Sunday, May 31, 2009

Cruising Down The River On a Sunday Afternoon

I had the opportunity to catch up with an old friend last night and in doing so, was reminded of one of my favorite low-cost activities: canoeing. I grew up in Southwest Missouri and my older brother and I would often spend a Saturday or Sunday (or a weekday in the summer) floating one of the many creeks and rivers around us. It never cost much, and here is why:

* He owned his own canoe - the rental of a canoe isn't much if you don't own your own, but we lived near a boat factory and he bought a 17-foot canoe for a discount because the paint was imperfect on the bottom. If you canoe much in streams or rivers, whatever paint is on the bottom will be gone after scraping bottom a few times.

* We would pack our own meals. Usually just a couple of bologna sandwiches and a bag of chips.

* We would haul it ourselves. What we would do was to take two cars, drop the canoe off at the beginning site, drop one off at the end, and drive back to park at the entry point. Usually a 15 or 20 mile trip would do for us, but since we were fast (if necessary) we had plenty of time to eat and swim on a beach or rope swing.

* It was a great chance to enjoy the outdoors and make a lifetime of memories.

When my brother passed away in 1982, I inherited his canoe. It is stored at my parent's house and I don't get out it in nearly as often as I would like. My brother used to take pride in that he was "cheap", although frugal would be a kinder word for his life style. He was very good at making a dollar go a long way.

Here's to you finding something low-cost to enjoy your spare time, and I hope that you have a great day! My eBook Never Surrender is tentatively set for June 14, 2009 release. You can sign up for the newsletter/notification on the right side of this page.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Saturday In The Park

A good, inexpensive way to have some family time, or alone time, is in the park. Usually, there is not a fee (free is good) and you can pack a picnic lunch or dinner that should not cost as much as a meal out. If I didn't work on Saturdays, I probably would spend more time in the park or down at a campsite.

When you are looking for ways to save money to eliminate your credit card debt (or just plain debt if you are lucky enough not to be burdened with credit card debt), slowly the ideas trickle in until you find yourself looking at coupons online (coupons.com) or in the paper or in magazines. Not only do you look at them, you begin to use them. Perhaps it is saving 10 cents here or a quarter there, but that trickle of savings starts to build into a steady stream of formerly wasted money that now is buying you freedom.

One of the best ways to not have credit card debt is not to go there in the first place. Years ago, credit cards were few and far between and not very many people could qualify. As regulations loosened, interest rates dropped, and we, as a people, became more and more consumer-driven, credit card debt grew and grew.

So did the credit card companies.

Sure, President Obama has pushed for legislation to help the consumer, but don't be so smug thinking that the credit card problem has gone away. It hasn't. It won't until all are educated about their credit cars and the wise use of them (or non-use of them). Hang in there, because you can be free too.

Sign up for a newsletter to let you know when my eBook Never Surrender will be available. Have a great day!

Friday, May 29, 2009

Friday, Friday, Finally Friday

For most people, Friday is a day that is looked forward to from the beginning of the week. Since I have been on a quest to eliminate credit card debt, it represents another day. I work most weekends. It will happen occasionally that I am not scheduled on the weekend, but knowing that the small amount of money that I earn on the weekends is used toward finally eliminating credit card debt, I don't mind. Weekends are a good time for celebration, relaxation, and a bit of planning.

Celebrations don't mean that you have to go and run up your credit card bill at the bar or club, just an evening's drink and snacks (because they seem to go hand in hand) can easily run up $100 or more for two people. Multiply that by 52 weeks in a year, and you have over $5,000 a year. That would be enough to eliminate a credit card or two for myself (the lower balanced ones).

Wow.

Here's is a suggestion, and it is only a suggestion. I drink occasionally, but it is usually one or two (OK, sometimes three) and it is pretty exclusive to the weekend. I usually have a snack with them as well. I could easily go to a bar/club and spend $10-$15 for the drinks and $5 for the snacks. There is a $20 bill that has gone away. What I do now, and enjoy more is sitting on the screened-in porch and have those drinks, have a snack, and have a relaxing evening with my beautiful wife. I buy the drinks and snack ahead of time and the cost is around $5. That is $15 dollars saved. The great thing is that I don't have to worry about drinking and driving (sore subject) and, if I perchance have too much to drink, I just have to worry about tripping over the dog (who wouldn't mind because there would be more crackers for her). It is a win-win situation because I get some relaxing one-on-one time with my wife and we will listen to some music or a ball game (in season).

Perhaps there are some ways that you could think of to have a good time for less, free up some money, and eliminate your credit card debt. My book is nearly ready now (it is written), and if you would like to receive notification of when that is ready for you, you can sign up for the Never Surrender newsletter on the right side of this blog. You simply enter your email and first name, there will be a confirmation sent to you (check your spam box), and I will notify you of where to get your hands on the book, plus I will send out information occasionally on ways to eliminate credit card debt.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Carpe Diem

Seize the day! A lot of us will see people taking action and will wish it were us. You have that ability to do things and many times it will require you to do just one thing...TAKE ACTION! Often it doesn't matter what the action is, you must just do SOMETHING!

The same is true when you are eliminating your credit card debt and securing your financial future.

