I was recently helping a friend move and asked her how long she’d been at her current residence. She said
it had been 12 years. Twelve years! It didn’t seem that long. I still remember
helping her move into that place. Have you ever gone on a trip somewhere and
years later looked at the pictures and felt like it was just yesterday that you
were there?
What if we could relate the time it will take to get
out of debt to how fast the time really does go? What if we started to stress-less and start to
enjoy each day even while we are still in debt?
Have you ever noticed the more you focus on how long it will take you to get out of
debt and on how much debt you have, just how long a day, week, or month can
seem to drag on? So how can 12 years go by just like that, yet one month seem
like an eternity?
***It’s all about
what you are doing at the time, what you are thinking about, and how you
are looking at the situation***
What if you started a plan of action today and it takes you one, two, or even five years to get out of debt? How old
will you be? How much life will you still have ahead of you? If we start to
look at our situations with realistic eyes, we will see just how quickly we really can be debt free!
Start taking small steps towards your big goal. What
can you cut out of your life today that will enhance your life tomorrow? Will
worrying about your situation make it go away any faster, or will it take the joy
out of one more day of your life?
Here are 10 SUGGESTIONS to cut your
expenses, save a few dollars, and work on GETTING OUT OF DEBT:
- Get rid of cable or DISH. This was one of the first things I did over seven years ago, and I can tell you I don’t miss it. Sure, I did at first, but now my antenna with my HDTV works just fine! It also gives me more time to do other things instead of planting myself in front of the TV channel surfing.
- Buy a less expensive vehicle or one that gets better gas mileage. Over the long run, how much would you be saving if you did this? Look at your current car and car insurance payments. How much is your car worth (look up the Kelly Blue Book value). If you sell it outright, you normally will get more for it than trading it in.
- Buy in bulk. If there are items you like and buy a lot, see how much you could save buying in bulk. Costco, Sam’s Club, and others (depending where you live), provide this as an option. Yes, there is usually a membership fee, but how about splitting it with a friend and sharing the membership? Avoid going to the local grocery store, gas station, or mom and pop store too often. These stops will add up and you will end up spending more on groceries.
- Turn off the lights and unplug items, such as computers, when you are not using them. You’d be surprised at how much you could save if you became more conscious of doing this. How many times do you or a family member leave a room without shutting off the lights, the computer, the TV, radio, etc.? These little things will add up over time.
- Ditch the gym membership and get outside. How much money are you spending on a gym membership you rarely or never use? You started out the year with good intentions, yet continue to pay a monthly fee. I know a few people doing this today. Now that the weather is getting nicer, think about doing more outdoor activities. Even if you have to drive somewhere or spend a little on a new pair of walking shoes, you will save yourself more money doing this than spending hundreds of dollars a year on a gym membership you rarely, if ever, use.
- Refinance or Sell your house. Move to a cheaper residence. How much are you currently paying for your mortgage payment? See if you can refinance your mortgage to a lower percentage rate. If you can’t do this, and if you are struggling to make your monthly payment, try selling your home by owner (if you have the time to do this without going into foreclosure). This will save the realtor fee. I did this. There will come a time when you can buy another home and be in a better financial situation.
- Downsize. If your current rent is too much, see if you can either sublet your current apartment/duplex/house, or try renting it out on your own. The new renters will still need to get approved by the owners, but this could get you out of your current lease and into a place that is more affordable much quicker than struggling to get through a year lease. There are free websites that allow you to place free ads such as Trulia or Craigslist.
- Relocate. Some people may physically need to relocate to a different city or state in order to find a job. I know this is not an ideal situation, especially if you have a family, but it may be a necessary one. Look at this as a temporary solution. If you have been out of work for a long period of time with no possible job options where you currently live, then I strongly suggest looking outside the box. Try focusing on the positives instead of the negatives. You can always move back!
- Look at ways to make extra money. If you can’t pare down your current expenses with any of the above suggestions, and are just making your current bill payments, then here is the next option:
- Pick up a part-time job in addition to your current one.
- What do you like to do? Find a need and meet it.
- Clean out your closets and resell gently used clothing to a consignment store. Gather items and have a rummage sale. Sell items on eBay or Craigslist.
10. Stop buying things you
don’t need. Make a list before you go shopping and stick to it. I know there
may be the occasional item you just forgot to put on the list that you end up
having to purchase but most times we buy items that were
not a necessity but a want. Those items add up over time, and by the end of the
month, you’ve spent hundreds of dollars on wants:
- Coffee at Starbucks.
- That new shirt you couldn’t pass by.
- New CD by your favorite artist.
- Eating out instead of at home because of convenience.
- Going to the movies instead of renting or watching Netflix.
- Buying expensive hair products, nail polish, makeup.
This list could go on and on, but I’ll stop there...
Now,
it will come down to what you do with those extra dollars you now have that will
determine how quickly you start shaving down your debt. Many times, once you
get some extra money, you find something else to spend it on. And as you know,
that totally defeats the purpose! We have to stop giving in to all
of our “fleshly” desires and start using “self-control”. Before you buy
something, go home and think about it. I’ll guarantee you, many times you will
be thankful you didn’t give in and buy that item.
*** The one
thing I really want you to take from this post is, while working on getting out
of debt, ENJOY THE JOURNEY ***
If you can’t enjoy it, you will give continue to give in, and continue
living just the way you always have been, in bondage to debt. You have to STOP
focusing on how long it will take, on how much debt you have, and REMIND
yourself that no matter how long it takes, you are going to stick with it,
knowing that one day you will wake up and
realize, “It happened!” And years later
you will look back and say, “It seemed like just yesterday.”
CHER-Life and live WELL
\o/
Cheryll
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