Yes,

but, I like all my stuff. And so what if I have some debt.Vegas here I come.

I now consider myself allergic to paying interest...think of interest as a huge tip added to your bill...a tip you pay over and over and over on credit cards. Once a person does all the hard work to pay off loans and credit cards and becomes a saver/cash purchaser it's a breathing easier way of living. The big issue is deciding on the "needs vs the wants"...this is step one.

My keys to success...any repeating monthly bill is examined prior to signing up, that's a huge commitment. The one's I do accept into my life as needs I call annually and ask one quesiton of the company..."do you offer these same services for less money, can you help me reduce my monthly bill? Just on cable TV and Internet services I saved $400 both last year and this year alone. When you call stay firm on these facts, you love the service they provide and do not need more service of any type and your only issue is the cost which you need lowered for the next 12 months. Stay firm , pleasant and happy, it's a 15 minute phone call, play the game of what is my time worth...$400 for 15 minutes brings a smile to my face. Do this with all your service providers. Use some brand of financial software and set up reminders of these annual calls.

It's not only important what wages one earns but how much does one get to keep each month. And get allergic to interest...call each credit card provider and ask for a lower interest rate..get on the phone...have some fun!

Best of luck everyone!

I want to respond again-After having cleaned out 2 houses because of death-

After paying nursing homes 5000 a month-if you want too much and have too much-then something is wrong-

I am going to try to do this. YesI will need to file bankrupcy soon. But that is my doing. And when it is done, I will NOT get into this mess again. That simple!

I am grateful my parents taught me this early. Although I admit my grown chiildren do struggle with material wants they don't really need. My oldest son who is in the Army National Guard was promised a bonus that was cut by 3/4 due to the Army needing to encourage more recruits (so they got the higher bonuses), so he calmly removed all the new modifications to his car and sold them. He hasn't looked back since. He also chose to use part of his bonus to pay for 9 months of Tech College instead of getting another student loan. I used to have alot of material goods, but I am paring down every time I can and my goal is to also eliminate my debt. (no matter how long it takes)  It does feel better not having to worry about all the gadgets that don't work anymore and have to be replaced. Consumerism is what makes people complain about rising prices of the things they realized they really need. Like food and gas. You have to eat and some people need gas to get to work in order to eat!

Need vs Want indeed!!  

As a child I learned the value of a $.  Car washing, chores, babysitting, provided cash...if I wanted anything more than what my parents could afford.  So, in having to manage my own $ at an early age I learned to never pay more than absolutely necessary for that "want" - it is a "want" after all, and can wait for a sale, coupon, or better yet "clearance rack".  

I have lived on both sides - immeasurable debt (school loans, business loans) AND debt free - to include mortgage free!!!  The latter is absolutely freedom!  The life of debt may give you a few nice" things" but the feeling of "SUFFOCATION/PANIC/ANXIETY" is not the way we were intended to live.  Knowing that you have no choice but to go to work, with no foreseeable future of being free of your debt is robbing you of the joy, happiness and peace God intended you to have. We all have to work, but now that once "great job" is diminished to that "place you have to go to collect a pay check". (Ever seen the bumper sticker -- I OWE I OWE, IT'S OFF TO WORK I GO!!!)  This may cause you to have hardships at work and may put your "paycheck" at jeopardy - your employer hired you to do a job - if that job isn't getting done for whatever reason it's his obligation to find someone to make sure is does.  And so all areas of your life can be affected when your debt is overwhelming....we haven't even touched on the kids or marriage.....

It took years for us to become debt free.  It started with that basic thought - never pay more than necessary for "anything" to include phone bills/car insurance/cable/groceries, etc... Always use a written budget when you pay your monthly bills and KNOW YOUR FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS!  This may be that thing you dread more than anything, (and I mean that thing that wakes you up in a cold sweat at night or makes you want to literally throw up) BUT you must write down EVERY monthly payment you owe, also call and find out how much you owe on every loan/credit card with the interest rate to include the amount of your mortgage if you have one. Once you've digested this monumental task you have in front of you (just getting it all on paper may be so overwhelming you may need to take a day or two off - but then sit right back down-you have to start somewhere)  Choose the lowest balance, OR highest interest loan/ccard and focus on paying it off, once it is paid off "snowball", use the amount you were paying on the paid off balance and put it toward that next loan, and keep going until they are all paid off!!!  (this is hard, it takes a long time, and a commitment NOT to keep charging, but that first loan you pay in full will give you such a feeling of success and empowerment!)  Remember it took how long to get into that debt?  It won't be paid off overnight.

Fix the car you have if at all possible, don't get into another loan you can't afford. (vehicles are a losing investment)  If you want that "new car" feeling - pay to have it detailed or do it yourself-even if you make that car last 6 months longer by putting a few $ into it, imagine- car pmt ($350) X 6 months = $2100 (and that's interest free $).

