So, this is how it all started...

This blog and subsequent journey that my family and I now find ourselves on started with a simple, albeit impulsive declaration on my part that, "starting January 1st, we are going to work to be debt-free by the end of the year!" 

After quitting my job to stay home with our children in the fall of 2011, our income was cut in half. Our spending pattern, however, remained the same. This was largely due to savings, acting jobs that my husband Joshua got in addition to the income from his day job, and financial aid for living expenses that he was receiving while finishing his college degree. 

But everything has its season, and ours of pretending to have two incomes started coming to an end earlier this year. Savings dwindled, Joshua graduated from college, acting work in our area slowed, residual checks from previous work diminished, as they do. The lifestyle that we had been used to finally began to weigh us down. We started using credit cards for groceries and everyday expenses, like LIGHT BULBS, and before we knew it we were back into a debt that we hadn't seen since we got married almost ten years ago. We hit the breaking point when my "creative financing" literally consisted of my taking a cash advance from the nearly maxed out credit card to deposit into the bank so that we could make the minimum payment on said card. Gross. 

I know, we sound like totally irresponsible idiots when it comes to money. You probably think we drive matching BMWs and eat lobster and buy our kids ponies and take tropical vacations twice a year. In fact, as "middle-class" citizens of the United States, we live quite frugally compared to most, and don't typically rely on credit to get by, nor consider it just a fact of life. We believe in quality over quantity and only shop when things are on sale. We drive a Subaru, singular. We make most of our meals from scratch, at home. We garden, can and freeze food for the winter. Our idea of a vacation is going to the coast. For the day. With food from home. 

In a nutshell, just living had started to choke us, which, in my opinion is totally lame. Needless to say, as the sole breadwinner taking the brunt of the stresses associated with making ends meet (i.e. listening to me complain), Joshua was on board with my spontaneous plan to get out of debt immediately.  However, my darling husband was quick to point out that paying off our school loans, car, and mortgage on top of our credit card debt might be biting off more than we could chew. Ok, it would be completely impossible. So, we both agreed that for the next year, we would focus solely on getting out of the plastic hole that we had dug ourselves into.

With our belief that children should have their mother at home during their young years, my going back to work wasn't an option. Refusing to accept that the only way for our family to survive was to make MORE money, we came up with a plan. Hold on to your seats. This is brilliant.

Our Debt Resolution Plan:

• We agree to eliminate ALL unnecessary spending from our daily lives for the next year
• We agree to determine true needs vs. wants based on Jesus' teachings
• We agree to allow God to speak to us about our perceived needs v. actual needs and follow any commands He gives us
• We agree that the end result is to freely live a simpler life, not to hoard excess money
• We agree that any sacrifices made along the way do not negatively affect the health or well-being of ourselves or our children
• We agree not to compromise on any of our moral or spiritual beliefs in order to eliminate our debt

So, here we are. It seems simple, but I guess that's what we're going for. We don't know where this next year will take us, but I have a feeling that it's going to be one heck of a ride! Thus begins our journey to not only get out of debt, but to live simply, so that we can simply live.

"The thief enters only to steal, kill, and destroy. I came so that they could have life - indeed, so that they could live life to the fullest."

- Jesus

John 10:10 CEB