[pennywise]

The allowance for the grown ups can be cut too. My spouse wanted $60 week and law school. I said no. I allocate only for gas. He was going out to lunch, I never did, unfair. Oh well, you can brown bag it and must. What is made for dinner is made enough to cover lunch the next day. You will have to decide if it is a WANT or NEED. now the definition of need is food, water, shelter, clothing (at a minimum - no fancy to keep up with the Joneses). That will free up that money to pay down the debt. I am not sure what the school allocation is? I do not suggest free internet. I pay 21.95 on top of the 45 for phone for MSN so I guess that ups my phone budget to $67/mo. Good to see if you can stop call forwarding or other items. The false sense of security is not warranted on a home security system. Set it off and see if they call you, they won't. You are paying for smoke and mirrors. I AM VERY PROUD THAT YOU WILL DISCUSS IT WITH YOUR WIFE. WE HAD ANOTHER GENTLEMAN WHO WAS KEEPING HIS WIFE OUT AND WAS MAJORLY IN DEBT. A MARRIAGE IS A PARTNERSHIP PER THE FEDERAL IRS!! Glad you are man enough to discuss it. I am pleased to see your wife is getting on board. The only way you can do it is have monthly family financial meetings. The CEO of a company has meetings and you can allocate as you wish: wife is the CEO and you are the CFO (chief financial officer). But, you are a business with income and expenses just like GE, Ford Motor, GM, or McDonald's. Changing the way you do things will free up alot of money. I know you feel down about it, but you are way ahead of the game from the rest of your peers. You are awake to the problem, trying to solve it, and demonstrate a STRONG desire to work on it. The rest of your peers are taking the equity loans and now charging their gasoline for the car. Great Job and Pat yourself on the back for me because I am not there. Running your home can be much cheaper than you think. Best to avoid doing things with others as they will just want you to join them in their spending. Think of this as a time to develop a strong bond with your nuclear family (nuclear family: wife and children. Extended family: grandma, sisters, etc.). You will do it. To live debt free is a dream not many realize. I am almost done, 2 years on the mortgage left, cars were paid for in cash, we are paying for law school with cash, and my master's in nursing with cash. I have always been a saver.