Getting Started

[heatherly30]

Thank you all for the warm welcome in my intro post. I don't know if I should post here, but I have some questions.

While reading over your welcome messages, I noticed some interesting info in your signatures. What is the Grocery Challenge? Could you direct me to a thread that has this type of info?

The thought of being debt free is exciting, but overwhelming. Where do I begin? Another issue is getting my husband on board with me. We are both weak, and we influence each other. Eating out is our biggest weakness.

I just need suggestions, and guidance on where to begin to get the most out of this site.

Thanks! You guys are great!

[Edna_E]

Hi. Can't really help on the Grocery Challenge type stuff, but am interested in any answers you get because I don't know either.

Re: getting started on debt reduction - there are many ways to go about it. Many people pick one small debt to get totally paid off first (meanwhile making normal payments on all others) so that they can have the encouragement of seeing progress. Others may pick the debt with the highest interest rate to pay off faster than required.

I think finding good sounding dishes and their recipes is encouragement to not eat out so much, and hearing other people discuss how/when they do (or don't) eat out. I have a friend who made "Eat Out" certificates and gave them to her husband - then they agreed that they could only eat out as long as they still had certificates in his wallet and they started over every month. She only made 12, which I thought was really radical at the time, but neither of them seemed to feel deprived, and within a year they often found they had leftover certificates at the end of the month. Just an idea.

[Mom23boys]

Here is the link to join the July grocery challenge: July Grocery Challenge

Anyone can participate in the challenge. You state your monthly grocery budget and try not to go over the amount you budgeted. You can stay accountable by posting in the thread and also by posting it in your signature.