Getting on the right track.

The Schiavo case breaks my heart. If nothing else, it is a reminder to have those tough conversations with the people we love, you know? I hope that people will do that.

yes, this case has me in knots. I feel so bad for everyone involved - whether they are on the "right side" or not. in regards to the media's involvement, on a recent Starbucks cup there was a comment that the media isn't conservative or liberal but thrives on conflict. I think this is a perfect example of that!
good luck on your goals of less debt and less "accumulating". I hope you do better at it than I am! ;)

I so know what you mean about this case--I also feel like we--the folks that only know the case through the media--really can't know the entire story. And, how sad that this poor family's situation is being used for political means.

Know exactly what you mean about debt and learning to live with less. I "want more" every day but have learned the hard way that it is not worth the guilt I feel when it comes time to sit down and write out the bills. I still spend more than I need to most times but at least we have cut out credit card debt and spend only cash. So when it's gone, it's gone! It's an awesome feeling not having the debt hanging over your head constantly!
We were watching the Schiavo case stuff on TV last night also and I find it so sad that the families are fighting over this issue. In spite of this tragedy they should be pulling together and not apart. You are totally right about the media--it is the single-most reason I so rarely watch the news. Most people think I'm crazy to not watch, but I think so much of it is propaganda by the media and I choose not to feed into it. This case saddens me especially given my background in health care. Will be watching to see how it finally pans out...hopefully the truth will eventually come to light and her true wishes will be known and accepted whatever they may be.

I had to go through a similar situation with my father, he was brain dead due to an accident.
I feel a living will would have made this choice a lot easier for all of our family. We prepare for some many things in life, why not death? If there is one good thing to come out of the Schiavo case - it might be preparing for death.

Ali, I feel exactly the way you do about the media and that course you took sounds right on. We don't just get the news. We get the opinions of the subject's sisters, brothers, cousins, best friends, neighbors and dentist's personal emotions and views on the subject's situation, let alone the political debate that enters into any news story that sticks around for more than 24 hours. It's crazy and sad all at the same time.
Good luck with your journey towards debt free living and live with less attitude change. I know that I constantly have to work on that. I noticed that you are an avid reader and you mentioned how easy it is to buy, "just three more books." I am the SAME way and I'm trying to curb that habit by hitting the library (which here in Germany, is VERY small, but I am trying to make it work for me). I love the journal you made to watch these intentions. What letter stamps did you use on those pages? I love them...and want them. See, it's hard to stop wanting, but I guess we can all embark on this journey together. Trust me, I have my weaknesses.

It took us 6 years to get out of debt - it is so worth the sacrifices of "going without" once the debt is gone. We have one CC we use and pay it off monthly... so much more goes into savings now, it's an incredible feeling. It's nice to be able to splurge on our "wants" every now and again too! Good luck!

Too funny--I was just talking about saving money today in the form of food...we eat out too much. It's so easy to just think "it's just one lunch" or "it's just dinner at Chilis" and not make those changes.
Even more than the media, I am amazed at the way language plays into things...(another college course leading to life-changing ideas here)...we studied the way simple things like the use of the passive tense "hides" the actor, etc.
Ooops--gotta run. The baby ferret is trying to attack the older ones...

Our goal for 2005 is also to reduce the credit card debt, but it's too darn easy to buy things you don't really NEED with plastic. I'm trying to use cash more. It helps to make the spending real. But you're right. It's a question of attitude: wanting less material stuff, being happy with what you have. I need to change my attitude!

Good luck on the road to debt free living, I'm trying to follow that same path myself, with varying degrees of success. I get a little boost though when I hear others creating and making their goals, like Kerry, above. If they can do it - I can do it too. So can you! :-)

You know I almost wrote my blog today on how we are living on so little lately and how I am proud that I/we have managed to live on just one income. It is so hard... I wonder why we just seem to meet our bills and we have made a conscious effort to think about what it is that we really "NEED" not want. They are so very different and now I appreciate that more then ever. Of course the income tax return was nice but it will mostly go towards the kids! Uggh! :)
You can do it. Good luck.
Shelley

Right there with ya' on the eliminate debt thing, Ali. We have a lot of credit card debt and I hate the feeling I get when I see the bill each month. It's so hard to change spending habits, but I am determined to do better, too. I would rather spend the money from credit card payments each month on the kids, groceries, savings ... something's gotta change. Thanks for posting about this today! :)
• Kris

I was having thoughts in a similar vein this morning. For some reason I always assume, without even thinking, that more/bigger is better. There's a farm for sale near us (that we could never afford) and I was telling my brother that the farmhouse on it is even bigger than our big old farmhouse. He gave me a look and said, "Bigger isn't always better. There's more to clean, more to heat, and more to maintain." Don't know how he got so wise, being 3 years younger than me! But he's right, and now I'm in the mood to declutter, simplify, streamline...guess I'd better get at it while I'm in the mood!
I so enjoy reading your blog.

