Ours was definitely buying a minivan. We managed to meet both our financial goals in that area - putting $15k down and keeping our monthly payments at $200 or less per month - and we still managed to get a really nice van by buying at the end of the model year.

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Stephanie
Mom to: Caleb (8/03), Ian (9/05), & Lucas (11/08)

We stopped using credit cards. We still have a small balance on one that will be paid off with our income tax refund. We changed our witholdings so next year we should be getting less taxes taken out and have more money in the paycheck... hopefully that will alleviate some of the need to use the credit cards. We are trying really hard to be frugal but Christmas wasn't as frugal as I planned.

This past year has been a struggle, but we are definitely improving. We paid off our furniture and two store cards and are currently working on installment loans then on to the rest of the credit card debt...it scares me to death sometimes so I am just trying to look at it as a challenge.

We had a tremendous amount of medical expenses that used up our emergency fund and then some. So, our focus will be to regroup this year (and stay healthy!).

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Homeschooling Mom to Daniel (13 Years), Andrew (10 Years), Stephen (8 Years) and Emily (4 Years)

This past year was also rough for us. My husband was sick for almost 6 months straight with sinus and throat infections. After many trips to the doctor and a ton of antibiotics they figured he needed his tonsils out. So he had surgury and that was not cheep. Nor was the loss of money from time off of work. Then in Sept he left his job for one that was supposed to be better. It wasn't and they ended up closing down. So for three months now basic monthly expenses have had to go on the cc and we have 0 in savings. Most of our cc debt is from medical expenses, house and van repairs and bills from months we just came up short. I hope that this coming year is better on us. But then again, if it isn't I know that God will get us through it! Good health is what I am hoping for this new year!

Danielle

I was happy to make last year's goal which was to save money for Christmas. We did it all on what was saved -- no credit cards!

This year, I would like to do the same, and build an emergency fund. I am planning to eat out a great deal less, as well.

Marlene

One thing that we did do was to cut down on some of the extra bills we have, like lessened the cell phone bill, etc. This year my hope is to pay off the car note and to start paying off the credit cards. I also hope that we can cut those things up this year!!

We were pretty much status quo, too, but we are seriously thinking of moving to a nearby city in 2009 so we need to start saving our money for a move and investing in our home properly to prepare it to sell.

Our was finding out in August that I needed to leave my job immediately because of health problems, and having to live on DH's income only. I'm pretty proud of ourselves - we've gotten this far with no CC's, and no emergency fund or anything - just WAY cutting back on everything. I made a little under half of what my husband makes.

I hope to pick up a part time job, probably waitressing somewhere, after the baby comes and I'm ready, and I would like to use that money to make an emergency fund, then start up on some of the remodeling/house fixing this place needs (like a ROOF that doesn't leak!) I would like to sell my truck, but not much is moving in the way of vehicles around here. After we sell it, we will have to save the payments for it and will pick up a used vehicle for cash for me (I will probably borrow one of my parent's cars until then, I don't drive much right now anyway).

Our goals are pretty much to continue to not use CC's - ever. I got in big trouble years ago with them, and I'm not about to try that again ever. Cash only. We would also like to eventually not have any car payments. The mortgage debt is not thought of right now, that's the only other debt we have.

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