Comments on: My Best and Worst Financial Decisions: They Might Surprise You http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/ Live more. Spend less. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:04:26 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Patty http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-12363 Patty Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:58:11 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-12363 I loved the post!!! I am a stay at home Mom. Six years ago we decided that I would cut back to part time to work a few hours a day when my two oldest children were in school. I loved taking them to and from school and helping with their homework and just having more time with them. We made this decision when after school care went up to $95 a week per child. We did not quailify for any discounts due to income. One year later my now 12 year old was diagnosed with cancer and I found out that I was pregnant during the same week. We went through soooo much money and our savings was completely wiped out in a matter of months. My husbands employer was not so nice and demoted him to a lower paying job because of the hospital visits for my son. We are still struggling and have financially since. I can honestly say that I cherish every minute with my children, I homeschool all three of them on a shoestring budget and have taken advantage of many scholorships for them. We enjoy each day. It is no pic-nic and we are getting ready to short-sell our house and get into an apartment, which I wanted to do a long time ago since I am the new handyman since my husband travels when my son is not in treatment. My son is still not cancer free five years later and the medical bills have done a number on us. But I can say that it has been a good decision for us, I am so glad that we had that year together before he was diagnosed. I was a 60 hour a week work a holic before the "transformation" and we always had savings. No we are living tight and I want to move to put our repair, maintenance money in the bank for my oldest to have someting to start college with. I loved the post!!!

I am a stay at home Mom. Six years ago we decided that I would cut back to part time to work a few hours a day when my two oldest children were in school. I loved taking them to and from school and helping with their homework and just having more time with them. We made this decision when after school care went up to $95 a week per child. We did not quailify for any discounts due to income. One year later my now 12 year old was diagnosed with cancer and I found out that I was pregnant during the same week. We went through soooo much money and our savings was completely wiped out in a matter of months. My husbands employer was not so nice and demoted him to a lower paying job because of the hospital visits for my son. We are still struggling and have financially since. I can honestly say that I cherish every minute with my children, I homeschool all three of them on a shoestring budget and have taken advantage of many scholorships for them. We enjoy each day. It is no pic-nic and we are getting ready to short-sell our house and get into an apartment, which I wanted to do a long time ago since I am the new handyman since my husband travels when my son is not in treatment. My son is still not cancer free five years later and the medical bills have done a number on us. But I can say that it has been a good decision for us, I am so glad that we had that year together before he was diagnosed. I was a 60 hour a week work a holic before the “transformation” and we always had savings. No we are living tight and I want to move to put our repair, maintenance money in the bank for my oldest to have someting to start college with.

]]> By: Olivia http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-11692 Olivia Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:58:48 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-11692 I appreciate your comments. Being a SAHM has allowed us to save money by my doing alot of cost cutting things. Keeping a garden, comparison shopping, going to thrift stores and yard sales, canning, couponing, repairing household items, doing stuff for the kids, mending clothes, cutting hair, cooking form scratch. My husband works long hours and my staying home adds stability to the household. These things would be impossible to do if I were working. I appreciate your comments. Being a SAHM has allowed us to save money by my doing alot of cost cutting things. Keeping a garden, comparison shopping, going to thrift stores and yard sales, canning, couponing, repairing household items, doing stuff for the kids, mending clothes, cutting hair, cooking form scratch. My husband works long hours and my staying home adds stability to the household. These things would be impossible to do if I were working.

]]> By: Money Funk http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-11398 Money Funk Sun, 14 Sep 2008 15:25:06 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-11398 You're not alone on the student debt. I owe $23K total because of taking my student loans for granted. It's all these mistakes that make us stronger. And these lessons will help us to grow our net worth and become financially independent. So, being down $14K may not be so bad in the future when you see what you have amassed. ;) Love the blog! You’re not alone on the student debt. I owe $23K total because of taking my student loans for granted.

It’s all these mistakes that make us stronger. And these lessons will help us to grow our net worth and become financially independent.

So, being down $14K may not be so bad in the future when you see what you have amassed. ;)

Love the blog!

