Debt Dumpers 2026

[DisneyMandC]

so does that entice more people to lease (or do the leasing companies just bundle the expense into the cost?)? I know nothing about leasing so I don't know if people that do it are on the hook to do the yearly registration fees at minimum.

I've never heard anyone give that as a reason for leasing. I would imagine they still pay their own registration fees, but I'm honestly not sure. I've never leased before.

 

[Sheree]

Yes. He is very close to the bay. I could easily swim to it. That was good enough for them. They were not interested in beaches. They were all about fishing and boating. We used to tease him that he probably kisses the boats good night. Sadly, the big one got tossed across his yard during Sandy. My kids were sadder than he was. By then he was getting older and it was a lot of work for him.
Now at 84, he just likes the view, watching other boats going by and waving.

we're toying with idea of selling and buying on mainland. we never go to beach but I love being close to Pt Pleasant and Lavalette and I have the best neighbors.

 

[Cfabar1]

we pay 18k+ for 3400sf on 1 acre which doesn't seem awful in relation! We're in central jersey, North is a lot more
at the shore, a 40x50 lot with 750 sf bungalow on a lagoon is 13k+

living in FL I just cannot fathom having that amount of money for property taxes.... I wouldn't be able to afford going to Disney! LOL

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

living in FL I just cannot fathom having that amount of money for property taxes.... I wouldn't be able to afford going to Disney! LOL

Incomes are higher up here to account for the higher cost of living.

 

[barkley]

Incomes are higher up here to account for the higher cost of living.

I have to wonder if employers run into the same there my former did in California. we were paid the highest salary in the state for some civil service job classifications and would get applicants eager to up their earnings but they frequently failed to look into housing, daycare and other expenses in the region we were located in. waaaaaaaaay too many people accepted jobs and once they started running the numbers on what it was going to cost them realized they were uprooting their (and their family's) lives for at best a break-even vs. their existing salary vs. cost of living. lots of accepted offers ended up being declined within days.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have to wonder if employers run into the same there my former did in California. we were paid the highest salary in the state for some civil service job classifications and would get applicants eager to up their earnings but they frequently failed to look into housing, daycare and other expenses in the region we were located in. waaaaaaaaay too many people accepted jobs and once they started running the numbers on what it was going to cost them realized they were uprooting their (and their family's) lives for at best a break-even vs. their existing salary vs. cost of living. lots of accepted offers ended up being declined within days.

I have no idea but it probably happens. As I said earlier, the lower pay in FL was such a complete turn off for me that even the much lower housing costs couldn't convince me to make the move. It just scared me off. Maybe it was the norm down there and people live just fine on it. So I would guess the reverse happens too.

 

[Cfabar1]

I have no idea but it probably happens. As I said earlier, the lower pay in FL was such a complete turn off for me that even the much lower housing costs couldn't convince me to make the move. It just scared me off. Maybe it was the norm down there and people live just fine on it. So I would guess the reverse happens too.

sometimes the regional variance/pay rate can vary by sector as well

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Going to try a low spend month. Not talking about necessities like church tithe, groceries, gas-tolls and my weekly meal I have to eat out for work. But going to try and cut all other discretionary spending. It will be super tough, but it's only for 4 weeks (March 27-April 23) since we budget on a 4-week budget. I've got a debt, the $1,700 bank loan, I feel I can pay off if I can cut back for 4 weeks. And four weeks isn't a long time to shoot for. I got my hair cut last week, bought my 3-month supply of meds last week and have already paid all the bills due the first 2 weeks of the month. So, it seems like a good time to give it a whirl. Any special tips from you frugal people?

 

[Bellex917]

Going to try a low spend month. Not talking about necessities like church tithe, groceries, gas-tolls and my weekly meal I have to eat out for work. But going to try and cut all other discretionary spending. It will be super tough, but it's only for 4 weeks (March 27-April 23) since we budget on a 4-week budget. I've got a debt, the $1,700 bank loan, I feel I can pay off if I can cut back for 4 weeks. And four weeks isn't a long time to shoot for. I got my hair cut last week, bought my 3-month supply of meds last week and have already paid all the bills due the first 2 weeks of the month. So, it seems like a good time to give it a whirl. Any special tips from you frugal people?

From everything you've shared over the years your biggest area you can cut is eating out. Your eating out budget, while definitely way better, is still very high and doesn't align with your goals. I'd say my biggest tip is DON'T eat out AT ALL except for the meal at work. Not after church. Not the one meal on the weekend. Just commit to it these four weeks... Weather should be getting nicer, go for a picnic with food you make at home, etc.

 

[barkley]

Any special tips from you frugal people?

meal plan around the ingredients you already have. websites like Yummly have a function where you can enter ingredients you have on hand and it will pull up recipies using only those ingredients.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

From everything you've shared over the years your biggest area you can cut is eating out. Your eating out budget, while definitely way better, is still very high and doesn't align with your goals. I'd say my biggest tip is DON'T eat out AT ALL except for the meal at work. Not after church. Not the one meal on the weekend. Just commit to it these four weeks... Weather should be getting nicer, go for a picnic with food you make at home, etc.

Absolutely. That's the plan. Won't go on picnics. DW doesn't like to be outside because of the smell and the heat (supposed to be in the 80s-90s going forward). But definitely trying to eat more at home, although it means more trips to Walmart and less healthy food. But it has been our goal to eat out less, and we're doing better. And, it's only for 4 weeks.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

meal plan around the ingredients you already have. websites like Yummly have a function where you can enter ingredients you have on hand and it will pull up recipies using only those ingredients.

Yes, we meal plan. Make the meal plan on Sunday, go to Walmart on Monday and buy what we need for the week. Rinse and repeat every Monday. It helps. Biggest thing is buying meat to last a week and fresh produce because I'm the only one that eats fruits and veggies.

 

[barkley]

Yes, we meal plan. Make the meal plan on Sunday, go to Walmart on Monday and buy what we need for the week. Rinse and repeat every Monday. It helps. Biggest thing is buying meat to last a week and fresh produce because I'm the only one that eats fruits and veggies.

non organic fruits and veggies should last a week no problem so long as they are kept at a cool temp. bananas we buy leaning towards the slightly greener side b/c they ripen quickly (and never set them near avocados on the counter unless you want the avacados to ripen more quickly).

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

non organic fruits and veggies should last a week no problem so long as they are kept at a cool temp. bananas we buy leaning towards the slightly greener side b/c they ripen quickly (and never set them near avocados on the counter unless you want the avacados to ripen more quickly).

Correct. I usually buy 2 apples, 2 oranges, 2 bananas and a pack of grapes. Stuff to last a few days. Then rebuy on Monday. So, I try not to waste stuff. I usually eat one plus some grapes each day. And then I buy bagged carrots too to snack on. And buy frozen veggies for meals. I try and do what I can since it's only me eating fruits and veggies.

 

[DisneyHardin]

It's where I get to pay sales tax on my car when I buy it, and then registration fees for it every year with DMV, and THEN I get to pay the state a couple hundred dollars every year in tax to continue owning it... I'm really not one to be jumping up and down about "where are my tax dollars going" but it is really annoying.

We have this in Kentucky too. We pay 6% sales tax when we buy a car and then we pay each year based on the value of the car (.45/$100 of value for the yearly ones). I think I had to pay about $600 this year for my car taxes and registration.