I am selling on ebay, my products at craft markets and blogging to try to add to our income and always looking for new ideas on saving and earning.

Spending nearly $90 a month before, I now pay $45 a month prepaid, unlimited plan is wonderful – I have unlimited texts, calls, and internet usafe without a contract. Not to mention being on the Verizon network is amazing – I have the best coverage anywhere I go. The cancellation fees were worth dealing with when I realized I would be saving nearly $50 a month by switching. The great selection of inexpensive phones clinched it for me – I was finally able to get a Smart Phone that didn’t break my budget the way the I-Phone does. Best of all, I was able to transfer my phone number so now my family can keep in touch with me.

Doing the math, I’m saving nearly $1,200 over two years versus my previous contract. So far, my new year’s switch is keeping $50 a month back in my bank account!

1. Pay off our medical debt with our tax refund (about $4,000)

2. Funnel all the money that used to go towards debt repayment (plus some) towards saving for a down payment. We’d like to be 1/3 – halfway to our goal by the end of the year.

Today is my 10th sobrity anniversary. Some may not make the connection while it’s pretty obvious to others.

There is a saying often repeated in recovery, ‘Stick around, things get better.’ I’m sticking around for as long as I can, I love how my life continues to grow in new ways I thought impossible. This tenth year has been a reaization of important truths learned in recovery.

Me, I’m going to have a big yard sale, grow a lot of veggies in my new garden, and just pay off my debt.

Keep up the good work! You’re doing so well!

•Finish building our 2010 Christmas Fund by May, 2010
•Finsh building our Emergency Savings Fund by July, 2010
•Pay off debts 1-9 and 12-17 by the end of the year
•Pay down half of debts 10 and 11 by the end of the year
•Be better at keeping our monthly budget
•Do not incur new debt
•Open a secured credit card to start rebuilding my credit

When I jumped into blogging I was paying $50 a month for hosting, big mistake. That was the first change we made this year. Saving $540 over the upcoming year puts a smile on my face.

I look forward to seeing your progress in 2010.

As of December 31, I paid off the last of my credit card debt; I had paid off my car loan a month earlier and my mortgage (which was small) in the summer. I am totally debt free for the first time ever. What a feeling!

I plan to direct close to the same amounts I put toward debt paydown toward retirement, which I have been neglecting (and which is only 11 years away), establish a house repair fund and add to my emergency fund. I’ll be living on the same amount as before, pretty much, but it will all be positive.

Happy New Year to everyone! Keep up the good work!

@Abigail – THANK YOU for planning ahead for your puppy’s expenses!

My emergency fund is fully funded, therefore I will save the money that I will not longer use to pay the mortgage into my retirement plan.

I admire your persistance, and I am sure you will become debt free very soon.

Keep up the good work everyone!

My debts have shrank by about $12,000 this past year. I am thankful to the core of my being.

My goals to continue this work and to become debt free:

1. Restricting recreation spending to 2-3 planned and modest vacations in 2010. When the urge to get away for the weekend occurs, I’ll be reminding myself about how going to the park and carrying my sandwich with me makes much more sense, and will leave me with a lasting joy that than reigns supreme over a temporary splurge.

2. Continue to drive my heap for another year. It’s paid for and still runs OK, so it makes no sense to go out and buy another vehicle.

3. Drive the motorcycle more on those close to home errands or the 4 mile RT commute to work and back. I know there are people who are probably thinking, ‘that’s stupid, motorcycles are dangerous.’ (Rather than go off topic and get into this, I’ll simply say, it’s a personal choice and I’m working on keeping myself well protected and driving safe.)

4. This one should probably be #1. Ask my Heavenly Father for His help and devote time each week to reviewing my budget and progress, closely monitoring spending habits, and planning for the the week ahead. I have my monthly, yearly goals, but I need to break it down even further to stick with it. Sometimes I sit at home and mull over financial matters on a daily basis. I keep it positive though. The point being, keeping my focus on living thrifty and pushing money at those debts as often as I can.

Best Wishes For A Better 2010 Everyone!

Abigail – Don’t say ‘meager’ on the IRA, it’s more than me!! Fabulous job. And good for you on the puppy fund. I’m a dog lover!

Mr Frugal Miser – Good job on giving up the luxury car. I’m sure that was a tough one. I’m going to try to pay everything off by the end of the year but we’ll see what happens.

I have a little over $40,000 in credit card debt which I am hoping to cut in half in 2010. Best of luck with your debt-cutting goals! You ought to set a stretch goal to just pay the whole thing off since you are down to your last $21K.

After that, I want to double my meager IRA contribution (currently $25/week) and start an emergency fund. We still have Tim’s last student loan to pay off. Depending on what I end up doing for money, this could be relatively quick. (It’s around $3,000.)

I also promised Tim we’d start a puppy fund once we were out of credit card debt. I want to have the cost of the dog, the extra pet deposit and some money for vet bills set aside.

Finally, we also have to pay back some relatives. I doubt we’ll get all those goals accomplished by the end of 2010 but it would be nice to have started on them all!