Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Getting Out of Debt

A lot of people comment/hint that Bill I are lucky when they learn we are out of debt (except for the house).  This annoys me a little because I don't think "luck" had anything to do with it.   Getting out of debt was a serious effort and a  "giving" up of many things.

How did we do it?

We followed Dave Ramsey's Plan ( look into his radio show/read his books/check out his website for more information on that) and lived below our income...way below.

Homemade Laundry Soap
We lived in a tiny 500/month apartment (we probably could have afforded a luxury apartment in our town at 1,250 a month), we didn't have internet or cable, we ate things like beans/rice and boxed mac-n-cheese for dinner.  I think my husband bought beer 3-4 times the entire two years we were getting out of debt.  When I needed work clothes or shoes we went to goodwill.  We didn't buy Christmas or birthday presents for each other.  We made our own laundry soap.  (still do).  Get the idea?

Was it worth it?  YES.  In 21 months we paid off 42,000 in student loans.  It was so worth it.

Were we inappropriately cheap?  I don't think so...we still bought Christmas gifts for our parents and our son.  We still gave to our church.  If we were invited to dinner at friend's house we bought a dish or special beverage to share.

When people comment how lucky we are that we are out of debt and they just finished telling me they ate at Red Lobster last week and they have an Iphone...I get a little annoyed.  Understand  why?

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