You may ask, "Should I save by using coupons? Should I pay the highest interest card first while maintaining minimum payments (on time) with my other credit cards? Should I sell things I don't need?" and on and on. You could work yourself into a frenzy just wondering what it is that you need to start with. Each action has its own merit and can certainly get you toward a goal of being credit card debt free. Each plan and idea is good.

Choose one.

Use it to build momentum to develop a habit and then choose another. And another. Soon you will have developed an amazing strength as your own strength is bolstered by success after success. Sure, you may find a dud once in a while, but use the lesson learned to build wisdom.

TAKE ACTION! Have a GREAT day!

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Warrior Wednesday

In our quest to eliminate credit card debt and to straighten out our financial lives, a little bit of help along the way is sometimes welcome. One way to straighten things out is to pay our balances in full each and every month. When you get to that point, you might consider getting some free money from your credit card. While perusing Dolans.com, I ran across some suggestions that they have.

American Express offers their Blue Cash program which allows you to earn up to 5% back on everyday purchases. When you get to where you don't need a credit card, this can serve as a bit of an incentive, and it can help to increase your credit score. Having a good credit score is a great way to have lower costs for your loans that you will occasionally need and can save you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

If your are a working class family, there may be a free health insurance program for them. For the inside scoop, visit InsureKidsNow.gov. If your employer offers the FSA program at work, you could consider that the next time open enrollment comes along. Mine has come in handy. I have my amount set this year at $700 which is available for me on January 1. Having a crown done is not a cheap procedure and it nearly depleted the funds that were in my FSA. What is great is that I will now owe $196 less on taxes next April because of it.

Other places for freebies that will cost you little or no money include TotallyFreeStuff.com and JustFreeStuff.com. You should at least check them out to see what sort of things that you can get and not have to pay for.

Have a GREAT day, and visit my site. My eBook is nearly complete now and should be available in mid-June.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Tuesday = Monday

Three day weekends happen occasionally and in the United States we just experienced one. From my days in education, the Memorial Day weekend usually signalled the beginning of summer vacation. A lot of businesses honor the three day weekend, but the retail industry and medical field don't always have that luxury: they remain open year-round.

When you are on the quest to eliminate your credit card debt, you must remain always vigilant and ready. It is not suggested that it become obsessive, but it always needs to remain a steady undercurrent to you daily activities of living. These days my mind is always searching for ways to say a few dollars. I drive by several gas stations on the way to my day job (at least nine), so when the tank hits the halfway mark, the light turns on to compare as I go. When I notice one gets a few cents lower than the others, I will make a point to pull in and fill up. When I notice Diet Coke on sale, I will stock up (both my wife and I have a bit of a vice for Diet Coke, but I will not buy it at a convenience store because of the jacked-up prices there).

You can do the same.

If you are like most people, you purchase the same things over and over, but when you look to save money, you will notice when those things are on sale, or find a coupon for, or even print on from coupons.com. Believe me when they say that it all adds up, because it does.

But you are becoming wiser and you will win.

Have a great day!

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Monday

Memorial Day is a holiday that was intended for us to remember the service men and women who have given their lives for us to enjoy the freedoms that we do now. I am grateful for those who have dutifully served, be it by volunteering or by being drafted. As Americans, we enjoy so many freedoms that others around the world only dream of. But those freedoms are balanced with responsibilities.

So it is with credit card debt.

Most Americans have been given the opportunity to have a credit card debt. Owning a credit card can give you the freedom to purchase something that you wouldn't normally have the cash on hand to purchase right away. In times past, stores such as KMart or WalMart would offer lay-away programs. They worked like this: You would make payments toward something that cost more money than you have available, but, for a small fee you could reserve the item until it was paid for. Then along came credit cards that gave some the opportunity to purchase something immediately and make payments on the credit card.

Most haven't used that wisely, including myself. It was sort of like being a child in a candy store with unlimited selection. We, as Americans have gotten to the point to where we don't look at the total cost of an item (i.e. a car) but rather at the monthly payments. That has come to bite me in the behind. Now many find themselves in a situation where their credit scores are abysmal and a large portion of their paycheck is going to pay on a credit card that was used to pay for something trivial in the past. Many times, that item is long gone and forgotten. With as much as has been paid on the credit card, one would think that their would be a fancy car or a beautiful home, but that is not the case.

It doesn't have to be that way.

There are solutions out there that can help you to eliminate your credit card debt and earn more money in the process. If you want money making ideas, you could always visit my website or take some time to think things through. Don't despair, you can get out of credit card debt, but there is something that others will not do for you, and that is TAKE ACTION!!

Have a great Memorial day!!!

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Summer Fun

Credit card debt elimination is a task that takes dedication. It doesn't have to be all work and no play. Yesterday, some ideas were shared with you about a few things that you can do during the summer and spend a fortune. One idea is to go to a concert put on by your local college or university.

My sister and I spent a week at summer music camp at the University of Arkansas (where I later earned a Bachelor's Degree in music). Near the end of the week, there was a concert that the students put on that was free (and no, it wasn't just attended by the parents). Check with your local school to see if they offer similar activities.

Movie theatres often offer a matinee (forgo the popcorn and soda because it will eat any savings that you might enjoy. Near the city in which I live there is a dollar show where they offer the screenings of movies that just completed their regular run at the theaters and you could go there. I used to "have" to see movies when they were first released, but it has been a while since that has been done, and I don't feel like I am less of a person for doing that.

