Introduce Yourself

[squirlma]

Hi. I'm Martha. This is a great site. I have always been frugal, but my husband and I are in debt right now, most of it from opening a new business. However, last summer was financially tough, due to my husband having surgery, (medical bills + loss of income), and then Hurricane Ivan leaving it's mark at our house. Since almost all of our capital had been put into the new business, some of those expenses were put on cc's. This went against all my instincts, but that's what we did. This is the first time in my life I've ever carried cc balances and it really stinks. It is no hardship for me to stop using cc's, because I have never liked to use them anyway. (I didn't even have one until I was 36.) Anyway, I'm trying to dig out as fast as I can. The business is paying it's bills, but not much over. However, that is slowly improving.
Enough about me. Looking forward to participating in this forum.

[jmjj215]

Good luck with the growing business Martha. I think that's a huge step that the business is covering its costs! Congrats!

[jodi]

Hi, I have been an enthusiastic tightwad ever since reading the Tightwad Gazette several years ago. It's now a way of life, but I am always looking for ways to save a little more. I was referred here from another forum after I posted a message looking for other frugal-minded parents. I love this site already!
I am currently a SAHM to two boys, 4 months and 21 months. I will be returning to work this summer as a part-time real estate agent and part-time case manager for the state.
Glad to be here!
Jodi

[neatdesign]

My name is Jenney, I'm 32 and live in Virginia with my husband, Mark, and our dog, Andie (no kids yet). Our second wedding anniversary is in June.

For the duration of our marriage we have lived soley on my income, which is not very much, especially after the monthly bills are paid. Mark is from England and it took nearly a year before he got authorization to work in the US. A month after he finally received this we both faced major health issues which delayed the job search process. We're both better now but Mark has still not been able to secure a job. It's just a matter of time, really, but meanwhile we are still living on my modest income.

We have several financial goals, the biggest ones being 1) to buy a home (we currently rent a teeny-weeny apartment) and 2) start a family. But we really haven't been smart about our finances. We spend WAAAY more than we can afford to -- our particular weakness is eating out. We have literally spent HUNDREDS of dollars eating out over the past few months. It's such an embarrassing figure I can't even say how much; let's just say my jaw dropped down to the floor when I finally totalled it all up!

So I'm getting my butt in gear and sorting this stuff out. Instead of spending money on eating out, I'm redirecting that same money into savings and paying off debt. I mean, we obviously didn't mind the absence of those funds when we spent them at restaurants, so we shouldn't miss them when they're in a savings account instead, right?

Anyway, sorry to go on so long -- I suppose this is as much of a cathartic exercise for me as it is an introduction. Sometimes it just feels good to say, "Hey, I know I screwed up, and I'm trying to fix it!" -- especially to people who probably know where I'm coming from.

I look forward to participating in these forums; I'm a bit of a forum junkie...

~ Jenney

[jeffrey]

It's great to see a continual flow of new faces arriving. We try to make a it a quality site with solid information that can help you save a bit no matter what. The members are great and supportive in helping out with advice so don't be shy with any questions you have. Welcome and I hope you find the infromation that you're looking for.

[forry]

I'm new to this site also, so far so good. I spend way to much time looking at all the old posts, but it gets to be obsessive, I want to read and everyone, finding all kinds of good tips and advice.

I'm a working mom of 3 almost grown children, two grandchildren, I'm 45 and work at a bank for almost 14 years now.

We have more unsecured debt than we need, built up over the years and now its time to get rid of it.

God willing we stick with it, debt free in 4 years, which seems like an eternity, but yet took a lot more years to create the debt. Better get back to work.

Forry

[bankruptcyonline]

Also new here and in need of budgeting and savings advice. Seems no matter how hard I try we still have a problem saving or budgeting monthly.

I live in FL and work from home doing coding. I have 3 kids that are the love of my life but they are trying to kill me, I am convinced lol.

[al0061]

Hello everyone,
By way of introduction, I'll tell you a bit of my story...
I've recently turned 51 years old. I don't make huge amounts of money, although I did get a raise this week.

I've been in debt, with no savings to speak of, pretty much most of my life. No preparation for retirement, either.

Starting about a year and a half ago, I've really started putting forth a huge effort to pay off my debt. As of December, Quicken's Debt Reduction feature figured out for me that I could be debt-free in 2.5 years. Pretty good, I thought. Total of 4 years to get out of debt.

Within the last month, I've been actively involved in a transaction with my family that has allowed me to completely pay off my debt, and I now have a small amount of money to save/invest. Woo Hooooooo. I found your site while trying to research what to do with those funds. (I'll have questions in other threads. Probably lots of them.)

I work for an extremely small software company. (5 people.) My level of dedication is insane, according to my close friends and my sweetheart. So, it's conceivable that at times, I may post a lot, and other times, not at all. It will depend on my level of fatigue.

Anyway, I've been reading many of the posts, and you folks seem like quite a nice, and helpful bunch. I know that I'll be able to get some answers here, and I hope that I'll find some way to contribute, as well.

More soon.
al0061 - aka Torch

[srace]

Hi all, My name is Stacey. I am 25 and live in PA with my fiansee and his 2.5 year old daughter. I have been wanting to start saving money for a while now but for some reason I just have not been motivated too. Also my fiancee is what you all would call the spender and I have no clue how I am going to get him to cut down. I have been reading as much of the posts as possible ann am looking forward to being an active member here and learning from all of you.

[stretchabuck]

My nome-de-plume explains why I'm here....at 54 yrs. young, married, mother of 3 and GAP member: Grandparent as Parent. The grandbaby has needs which necessitated my working only 4 dys. so I have to keep as much/get back as much of my hard-earned money as possible.

