So, as it happens....

If you want to live debt free, apparently you have to first pay off your debts and then you have to spend within your means.

If I'd realized this I may not have agreed to this New Year's Resolution. I might have gone with something a little simpler, like Plooble did when he decided to be more superficial.

Instead, I agreed to this form of torture.

Tonight I've poured over 4 weekly grocery store sales flyers and created cross referenced lists of things we normally use and the best advertised prices and coupons I can use....and I've a headache. So far I have 13 stores to visit to get the very best deals on all the items I fill my pantry with.

When I mentioned the notion of 'budgeting' to the women in my knitting class...you'd have thought I said...

'My husband and I have decided to try out a crack addiction. We really think crack will bring us closer together and I think being a crack whore is something I'd like to try. I really think I'd be good at it.'

The blank stares...as though they'd never been faced with a BUDGET

I do understand their horror at hearing it. Imagine my horror at living it.

Sure, it could be worse....we are blessed. Blabbity bla bla bla....

Have you looked at this week's Target circular? Do you see all the temptation there?

I haven't wanted to force potty training on my son...but now all I see everytime I change his diaper is dollars. Go ahead, get a dollar out of your wallet right now, pee on it and then throw it in the garbage.

This is my life.

Comments

[Rachel Sparks]

Do you know of any good sites to get printable grocery coupons from? We also are going for a "debt free 04". So I can be a stay at home mom. I will look forward to hearing any new creative ways you are saving!

Good Luck,

Rachel in Missouri

[Texas T-Bone]

My wife wants to put together a budget, but they're hard to stick to. I just tell her to generally "don't spend so much money," but she's too busy rustling through the Target circular to hear me.

Our debt-reduction plan will take more than a year, but basically we are paying off the cards we can in a few months, then prioritizing them based on interest rates. If you throw most of your money at one and pay the minimum on the others, you'll start dropping them and be able to consolidate. It's good to have a plan, at least.