Staying out of debt

**geniebird** · 11-15-2005, 08:10 PM

This is for those who are currently not in debt. What is your biggest challenge to staying that way?

I started out thinking about specific things like wanting to buy a new car, a house, etc. But as I was writing about those things I realized it's not really those things that are the challenge. It's attitudes about those things.

Resisting the pressure to buy because the world says you should have _______ (fill in the blank) is not easy. And driving a car that runs great but looks horrible can be a bad experience. Fortunately DH and I balance each other out on this one. When one of us starts talking about getting a car or house loan the other usually stands firm against it. If we ever both give in at the same time we're in trouble.

So, what's your biggest challenge?

**Darlene** · 11-15-2005, 08:22 PM

Anticipating tuition bills & taxes. Seems everyone wants money at the same time. Unexpected stuff fries everyones rear.

**Renee-2kids** · 11-15-2005, 09:33 PM

The car. If one stops working we don't have enough to buy with cash.

**pammy** · 11-16-2005, 06:17 PM

We're not currently overloaded with debt. It's the unexpected things I'm worried about. Before we would have gotten a loan to pay for things, like cars, home repairs, holidays, etc. Now I'm saving for those things but am just puckering up hoping I will have enough saved by the time these things come up, so I won't have to go into more debt. Still have the "I wants" ever so often, but will keep trying to stand firm.

**bee9984** · 11-17-2005, 10:13 AM

There is this chair...lol...at a furniture store here in Quebec called the Zip....I have been wanting it now for about 6 months and our old chair in the living room I bought at an auction about 5 years ago and really needs to go, the bottom has no support

.

Anyhow this chair is like a French country chair with wooden arms and legs a bit of material on the top of the center on the arms. It is like $500 before taxes, and is a good size, not like the chairs you see where is it narrow , and it is sooooo comfy....big seat and back cushions.........wow....just thinking about it

lol.

I am not one to buy newer furniture but this chair is built so solid that I am sure it would last a life time.

I have been there 2 more times since seeing this chair and each time I see it I still "want" it. Dh told me to get it if that is what I would really like but I keep holding off instead of impulse buying but I think after 6 months it isn't an impulse., however....We now have 2 kittens (they were abandoned 3 weeks ago outside of our house) they like to claw at furniture

so I would have to get french doors put up in the archway from the kitchen to the living room , (something eles I have always "wanted" ) to keep them out.

I am thinking of getting this done after Christmas but after 3 1/2 years of living frugal and keeping a tight grip on wants versus needs it is hard for me to spend the money on this. I really think however that I am going to go for it

**Jerseygirl** · 11-17-2005, 01:55 PM

Our only debt is our mortgage. Right now my biggest want is an addition on the house, and it needs to be a big one, costing more than the house itself. I have kinda gotten to the point with everything else where if I can't afford to just out and out buy it, this includes cars etc., then I'm not willing to get into debt over it.

**AmyBoz** · 11-17-2005, 05:46 PM

Well, I do have debt in my mortgage and van, but not in credit cards, etc. I think that the biggest challenge to most people is the little things. When trying to stay debt free, you DO need to sweat the small stuff. People don't realize how the little things you charge here and there can add up, and if money is tight to begin with, suddenly, you not only owe for the purchases, but also the interest and finance charges, etc. People have to pay closer attention to the little things they do, not just the major purchases.

**bee9984** · 11-17-2005, 07:46 PM

I misunderstood the question, don't know how but I did. The chair and french doors which i would like I would pay cash for.

I am having a very weak time with wanting a bigger house, not to mention I would love to have a newer car.

Edited to add that I think the only thing keeping me from doing this is the fact that as I mentioned before after 3 1/2 years of living frugal etc....it is hard for me to actually go through with it. Thank goodness

.....I think

**babymav** · 11-17-2005, 09:40 PM

I can say we have no credit card debt.

The only debt we have is my small school loans and my husbands truck he just bought.

Our motto of staying out of unnecessary debt is "if you don't have the cash, then don't buy it"

**PrairieRose** · 11-18-2005, 04:34 PM

We always look at how long it would take to pay it back......and then we usually turn to one another and laugh. We don't want to be in debt anymore, ever if at all possible. Our business waxes and wanes (on the income side) but unfortunately the expenses are pretty much fixed. At some point we may have to borrow again but I sure hope not. I just love the feeling of owning what I own, instead of just renting it from the bank until I want another one