You can check out your local library, because libraries aren't just for books any more. Nowadays you can check out movies, DVDs, and yes, books for little or no money. Just because you are saving money to pay off your credit card debt doesn't mean that you cannot entertain yourself.

Have a GREAT day and thank you for all of the suggestions that you have been sending me! For money-making ideas, you could always visit my site.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

A Holiday Weekend

This Memorial Day weekend is a three-day weekend for most people. This weekend traditionally means the official start of summer for most children. With the kids at home more and attention spans getting shorter by the generation, it doesn't mean that your money has to fly out the window. This is especially true when you are looking to eliminate your credit card debt: although summer usually means an increase in the temperatures, but it doesn't have to mean that your expenses are going to fly out the roof. Here are a few ideas on how to save some money this summer and still have some quality time with your family:

Go To A Park - most towns that I have lived in have a nearby park. There are things to do there that don't cost any money and you can pack your own lunch (instead of spending a fortune to eat out at a restaurant). Some of my fondest memories are playing with my child at the park, and it didn't cost a thing except for the gas to drive there.

Go Camping - state parks usually offer camping for a modest fee. I live in Missouri and there is a guide to state parks that outlines where, when, how much, etc. Most states have a similar website.

Go To A Summer Concert - many towns and cities offer a concert or activities like that in the summer. Check with your local chamber of commerce (and you can usually leave your credit card at home)

Of course, these are just a few of the ideas that are out there, but if you use your head, you can find something out there that is low cost for you and your family.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Turn That Down (Off)!!

Have you ever been told (forcefully) by a parent to "TURN THAT DOWN!!" or "TURN THAT OFF!!"? You know, maybe our parents were on to something. As a young adult, there were times that I would leave a television on when I left a room, or, when it was "hot" or "cold" in the house would go and play with the thermostat to attempt to make the room more comfortable. That would drive my parents insane.

But, perhaps they were a bit wiser than I gave them credit for.

When saving money in order to eliminate your credit card debt, any way that you can save money is always a good thing. A few years ago we purchased a programmable thermostat. Previously, we would fiddle with the thermostat manually in the morning, change the temperature when we left for work (if we remembered), and then adjust it when we got home or went to bed. We were never quite consistent. For about $40 we purchased a programmable thermostat. For example, we can have the temperature (in the warm months) set to not turn the air conditioner on until the interior of the house reaches 80 degrees during the day. (WHAT?) About 30 minutes before my wife gets home, it is set to cool it down to around 74. Now you might think that is crazy, but why cool a house to 69 degrees when you aren't here during the day to enjoy it? It is money down the drain.

We know that it works because our electric company provided us with an analysis to take our annual costs for electricity and split it up into twelve equal payments. This is a popular way to even out the cost of utilities through the year. On thing that we noticed though is that our electricity usage (and cost) went down each year. It was because we weren't unnecessarily heating or cooling our home. We also don't keep it as cool in the summer or as warm in the winter, we dress appropriately.

Even a couple of degrees can make a big difference in the bottom line. After all, it is your money, why not keep more of it?

Have a great day!

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Having A PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)

Hope springs eternal, that is how the saying goes. When undergoing the quest to eliminate your credit card debt, there will be times when you shall be sorely tested. When the tough gets going, it can be difficult, at best, to keep going. I have had the fortune of being exposed in my young adult life to books like "Think and Grow Rich", "How to Win Friends and Influence People", "See You at the Top", "Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude", and, my favorite, "Rhinoceros Success". The premise behind filling your mind with positive things will help when positive things are not happening in your life. Their philosophy in these (and lots of other) books is that you have to find the positive things and focus on them instead of dwelling on the bad. So, in other words,

HANG IN THERE!

You gotta stay focused on what the goal is. The goal for many of us is to be free from the bonds of high-interest credit card debt. Although Congress is currently drafting legislation to help against some of the predatory practices of credit card companies, we cannot rely on somebody else to take control of our lives: we have to do it ourselves. Congress is doing what they can, but it is certainly not enough. In fact, it may hurt the people who need the help the most, the ones who need credit. It will be tougher for those to get credit.

KEEP FOCUSED!

Your goal is perhaps to rely less on credit cards and make your hard-earned money work for you. Don't make somebody else rich by the blood of your brow. Learn as much as you can, find the actions that will lead you to the destination of being credit card debt free, and then (dare I mention it?) TAKE ACTION! Action is 1,000 times more effective than inaction. If you do nothing, you will get nothing. Please do what you can to help yourself. I am here to help, but ultimately it is YOU that will do the action.

Have a GREAT day!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Extended Warranties, Are They Warranted?

You have probably purchased something when you get to the checkout and the cashier asks you if you would like an extended warranty with that. Whether you are working to eliminate your credit card debt or not, you might want to think twice about that. As a cashier at a part-time job that I have, I am required to ask. Is it worth it?

It depends.

If you insist on having an extended warranty, make sure that the purchase price of that warranty is not more than 20% of the cost of the item (according to Dolans). Personally, I have had a mixed bag with them. The lawn mower that was purchased 5 years ago I purchased an extended warranty with it for $19.9. Granted, I will usually purchase one that is not self-propelled and will make sure that it has a Briggs and Stratton engine on it. I also take the mower in to have it tuned up each an every year. Mine is still going strong after 5 years and will probably last another four years at least (and it gets used twice a week during heavy growing season). That extended warranty was ...

