The Debt Diet Challenge Week #2: Our Participants Weigh In

Chris

I had a few days of no spending—awesome! On Thursday night, I paid ahead on bills so that I can pay $830 to repair my sidewalks this coming week. I decided to be frugal the last two weeks and the next two weeks so I can pay cash. It will be tight! I get paid on Friday and will pay for the sidewalk and my regular bills. Previously, I would have run the sidewalk on a charge account. My trauma this week: I am mowing my own yard which is saving a significant amount. I was mowing my front yard-hit something and the mower died. Stopped dead! In my simple mind, I hope that parking it in the garage for a week, it may start for me this weekend. I will talk to it nicely, feed it good gasoline and oil, and beg. If it does not start, I will have to pay someone to mow; and I will need to take my mower to the shop to fix—not budgeted in the same two-week pay cycle with the sidewalk repairs. I may have to bake a neighbor a cheesecake or offer up a fine bottle of wine in exchange for mowing.

Bartering is good!

Good conversation with Jean this week. I was able to report that by following her Debt Diet and modifying a script she provides, I was able to reduce my cable bill by $65 a month. Awesome—I was ready to cancel cable! I shared my adventure with family, friends and coworkers. Some are cheering and some are joining my effort to reduce debt and increase savings. I shared my cable/Internet savings with coworkers and 3 of them have made the call and have great bundled rates for the next 12 months!

It is wonderful to have family and friends join and share the journey and rewards. The sharing was difficult, but instead of making judgments, the majority wanted to join in some way. It varied from sharing lunches we brought to work instead of eating out, to discussing ways we could save more. For the bonus round—I lost more weight in week 2.

Smart money choices equal smart food choices—who knew??

[Featured Product: Compare prepaid credit cards]

Read Melissa’s story »