Am a real saving/frugal novice.....currently trying to break the land/speed record for couponing 101....oh well...its' never to late to learn... ....

[BillsGirl]

Hello I am bills girl and I not knew to collecting free samples however I am new to this place, I find it very interesting and look foward to sticking around, I am a new momma looking to save money any way I can!!

[momma4]

Hi all. My name is Sue I am a 27 yrold SAHM of 4; Juli(july)9, Christopher 7, Gwendolyn 4, and Drake 2. I have been a SAHM for over 3.5 yrs now and working off my dh Carl's (in my advatar pic ) one income. We also have my dh's best friend living with us who is not working either (this is not a good thing) Anyway, I love to sew, knit, crochet, cross-stitch, scrapbook, make candles, just pretty much make stuff with my hands and use what we have in means to save money. If I can make it I will rather than buy. I am so glad I found this group

[TwoNickles]

Hello, my name is Jerry. I am 56 years young. I have seven children; oldest is 34, youngest is 17. For most of my married life I have been the only income earner, except for a short three year time when my wife worked outside the home. The reason I am coming to this group is to try to learn how to budget, save money, and pay off my/our CC debts. Throughout my entire life I have found it extremely hard to save money and budget. So now, I have a lot of CC debt that I'd like to get rid of. I know (well, I think) budgeting is the key to this, but I've never learned how to do it. I have always found it extremely boring and tedious. I *really* don't feel to bad about the debt, because being a single income family of nine, there was always glasses to buy, teeth to fix, clothes to buy, etc. that a large family needs. I have always tried to pay for everything with cash, but sometines there just wasn't enough. So now, with my youngest at 17, I'd like to tackle the debt and get it out of my life once and for all. So, I'm here to learn, and to apply what I learn. I welcome any and all comments or criticisms, good or bad. :

[CheaplyClever]

Hello, I'm Beth, a college student (in my 40's) who is taking the summer off to play outside in the North Carolina sunshine. I am married to my best friend (17 years this week). Our only child is an elderly dog whose health is failing. I found this site searching Google with: "Pound of ground beef". I liked what I saw. Nice people, and an entertaining way to spend my coffee drinking morning.

[CRFSaver]

Hi I am Chris, 32 and single. Just came to the site a few days ago. Saw a reference to it on fat wallet so thought I would check it out. So I don't know if I should be telling you all this as it will probably get me banned from the site but, I work for....

...a credit card company (waits to be pelted with tomatoes and other unmentionable things). Yes it is one of the big ones, no I can't help your balance, no I don't decide who get's charged what fees. Has the credit card industry done some sleezy things? Yes! Have people abused their credit cards and then complained when they get dinged for it? Yes! Some changes are being required by the regulators, but my company is actually making changes in the way we do business.

I make a decent income, but even given where I live housing prices are through the roof. I would dearly love to go back to California where I was before this (I used to do investment management and institutional fixed income sales). I am not cheap but I love finding a good value. I have no debt (student loans paid off, car paid off and I use an Amex charge card that is required to be paid off every month, I know I know there is an annual fee but its worth the peace of mind).

Either way I am impressed by some of the ideas on here. I saved money by renting a room at a friends house. A friend of mine, her husband and her bought a house that was so expensive that they were happy to have me rent a few rooms upstairs. (I have a bedroom, den and bathroom all to myself). I share the kitchen and I dont pay for utilities except for my phone service (they just use cell phones but we are in a valley so cell service stinks. plus I have friends in Canada so I can call using the service built in). My rent was cut in more then half and dont pay utilities.

[dwilliams12]

Hi Everyone! My name is Dee. I'm 30, living in IL with my boyfriend and our DS who is 6 months. I have been lurking around for a couple of weeks now and have enjoyed viewing everyone's thoughts on the subject of money and all the issues that go along with it.

I stumbled upon the site while looking for advice on how to reduce debt since we have recently incurred some. I liked what I saw-The forum seems friendly and helpful and I liked the journaling idea to help us stay focused!

[zacsmum]

Hi, I'm Emma, i'm 22 and live an hour outside of Sydney, Australia. I've been engaged to a wonderful man for 3 1/2 years and we have a 10 month old son. We were hopeless with our money before our son was born and literally moved into my parents house while i was in hospital having the baby because we realised we couldn't afford for me to have maternity leave otherwise. We are moving back out on our own in just two months so i'm here trying to soak up as much money saving information as i can to prepare myself. I make all the decisions when it comes to our finances because that's the way my partner wants it, he says it's his job to earn the money and my job to spend it. I only work part time now that i am a mum because i don't want strangers raising my children and i'm going to have more time to implement money saving techniques such as cooking from scratch, packing work lunches, shopping around, using cloth nappies,etc

[rob62521]

Hi, everyone!
I don't always have time to post, but I enjoy reading what others have posted. I live in Illinois and am a teacher. My parents were hard working, but since they lacked education, basically poor. Education was the key to get out of the cycle, and I've come a long way where they started.
I enjoy reading and learning about finance and sound advice put in terms that I can understand. I am the frugal one and my husband is amazed when I get good deals.

[ruka420]

Hello everyone,
I don't have a lot of time to post either but am very interested in checking this site out often. Both DH and I have full time jobs and raising two girls; Alexis 4 and Christina 1. Daycare is a killer for us, but we both enjoy our jobs. Neither of us have a college education, but currently looking into it. I love to save money by using coupons and finding sales. I was wondering if any of you are on a coupon chain, I have heard of them but never joined one!

Adrienne

[rob62521]

Hi!

You asked about a coupon chain. I am on one and when people are regular sending things it works pretty well. Mine is through yahoo. I tried starting one at work, but it didn't work. One person kept it for over two months and after we restarted it, no one was inclined to go with it.

Debbie