Not Where, But What

Sometimes it is just how a phrase is considered that will begin to show a shift in your thinking about money, credit card debt elimination, ... life. I knew that the shift had begun when the question on the way shifted from being "where are we having dinner?" to "what are we having for dinner?" Let me set one thing straight, I am not a sexist that asks that his wife cook his dinner and have it ready when I walk in the door, like those from a different era. Quite the opposite is true: I love to cook and I do not mind cooking dinner and have even gone as far as cooking the traditional holiday meals. But there was a problem. Because of poor planing convenience was chosen over practicality and frugality. The nightly evening meal would often be eaten at a restaurant (there is somwhat of an aversion to fast food), so there would be a meal most nearly every night charged to the credit card. Big mistake. Not only was this meal setting us back $25-$30 each evening (on average $150 per week. or roughly $7,500 per year) it was being put on a credit card on which the minimum monthly payment was aroun $100 per month. (You can see how the debt quickly grew by leaps and bounds because since the minimum payment was being made, it was was gaining interest at around 22%...OUCH!!).

A change had to be made. It is said that "if you fail to plan, you plan to fail". True. Saving money and getting out of credit card debt is important to you, you will need to shift your thinking to do more planning. Plan out your meals in advance so that you will not have to run to the store or make a quick drive-through stop. Believe me when I tell you that stopping that mindset will free up money to pay down your credit card debt, or, if you are one of the few that have no credit card debt, it will free up money to invest for the future. Keep the faith!

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