Second job? I can work part of a first one. Right now, hubby can’t work one.

Cut vacations? Didn’t go on regular ones anyway, though I’m considering trying to do one on the cheap down to CA to hit some discounted amusement parks for my birthday. Probably won’t feel comfortable spending the $$ though.

# Sell something of importance, such as a family heirloom? This I actually do have. And, no, I won’t. First of all, because this is not the economy for selling jewelry. But also because my grandmother gave it to me when she was dying. I could keep one or two items and sell the others, but I would like to stall on that decision if I can. We’re doing okay, if slow, on the debt reduction for now.

# Sell your house to move to a smaller, less expensive place? Don’t own a house. Not many cheaper apartments that are centrally located and if we move from the one we’re in now, we won’t have use of my mom’s car.

# Take your kids out of private school? No kids, no private school

BUT

I am agreeing to move to a different state, where my husband can have fewer skin issues. The two times he lived there (over a year each time) he was relatively flare-up free. And he didn’t have to see a doctor there once. Here, he’s having to see or call his dermatologist at least once a month if not more about flare-ups.

Arizona will probably be cheaper. (We can rent a house there for less than we pay for a 1 BR here in Seattle.) Also, there’s a much better chance he could work a regular job there. If not, he could probably work part-time. And, really, if it makes his skin even half as good as he remembers it being, I told him it’s worth leaving everything up here. Scary, but worth it.

[...] Frugal is asking how far would you go to get out of debt? Paying off your debts is often a matter of will and [...]

Today…my middle daughter put all of her American Girl Doll stuff on ebay to sell. What money she makes…will be what school clothes money she and her 9th grade sister share. Otherwise….it will be another school year of no new clothes.

Talk about humbling? Girl. This has done it.

We are a normal family. Never been wealthy. But we have things we need that seem to be unreachable.
God is good. We haven’t gone hungry yet.

But times are very tough.

Learning to do without!

Such great ?s really makes you think!

What did I do? about 14 years ago, newly divorced and trying to buy a home (which I did and paid off in 10 yrs) I worked 5 jobs – 8 days a week, as I called it :( One full-time weekdays, one Fri nite, Sat, and Sunday, and 3 fillers (nursing home aide, farm cleaner and calf feeder, and at home transcribing meeting minutes for my little town’s public meetings. Very tough 2 years, but I did what I had to to, which was sell my time very very effectively.

When my kids were still home and in school activities, we limited them to two each – 4H and one other. Any more than that was overwhelming for the kids also, not to mention Mom/Dad running them around all the time – and with 3 of them, and a dairy farm, that’s a lot of running. It also helped them learn to set priorities, and to know that they couldn’t have/do it all. Good lesson for early in life.

Take a second job? – Aready have.

Cut out all vacations? – Done this too, although I have a little cabin that I can go to on the weekends.

Sell something of importance, such as a family heirloom? – Yep, if I had something like this. I don’t really have much of this though. My car I need for work and the family heirlooms I have are more sentimental value than monetary.

Sell your house to move to a smaller, less expensive place? – in a heartbeat. If I thought I could sell my home in this market without losing a ton of money (more than I could save by moving) I would sell tomorrow.

Take your kids out of private school – No children, so I can’t answer to this.

However, to me, these things aren’t sacrifices. There are other things that are just as important to me that I wouldn’t give up – being able to spend some time out with friends getting lunch or dinner, being involved in my local arts community, eating healthy, local foods.

It all comes down to values. Like you, I believe in working hard to eliminate debt, but not at the expense of other core values, for me these are – family, friends, art and health.