I have been on both sides, and let me tell you having money put away for a rainy day brings so much calm and peace into your everyday living. I did not realize how much I was concerned about our financial situation until I took the time to educate myself and really got into our money situation.

I urge everyone to take a moment a visit Mary Hunt, Debt proof Living, the web site is:
Debt-Proof Living Home

In just over a year I was able to stop living paycheck to paycheck. I stopped and started many times along the way and it is still a process for me. There is a free e-mail that I highly recommend! Sign up for it for just a month and see the wonderful advices it gives.

In my opinion this site is life changing!

We used to pay off every cent of the bills each month and even saved lots of $. Continued to do this until 4 years ago. DH had a h. attack at age 34. Medical was covered but he no longer works 60 hrs a week. We depended on that extra $ to do a lot. Less hours at work means more time to do leasure things like eating out or buying things that aren't 'really' needed.
We're down $20K, no savings, need to refinance and consolidate. I have been struggling w/nothing extra for me or my twin boys (5) for 4 yrs. We're doomed if I don't get an extra job to pay off this debt. $240 at my garage sale is a slow start. 3 Minimum payments due this week & I only have $300-not sure what to do now.
Thanks for letting me share. Good luck to all of you!
To those that are doing well, don't let it get bad, fix it right away. Wish I did!

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Mom to Joey & James 3/16/02

people afford anything anymore the price of groceries has gone upi and gas and home bills. we are finally debt free but we thought we could really staart saving now but we just make it. but thanks to all of you we get great ideas!!!!

Yes, I live pay to pay. Hopefully, when I get my cc paid off, I will not have to live this way, but it always seems that things come up...

We "have" left over money after each paycheck, but use all of that to pay down other debts, so we don't really count that as left over money.

We do have a $2K EF that is not touched and is for emergencies, it would also cover a month of expenses should it be needed.

So, no we don't live pay check to pay check, but nor do we have an "extra" at the end of the month. I just mailed a $3K check to Discover card yesterday... grr... which I could say that's all I owe them but it will be another 2 months before that one is all gone. Thens it's US bank, truck loan and student loans, but on track to be completely debt free before X-mas 2008. Sounds far, far, far away but it's really just little over a year.