... a complete waste of my money and pure profit for the store that I purchased the mower from.

On the other hand, we purchased a refrigerator three years ago and purchased an extended warranty so that we were covered for three years instead of one. Luck had it that it more than paid for itself because the water line for the ice maker was poorly placed and we had to have a call for that (normally $100 service call) and then the freezer side door (or a side by side) refrigerator had to be replaced (would have cost over $250). That warranty was ...

... completely worth it.

When purchasing appliances it may be worth it to have one, but we purchased on in which the back of the unit was dented. We saved more than the cost of the warranty, so it was purchased. You might be able to negotiate on the price of the appliance. So it has a "ding" in it. If you keep all of your appliances in pristine condition, you might have a problem with one that is scratched or imperfect. My family has a tendency to end up with a scratch or two on the appliance anyway, so why pay more for an item that is going to get a dent anyway?

Make sure that you understand what the warranty covers and what it doesn't. If you purchase the warranty, it may end up costing more than the cost of the item itself and you may not be able to use it in the first place.

Have a great day! Thanks for reading!

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Are There Any Coupons?

When working to eliminate your credit card debt, you often will need to save in any way that you possibly can. One of the best ways that are out there is by coupons. We regularly get coupons in the mail, usually from ValPak. Unfortunately, as luck would have it, that piece of mail regularly gets tossed into the recycle bin and nobody wants to sift through the pile of papers that are going to be set out to recycle.

Never fear!

You can always go to the ValPak or the MoneyMailer website or even MonthlyCoupons.com. Usually it is as simple as plugging in your area code and coupons will appear. If you are looking for coupons for a particular name brand item it will do you good (usually) to visit that particular brand's website. If you aren't sure where to find it, you can always pull up an Internet Explorer session and go the Google site to begin your search. Taking a few minutes to rustle up some coupons could easily save you some dollars.

Those dollars could be used to eliminate your credit card debt, or, if you are fortunate enough to have emerged victorious from your credit card debt, you could use the money to live your life more the way that you want and deserve.

Have a great day!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Watch 'Em Like a Hawk

As I was reminded by the comment from Everett yesterday (thanks), there are some banks and credit card companies that will sneak as much money and interest from you as they possibly can. They will change your billing cycle to ensure that you are late just so they can attach a "late fee" on you and jack up your interest rate. Oh how times have changed.

Remember the days when banks used to be your friend? When you needed money for a car or a personal loan, the bank (where you went to put in your hard-earned money for checking or savings) would lend it to you. If you were late on a payment, you would call up the bank, explain things, and there would be no harassing phone calls, no sudden spike in interest rate, no late fees. It was if you were dealing with somebody who saw you as a member of the family, not somebody that you could take advantage of and suck money out of at every opportunity.

That is one reason that, if possible, you bank at a credit union. It used to be that credit unions were hard to become a member of unless you were an employee at a certain company or you belonged to an organization. Nowadays, most credit unions have an open policy and, although not protected by the FDIC, they are insured through the National Credit Union Association or the National Credit Union Insurance Fund. What makes credit unions different is that they are owned by you and all the members who bank with them. The rates are typically lower for loans and the returns are usually slightly better. I have been a member of one since 1979 and still do part of my banking with them.

Just another way to save money to help eliminate your credit card debt. Have a great day!

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Would You Like to Save 10% Today?

As you can tell, I am somewhat anti-credit card. Is there a time that a credit card could be good? Perhaps. I may be just a bit one-sided in my view because I have been struggling for years with eliminating my credit card debt. To be sure, great progress has been made in that struggle, great strides have been made to streamline my spending as much as possible in order to free up money to further reduce the debt, but there is a long way to go.

I work (second job) on the weekends at a major home improvement store as a cashier. There is a guy who works there (we'll just call him Mr. T) who is a good worker. One of our objectives to ask people as they check out if they would like to save 10% on their purchase for opening up a store credit card. Mr. T does well at that. (Our company offers employees a financial incentive for getting people to take the card.) One customer did the smart thing.

She opened up the card, saved 10%, and immediately afterward made a payment to pay the balance off in full. That way, she saved the money, but she did not have any balance on her card (at over 22% interest). It might have lowered her credit score a bit, but I believe that she used her credit wisely and wasn't looking to make a major purchase like a home very soon.

It wouldn't work for me because the credit score is less than stellar. But it did give me something to think about. Perhaps you should think too!

Visit my website for ideas about making some money to eliminate your credit card debt. My newly-written eBook about credit card debt is now complete and will be available soon. Have a great day!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

You Ain't Nothin' But a Hound Dog

When you are in the process of eliminating your credit card debt, no doubt that you will be "hounded" by the credit card companies or the collection agencies. They may have you fearful to even answer the telephone or open your mail. They usually employ the most ruthless and fear-invoking practices, often calling you minute after minute until you answer the phone.

It doesn't have to be that way.

You don't have to be afraid of them. After all, you want to eliminate your credit card debt. Answer the phone with a firm voice, get the name and extension of the person you are talking to. Ask who their supervisor is. You see, the key is to have the conversation go at your pace, not theirs. Ask for the address to where you would write. Once you have the address, ask them not to call you again and write to the address you were given (certified mail, of course) and tell them that you will only do things by writing.

