Motivation for the Debtor

Filed in archive Inspiration on July 28, 2006

If you're in a sea of debt but determined to do something about it, you'll be motivated by this story at MSN Money that details one woman's long road back from a $55,000 debt.

How'd she do it? In short, she stopped spending. But SERIOUSLY stopped spending:

Her budget was Spartan: groceries $39, dry cleaning $5, lunches out $20, cat food $5, gas $5, clothing $10. Recreational shopping was just a memory. Entertainment was "staying home, renting movies, having friends over or going to friends' houses." Her recreation budget: "Four one-dollar bills. If want to go to the movies, I have to save up for two weeks. And if I want popcorn, I have to save up more."

It's no fun to be in debt, but some of the most fun I've had is when I was broke, especially if I was around other people who were broke and looking for no-cash amusement right along with me. The woman profiled in the article gravitated toward her frugal friends, a smart move.

You almost have to make it a game. How cheap can I live? I've got $3.00 for dinner--how many cheap things can I find and still stay under that number? Or, maybe better--"screw $3.00 for dinner, I can do it with $2.50." After a while you start to shake your head at the willy-nilly spenders and it becomes hard to remember when you were one of them. Poor, unenlightened scamps.

Enjoy your weekend, cheaply.