4
Aug
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 10 Comments
“Perhaps I’m just feeling surprised and beat up as line-item after line-item shows up for this thing like a mechanic calling throughout the day to tell you he found another thing wrong with the car.”
The Wife has taken dance classes since she was two and danced professionally into her twenties. I, on the other hand, had almost no paid hobbies growing up. With those differences, it should probably be no surprise that we need an Emergency Budget Meeting about the kids’ upcoming dance recital.
To The Wife it is expected that we budget for costumes and recital tickets and, hey, I’m cool with that. My kids rocking a stage? Awesome. It’s all the other things that are starting to freak me out; maybe I need some perspective from other parents. …continue reading
27
Jul
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 5 Comments
Have you ever seen a toddler drop the whole scoop off the top of his ice cream cone? It seems like slow motion as that thing falls, splat, to the ground in the all-enveloping silence before the crying begins.
No parent wouldn’t love to replace that scoop immediately. It’s human nature. We all have been there.
We want to restore balance, make things right, put them back the way they were as quickly as possible.
Maybe Things Don’t Need to Be Restored
Focusing our lives on becoming debt-free shines a painful light on this simple aspect of our nature; it’s ridiculous to think we are entitled to our things. …continue reading
21
Jul
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 4 Comments
I should start by stating something obvious; no one wants us to be out of debt more than us. In fact I NEVER WANT TO SEE A CREDIT CARD AGAIN.
I believe our perceptions of money, debt and even contentment (i.e.: happiness) have become so healthy as The Wife and I sear the lessons of becoming debt-free into our psyches.
All of our family and friends support our goal and some have even dug in and are applying the same principles that bring us such peace. But a recent offer from very kind, loving family members highlights one of the red flags we have come to watch for. …continue reading
12
Jun
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 4 Comments
Every time I want to text someone with that crap phone I am reminded of our goals
Okay, there’s really nothing fun about buckling down and getting out of debt. Or is there?
No, there can’t be; it’s a barren, joyless trek through sacrifice with nothing but denial and self-discipline.
Ha! Haven’t you guys seen Mary Poppins? Spoonful of sugar, baby. Our family has had loads of fun while working this debt snowball. In fact it’s forced us to find free & low-cost things to do together that we wouldn’t have sought out back when we were brain-damaged. …continue reading
31
May
Posted by The Wife in Climbing Out. 7 Comments
It’s the last credit card that is the hardest…
We are getting debt-free and there are no ifs, ands, or buts. It makes decisions easy when you either have the money or don’t.
I go to the grocery store with cash. I let the cashier know what I have and I get her/him to buy in with me from the beginning so when the total gets close I have help making decisions about what goes back. …continue reading
7
Jan
Posted by the Dad in Climbing Out. 12 Comments
My dislike for the credit industry is matched now only by my apathy for their business methodology
Last night I realized that with a $48k debt snowball, like a hostage situation, Stockholm syndrome eventually sets in.
We have become comfortable with our method, level of focus and debt-reduction. Yes, we have three debts left, but we are making steady progress and have a plan. Mechanically, the system has found a groove: income is earned, payments are made, debt goes down.
In a way, when you have gotten used to living on a budget and spending less than you make, you can buckle down, do the work and forget the “whys” of getting away from credit card companies.
Then they remind you. …continue reading
