thats great news....I never seem to save ever...

Keep it up, Big Man! I am gradually getting better with money too!

Saving is actually pretty simple. Yes, I said simple. It's not easy but it is simple. - Spend less then you make. Simple.

How is that done?

1. Don't use CC's. If you do use one pay it off in full every month. Interest costs LOTS of money.

2. Starting your car costs money - walk.

3. Lights, radios, TV's, computers, cost money, don't have them on unless your using them.

4. Laundry costs money. A clothes washer is needed. A dryer is a luxury. Use a clothes line or a drying rack.

5. Water costs money. Shower instead of baths.

6. Water costs money as does electricity. What little money you MAY save on water using a dishwasher is lost with the electricity. Wash dishes by hand.

7. Heat costs money. Don't heat empty rooms.

8. Eating out costs money. Eating at home costs money too but it is a lot cheaper. Those drinks you get at the convenience store? Use an insulated mug from home and bring the coffee or drink with you.



And most importantly - PAY YOURSELF FIRST. You are your own employee. Everyone works for money. Not for TV Sets or appliances or furniture. We work for money. So pay yourself at least 10% of your income.

You get a tax return of a $1,000, at least $100 should be saved. You make $1,500 working at least $150 should be saved. And odd job here or there that brings in $100, then at least $10 is saved. ALWAYS pay yourself first.

Like I said it is pretty simple... not easy but certainly simple. All you need is a little AA and some discipline. AA meaning "Attitude Adjustment."

Yeah, Dave, I am sticking to the 10% commitment. It's working so far.

However, I do have a few big payments to make. This afternoon I had to integrate my two website domains as they were on separate cards. My slip when I lost my solvency has taught me to integrate my ongoing payments. My spending plan is 150 per week, what I can afford, and so far it's working.

I have to consider living on my own and stand on my own two feet regarding bills and rent. Although I will get assisted living, it's with a Charity as opposed to a Government benefit. I will still keep my ear to the ground regarding work opportunities. Though living in the town would mean less driving. :)

my website owner contacted me today that my credit card payment failed to go thru...$8.99 would have gone over credit limit...so it was declined...I put in my business checking account number today since there is money in that account and I want to keep my website open....after the payment is made I will revert it back to the CC where I hopefully will have reduced the amount of debt to point where that payment will be made next month

Dave your comments are noted but I am not there....

couple things you said do not apply to me...my water is not metered so no matter how much I use same price....
a set of bad knees keeps me from walking which was why I wanted a bike to allow exercise of knees and avoid using car at times....riding a bike is good for my health
I don't have a place to put a clothes line...and now it is winter and frigid cold does not dry wet clothing it freezes it...I prefer my gas dryer...
I heat the three rooms upstairs but down stairs in basement the vents are closed....but I consider all three upstairs rooms essential to my home life...

you can say rationalizations all of them but that is what it is about me and my life....it is my life...

Like I said, it's simple not easy... we all live by our own rules and our own comfort levels and by what we want for our future. For me, my future is about traveling and living as stress free of a life as I can. The best way for me to stay stress free is to stay out of debt. And I do all sorts of little things to help me save money. It works for me. It doesn't mean it works for others.

I, too, don't have a water bill BUT water still costs me. I take a shower, that water needs to be heated... this costs me money through electricity, for others it costs through gas... even "free" water costs.

I'm in Nebraska, which is colder then Mizzou - and I still don't use a dryer. I've got a drying rack and a clothes line in my apartment..

All I'm saying is that there are more ways to cut expenses then there are ways to make money IF we want to make the changes...

Dave, while I'm glad to see you saving $$ on your scrips, I'm even happier to see your doctor proclaim your tests as "PERFECT"!

I've followed your health issue here but never signed in to post. Even though I haven't posted, you've been in my thoughts and prayers on a very regular basis.

You've done amazingly well IMO - both physically and financially. An old neighbor went thru something very similar and I remember well his surgery, progress and set backs. The fact that you were able to take your December Holiday put a HUGE smile on my face. I'm sure that happened for a lot of people who read along here but don't post. No doubt it made your girlfriend pretty darn happy too ;-)

Financially IMO, THIS is one of the many reasons why we get financially healthy. Bad inexplicable things happen - Health crisis, home crisis, personal crisis. You were a poster boy here for the benefits of having a financial plan that allows for emergencies.

I toast your financial AND physical health!

Thank you Needtoreboot... those are very kind words.

A little bit about that PERFECT day. I had the appointment and had all sorts of blood work done. Some of it was to see if the valve was leaking. Last year I had five units of blood given to me, so my hemoglobin was checked. I'm on Coumadin so that was checked. And finally an EKG to see if my heart was beating OK.

The doc looked at the tests.
Your liver? PERFECT
Your hemoglobin? PERFECT
Your INR? PERFECT
Then he started crossing off the meds I was on.

He looked at the EKG. PERFECT.
Then that pill was remove. A pill that stops AFib. So, in two weeks I go back to see if my heart is still beating normally without that med.

When I left that clinic I was on cloud 9. I was crying tears of joy. I wasn't prepared for good news. I was use to bad news. "Need more tests." "Need more blood." I thought that would be my life forever.

For the first time in awhile, I feel confident about the future.

These new medical bills are on a new year and I am hoping to be able to pay them in two payments without touching my emergency fund. And those two EKG's and blood work should come pretty close to wiping out my deductible for the year...

Yeah. I am rebuilding my life too. Perhaps I should be a Taxi Driver as I am pretty knowledgeable of the local roads and there would defo be a demand for Cabs, especially if someone wants to head back home from an Airport in the Afternoon. (most local Taxi firms do 'School Runs')

I can contact my Brother's former Driving Instructor about whether the ordinary Driver's Licence will allow one to drive an '8-Seater'. (a must have for runs on a Saturday Night) Once I get a place of my own I can paddle my own canoe.