]]> By: Blogging Down Debt http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-10072 Blogging Down Debt Tue, 08 Jul 2008 10:18:38 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-10072 I can definately relate with you about the student loan debt. My wife and I both took out about 50 thousand each. We both went for four years and tried our best to keep that amount down. My wife had about $30-40k in scholarships and I went to a community college for the first two years that saved me $35k than if I went straight to my final school. It is still pretty daunting to look at 100k of debt right now though... I know we will pay it off and I don't regret it but that is tough... As for your best decision, that is awesome! I am very happy for you! There is more to life than working and it if you do not have time to spend with family, what is it all for anyways? I can definately relate with you about the student loan debt. My wife and I both took out about 50 thousand each. We both went for four years and tried our best to keep that amount down. My wife had about $30-40k in scholarships and I went to a community college for the first two years that saved me $35k than if I went straight to my final school. It is still pretty daunting to look at 100k of debt right now though… I know we will pay it off and I don’t regret it but that is tough…

As for your best decision, that is awesome! I am very happy for you! There is more to life than working and it if you do not have time to spend with family, what is it all for anyways?

]]> By: Thrifty http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-9625 Thrifty Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:31:09 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-9625 I totally agree that nothing compares to a good family relationship and to the investment you make in building a strong family life and investing time in the future of your children. Because these things are irreplaceable. With careful planning and always looking for the best options when you buy, you can manage everything very well even on a tight budget. I totally agree that nothing compares to a good family relationship and to the investment you make in building a strong family life and investing time in the future of your children. Because these things are irreplaceable. With careful planning and always looking for the best options when you buy, you can manage everything very well even on a tight budget.

]]> By: Mike @ Secured Loans http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-9414 Mike @ Secured Loans Wed, 25 Jun 2008 08:29:47 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-9414 Well one thing I can relate to is the "First, we didn’t consider the timing" thing. I remember taking a student loan of $25,000 for my graduate degree during the dot-com boom. Definitely not a good timing, its a wishful thinking of landing a job after you graduate during that time. Finally I ended up paying more money as it took me more than a year to get a white-collar job. Well one thing I can relate to is the “First, we didn’t consider the timing” thing. I remember taking a student loan of $25,000 for my graduate degree during the dot-com boom. Definitely not a good timing, its a wishful thinking of landing a job after you graduate during that time. Finally I ended up paying more money as it took me more than a year to get a white-collar job.

]]> By: Tammy http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-9082 Tammy Tue, 10 Jun 2008 07:55:18 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-9082 I loved your post. I too spent way to much on student loans while attending college. I have been teaching 12 years and I am still paying on my bachelor's degree loan. If only I had thought before I took out the max everytime. I loved your post. I too spent way to much on student loans while attending college. I have been teaching 12 years and I am still paying on my bachelor’s degree loan. If only I had thought before I took out the max everytime.

]]> By: Looking Back - Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was 18. | My Two Dollars http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-7992 Looking Back - Things I Wish I Had Known When I Was 18. | My Two Dollars Fri, 02 May 2008 14:01:14 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-7992 [...] Nothing. How much in student loan debt did that degree cost me? $4000. But wait. It gets worse. I went to graduate school. For what? Special Education. Did I finish the program? Nope. How much did that mistake cost me in [...] [...] Nothing. How much in student loan debt did that degree cost me? $4000. But wait. It gets worse. I went to graduate school. For what? Special Education. Did I finish the program? Nope. How much did that mistake cost me in [...]

]]> By: Heidi http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-5023 Heidi Sun, 09 Mar 2008 03:38:57 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-5023 I enjoyed reading your perspective on this. I enjoyed reading your perspective on this.

]]> By: Zahir http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/comment-page-1/#comment-4402 Zahir Fri, 15 Feb 2008 10:48:38 +0000 http://beingfrugal.net/2007/10/08/my-best-and-worst-financial-decisions-they-might-surprise-you/#comment-4402 Thanks for sharing your experience. It surely helps people to decide whats best for their future. I for one still study and has a part time job at the same time. I try to live a frugal as I can be. From washing my own clothes to walking to school from time to time instead of using my beat up car to not having a cell phone. I also look for different ways to live within my means. I call my folks back home using a phone card (onesuite.com) instead of AT&T and make sure I don't go over my budget of $20 a month. Down the road I will get married too and maybe this article of yours will help me on my decisions. Thanks for sharing your experience. It surely helps people to decide whats best for their future. I for one still study and has a part time job at the same time. I try to live a frugal as I can be. From washing my own clothes to walking to school from time to time instead of using my beat up car to not having a cell phone. I also look for different ways to live within my means. I call my folks back home using a phone card (onesuite.com) instead of AT&T and make sure I don’t go over my budget of $20 a month. Down the road I will get married too and maybe this article of yours will help me on my decisions.

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