I have always loved a challenge, and when my husband and I finally understood what debt was and where it was taking our WHOLE family, we dove into the challenge of getting debt free. I seem to enjoy it more than he does, but I’m around other people who are scratching towards debt freedom and he is around other people who are living in denial.

Another boring hobby is decluttering our home, trying to sell stuff or give to charity.

Third hobby is to read about all of the above in books and on the net.

I get the same reaction about my dietary choices as well as my financial choices. “You don’t want any cake? Oh come on, lighten up – it’s just one piece.” “You’re not coming to Happy Hour? Don’t be such a stranger.”

These types of comments and trying to justify your refusal every single time can really wear you down. It is a daily battle – fighting for a healthier future (mentally, physically, emotionally, financially) or giving in to temptation.

My biggest pet peeve with my husband was his constantly talking about buying a NEW car as soon as our old one was paid off. Although it took me a while, he finally understood the benefits of keeping the car at LEAST 10 years, then, when the car is paid off, taking the car payments and putting them into a savings/investment plan.

At the end of 10 years, IF the benefits of owning a new car outweighed the cost of keeping our old car, we could use the saved $$$ to buy a ‘new’ (See:Pre-Owned) car outright! NO interest on payments, NO finance charges. Then, we could start the process all over again, but saving the $$$ in a smaller amount of time and having extra $$$ left over!

Obviously we pick friends we enjoy, but the idea that people write off certain groups of people is kind of arrogant. What makes them think that they are so interesting, that they now possess the status to complain about others being boring?

I was curious to know what kind of deal you got on your Wii. I am planning on saving up for one for the family and have no clue where to start.

Thank you,
~Heather

Jake
http://growyourassets.blogspot.com

I used to be really into going to the mall, going ot movies and dining out before too. Now I splurge on purchases at the mall sometimes, have a Netflix account, and cook deliscious meals at home. For me, knowing that I could do all that stuff buy choose not to excessively is wonderful.

And yeah for beat up cars! When I first started driving my old car I too was kind of embarrased and was mentally counting my pennies until I too could get a shiny new vehicle! Then I realized that my beater is reliable, gets great mileage and saves me so much money with auto insurance and no car payments. Plus, since it’s old I don’t need to stress about a nick here or there or where I park in the lot. When I see a fancy car I too think ‘I wonder how much there monthly payments’ are too. I now have enough money saved to buy a newly used vehicle cash when my beater dies…but they’ll have to pry it away from me first!

PF boring? Ohhhkaayyy… To each his(her)(our) own!

When I went to graduate school 20 years ago (at a certain well-known writing program in your state), I asked a visiting writer what advice she had for young writers. She said, “Make friends with real working people. Don’t just hang out with grad students.”

I didn’t know it then, but that was some of the best advice I ever received. I now have a network of working-class friends all across the country, many of whom are much more fun, and interesting (as well as more frugal) than some of the professionals I work with. Many people with big incomes and lifestyles have enormous debt, anxiety, and thus have no choice but to put their careers ahead of nearly everything else.

I treasure all the “real” people of modest means I know out there. I think Kim’s perspective above is excellent for anyone just starting out in life.

By the way, Trent, I think you seem like a very fun person, judging from the engaging way you use words to inspire your readers. I don’t know how you manage to be so prolific.

Mike