Comments on: Getting out of debt: A story of hope – Part 2 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:53:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: jennifer http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-219 jennifer Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:17:12 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-219 Thanks, Darcy! And now you're talking about it, too! : ) Thanks, Darcy! And now you’re talking about it, too! : )

]]> By: Darcy http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-218 Darcy Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:20:48 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-218 Just more awe and gratitude for you sharing your journey publicly. I've long wished that the taboos around talking about money would magically go away, but you're actually doing something about it. Go, you! .-= Darcy´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.darxyanne.com/?p=278" rel="nofollow">Book: Jacquard’s Web</a> =-. Just more awe and gratitude for you sharing your journey publicly. I’ve long wished that the taboos around talking about money would magically go away, but you’re actually doing something about it. Go, you!
Darcy´s last blog ..Book: Jacquard’s Web My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: jennifer http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-193 jennifer Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:01:32 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-193 I love this, Grace. It reminds me of the "learning to ride a bike and not wanting to hit that tree over there - ouch!" scenario. It's so easy for me to focus on what I don't want. All of us, really. But the stuff we do want is so much more appealing, exciting... and if I'm going to obsess anyway, I might as well opt for the happy outcomes! :) I love this, Grace. It reminds me of the “learning to ride a bike and not wanting to hit that tree over there – ouch!” scenario.

It’s so easy for me to focus on what I don’t want. All of us, really.

But the stuff we do want is so much more appealing, exciting… and if I’m going to obsess anyway, I might as well opt for the happy outcomes! :)

]]> By: Grace http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-191 Grace Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:15:10 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-191 It's interesting that you write about the "being in debt" identity. I noticed the other day that I was focusing on contingency plans <em>if</em> something happened, instead of focusing on the ways to <em>not have it happen.</em> Sure, having plans for worst-case scenarios is a good thing. But when that becomes the <em>only</em> focus, I'm sure you can guess what's most likely to happen: yep, that worst-case scenario. So I've shifted from "if this happens, then..." to "This is what I'm actively doing so that it <em>doesn't</em> happen." It's amazing what a different feeling that brings - just as you describe about how you feel when you focus on the end instead of the beginning! Thanks, Jen! .-= Grace´s last blog ..<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SvahaConcepts/~3/bUuDtSf_R_Y/authenticity-and-marketing" rel="nofollow">Authenticity and marketing</a> =-. It’s interesting that you write about the “being in debt” identity.

I noticed the other day that I was focusing on contingency plans if something happened, instead of focusing on the ways to not have it happen. Sure, having plans for worst-case scenarios is a good thing. But when that becomes the only focus, I’m sure you can guess what’s most likely to happen: yep, that worst-case scenario.

So I’ve shifted from “if this happens, then…” to “This is what I’m actively doing so that it doesn’t happen.”

It’s amazing what a different feeling that brings – just as you describe about how you feel when you focus on the end instead of the beginning!

Thanks, Jen!
Grace´s last blog ..Authenticity and marketing My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: jennifer http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-190 jennifer Fri, 18 Sep 2009 00:43:05 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-190 @Anne - The thing you're reminding me of most is the importance of celebrating. Rome was not built in a day. Thanks! @Christine - Exactly. It does start to feel like a game, a strategy, and it's fun to play with. Good for you for finding something that worked for you! @Christine - I know what you mean. There IS a future of debt-free-ness awaiting. It just takes a little while to discover what it might be like when you get there! One thing you might try is adding up over a year how much you make in payments and imagine what you might do with that money. Tami - I LOVE the chart idea. How fun! @Anne – The thing you’re reminding me of most is the importance of celebrating. Rome was not built in a day. Thanks!

@Christine – Exactly. It does start to feel like a game, a strategy, and it’s fun to play with. Good for you for finding something that worked for you!

@Christine – I know what you mean. There IS a future of debt-free-ness awaiting. It just takes a little while to discover what it might be like when you get there!

One thing you might try is adding up over a year how much you make in payments and imagine what you might do with that money.

Tami – I LOVE the chart idea. How fun!

]]> By: Tami Stackelhouse http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-188 Tami Stackelhouse Thu, 17 Sep 2009 21:17:49 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-188 My hubby & I have been *really* lazy about paying off our debt lately. In fact, we're going the wrong way. However, when we got focused on paying it down, I made a cute little thermometer chart showing how much to pay off a couple bills (each had it's own thermometer) and we'd color it in each time we'd pay something. It was interesting how we'd find extra money just so we could color in more. We ended up paying one of them off about six months early!! Hmmmm. I think I need to make a new chart! =) This site will make the graphic for you automatically based on your own amounts: http://www.entropyfarm.org/software/thermo/ My hubby & I have been *really* lazy about paying off our debt lately. In fact, we’re going the wrong way.

However, when we got focused on paying it down, I made a cute little thermometer chart showing how much to pay off a couple bills (each had it’s own thermometer) and we’d color it in each time we’d pay something. It was interesting how we’d find extra money just so we could color in more. We ended up paying one of them off about six months early!!

Hmmmm. I think I need to make a new chart! =)

This site will make the graphic for you automatically based on your own amounts: http://www.entropyfarm.org/software/thermo/

]]> By: Christine http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-187 Christine Thu, 17 Sep 2009 16:52:58 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-187 Thanks for the reminder to celebrate the little milestones. I've been too focused on just getting to zero. Thinking about the future that does get down to zero, I realized that I've been dealing with debt for so long that I really can't imagine life without it. I've thought about it, but I just can't conjure up the feeling of freedom and relief I know will be there. Hmmm. . .this deserves some more attention. Here's to the next small victory! Thanks for the reminder to celebrate the little milestones. I’ve been too focused on just getting to zero.

Thinking about the future that does get down to zero, I realized that I’ve been dealing with debt for so long that I really can’t imagine life without it. I’ve thought about it, but I just can’t conjure up the feeling of freedom and relief I know will be there. Hmmm. . .this deserves some more attention.

Here’s to the next small victory!

]]> By: Christine Martell http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-186 Christine Martell Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:32:09 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-186 Jen, you are doing great! Yes, keep your eye on the vision. I found it was too easy to cheat (one more small thing on the card with the big balance was too easy) if I was focused on the debt. Once I was engaged with the payoff, it almost became a game to see how much I could find to apply to it. .-= Christine Martell´s last blog ..<a href="http://www.christinemartell.com/2009/09/looking-at-slices-of-time/" rel="nofollow">Looking at slices of time</a> =-. Jen, you are doing great! Yes, keep your eye on the vision. I found it was too easy to cheat (one more small thing on the card with the big balance was too easy) if I was focused on the debt. Once I was engaged with the payoff, it almost became a game to see how much I could find to apply to it.
Christine Martell´s last blog ..Looking at slices of time My ComLuv Profile

]]> By: Anne Wayman http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/getting-out-of-debt-a-story-of-hope-part-2/comment-page-1#comment-185 Anne Wayman Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:19:21 +0000 http://www.inspiredhomeoffice.com/?p=1030#comment-185 oh yes, celebrate this for at least two reasons, the most important is you're putting your own needs ahead of the credit card companies, while still honoring your debt to them... that's true sanity. Congratulations! oh yes, celebrate this for at least two reasons, the most important is you’re putting your own needs ahead of the credit card companies, while still honoring your debt to them… that’s true sanity.

Congratulations!

]]>