After our credit cards/school loans/car payments were paid off--(imagine the amount "snowballing" )- we applied it toward the mortgage...paid it off Jan '08!!! (Some don't agree with this, it's not for everyone, but you get to write off what .35 of every 1.00 of interest?  That means .65 is gone?  Seems kind of stupid to save .35 by spending .65.  Besides, mortgage is a "debt"- shows up on a credit report as a liability.  This way, if there is a job loss we only need to come up with the taxes, electric and groceries to stay where we are - no one is going to repossess our home-and everyone needs a place to live!!!

It may take years to get out of debt, it did for us, but the reward...FREEDOM!!!

Make the "HARD" decision - to get out of debt--- it's worth it----you will find your FREEDOM!!!

My husband and I have lived this way for over 4 years and it is great- we pay off our credit card (not cardS) monthly no matter how big the balance. We have 1 car payment and 1 mortgage payment.  We have nice jobs but are not rich- we live modestly and even "brown bag" lunch 5 days a week and eat dinner at home most nites.  We have a modest 35 yr old- 2/2 house on the water in FL- no pool, and live full time in a small 850sq ft apt in Vancouver BC and were able to take off 8 weeks last year- quit our jobs to move to BC and traveled the US in our travel trailer and had a great- once in a life time adventure.  It CAN be done.  We don't buy designer clothes- we hardly buy clothes- but the discount stores are great and worth it- nobody looks at your labels anyway- so why pay for them- they are NOT important in the long run.  The memories that YOU make are what's important in the long run- NOT keeping up with the designer Jones- who are chained to debt and unhappy and wishing they were more like someone else

Independence Day is the truth for all us Americans!  I completely understand what being free is really about.  Being free from that nagging dept.  I owe very little on just two credit cards and have only a morage payment, talk about freedom.  It's so nice because, I can pick and demand better service and better discounts, ecpecially when I bring cash.  I almost always shop at thrift stores, and look for scratch dent products.  Even on big ticket items, who cares if someone put a scratch on the side of a refrigator, it usually sets back in the cabents anyway.  Who's going to see it, and if I think it's in a bad location, I cover it with a childs drawing.  I almost solely shop on auctions, in my area, to see what great deals I can find.  I've seen $2100.00 refrigators go for $1000.00 because they were last years model.  That,kind of saving helps me save for other things and keep me from wanting more.   The buy now society I feel is a thing of the past.  When credit cards were aloud to raise there month payment, many people almost or went bankrupt.  They were part of that charge society.  Now, as they get more savie with there money,  they find that holding off seems to be that better route.  We should demand more!  We should make car companies cut there prices and what's the government going to do about the price of gas?   It's about time we stand up and let government know that, they should frezze the price of oil, and lock in a nation wide price freeze on gas.  I would vote for a president that would freeze gas prices.  Something has got to change!  Is our freedom slipping away, with the cost of gas?  That extra money I used to have has gone to pay for gas.  Not only gasoline put propane too.  Freedom is a liberal term, it has so many influences on it.  To define it in one way is a short comming in another way.  As the greatest nation in the World, we as americans should take a look and see and demand better services.  Hold the oil companies and government responsable.  LET FREEDOM RING !

Becoming debt free and wealthy is simple, but does take dicipline... and sacrifice. Live frugal like the "Millionaire Next Door". My mother always said, "Willful waste makes woeful want." We can make our things last so much longer by the way we use them..  My 2003 GMC pickup, five years old, nows has only 21000 miles on it and still new.

My mother also advised we kids to, "Eat your vegetables."  And Dad always said, "Save your money and watch your friends." YOU can become rich...  There is nothing better than compound interest..  Plus, get into DRIPS - Dividen Reinvestment Plans, with good, solid dividen paying companies, directly with the company. They do not charge to invest in them..   And invest reguilarly and long term...   You'll be glad you did.......

The fourth of July is  the celebration of our national freedom, This as our founder so selflessly sacrificed all they had for those thinks that most in america take for granted. If one wishes to understand the freedom that all 56 of the signer of the Declaration Of Independance so bravely gave up all there wealth and estates for (most were destitute after the war). One only need to read the Bill of Rights and the federalist papers. That there wishes in writing this document was simple to place restraints on a overbearing government, placing limitation on individual freedoms that so many gave there lives for. This is what 4th of July is all about.  Its about a Republican from of government that is based on the individual freedom to gain wealth, Oportunitity for all. Not government taxes one class of people, and give to the less fortunate at the expence of those struggling. to make a living. our four father would roll over in the gave knowing we pay our elected representive $150,000 to take bribes from the AMA, ABA, and big business.

while american are prevented from driving car that get 60 mpg and sold all over the world

for as little as $2500 (tata motors nano) american are forced to drive car that get 30 mpg

and congress has hearing about oil prices, while china add 25,000 new cars to its road ..It is my censer hope that all of you will simple vote encumbant out  each election till we return to citizen legislators ....and i am not voting for obama.....be well all