What are you most proud of doing to survive this economy?

[Princesca]

I was thinking about being a recessionista, as it's sometimes called, and I wondered what you guys would say is the ONE thing you're MOST proud of doing/figuring out to make it through lean times. (Either this one or a previous one.)

For my part, I've been wanted to get in shape for ages, and recently got turned on to the idea of Zumba, but, being unemployed, didn't feel that I could afford to pay for the class. So I contacted the studio owner and asked if there was any work I could do in exchange for taking classes, and she said yes! So now I clean her studio twice a week (which is good exercise too!) and get to take as many Zumba classes as I want. I was so proud of myself. And I still am - I've lost about 25 pounds!

What about you?

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

I just settled with Citibank for 7 grand on a 14 grand credit card debt. Going to do the same with Chase next year for around the same amount, or hopefully even less. My brother and his wife have done the same thing this year, and it has really worked out well for them so far.

 

[Disneylush]

I just settled with Citibank for 7 grand on a 14 grand credit card debt. Going to do the same with Chase next year for around the same amount, or hopefully even less. My brother and his wife have done the same thing this year, and it has really worked out well for them so far.

details please? where you behind first? did you have to pay it in one lump??

 

[Krischaser]

subbing

 

[FINFAN]

not divorcing....JK...keeping DD in college, I believe she is on the Houdini financial aid plan.

 

[StephMK]

I was thinking about being a recessionista, as it's sometimes called, and I wondered what you guys would say is the ONE thing you're MOST proud of doing/figuring out to make it through lean times. (Either this one or a previous one.)

For my part, I've been wanted to get in shape for ages, and recently got turned on to the idea of Zumba, but, being unemployed, didn't feel that I could afford to pay for the class. So I contacted the studio owner and asked if there was any work I could do in exchange for taking classes, and she said yes! So now I clean her studio twice a week (which is good exercise too!) and get to take as many Zumba classes as I want. I was so proud of myself. And I still am - I've lost about 25 pounds!

What about you?

Good thread! What a great, creative idea - congrats to you on the idea & weight loss!!

My proud moments are just learning to do things ourselves. Last winter, the kids' bathroom started falling apart - literally. The handle fell off the sink faucet & the tub spout was spraying everywhere. We really didn't have the funds to call a plumber. I looked up the repairs, got the parts & fixed both faucets w/DH's help. The toilet is next because it runs. Tight times are teaching us to be better managers of our money.

 

[Krischaser]

If you need any help with the toilet just let me know my husband works on a lot of them.

 

[marcemc]

I stopped buying so many brand new books for my kids, now, we go to the library once a week & we have saved a small fortune.

I plan a weekly menu & stick to it, it's amazing how much money you can save by shopping for groceries with a list.

But the most important thing we have done, is teaching our boys to be conscious of money & to understand the difference between " I need" & "I want".

 

[treehugnmama]

We have time of use hydro so I went and put everything I cold on timers and have it run during the night when possible example pond and pool pumps charger stations etc.

 

[Princesca]

These are all awesome stories! I was hoping that not only would people have a chance to pat themselves on the back, but that it'd be something that would give us all good ideas for things we might be able to use, ourselves.

@StephMK: We repaired the coupler on a washing machine once. But, because of the nature of our laundry room's size (tiny) and the positioning of the machine (awkward) it pretty well almost cost us our marriage. Personally, I don't think I've ever cursed so much in my life. But we were proud when we were through!

@marcemc: I know just what you mean! I've always shopped with a list because I wouldn't have had a prayer otherwise, but I started using it organized by aisle when we were using eMealz. It saved us so much time and money. Now we're eating fewer meat meals a week, and what I do buy, I buy from local farmers. So I pretty much find that I do all my shopping in produce, organic, canned goods, frozen, and dairy. I can't tell you the last time I bought anything out of the cereal aisle or the cookie aisle. I find that we just end up skipping most of those middle aisles, where you tend to find the high markup items.

 

[justbishop]

I am proud that when DH and I decided to buy our first house almost 4 years ago (I know, not recent, but I feel still relevant), we did a year ling test run where we lived solely on his salary to be sure we could do it with only one income. We also bought a modest house, compared to what most people our age generally believe they "must" have in their first home.

We also traded in our 2 older cars on 1 newer one in better shape. While it's not easy to be a SAHM in the suburbs with no car, I'm glad we were willing to try to make it work.