As a member of the media, I feel the need to chime in on this one. We do stories about conflict because it gets people talking... sometimes about solutions. In this case, it might push you to have that conversation with your spouse. It's certainly pushing lawmakers to consider what's on the books. I think most reporters try to cover a story as balanced as possible. We can't interview Schiavo herself so we have to get out information from the other people involved.

We actually bought a house to get out of debt -- not a solution recommended. We now also have to spend less - it's hard and takes time but I realize that we are getting there slowly....
As for the media's ability to create reality. So true -- when I was living/working in the States I was amazed at the limited amount of world news that was broadcasted. The same subject was presented so differently on two continents. So glad you no longer have to be dependant on television or newspapers, but that through the internet you can go out and find and create your own truth.

So funny the debt thing is coming up. Just discussing that the other day on another board. Hmmmm.
Well, we are debt free. No student loans. No car payments. No credit card payments that we can't pay off at the end of the month. Just a mortgage, which we pay extra on. Matt's always insisted on things this way and although it meant a great deal of sacrifice in the beginning (I was kicking and screaming about it...I needed furniture!), I'm so thankful now that it was made the standard at the start of our marriage. And I have seen an amazing thing happen, especially recently. When there are things that we want, it doesn't seem like a big deal just to go do it, because we aren't paying interest on loans and paying a gazillion bills every month...there seems to be extra money. Or maybe our standards have changed and the definition of "want" vs. "need" has shifted at some point and I didn't realize it? I found that what was once a huge sacrifice is now a very comfortable standard. I guess it is just like everything else (diet, exercise, obtaining goals)...it really sucks at first but then the payoffs are HUGE. Keep it up. It's a worthy goal.

Hey erin- you sureMatt isn't the sameas my Tim? My DH insisted on debt free living from the start too- we have one credit carda nd it gets paid off every month- we keep track off everything we spend on it every week and deduct that from our account so when the bill comes it's already out of the acccount- all done on the computer of course. It really lifts a load off as far as worry etc.. But it is hard at times, especially in today's day andage of excess. Everyone seems to have everything and they get it all so instantly now, no delayed gratification. Does it make anyone any happier? I'm not sure. Hard to say. Getting out of debt is a good goal!! I'll kick your butt for you if you like. I got my friend out of 5 fully maxed credit cards.
Phew!! I was rambling. Ok soooooo Kate's theory- step one: NO MORE links to good stuff to buy :P:P:P Tee hee

You must be reading my mind. I spent the better part of the weekend online, handing out my CC info to any site that even remotely had something of interest to me. And all of this after just discussing how desperately we want to eliminate our debt in order to move next year! It's so easy to have that "one more" attitude. When you look at your overall total debt, sometimes it's very easy to think, "what's twenty more bucks?" Next thing you know you've tacked on another year before you can move, or get a new car, or buy all the great new product from CHA!

Wise words today. I understand the struggle of debt. We have spent so many years, sacrificing, prioritizing, economizing. Less now that the end is near. I told him that I wanted some payback. hahaha. I think in the end it always comes down to prioritizing. Examining your actual means and goals, and focus on what is possible. Investing in those things (or experiences) that add real value to your life. Buying only things you love (hard when you love everything hahaha). Things that last. Cutting costs where you can, shopping at Goodwill, garage sales, thrift stores. You know that I have a soft spot for old, found, recycled objects. And living with less, so true.
The Terri Schiavo case. With all my heart I hope the family finds resolution to this. We are lucky that we talk about these issues frequently as Rod deals with the reality, daily.
He also jokes that the only place we should get our news is by reading the BBC transcripts. He's probably right.

Good luck on debt free- it is a freeing way to live. Paying cash for things helps, somehow harder to hand over green money as opposed to plastic! :) Give yourselves each a little, what we call 'mad money.' We use it to buy what we WANT, not need. $25 a week, it isn't much, but it keeps us from feeling deprived. It pays for lunches out, books, goodies, chocolate, whatever we WANT- no tracking it or feeling guilty. But its also cash, when its gone, its gone. :)
I hope, like you, that people talk to their loved ones about life and death decisions, about faith and love and our wishes for each other. But even if you do, if the whole family agrees, except one person, there is a potential for some hard feelings and impossible choices. If that one person isn't ready for the choice that must be made, it can throw the whole thing into a tailspin and leave the medical staff in a no win situation. I believe its important to talk about what your wishes are, but also, to spend time with loved ones and put effort into your relationships. So if the time comes for a tough choice, no one has any regrets impacting their decisions. I also think its important to have people you can turn to, your doctor, priest, rabbi, minister, for guidance. Everyone's situation is potentially different and confusing..If you have people you can turn to for counsel, people you already know, trust and respect, you are better armed for tough times and decisions.