as of right now we pay a house payment, car payment, 2 credit card payments, and a home equity loan payment, along with all our monthly bills. I also have two more credit cards that we pay off as we use them to try to keep our credit good.

I am looking into the DR books but I know that I have learned so much from MS that I already have a plan of my own. I'll probably just take what I want and leave the rest of Dave's plan in the book.

We plan to pay off our debt while building a bigger savings. We also want to change our witholdings so we get more each pay. That will help get and KEEP us out of debt.

I agree. I enjoy her books and have started a debt reduction plan. We want to have a freedom account this year as well. Plus you don't need to pay $100 or so dollars to get the info.

I have read his book. I also joined the website mentioned where everyone follows his plan. I do see his point, and if I had been in his situation, I suppose we'd be gazelle intense too. But I was a bit disheartened when I got replies to my budget, telling me our gas was too much (DH commutes over 50 mi. ea way, and where we live, there is not anywhere we can walk to so you have to have gas) and my daughter who has a fear of the bus (driver failed to bring her home 2xs as she did not see her) needs to ride the bus. And DH needs to get rid of his boat, we are headed for foreclosure, etc. I had posted we were having very little money leftover this month, as DH is mid job change, and we were going to go 2 weeks with no check. Actually with his vacation time they paid out he did get full pay and we are covered.

Sorry, I am off track here. But I think it can work for you. I also believe with every plan there needs to be some room for YOU to modify it to suit your needs and those of your family. I think it is wise to get that $1000 emergency fund so if you do have a car repair or something you are not forced to put it on a credit card.

His plan does work, but we have little family time as is. We are following it with a twist, adn just beginning that $1000 EF. Had it a few months ago and it is gone due to needing van repaired. We are not going to go out and get extra jobs, although I am selling stuff from the basement, and putting that towards the EF. I follow Flylady too, but with my own rules there too! You can make it work for you, if you choose, faster than others depending how gazelle intense you want to be. For us, we do not go out a lot, so no, we are not cutting cable. My husband works a lot of late nights, so no, we are not dropping the alarm service....Like I said, his way works, but with a few modifications so can your plan!

To pay off our debts I pay what bills need to be paid out of my dh paycheck. Then I take the left over and put 75% of that toward a debt and use the rest to live on. It has really worked for us. I have also done extensive research into whether it is lucrative to pay off your mortgage early and all say no, pay into a retirement fund so you can get it to start compounding. If you can put an extra $100 on your mortgage every month or so awesome, it will shave years off. However not quite necessary. Thats just what I have researched at least.