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

[Princesca]

I have no opinion of Donald Trump. But I don't want anyone to think Dave Ramsey advocates settling credit card debt while taking expensive vacations.

Good note. He does advocate settling credit card debt, but only as a last resort when bankruptcy is your only other option. Paying SOMEthing back is better than paying NOTHING back, but paying all of it back is what we should all strive for.

 

[Princesca]

We decided to take on the rough economy...start another business, hire some people, provide work for vendors - this economy needs new business (one of many things) in order to get going again. Instead of merely trying to survive, get active in your community and support those local/small businesses!

You're rockin' it! Good job!!

 

[windycitymom]

DH was unemployed for a year 2 years ago.....think I am still suffering from some PTSD after that year.

I know the feeling! Now that DH is working again we have paid off 14k in cc debt, and all cars are paid for. In fact, we are debt-free except the mortgage. Now we are working on our 3-6 mos. emergency fund, funding an IRA and saving for college. I took on an additional job as well.

I'm most proud of DH and I attending Financial Peace University (Dave Ramsey). We were always thrifty, but we got on the same page and quickly got rid of debt. We have learned to squeeze blood from a turnip. Once the money started coming back in, we could sock it away because we had learned to live on so little.

We haven't taken a vacation since Spring 2008, though we do have two trips to Disney coming up (yes, already paid for with cash Our weekends are spent swimming in our pool, game night with friends, or renting movies from Red Box. I switched out all out lights to CFL lights. We cut way back on our cable. Switched from ATT home phones to Verizon home service ($20 a month and we got to keep our long-time home phone #). I always bring my lunch to work and never buy snacks at work. I have learned to stay out of stores - out of sight, out of mind. We cut our own grass and bushes. We have learned to do our own repairs. I have always used coupons. Certain family members used to make fun of me for being so thrify...but now these same people have had their car repossessed. We stopped going out to eat and started planning meals. I think I've had the same winter coat for at least 10 years (black never goes out of style). I have found some sweet deals on Groupon and LivingSocial. But the biggest budget saver: visiting this budget board which has helped me more than anyone will ever know!!!

 

[tarheel618]

Sometimes, you just have to add people to your ignore list.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

The funniest part about all this is that the previous poster has now changed her signature from "God/Family/Disney What else is there?" to "I settled 14 grand worth of credit card debt for 7 grand!! And will be settling more next year!!!". (including a dancing banana! )


Maggie

Exactly, laughing my tale off at some of you. But believe me, I am not joking about any of this. And I am going to tell you more, and as God as my witness, it is all true.

1. I have had great credit all my life until now. I mean great credit.

2. My house with 15 acres of land is paid in full. A new home at that.

3. I pretty much had a nervous breakdown last year resulting in my mess.

4. This is bringing me and my husband of 15 years closer now than ever before.

5. I am learning from this and will prosper. I do think I need to talk to a shrink about this as it has taken a toll on me I can hardly bare at times.

I am not lying about any of the above. I am serious, so now I am going to remove my silly siggy.

 

[punkin]

We have been doing several things to work on our budget in this economy and in our efforts to save.

We cut the boys down to only one extra curricular for now, saving about $100/mo.

We cut Directv and now use Netflix, saving $80/mo.

We are cutting back on our vacation fund, saving about $250/mo.

I stopped going to the Chiropractor, $70/mo.

We are looking to possibly refinance again, saving $30K off the interest off the life of the loan and $300/mo in our pockets, OR same payments and saving even more on the interest.

We tried to cut our food cost, but as quickly as we do, prices keep increasing! ARGH!

Dawn

We just did this for a lower payment and are sending in the extra towards principal, so there's no change in our payment but we will hopefully retire the mortgage early.

 

[Deealee]

Nothing.


We've always tried to live below our means, so we just keep on doing what we've been doing.

 

[ilovemk76]

Capturing the silly signature




2013-Coronado Springs Resort and the Disney Fantasy
2011-Carribean Beach Resort and the Disney Dream
2009-Port Orleans Riverside, Free Dining
2008-All Star Sports, Free Dining
2007-Disney Wonder
2005-All Star Music, Free Dining

I settled 14 grand worth of credit card debt for 7 grand!!

