Adam's February Query

[Adam Webster]

Money. This situation really hurts for me right now. Like many couples,
my wife and I have many arguments about it, and the solutions aren't
apparent. Now we find ourselves having to move again. I'll still have
an hour to commute, but this time it will be from Salt Lake. That means
freeway traffic and rent that costs $300 more each month. All I hear
about money is that we should cut back on spending and save wherever we
can. I'm not in enough trouble to get counseling but not stable enough
to get out of debt. From what I understand, this is all too common.
So, what is a person to do?

[Scott Nesler]

Adam, I would point you to Walden by Henry David Thoreau, but he did
not have a spouse.

Your paragraph tells me you know what to do, it just a matter of
priorities and discipline.

[Jake Patterson]

If you can avoid sweating it, don't sweat it. Right now you and your
wife are both going through school, you're both working hard to
improve your situation. That's the right thing to do. It's just not
the right time to be harping on yourself about it. Once you're
situation is on better ground then you can start bothering about debt.

Now, if you're actually drowning in debt it might be wise to take some
time off school and earn a little extra on the side instead of dumping
it down the tuition hole. Another point Isabel and I argue about:
sometimes the things we love to do seem so important but we could do
so much better by cutting out a couple of luxuries. I got a little
extra money last month and yes I got a Nintendo with it but before I
got anything, I paid off a credit card completely. I could have more
stuff, but paying that off was buying peace of mind.

[Adam Webster]

I know what you mean on the Credit Card front. We shredded two in January.

[houseo...@gmail.com]

Good for you. Credit Cards = the Chains of Satan.

But I'm not supposed to have any opinions.

[empire...@gmail.com]

Isabel and I found some two-bedroom apartments near salt lake for
about 100 more than you're currently playing.

Actually, Adam, I admire you for getting by on a teacher's salary. I
think you do very well. Isabel and I have spoken and we don't know
how you do it. Keep budgeting as well as you have been so far and
when you and Cassie get out of school you'll be looking fine.

> >> So, what is a person to do?- Hide quoted text -
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> - Show quoted text -

[Adam Webster]

Answer: Student Loans...and it's still a juggling game. Anyway, shoot
me the listings for those apartments.

[Brett Kraus]

Answer to the original post, be thrifty. Do you really need cable,
internet, etc? Use the internet at the library. About movies, instead
of going to a movie, rent it when it comes out, or borrow it from the
library. Go out to eat less.

The truth is that much of what we do is unnecessary, and as we get rid
of those things, our wallets get a little heavier.

As for dates, go have a picnic in a park, go out for a walk or a hike.
Watch a movie at home. Things will start becoming much more
reasonable, and getting as small of a place as is reasonable. Also,
price-compare, you may still be in school, but those loans are a beast
when you get out, so be careful.

That being said, the best thing for the economy is to have everybody
save a little and spend a lot. A small amount of debt is good for the
economy as a whole, but a lot is really bad. That being said, being
debt free lets you do a lot more with your time and money.