Because of these decisions, we are able to live comfortably even in these times. We have added a child to our family, we still have our cable tv, we are still able to take a vacation and go out to eat fairly often, etc. While still paying our bills on time. Could we cut back? Yes. Do we have some debt? Yes. But, I have the option of getting a p/t job or doing some web design work on the side (which I AM doing at the moment) for a little extra income without it meaning that I never get to see my DH and DD (as it would be if I was already having to provide a 2nd income just for us to survive).

 

[PattnFmly]

Getting DH to finally realize that he needs a weekly allowance! When you have a joint account, those lovely little debit cards are a marriage buster! He has a set amount that he can spend at will, and I have the rest to pay bills. No question anymore about "how much money is really in the bank?" I'm very good at budgeting, but ...well... he is truly not!

 

[Princesca]

Getting DH to finally realize that he needs a weekly allowance! When you have a joint account, those lovely little debit cards are a marriage buster! He has a set amount that he can spend at will, and I have the rest to pay bills. No question anymore about "how much money is really in the bank?" I'm very good at budgeting, but ...well... he is truly not!

That is one thing that I feel I have done well with my DH. He always checks with me before he buys something. It's not like asking permission, exactly, but I do think he feels somewhat compelled to sell me on his potential purchase. He also doesn't complain when I get rabid about paying down debt, which happens pretty often.

 

[ilovemk76]

We have not changed what we do but we have been preparing for years. We see this economy in the same was as we approached our retirement. It will all be on us and nobody else will help. We are debt free, only buy stuff that we have cash on hand for, live within a budget, always save for a rainy day (cash was king during the Great Depression), do most of our home repairs and auto repairs, only buy quality furniture that will last our lifetime and keep our cars until they are worthless. Another big one is not living in a city where we are dependent on others to bring us food. We have some land and can grow food and have chickens.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I just settled with Citibank for 7 grand on a 14 grand credit card debt. Going to do the same with Chase next year for around the same amount, or hopefully even less. My brother and his wife have done the same thing this year, and it has really worked out well for them so far.

You are bragging about not paying your bills? Glad it is really working for you.

 

[Princesca]

You are bragging about not paying your bills? Glad it is really working for you.

I had a similar gut reaction, but then I also remembered how credit card companies have traditionally looked for any excuse to impose late fees, jack up rates, and generally be completely disingenuous. Whatever debt they might be forgiving someone is probably karmic payback for having messed over someone else at some point along the way.

And if people are committed to trying to live debt-free once they right their ship, I feel a little better about debt write-off.

I think people also have to pay taxes on that write-off. We forgave a big portion of a third mortgage someone who bought our house owed us, and we have to write a 1099 so we can claim it on our taxes, and I think, but am not sure, that he has to treat it like a gift.

 

[Raspberry Beret]

I just settled with Citibank for 7 grand on a 14 grand credit card debt. Going to do the same with Chase next year for around the same amount, or hopefully even less. My brother and his wife have done the same thing this year, and it has really worked out well for them so far.

Wow, and you just completed a Disney vacation and cruise. Extravagant vacations and not paying the debt you created is your way to survive the economy.

 

[Princesca]

We don't know that the PP even paid for that vacation - for all we know it was a gift.

I know we all have different ideas about what is appropriate and what's not, but if we can, let's try to keep this thread positive. I really wanted it to be a source of inspiration and pride for people during tough times. We all get so down in the trenches about what we're doing to get by, but it's good to take a moment to recognize that we've made it this far! And if we can make it through this economy by our wits, we can do just about anything.

 

[GinnyEmma]

I had a similar gut reaction, but then I also remembered how credit card companies have traditionally looked for any excuse to impose late fees, jack up rates, and generally be completely disingenuous. Whatever debt they might be forgiving someone is probably karmic payback for having messed over someone else at some point along the way.

And if people are committed to trying to live debt-free once they right their ship, I feel a little better about debt write-off.

I think people also have to pay taxes on that write-off. We forgave a big portion of a third mortgage someone who bought our house owed us, and we have to write a 1099 so we can claim it on our taxes, and I think, but am not sure, that he has to treat it like a gift.

Blaming the cc companies for overspending is ridiculous. Everyone pays for freeloaders, and I am tired of it. Maybe I'll go pay for a cruise and buy a bunch of Disney gift cards and then choose not to pay for it.

 

[Pinnie]

I just settled with Citibank for 7 grand on a 14 grand credit card debt. Going to do the same with Chase next year for around the same amount, or hopefully even less. My brother and his wife have done the same thing this year, and it has really worked out well for them so far.

How many of those trips in your signature were put on that credit card? Oh wait, I know, they were "gift trips" I would be so ashamed to brag about what you did.

As to your signature, "What else is there?" How about "honesty and responsibility"?

pinnie