The person on the other line will not be happy because they get a commission from what they can collect, they usually do not collect through the mail. But there is one thing that you must now do, and that is to open your mail and read it. Face your credit card debt head on, and you will find that it is much easier to deal with and you will enjoy greater success.

Be sure to save your hard-earned money at every opportunity so that you can live credit card debt-free!

Here is to your success! Have a great weekend!

Friday, May 15, 2009

Only 11 Months Until Taxes Are Due

Most people have a major anxiety attack when they thick about income taxes and those taxes are due each an every year on April 15 (unless the 15th falls on a weekend or that rare occasion in which it falls on Patriot's Day, a holiday that is celebrated in the Northeast but is rarely even mentioned in other regions of the country. The problem with April 15th is that people are rarely prepared for it.

It doesn't have to be that way.

If you hate owing taxes each and every year, you can plan your withholding to where you may actually get money back each year. If you are a do-it-yourself type of tax preparer, even software such as Turbotax or Taxcut offer a section on withholding support. You can always get advise from the IRS. You can actually change your withholding allowances from your employer (some larger employers offer that online and you can quickly and easily change your W-4.

When I worked for H&R Block, I even ran across people who owed several thousand dollars each year and were happy about it. That type of person was a very disciplined person who knew how much of his money he/she would owe back to Uncle Sam at the deadline and they used all the extra money (because they manipulated the system to have no money withheld and they had the maximum paycheck each week) to invest and make back more money than they would owe come April 15th. Unfortunately, most of us are not that disciplined.

If you like getting a large refund each year, you can plan for that. If, on the other hand, you would rather have a little bit larger check each month and have extra money to help you eliminate you credit card debt, you can do that as well. If you are having difficulties understanding how the whole tax code thing comes together, you can always consult with a tax professional to get the advice that you need.

But ultimately remember that it is your money and the government isn't giving you money when you get a refund, it just means that you paid too much of your money to the government interest-free. Keep up the excellent job that you have been doing to have more money for your life (and thank you for the tips that you have shared with me!). Have a GREAT day!

Thursday, May 14, 2009

We Have Arrived!

We made it! Celebration is now in order. The official total is $178.10 that has been saved by not buying food (besides perishables) at the grocery store for the past 30 days. Instead, meals have been made by what was already in the pantry, but was passed over because we wanted something else. The surprising thing is that there is probably another month's worth out there in "pantry-land", but the updates will just be occassional. The funny thing is that one of our local grocery stores has a "no coupon" day today in which you get $10 off $50 purchase. That works out to be 20%. Of course the saving percent goes down as your bill grows.

That's why I shop with a list (and do the math as I go along) and keep it as close to $50 as I can. If there is ever an occassion to need more than $100, I will make two trips, one in the morning and one in the evening (it is a 24 hour store). Some people don't shop there because you bag the groceries yourself. I will bag my own to save a few cents on every item. Remember that pennies add up, especially when you are saving money to eliminate your credit card debt. Buckled with the interest that most people pay on their credit cards, it makes a HUGE difference in the bottom line.

One thing that I notice living in a strong union town is that people are unwilling to use a self check out for a small purchase. Their argument is that they don't want to put anybody out of a job. I usually keep my mouth shut because 1) the use of the self checker saves the store enough money to keep the prices as low as they are 2) a job is created to supervise the self checkouts and 3) if someone plans on making cashiering to be their career, perhaps some career counseling is in order. 'Nuff said.

Have a great day, and here is to YOUR success in eliminating your credit card debt.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

One More To Go

$169.67. That's where we stand. It doesn't seem possible, but the goal is almost here. The check for the extra payment to the credit card company will be mailed on Friday, and it seems great. At the interest rate, it will save me $200 this calendar year.

Always on the lookout for a good value and money saving ideas, we decided not to have our weekly dinner out (at around $20 each for sushi), we decided on leftovers and some food that was around the home. It was difficult because my wife and I really enjoy well-prepared sushi, but when you have your eyes on the prize, instant gratification sort of goes by the wayside.

Unfortunately, if you noticed, this post is about 18 hours later than it is usually put up. There were some storms in the area last night, and the wireless router seems to have been affected, so tonight it is a direct hookup to the cable, and it works fine. Since we have our Internet and phone all in one place (still haven't been able to beat the deal with DirecTV yet). But I do know that phone and Internet through the cable beats the price we were paying for DSL and a phone line. We rarely use the phone line because of cell phones, but it is still nice to have for faxing things.

Keep up the great work, and thanks for the suggestions that you have given us for saving money in order to eliminate credit card debt!

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Two More To Go

$161.44. With just two days to go (and no grocery store in sight) accomplishment can definitely be felt. There honestly is at least three weeks (probably more) of food remaining, but the daily update will no longer be necessary. So, the question is "how are YOU doing?" Have you found any ways to save on things that you hadn't thought of yet? How far would you go? Recently, I was at Dolans.com and ran across an article that really made me think. It was asking about things you would do to save money (and nowadays, who doesn't look for ways to save money?).

