The 10 Key Actions That Finally Got Me Out of Debt...

I just finished reading this article, Great Job at getting out of debt!
I am almost there myself Not sure how long, nothing is set in stone and changes occur.
How am I doing it?
Very Slowly and Patiently.

Some of the things have done for this was to take a good look at what I was spending. There are the standard living expenses that aside form turning off the lights and turning down the heat we have no control over. I am not very good at keeping track so thank goodness for online banking.
Where I noticed the biggest mistake was the small expenses that seem harmless but when you add them up. WOW!
I took a look at my grocery bill and decided that I could cut back on that by making sure I did not get too much of something that would need to be tossed out. Looking for alternatives to brand name items. Creating a Menu, easier said than done! Keep it simple and it is ok to change it up. Eating out! Yeah that is a hard one for me because while I love to cook and try new things, I was single for a while, hence the tossing things out! Need I say more?
Subscriptions, That was huge for me. I had several small subscriptions to various web-sites. I canceled every one of them and waited 4 months to decide if I truly needed any of them. I reinstated one just recently.
Donations, I just could not bring myself to stop the donation that I give to my chosen organization. But it is something that may work for others.
I use the 30 day method. For me if I see something that I want or think I need, I give myself 30 days to make sure I can not live without it. Most of the time I find that I do not need said item.
This frees up funds to put toward my debt. I have never had a credit card so that was never an issue. I paid cash for my car several years ago, it is old and not the most wonderful thing, but it runs well and is paid for!
My debt comes from the bills that were divided up in a divorce and a few medical bills. I know it does not sound like a lot but on my income it is. I took all of my debt and using my online banking allocate a certain amount to each one. As one is paid off I take that amount and add it to a larger bill. I have one large debt left and soon it will be done.
This has not been easy and there have been months that I have completely messed up my whole plan. I just get right back on track.
I have to say that the idea of an emergency fund is great. I started mine just last week. I have it set up so that as soon as I get paid a transfer goes into my savings account.
It is not a lot but it is a start.
I Have increased my income and moved to a new area as well. Living with someone too so the expenses are shared.
It has been an interesting journey for me and have just recently come across Zen Habits and the ideas I have gotten here have been wonderful!

Is this a perfect plan? No it is not, but it is working for me. I have a few things I still need to work on. One is spending time with my kids. I do not have custody so when I see them it can get out of hand. The Fuel alone to get them is usually the expense that takes it all over the edge. When they come see me I spend too much on them. I think it is the absentee parent guilt thing.
Sometimes I still let the little expenses get out of control. Well a lot of the time. I just lose track of them all. So to quote the entry I am referring to, "and then withdraw all the money I need for spending categories like eating out, groceries and gas. I use the envelope system, so that I always know how much I have left in each category. Simple and fail-safe."
I will give this a try, Great Idea. I will let you know how it works for me. It may even work to have one for time with kids.
Oh One more thing. Even tho' I can let my spending get out of control it is usually in the act of spending it on others as when I do it for myself I get a small panic attack, Short of breath and sweat down back kind of thing, so that helps a lot.

:)

How is your getting out of debt plan going?