The frugal debtor
October 6, 2009Jon Brooks 1 Comment »
Last week we wrote about Blogging Away Debt, the chronicle of a woman who started out $38,000 in the red and has since whittled it down a fair amount. But let’s up the ante with Drowning in $166,356.75 in Debt, which starts out this way:
I did something dumb, dumb, dumb. I went to an expensive undergraduate school, then I went to an even more expensive law school. A year and a half out of law school and one year into my first attorney job, a public interest job that is my calling but doesn’t pay much, I am up to my ears in debt. So six months ago I decided I wanted to get rid of it. All of it…This blog is intended to chronicle my journey.
That was in February, and our heroine has since managed to trim 10k off her tab, which now stands at $156,754.33. So this blog may outlast the Internet. But still, tha’s an impressive 6% reduction. How did she do it? Well, first and foremost, as she acknowledges herself, by being really, really thrifty.
Only throw out your clothes when you have a hole in the butt
I’ve done a couple posts about my rather extreme thriftiness. Some people may call it cheap, but I laugh last when I’m able to put that extra several dollars a month on my debt.
Anyway, a favorite pair of boxer shorts of mine that I’ve had since middle school and wear to bed when it’s hot bit the dust yesterday. Tore a whole right down the butt when I sat down! That is when it’s time to wave the white flag and throw that piece of clothing out. I got over 10 years out of those shorts, not too bad.
Don’t waste your money at Starbucks
Today at McDonald’s they are giving away free iced or hot Mochas (definitely go with iced). No purchase necessary, you just have to drive through and ask for it! I’m going this morning on my way to work. It’s until 7 p.m., and they’re doing it next Monday too.
Starbucks eats your money. It’s a sweet treat that sucks you dry. Give it up for financial reasons like you should give up smoking for financial reasons. I gave it up, and as you can see I still find ways to get gourmet coffee without purchasing it myself, although I can’t get it nearly as often.
For whatever reason, for the past several weeks my neighbor has been throwing out his edition of the Sunday paper into the recycle bin every Monday morning, unread, still wrapped up in its tie. So I’ve been helping myself to his paper, and the coupons!
Don’t buy (dog) toys. People will give you toys just like they give you toys when you have a new baby. G. has a huge basket full of toys I never bought.
• I squeeze every last drop out of toothpaste, shampoos, and hair products. You can cut open a toothpaste tube and scrape out the paste. I’ve gotten several more days out of a tube when I do this. Shampoo bottles should always be turned upside down and then filled with water to get the last out.
• You don’t need to string off a huge piece of floss. Just cut off enough to roll up on your fingers, maybe about seven inches.
• I keep my eye on the dumpster. I’ve gotten beautiful bookshelves, a coffee table, a TV table, a wine rack, and several crates there. I always wash and disinfect everything thoroughly and it’s as good as new.
Dear WalMart,
Until today, I have not been through your doors in the past four years…I prefer smaller businesses and supporting mom and pop places…I don’t like things I’ve heard about you over the years, like the low wages you pay your employees…I don’t like walking around for fifteen minutes just trying to find nail polish remover. I hate your oversized carts which barely fit two across in an aisle and I hate that you don’t provide a smaller cart option or even a basket… Your store is often dirty, you are sometimes out of products I want (although I’m sure there are some in your storeroom if I could only find someone to help me), and the shelves are often messy and disorganized. The lines at checkout are the longest I’ve ever seen in any store. I find going into your store to be a very stressful experience.
But this economy has me really scraping the bottom of the barrel. Despite all your drawbacks, I still cannot beat your prices. Today I spent only $25 dollars in your store on the following: floss, anti-cavity rinse, pack of razors–high quality, nail polish remover, kitchen cleaner, feminine products, name brand conditioner, and a large bottle of refill hand soap. I just don’t think I could get all that for under $25 anywhere else.
When my financial situation gets better, I’m not going back to your store unless my experience there changes. But until then, you’ve reeled me in as a customer. I suspect the reason your profits continue to go up in this economy is largely because of people like me. Congratulations.
$1 back from the local politician
The other day I was surprised to get a text message from a local politician I’ve never heard of to my personal cell phone number… (w)hat irritated me more was that the text message came to my personal cell, on which I don’t have a text message plan…(A) text on my personal cell, either incoming or outgoing, costs 30 cents a pop. That might not sound like a lot, but a simple back and forth conversation for a few minutes generating half a dozen texts quickly adds up to several dollars.
Annoyed, I Googled this politican and found an email address, and I asked him to reimburse me. I was probably a little more enraged than I should have been over 30 cents, but I get enough spam via snail mail and email… (He) emailed me back immediately, apologized, and said he would pay me back.
True to his word, today in the mail arrived a handwritten note along with a dollar bill. I’m happy to know I have at least one local politican who is worth representing me.
This woman’s actually a defense lawyer, and if attention to detail matters at all in that profession, she’s probably a good one…
October 6th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
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