How Did I Get Here?

It dawned on me the other day that some of my friends know me as a "coupon queen" and are amazed at my deals. I have other friends who also "deal" and who think I'm a novice because my deals don't compare to theirs. I have a third group of friends who are probably amazed that there are people out there who think I know anything about being frugal.

In college, and the years immediately following, I made a lot of "typical" mistakes. I got credit cards and charged clothes I "needed", dinners out I "needed", and when things got tight actual groceries that I really did need. I got to the point where I couldn't afford food. I was begging my roommates to share what they had and scrounging whatever leftovers my coworkers were going to throw away. I remember a lady from church going through her own pantry at 1am giving me canned goods. I skipped meals and went on a "rice and ramen" diet because that's all I could afford. Yes, I was a poor college student, but what I wasn't admitting at the time is I couldn't afford food because all my money was going to pay my credit card bills.

I hit rock bottom a couple years out of college. I was losing sleep over my debt and was a horrible roommate--bouncing checks, avoiding bills, etc. It was BAD. I'm embrassed to be admitting this, but it is part of my story. Eventually creditors were calling me. One bill collector even called my grandma to find out how to get in touch with me. Have I mentioned it was BAD?

Through one collector I ended up giving them post-dated checks for large sums of money to be cashed on my payday. I also went to Consumer Credit Counseling to take care of the rest. I took a second job. My primary job was as a flight attendant, but I also worked 15-20hrs a week at a Christian bookstore. Again, I could barely afford food, but at least this time it was because I was paying off debt, without acquiring any more. All my cards had been cancelled and I swore them off forever. (By the way, knowing what I know now I wouldn't have gone to Consumer Credit Counseling, but it is how I got out of debt)

I worked my tail off and didn't eat much. While flying I cooked ramen noodles in hotel coffee pots, while my crew members were going out to eat. I scrounged off the first class leftovers and ate peanuts because I didn't have money to buy food on my overnight. There were numerous days I worked at the bookstore from 8:30am-3pm, changed in the bathroom, and then headed to the airport to work a red-eye flight to the East Coast that landed at 7am. I was working 20hr days and went over 6mo without a day off. The only time I got a day off at all was if I happened to have a Sunday I wasn't flying, because the store was closed.

Eventually, my debts got paid I and I was able to start "living" again. I made a vow to myself I'd NEVER, NEVER, NEVER get myself in that situation again.

It's funny how God works because a few months after the last credit card got paid off I met this amazing guy, who had never been in debt a day in his life. We started dating and eventually decided to get married. My husband had always done things "right" and was passionate about being debt free because he didn't know any different. My passion comes from having learned my lessons the hard way. I wouldn't be surprised if God was waiting to introduce me to my husband until I had everything straightened out. (In the spirit of full disclosure I should admit that we do have a couple of credit cards we use for the "rewards" that we pay off each month)

My husband has an amazing job. I have been to places I never thought I'd see, I've experienced things I never thought I'd do, and am balancing a family budget with numbers I'd never dreamed I'd see.

I still have student loan debt, and now that I'm a stay-at-home-mom that's something my husband is having to deal with, that he shouldn't. I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to the day it is GONE.

I am passionate about saving money, living on a budget, and living within my means because I learned early and hard the misery that comes with trying to keep up with the Joneses. There are a lot of things I don't "have", but I do have peace knowing that a creditor won't be calling tomorrow and THAT is priceless