Frugal Living

[Cron]

For those who have to, or like to make every penny count:

misc.consumer.frugal-living

some good advice there
Google Groups: misc.consumers.frugal-living

[Boldylocks]

thanks for that link!

I'm coming to the point in my life where I no longer want to be a working class slave to the Giant credit card companies (Chase Manhattan, etc). It's bad enough that I and my neighbors are working class slaves for those we work for- but why add the additional slavery of debt to that.

I live in a lower middle-class to poor section of the U.S., with a high lay-off rate, This is where I grew up, and where I hope to stay while my elderly parents are still alive.

Foolishly, I have accrued over $10,000 in credit card debt since the 1990's. Only last month has this debt been all paid off by the consumer Credit Counselling service I paid into. Now I have almost $9,000 more debt to pay off, and then I will be padding my bank accounts and adding more into my IRA. I realize that even with my IRA that I will not be able to afford the luxury of retirement as the last generations have.-- Especially considering the governement will have already drained out our social security by that time. my IRA will only be useful to keep me from being homeless by the time I am in my 80's.

Having the $440.00 monthly Consumer Credit Counseling payment gone now is making it that much more faster for me to meet that goal of paying off all debt.

I will not get a new car until all debt is payed off- and then it will have to be a used car-- with a large cash downpayment.

I have prayed that I would stop feeling the need to buy something I don't really need-- and this prayer seems to have been answered. I seem to be more content now- and only spend with extra cash.

Hopefully, this year-- through the grace of God, i'll be completely out of debt and can start padding my accounts before 2008- or before any tragedy strikes my area- as in Katrina--which created debt for people who never knew what debt was before.

I have a very bad feeling about 2008 being a financially bad year for America. I know in my State it will be, as they are planning a huge tax hike here. I also anticipate electric and fuel heating costs skyrocketing by 2008.

Life does not get any easier-- this is enough to sober anyone where I live out of debt.

[alexb5784]

I'm making way much more than I did last year, but I'm going to continue to live frugally. Well just until I can get the student loans paid off

Here's the link to a great podcast I listen to about money:

http://odeo.com/channel/31988/view/

- Alexia

[Cassie]

The most valuable and wonderful things in life are free anyway.

[Adam]

Originally Posted by Cassie

The most valuable and wonderful things in life are free anyway.

Except for Fancy Feast for your cats, right?

I've definitely learned a lot about living frugally over the past few years. I thought I was good with my money before going to school, but looking back, I'm somewhat amazed that I was able to make it through with as little money as I had.

Anyways, thanks for the link. Definitely good reads.

[Cron]

Originally Posted by alexb5784

I'm making way much more than I did last year, but I'm going to continue to live frugally. Well just until I can get the student loans paid off

It works.

It is a lot easier living lean when you are used to it instead of down sizing your lifestyle.........take advantage of it.

I learned that from a voluntary simplicity book I read towards the end of school.

When I graduated I ate slightly better food, but I kept living like a student and paid off all of my debts in two years. I was able to send almost a full pay check out of my two pay checks a month in to pay down my loans.

[Lucas]

Originally Posted by Adam

Except for Fancy Feast for your cats, right?

No way, fancy feast is the equivalent of you yourself eating just Taco Bell every day. I couldnt do that to our cats.

[scottyp]

If you are a student keep an eye out for moving days.. right before new semesters or at the end of semesters when students move out of apartments.

I found the following things in the trash (not even dirty, stuff people at left out that day): A fouton bed frame, an office desk (which I am using now and is excellent), a couch set, a whole bunch of chairs, several small tables, and many other useful things. All of it was stuff left in front of my building.

BTW the office desk appeared in part due to intention manifestation, I really needed a good office desk for my computer and planned where I put it without even having one, and I noticed a perfectly sized desk in great condition up against the wall of the building one evening..

[Cassie]

yep, only the best for my little pusses

I would never feed my cats that canned crap. that's just me being silly (...stupid?) we actually have them on organic, holistic natural pet food and they love it.

[Alex Wu]

It's hard to overspend when you're a really focused person, when you're not easily distracted from what matters, and when the important things in your life always take center stage. When that's not the case, overspending is a natural side effect. You can cut your credit cards, post your bank balance on your wall and store all your cash in a locker and throw away the combination, but the key lies in finding your purpose, focusing on what matters, and everything else drops to the wayside.