tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post3592732112440101458..comments2024-03-28T15:55:53.792+10:00Comments on down to earth: Getting rid of debtUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-3205972623193862772007-11-25T06:44:00.000+10:002007-11-25T06:44:00.000+10:00jacran, getting rid of your debts will help set yo...jacran, getting rid of your debts will help set you up for retirement. In Australia, people of our age, and probably those down to the age of about 50, don't have the full benefit of our superannuation (401k plan), we came into it too late. But we discovered you don't need anywhere near the amount that is often advised by the government and financial advisers to live well in retirement. They're expecting people to want to live exactly how they live when they were young, with all the spending that goes along with that, and I reckon none of us should be doing that. Hanno and I live on less than $20,000 a year.<BR/><BR/>frogdancer, I don't give two hoots what people think of me or the way I live. I used to want everyone to think I lived well and true to my values, but now, I really don't care. Good luck with your plans.<BR/><BR/>thanks for letting me know, Coleen. We all have to be prepared for increasing prices and expect things like water, fuel and electricity to increase as resources decrease. Good on you for not giving up! I'm not either. : )<BR/><BR/>thanks Lightening. I agree that water is too cheap.<BR/><BR/>Gypsy Quilter, I really admire what you've done. Good luck with your dream. I hope you can be in your own home soon. <BR/><BR/>Tara, what a great thing to do. Cutting up those cards and putting them in a jar would be a powerful reminder not to go back to debt. I forget if I've already written about how we save water, I know I've done electricity. I'll see if I can come up with a challenge to reduce these things soon.<BR/><BR/>Hi Wildside, yep, we knew. <BR/> <BR/>anna, you're right, it does hinder and limit you. Well done on being debt-free. You really are in the best position.Rhonda Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00175785349529109084noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-50509140648560622792007-11-25T03:54:00.000+10:002007-11-25T03:54:00.000+10:00Well done, Rhonda. I'm so thankful to emerge from ...Well done, Rhonda. I'm so thankful to emerge from my college years debt-free, unlike many of my friends. I feel starting off with debt really hinders and limits you!Mrs. Anna Thttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15377583333000789903noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-88617217195420627392007-11-24T23:47:00.000+10:002007-11-24T23:47:00.000+10:00Amen again, Rhonda Jean!There's a lot of talk out ...Amen again, Rhonda Jean!<BR/><BR/>There's a lot of talk out there that frugal is the new green. But those who knew, always knew! ;-)Wildsidehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08317552263657289647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-826616057504460842007-11-24T21:26:00.000+10:002007-11-24T21:26:00.000+10:00Interesting topic as my husband and I are on a maj...Interesting topic as my husband and I are on a major debt reduction plan also! I'm curious about how you've reduced your water and electric consumptions down. I'd love to hear more about your way of life and how you've tackled your bills. My hubby and I were able to pay somethings off this year. We know longer have credit cards - they are all cut up and sitting in a jar to admire. We still have credit card debt, but we are dwindling it down slowly. The mortgage will be last for us. We are working backwards from the smallest debt to the largest. I love your blog and look forward to hearing more about your way of life!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-32329224761914243512007-11-24T11:31:00.000+10:002007-11-24T11:31:00.000+10:00Thank you Rhonda for reminding us that all things ...Thank you Rhonda for reminding us that all things are possible. I've spent the last 8 years working on total debt consolidation, then deletion, and frugality. This included living without the benefit of hot and cold running water in a 160-year-old log cabin for 2-1/2 years. Today I filled out the paperwork for a special mortgage program. Because of my lack of debt my chances are far better to qualify. I've been trying to buy a house for 14 years. Perhaps that dream will soon come true. Thank you for all you do.Gypsy Quilterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18192303145122990677noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-91440688095351020082007-11-24T10:42:00.000+10:002007-11-24T10:42:00.000+10:00Well done on your water usage. It is nice when be...Well done on your water usage. It is nice when being environmentally aware and frugal go hand in hand. :-) Personally, I think water is too cheap here in Australia for how precious a commodity it is. Sadly, hitting people in the hip pocket seems to be one of the most effective ways of encouraging behaviour change.<BR/><BR/>I'm someone who struggles way too much with worrying about what others think. I know it's an area I need to work on (having more confidence in my own decisions). <BR/><BR/>I will say though...it is a nice feeling to be mortgage free!lighteninghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13469704721683347931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-71322632577809654302007-11-24T07:28:00.000+10:002007-11-24T07:28:00.000+10:00Hi Rhonda Jean,First just thought you'd want to kn...Hi Rhonda Jean,<BR/><BR/>First just thought you'd want to know that I received my apron from Peggy today. It is lovely!<BR/>Second, I just got a notice from my water company that as of Jan 1 the rates will increase on average $6 a month. Now, I've been working to reduce that bill, where it once was $45 a month its now $35 a month, but with the rate increase it appears I'll be right back where I started. AGHHHH! I won't give up and I'll just keep trying.<BR/><BR/>ColeenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-12814432067535129222007-11-24T06:59:00.000+10:002007-11-24T06:59:00.000+10:00Ahh, the old life vs debt thing! I've made a few r...Ahh, the old life vs debt thing! <BR/><BR/>I've made a few remarks (in amongst all the other stuff on my blog) about how ironic it is that living more simply is ok in the eyes of others if you say you're ONLY doing it for the environment, but if you mention the benefits to your wallet you're looked at as if you're a skinflint. That's why I now say (particularly at work) that I'm on a frugality kick. They're starting to regard me as charmingly eccentric... well, that's my hope, anyway!<BR/><BR/>I'm in my mid forties, and I still have 4 kids to finish raising. (I just got a look at the prices on my Mathematical son's yr 11 booklist.... oh my lord!!!! Plus the 3 sets of braces don't come cheap.) My choices are to pay 1K off the principal of my mortgage a month, go on a major holiday every year/18 months with the boys while they're still young enough to come with me, and salary sacrifice into super so I can still travel etc when I retire. It's a juggling act, but by living simply the boys and I are able to get more bang for every buck, and live greener too. <BR/><BR/>It's a nice feeling.Frogdancerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11125482354438056481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5089828552519076506.post-74531015124909612342007-11-24T06:19:00.000+10:002007-11-24T06:19:00.000+10:00Rhonda Jean, does your plan for paying off debts a...Rhonda Jean, does your plan for paying off debts and living mortgage free also include savings for retirement? We live pretty much debt free with the exception of our mortgage. Since neither DH nor I were able to start our retirement savings until we were in our 40s, we've got a lot of catch-up to do in that area, which takes the money we could use to pay off our mortgage. <BR/><BR/>Catch 22 really - we want to be mortgage free but we also want to ensure that we have more than the small government pensions to live on when we retire.JacquiGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06580912233349212417noreply@blogger.com