And will be settling more next year!!!






Why not finance that brank spankin new paid off house and pay your bills!!!

Exactly, laughing my tale off at some of you. But believe me, I am not joking about any of this. And I am going to tell you more, and as God as my witness, it is all true.

1. I have had great credit all my life until now. I mean great credit.

2. My house with 15 acres of land is paid in full. A new home at that.

3. I pretty much had a nervous breakdown last year resulting in my mess.

4. This is bringing me and my husband of 15 years closer now than ever before.

5. I am learning from this and will prosper. I do think I need to talk to a shrink about this as it has taken a toll on me I can hardly bare at times.

I am not lying about any of the above. I am serious, so now I am going to remove my silly siggy.

 

[disneymom2003]

We just cancelled our (much needed) Disney trip for next month. Although we can pay for the trip we decided the economy is much too volatile right now. We are both self employed and depend on our customers to spend money. I know. We could put it on our Credit card and then settle with the Credit card company at a later time but we prefer to pay our debits. Just a silly habit we have.

 

[jaminmd]

Exactly, laughing my tale off at some of you. But believe me, I am not joking about any of this. And I am going to tell you more, and as God as my witness, it is all true.

1. I have had great credit all my life until now. I mean great credit.

2. My house with 15 acres of land is paid in full. A new home at that.

3. I pretty much had a nervous breakdown last year resulting in my mess.

4. This is bringing me and my husband of 15 years closer now than ever before.

5. I am learning from this and will prosper. I do think I need to talk to a shrink about this as it has taken a toll on me I can hardly bare at times.

I am not lying about any of the above. I am serious, so now I am going to remove my silly siggy.

Um, it's tail. And bear.

You & your DH made this mess for yourselves:

http://161.58.189.97/showthread.php?t=2214350

However, making a joke of it on this board especially when you know there are so many people here suffering job losses & struggling, is simply what a low class, uneducated, ignorant individual would do. Decent people pay for the messes they create for themselves but it appears you don't think you & your wonderful DH have to.

 

[declansdad]

Exactly, laughing my tale off at some of you. But believe me, I am not joking about any of this. And I am going to tell you more, and as God as my witness, it is all true.

1. I have had great credit all my life until now. I mean great credit.

2. My house with 15 acres of land is paid in full. A new home at that.

3. I pretty much had a nervous breakdown last year resulting in my mess.

4. This is bringing me and my husband of 15 years closer now than ever before.

5. I am learning from this and will prosper. I do think I need to talk to a shrink about this as it has taken a toll on me I can hardly bare at times.

I am not lying about any of the above. I am serious, so now I am going to remove my silly siggy.

This makes what you did, what you are planning to do and your gloating about it even more pathetic. You clearly have the means to pay your bills but chose not to.

Someday you will regret this.

 

[jaminmd]

This makes what you did, what you are planning to do and your gloating about it even more pathetic. You clearly have the means to pay your bills but chose not to.

Someday you will regret this.

No she won't. Check the link in my last post - they've been planning this for 2 years. Her DH likes his toys & she can't do anything about it because he is, after all, wonderful, and they make "good money."

 

[MIGrandma]

I am most proud of paying off the credit card I had in my name only when I was working. I racked up $12,000 in debt on that card all by myself. I knew I was in over my head by the time I could hardly meet the interest payment month to month. I called them to see if they would reduce my interest rate and they would not. So, I took out a loan from our bank and it took me FIVE YEARS at $255/month to PAY IT OFF but I DID IT ON MY OWN. I didn't default on the card, or "settle" to pay a lesser amount. I can sleep at night knowing I did the RIGHT THING in paying it off. It was MY bill, it was MY duty to pay it off, no one else's.

I can't imagine anyone, in their right mind anyway, who would be proud to rack up thousands of dollars of debt on credit cards and medical bills and then not pay them. Wow. How can a person like that sleep at night?
I wish laws would be changed so people that do that couldn't. If you charge up a card, you pay it off, no matter how long it takes.

 

[KathyTX]

Between the trolls and the attacks, this one is DONE!