Here are some ideas (and believe me, some of them made me feel a bit squeamish)
* Plan trips around for samples, like at the grocery store, free appetizers at happy hour, or wine tastings.
* Wash clothes in only cold water (over 75% of the cost of using a washing machine is used in the heating of the water)
* Abandon toilet paper and use washable rags or even newspaper (Okay, I am not that desperate yet)
* Stock up on condiments like ketchup and mustard from McDonald's or other fast food restaurants
* Toilet train your cat (kitty litter can be expensive)

There were others posted there, but it did make you think that desperate times call for desperate measures. Some I could do (cold water for laundry), but some I would not (I don't have a cat at our home). I am not advocating living life on the cheap, but there are ways that you could stretch you dollar further and pay down your credit card debt sooner or have for the future like retirement and education for your children.

Have a GREAT day!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Three Left

$153.10. With just three days to go in the challenge, the total is up to $153.10. Times used to be that when it was suppertime, I would stop at the grocery store on the way home from work, or we would decide where it was that we were going to eat. There are lots of good ideas out there to save money and to free money up so that you can either eliminate your credit card debt or live a better life.

One site that I was visiting yesterday was mytwodollars and there were some fantastic ideas out there that I didn't even think about. The first was cutting your monthly trash service (unless you live in an apartment/condo complex and it is part of your monthly housing payment). Seems that the dump charged just $0.35 per 20 pounds of trash. The author was able to save over $26 a month, or at least $312 a year. That, and the cost to drive to the landfill yourself would definitely save some cash. I hadn't thought of that.

Another idea was one to cut down on your electricity. If appliances and items are left plugged in, they will eat electricity. Electricity is not free. It is best if you unplug them when you don't use them unless they are needed for safety (food that goes bad because of the rising temperature in an unplugged refrigerator is not safe to eat). Simply have things plugged into a power strip and turn it off when you are not using it. The author was able to save $30 a month this way. It certainly makes you think.

I just cut my own hair again this weekend. The style is simple and since purchasing a quality set of clippers that have paid for themselves, my cost is $0.00. Nothing, nada. And the cost used to be $19 a month, but, instead, that $228.00 a year is used to erase credit card debt.

If you look hard enough, you will find little things that you can do to save money and start living your life the way that you want to live, not scraping by paycheck to paycheck.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Four To Go

The total saved by not buying groceries (except for perishables) is $144.77. Amazing. And the journey will continue, but you will be spared daily diatribes about how far it goes. Perhaps it will better served by less frequency. We will still look for ways to maximize your ability to see.

In these tough financial times, you must be ever mindful of how you spend your money. There are those out there who will become more and more desperate in finding ways to separate you from your hard-earned money. Credit card companies have become masters at this. When their interest rates were curtailed by Congressional action, they quickly rebounded by then attaching fees and penalties to credit cards and making more profit for them and more heartache for the average consumer. Although the President has asked for legislation to make language in agreements that credit card users sign be more friendly.

I'm sure that they will be, but believe me you, the jackals of the credit card industry will find other ways to make their buck. Much like a heroin addict will find ways to fund their habit, credit card companies will do the same and survive. BEWARE!!

You need to be ever vigilant and YOU CAN DO IT!

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Twenty-Five = Five Sixths

The home stretch approaches and the excitement builds in this thirty day challenge. Of course we are finding ways to free up money so that we can eliminate credit card debt. The savings at this junction are $136.44 and it appears that there is still plenty left to fix in the pantry, so it will continue beyond the thirty days. A new budget now has an extra $100 in "found money" to pay off credit card debt. It was so much easier than was first imagined.

Do you feel more empowered because you have thought of ways to eliminate waste, save money, and use credit cards wisely (or not at all)? You should! All too often people don't make a conscious effort to curbe any of their credit card activity until the beast that they have been feeding unknowingly now runs their lives. That is what the credit card industry is planning on.

Now that there is some Congressional attempts to reign in the bad practices of late fees, high interest rates, retroactive rate hikes, and the like, credit card companies are crying "Foul" and "No Fair". What were they thinking? That we would continue to allow them to rape our lives and ruin us financially, physically, emotionally and so completely that they would run out of people to take advantage of? I say that knowledge is power. The more you know, they less chance they have to take advantage of you.

Take a stand! Take action! You can do it!

Friday, May 8, 2009

24 . . . Hours a Day,

If your thoughts are concerned with eliminating credit card debt, it may seem that is how much time you spend on it a day. That is both a good thing and a bad thing: If you spend all of that time worrying and take no action to get you on the path toward being credit card debt-free, then it is a bad thing. However (and there is always a however in life), if it spurns you to ACTION then it is a good thing. If you do nothing, nothing will change.

It Isn't Going To Happen Overnight!

Chances are that your credit card debt did not magically appear overnight. You were doing fine making your minimum payments, but something may have come up (like an emergency crown for your back molar that, despite insurance, sets you back $514.30) and you may have missed a payment. No big deal, right?

Wrong!

The credit card company will slap you with a $39.99 late fee, plus an interest rate hike (not just a temporary one), plus all of the extra interest. Without conscious effort, it does not get better from there. The time to act is NOW! Contact your credit card companies and ASK for a better rate, STOP using your credit cards, and BEGIN the journey to freedom.

By the way, the running total (on day 24) of the 30 day challenge stands at $128.10, and when I was preparing food for dinner last night, a quick inventory revealed that I could stretch this out for another 30 days and I may just do that.

