What's Your Story?

I wanted to respond to someone's comment asking how I am able to do what I'm doing.

Well, here are a few tips on how I'm making this financial lifestyle change happen...

1. I started making a written budget every month, and then the key thing was that I followed it. I know that sounds crazy, but many times in the past I wrote out a budget, but if we wanted something that wasn't in the budget, I went ahead and said yes to buying it.

2. I started looking at the budget to see what I could cut...
Cable, cell phones, restaurants...etc.
I set goals, and once a goal was reached (i.e. a big bill was paid off), I allowed us to bring back something little like cable.

3. Although we are a one-career household, we are not a one-income household. Here's the difference. My husband has a career-something he works regularly every week, has retirement, a steady income-and it's what we live off of. All of our necessary expenses are covered by his income.
However, I do work part-time. It is not a career. It's flexible, and if I needed to quit tomorrow to take care of family needs, I could. I do work that fits into my life, and the money goes to our debt snowball.

Recommendations for finding ways to bring in money...
Think about what your skills and talents are.
Decide what kind of schedule works for you. (i.e. after the kids are in bed or while the kids are in school, or only weekends)
Search, search, search...careerbuilder, monster, google, craigslist, about.com. Don't settle for something that requires you to sacrifice what you've made a priority. If you're persistent, you'll find something that works for you.

Good luck to you in your endeavors.

The Car is Paid Off!! $806.06 final payment!

Today is a day for celebration! The car is paid off. Next one to tackle? The home improvement loan. I estimate the end of the summer to get that one off our backs. I can't wait. 2009 is going to end with great financial successes!!