn’t mean no spending, just careful, thoughtful spending.

]]> By: Maria AKers http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-95242 Maria AKers Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:49:40 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-95242 Amen Sista! Amen Sista!

]]> By: Sandi http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-94815 Sandi Thu, 12 Jan 2012 20:51:51 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-94815 Several years ago I had several credit cards, and kept up with payments and kept close track of the balances, using them for major expenses and then paying them down. I would use the Discover card for everyday expenses and pay the total balance every month, so the cash back on that card was truly cash back. Everything changed when my DH quit his full time job to put full time into his part time business. Suddenly our cash flow was inconsistent. Bills didn't always get paid on time, and interest, penalties, and balances on the cards skyrocketed. After several years of negotiations and payments, the cards are all paid off and old history. We only have a debit card we use to buy parts and supplies, and no open accounts with any of our vendors. We have no savings and are very tight most of the time, but we actually have a bit more freedom without the credit. If we don't have the money, we just do without. I did get a new microwave when we moved into our new apartment that didn't have one. I was pricing a new teakettle for hot water (some things I won't buy used), and it was a third the cost of a new microwave. Our three weeks without it showed us how dependant we've become on it, so when I found a good deal on a new microwave, I got that instead of the teakettle. Several years ago I had several credit cards, and kept up with payments and kept close track of the balances, using them for major expenses and then paying them down. I would use the Discover card for everyday expenses and pay the total balance every month, so the cash back on that card was truly cash back. Everything changed when my DH quit his full time job to put full time into his part time business. Suddenly our cash flow was inconsistent. Bills didn’t always get paid on time, and interest, penalties, and balances on the cards skyrocketed. After several years of negotiations and payments, the cards are all paid off and old history. We only have a debit card we use to buy parts and supplies, and no open accounts with any of our vendors. We have no savings and are very tight most of the time, but we actually have a bit more freedom without the credit. If we don’t have the money, we just do without.
I did get a new microwave when we moved into our new apartment that didn’t have one. I was pricing a new teakettle for hot water (some things I won’t buy used), and it was a third the cost of a new microwave. Our three weeks without it showed us how dependant we’ve become on it, so when I found a good deal on a new microwave, I got that instead of the teakettle.

]]> By: Jill http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-67180 Jill Sun, 08 May 2011 14:05:26 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-67180 Kara I don't recommend getting rid of all of your credit cards either. I have about 3 that I keep. There is a difference too between using uncontrollably (which I recommend you not to do) and keeping them and using them for <strong>real</strong> emergencies. Bottom line for credit cards or money is they themselves like any thing else is not evil or awful it is what you do with them and wither you control them or they control you. Kara I don’t recommend getting rid of all of your credit cards either. I have about 3 that I keep. There is a difference too between using uncontrollably (which I recommend you not to do) and keeping them and using them for real emergencies.

Bottom line for credit cards or money is they themselves like any thing else is not evil or awful it is what you do with them and wither you control them or they control you.

]]> By: Kara http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-67169 Kara Sun, 08 May 2011 12:01:15 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-67169 I also went to Financial Peace University and we had paid off all of our credit card debt but did NOT cut up our one major credit card.(as recommended in this course) Before we had the chance to proceed to the next step of begining to saving up for 3-6 months of expenses, My husband became unemployed and we had NO income for about 9 months. If we hadn't had that credit card we would have lost everything immediately. I recommend not to get rid of that card until you have a good several months of living expenses IN CASH SAVED up to use for an emergency. THEN decide if you want to get rid of it. I also went to Financial Peace University and we had paid off all of our credit card debt but did NOT cut up our one major credit card.(as recommended in this course) Before we had the chance to proceed to the next step of begining to saving up for 3-6 months of expenses, My husband became unemployed and we had NO income for about 9 months. If we hadn’t had that credit card we would have lost everything immediately. I recommend not to get rid of that card until you have a good several months of living expenses IN CASH SAVED up to use for an emergency. THEN decide if you want to get rid of it.

]]> By: grandma http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-12089 grandma Fri, 29 Oct 2010 12:31:24 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-12089 Rachel, I am the opposite to you. give me cash and I hold onto it like it was the crown jewels. I hate to part with it. Give me a debit card and it is so easy since you don't really see the money leaving. When Canada got rid of the $1. bill I would not spend money and I always felt like I was scrounging to find money using silver so the loonies stayed in a jar at home. I just didn't like using silver. When I finally was scrounging through the change jar a month or so later I found I had $50. sitting there. Nice surprise and it taught me that I was spending too much without thinking. Nice way to learn a lesson. Now we have twonies here as well and I am more inclined to keep them in my change purse than in the cash register at some store I was tempted to buy something with them. Rachel, I am the opposite to you. give me cash and I hold onto it like it was the crown jewels. I hate to part with it. Give me a debit card and it is so easy since you don’t really see the money leaving.
When Canada got rid of the $1. bill I would not spend money and I always felt like I was scrounging to find money using silver so the loonies stayed in a jar at home. I just didn’t like using silver. When I finally was scrounging through the change jar a month or so later I found I had $50. sitting there. Nice surprise and it taught me that I was spending too much without thinking.
Nice way to learn a lesson. Now we have twonies here as well and I am more inclined to keep them in my change purse than in the cash register at some store I was tempted to buy something with them.

]]> By: Angie M http://www.livingonadime.com/get-out-of-debt/comment-page-1/#comment-12081 Angie M Fri, 29 Oct 2010 03:08:22 +0000 http://www.livingonadime.com/?p=1#comment-12081 Rachel, I have been there and done that with the microwave. A few years ago mine quit and didn't have extra money in the budget to buy a new one for several months. My sons learned how to warm leftovers up in the toaster oven and how to pop popcorn on the stove. When I shared my experiences with others, some looked at me like I had grown another head because we were living without a microwave. I can't even tell you how many people said "I couldn't live without my microwave." LOL! Finally, after several months of living without a microwave, I had the extra money for one. It didn't seem like such a big deal to have one any longer though. I finally decided to get one for the convenience of my sons though. I bought a very small model that cost half the price of what I had planned on buying. My boys were excited to pop microwave popcorn again. I didn't care...I had learned to live without a microwave. LOL! Rachel,
I have been there and done that with the microwave. A few years ago mine quit and didn’t have extra money in the budget to buy a new one for several months. My sons learned how to warm leftovers up in the toaster oven and how to pop popcorn on the stove. When I shared my experiences with others, some looked at me like I had grown another head because we were living without a microwave. I can’t even tell you how many people said “I couldn’t live without my microwave.” LOL! Finally, after several months of living without a microwave, I had the extra money for one. It didn’t seem like such a big deal to have one any longer though. I finally decided to get one for the convenience of my sons though. I bought a very small model that cost half the price of what I had planned on buying. My boys were excited to pop microwave popcorn again. I didn’t care…I had learned to live without a microwave. LOL!

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