Keep working, TAKE ACTION, and here's to your success!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

23 Skiddoo

Although the jury is out, some put the meaning of the phrase 23-Skiddoo as a popular slang phrase of the 1920's meaning to "get out while the getting's good." Well I am not getting out of here, but the 23rd day has been reached, and there are just seven days remaining to make it 30 days without grocery shopping except for perishables. I did happen to go to a Cardinals ball game again last night, but instead of buying a $6.00 soda with supper, I just settled for a $6.25 nachos (ouch!). That, and a hurried breakfast on the run (overslept a bit) had my spending at $9.53 for the day and brought my savings for this period down to $119.37. Still over $100 and more than I would have if no effort was made. See how the little things add up?

One chapter of my upcoming eBook is on saving by keeping accurate records. Without a map, (or as some might say GPS) it is hard to know where you are, much less how you are going to get to where you are going. One of the most difficult things is to develop the habit of keeping track of every little thing that you spend your money on. It really doesn't matter how you keep track, it could be on a pocket notebook, a laptop, a printed budget form...whatever. The important thing is to keep a record. Having taught Excel at a local college for a semester made it easy for a spreadsheet to be set up. Now, there is a budget set up on which I track every cent that comes in, and every cent that goes out.

A casual asking on where your money goes will often result in the shrugging of your shoulders. Not any more. When you are determined to eliminate your credit card debt, it is imperative that you know exactly where your money is going. As has been mentioned before, there are many sources for assistance with this including mint.com or typing "personal finance worksheet" into Google and coming up with a result like this. If you need help, help is there.

Here's to eliminating your credit card debt and to your financial success!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

...And Miles to Go Before I Sleep

Thus ends one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost, "Stopping by Woods On a Snowing Evening" (for the complete poem, click here). The journey is far from over, but it doesn't mean that you can enjoy it along the way. The day count stands at 22 and the savings stand at $120.97. That's impressive for me. With only eight days to go to the culmination of the challenge, it is known that there is still lots of uneaten food out there because the pantry is still relatively full, there is a pound of hamburger in the freezer still (used for making a batch of homemade chili-mac), and a habit is being deeply ingrained in the psyche. What a wonderful feeling!

I will have to admit that I am in the midst of writing an eBook about eliminating credit card debt. I have been working at it for a while, and it is starting to solidify: more and more each and every day. One chapter of it (so far) deals with what we have been discussing here. A way is being found to free up more money and thus pay down the debt and work toward a lifestyle of being debt-free. One way of generating extra money is to get a part-time job. More companies are willing to hire part-time workers because they don't have to pay benefits. That's fine. You don't have to have a "glamour" job, in fact, most second jobs that I have had would not be classified as glamorous. There have been temp jobs on third shift assembly lines, jobs as a cashier, jobs cleaning buildings after hours, yard work, and so on.

The point is that we are talking about extra income here. A mundane job will suffice for that and will generate some extra cash. Mine generates roughly $100 a week. Sure, I miss out on a lot of television shows (who really has time for it?), but I use TIVO (a luxury) to watch my favorite shows in half the time...on my schedule. My budget includes the income from my second job and it still needs to be worked so that I will become debt free in a much more expedient manner.

What are you doing to generate extra money to pay down your debt? Let me know.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Twenty One Gun Salute

Is usually used as a salute for Presidents, heads of state, and special occasions. So, paying down debt is not exactly a reason for that kind of respect, it is deserving of at least notation. We are at day twenty-one (I had to think of something catchy for the title) and the running total now stands at $112.63. While that may be chump change to a lot of people, it isn't exactly that for someone who has spent the last quarter of a century living paycheck to paycheck. These techniques I share with you will hopefully help you in your quest to become free of credit card debt, or prevent you from getting in those dire straights to begin with. A question often arises when the discussion about saving money on food.

Do we have to sacrifice quality and taste when we save money on food? That depends. Store brands of food items are often made by the same manufacturer as the name brand foods. Take for example Frosted Flakes. I have been a fan of cereal for most of my life. There is a slight difference in the Kellogg brand and the store bran, but that is really a minute change. When shopping at the grocery store, you will notice a big difference in the price of the two. Why?

Advertising costs. As a child, I would spend many of my afternoons and most of my Saturday mornings watching cartoons. Looking back, there were tons of cereal commercials on, particularly from Post or Kellogg. I don't recall a single commercial for the store brand of those foods. Since stores don't have to pay for the advertising, they can basically get the same thing for a fraction of the cost. In fact, the store may make a higher margin of profit on these items so we, as consumers, win by having a fine quality food for a fraction of the cost of a box of cereal.

As an ingredient, one can rarely tell the difference between the store brand and the national brand. It is when you eat them as a solo item that you may be able to tell a marked difference. You should try the low-cost alternatives...at least try them to see how much more food you get for your money. You can always use that saving to pay off debt.

Have a great day!

Monday, May 4, 2009

Twenty Is Plenty?...

...for some, but as the Carpenters song goes: "We've only just begun". On the quest to eliminate credit card debt, twenty days have passed, and so has the $100 mark. For those keeping track (I know that I am) the total now stands at $104.30. The only shopping at the grocery store that has been done has been for perishibles like bread, eggs, and milk because those have a limited shelf life. The amazing thing is that there is still plenty of food to be had in the pantry (it is certainly more than enough to last 10 days, and one might estimate that there should be enough to last for sixty days).

New, and frugal, habits have certainly been engrained into my lifestyle and I hope that you can find some habits that will help you to save money where you have been wasting so that you can pay down your credit card debt, or, if you are fortunate enough to have none, save for the future or for whatever dreams you may have.

