About

We’re a family of three, living in the northwest, learning how to live sustainably, healthily, while meeting our goal of paying off all debt by 2011, and saving up to purchase property by 2013.

A couple of friends have questioned my openness about our finances.  For a long time, I would have rather died than reveal that, yes, I’ve failed to make many a credit card payment, and that I’ve had some accounts closed because of my money mismanagement.  However, I’ve realized that this shame has only led me to feel badly and then ignore the problem, thus not dealing with it and making it worse all at once.

I think it’s a common misconception that everyone has it all together, whatever “it all” is.  Yes, there are some people who rock the finances (my younger sister comes to mind).  But there are an equal number of us who just never learned or thought it wasn’t possible to learn economics, of which I am one.  I have come to realize that “practice makes perfect” in the sense that the more I do something the better I get at it, and all it takes is discipline (something that also falls under the “practice makes perfect” rule).  Very little is out of the scope of ability – you just have to practice.

My openness about my mismanagement and my journey to economic discipline is meant to encourage others to see that you can dig yourself out of a hole, no matter how black and horrible it is, and also be a place where we can all share tips and tricks of being frugal, and live well.