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.

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!

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.

A Perfect 10

Wow, one third of the way there and so far, so good. It will take a bit of a ding today because there is one vice that I have (and thank goodness it isn't the expensive habit of smoking): I enjoy a can of Diet Coke in the mornings. I used to buy a bottle of Diet Coke from the local convenience store and waste a buck on there, but now it is a can from a case that I buy occasionally that costs closer to $0.25. That is a savings of $273.75 per year. I am not ready to give up that habit yet, but it may come to that. I know that consumption has been trimmed by at least half.

But we are hear to help you free up money in which to eliminate your credit card debt. Yesterday, we talked about saving with your cellular phone plan. Let's talk about television/cable/satellite spending.

Since the television bill is being paid today, let's talk about television/entertainment spending. Do you need 150 channels and seven channels of HBO and Cinemax. How many movies can you watch at one time? If you are like most people, there are probably a core set of about 4 to 7 channels that you watch on a regular basis. You could easily spend $150 a month on cable or satellite (depending on where you live). I called up my satellite provider and simply asked them if there was any way that I could lower my bill because I was getting a better offer from their competitor. They found me a lower package that got all of the channels that I regularly watch plus I got a three-month free trial of Cinemax. Now, I have a bill of around $70 a month (there are three receivers) and my bill is cut nearly in half. Sometimes, all you have to do is ask. Because competition is so fierce out there, they will be willing (usually) to cut you some sort of a deal.

But, you have to ask.

Keep in touch, look for savings everywhere you go so that you can free up money to eliminate your credit card debt. Please visit my website (I have been challenged to have 1,000 visitors in the next week, just visit is all I ask)