Being broke and struggling to pay even the bare minimum on your credit cards is a drain on you mentally, physically, and spiritually. I have worked nearly sixty hours a week for the last five years in order to stay afloat, and it has only been in the last year that the credit card debt level has plummeted from $71,154.15 to the present $61,926.44 (one of the "secrets" of gaining control over your credit card debt is to know exactly where you stand at all times). It may hurt to sit down and actually calculate where you stand, but the pain will make you stronger.

One of the best sources on the Web is dinkytown. Better than the calculator that comes with your computer, they have 350+ calculators including mortgage, retirement, credit card and debt,...so forth and so on. Or you can set up your own spread sheet in excel (or for some of us "old school" people, you might use Quattro Pro). Whatever method you decide to use, just choose and use, it makes you more in control of your life.

Until tomorrow, have a great day!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

And So It Goes

The 100 dollar mark looms oh so close. There will soon be a payment mailed (or submitted electronically) to lower credit card debt. This is great news for those try to find solutions for their credit card debt. A simple change in lifestyle has now freed up over $1,000 to first eliminate the debt and then have that money to build for the future. Some more good news:

The "Credit Card Holders' Bill of Rights" cleared the House of Representatives yesterday (May 2, 2009) and it now heads to the Senate for approval. One of the key elements of this bill (information here) is that it will be illegal for credit card companies to engage in retroactive rate increases. These are rate increases that are announced at the end of the billing cycle, but applied to the billing cycle for which you just received a bill. It would be like having dinner at a restaurant. You went there for a $4.95 dinner special, but when the bill came they told you that they are changing the price to $6.95 and it took effect when you ordered your food. Would you be angry? Would you ask to speak with the manager?

Probably so.

Too often these things have been happening to consumers and we have been powerless against the money and power of the credit card companies. But change is in the air, but we cannot be too reliant on others to do things for us, we have to take matters into our own hands, particularly if we are to eliminate credit card debt from our lives. You have the power to be in control.

Take action today!

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Eighteen and Counting

Hard to believe that the journey has crested the halfway hill and is gaining momentum. While I did make a brief stop at the grocery store ($2.10 for animal crackers for a snack for our weekend ritual of a drink and popcorn, except I have been expressly forbidden from having popcorn due to the cracked tooth that I now possess and our dog prefers animal crackers). Running total is $87.63 and a large credit card debt payment of well in excess of $125 dollars is looking more and more like a reality. A new month is underway and the adjustment to the budget is already in place.

Credit card debt is the issue here and now that it has only been 19 days, a habit has started to ingrain itself into a way of life. This was evident when we stopped at the store and instead of blindly grabbing the "best" or name brand snack (that would have cost easily twice as much), the prices were quickly computed and the choice was made not on the short term pleasure that would have been from the more expensive cookies or snack cracker, the choice was made on cost per serving. It is amazing at how easily the choice was made. One of the contributing factors was one of the important grocery savings tips (pointed out at Dolans):

Don't Shop on an Empty Stomach!!!

I am sure that you have heard this at some point in your life, but it is true. You tend to end up with more items than you originally intended in your cart, You spend more, and you end up further from your goal of having more money in your account. The grocery store counts on the extra income (they strategically place items where you will be most apt to purchase them, like the checkout line) that they will get from you for purchasing impulse items. These have a higher profit margin, but you don't think about it because they are usually a dollar or two (or less), but THOSE DOLLARS ADD UP!!

Unfortunately we don't always plan our spending so we fall victim to marketing and impulse. If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail. Harsh, but true. If you are to get control of finances, pay off your credit cards, and begin to enjoy the relief of pressure of ever-mounting bills, you should plan a budget, but also plan your expenses, including when to shop for things.

Have a great weekend and here is to eliminating your credit card debt.

Friday, May 1, 2009

Seventeen Come Sunday

Okay, so it is Friday, but as a former band director, I had to come up with a title with seventeen in the title. This is a beautiful song from Ralph Vaughn William's Folk Song Suite (you can see a YouTube performance here). This is day seventeen. It was time to buy some perishables and $15.41 was spent on bread, milk and eggs) and that brings our total down a bit to $81.40. Considering that $15.41 was spent (and it will last for nearly two weeks), no tears were shed. The momentum is still moving forward and will top $100 by next week. We are still seeking to eliminate the credit card debt by freeing up money that wasn't known to exist earlier.

Last night, an article was found on Dolans website that discussed some signs that you are having problems with your credit card debt. Often we get o involved with life that we don't think that it is happening to us until we wake up one day and discover that we are $71,000+ in credit card debt. Some signs that you might be be in over your head and need to take action now to take control of your life include:

* Avoiding Your Credit Card Statement - your statement comes to your mailbox, but you don't want to face it, so the bill remains sealed in a pile (guilty)

* Losing Track of What You Owe - you spend with your credit card, but you never keep a receipt or hide them altogether. After all, if you don't have a receipt, did you really spend it? (guilty)

* Doing the balance transfer game -you transfer all of your balances to a no interest card (for a short period of time), but sometimes you miss a payment and get stuck with some atrocious fees that, instead of saving you money, cost you even more (not guilty)

If you find yourself doing this, you need to get some help, either on your own, or through a program (such as here).

Here's to your success and have a great day!