How many of you swipe a credit card to pay for your necessities? Or luxuries? Well, unfortunately and embarrassing enough, we got caught up in such a life style but today I am proud to say that in the last year or more we haven't swiped anything other than our debit card or used cash for our purchases, bills and so forth. We cut our debt in half and haven't lacked for a darn thing! Life isn't always easy and I tell the kids "no" a lot for things they could live without and we eat at home AND we eat leftovers.
Don't get me wrong, we do splurge. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner at Satchel's with friends last month. We saw Winter the Dolphin, although somehow I really needed to do that. (Karo, I know that entrance fee could have done so much more elsewhere but I am obsessed.) We afford extra curricular activities for both our kids and we don't take much time off these days but life is good.
What I have learned through our journey with job loss and changes? I learned that God has always provided for me and my family. I learned we could do without and that my idea of luxury is far off from the average American. I have found square footage in my house that had been long lost under clutter that credit gave us. I am still unlayering our home and it feels good to break these habits. Yes, there is a good garage sale in the making over here. I have to thank a friend for suggesting a book called "It's all too much". I read it at just the right time to fully get started. Now over a year later, I am well on my way to being completely debt free with a clean house. As the holidays approach, I have challenged myself to keep the shopping to a minimum and just experience the time shared with friends and family instead of piles of wasted wrapping papers and too much food spoiled and trashed. I think it's time we all cut the debt and enjoyed some good times with what is life's greatest luxury-time well spent with family and friends :)
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