Debt and Date Nights

[MommyJD]

Ok so Joe and I attended this Debt Elimination Seminar.  The guy was pretty funny, and managed to speak for 4 hours despite a horrible cold.  It actually seemed to get worse in the first half, then diminish a bit in the last half.  Anyway, he gave some great tips on getting our of Debt fast fast fast.  Well, we came home went through all our bills and totalled them up.  We are in debt to the amount of somewhere near 45,000.  This is including a student loan.  so 15,000 without it.  Well after making some very big decisions, we were able to pay off one bill in one night.  We decided a few drastic changes for a short period of time to enjoy life in the long run.  We will not eat out, or buy anything new until the 15,000 part is paid off (with the exception of our "rewards" system.  Every so many bills we will "treat" ourselves to a "Date Night".  Dinner and a movie type things, and a big reward at the very end, which of course will have to be paid for all in cash, as we will no longer us credit cards unless we can be at a point of paying them off as we use them.  We also have a ton of stuff we can garage sale or sell on ebay or craigslist.  With this system we should have that amount paid in full hopefully by June of next year or sooner (depending on tax returns.  The only thing we will struggle with will be Christmas.  We really can't affors a big one, so we will have to be creative.  Like find a inexpensive tree, make our decorations.  The kids will only get one or two gifts, they are too little to care, plus grandma will give them something.  We will probably buy something for our neices and nephews and have Jake make gifts for his aunts and uncles.  If anyone has any "creative" christmas ideas to make this year special on a low budget let me know.  But we know that if we stick to this then next year christmas will rock!  Anyway I am so excited and the immediate results.  I think in the long run we will be able to enjoy life in a way where debt isn't our Enemy, and we have money for the little things we have had to do without so far.