A Reader From New York asks: How did you get out of debt within 5 years being a single parent?
Jill: Whoa! That would take almost a whole book to explain, but the biggest thing I did was change my mind set. I didn't make excuses why I couldn't or why I shouldn't have to pay my bills, even though they were left to me by my husband. I felt it was my responsiblity to take care of it. I didn't have time to waste energy on negative emotions or feeling sorry for myself. Most of all, I worked very hard and did without a lot of things. I worked 14-16 hours a day 6 days a week and still tried to make sure I spent time with my kids. I ran my own business at home so I could do that.
My kids were a big help, too. Before they were old enough to work outside the home they helped me after school with my business. That also meant that we got to spend more time together.
Then, when they were old enough, they got jobs and they paid for a lot of their own things like clothes and school activities. We mostly didn't buy any extras. I lived in an inexpensive house, had no car payment and took any extra money and paid it towards my debt. I didn't use my tax returns to buy a car or to go on vacation but to pay my debt. It became a whole lifestyle and way of thinking for me.
I have written in more detail exactly how I did it in an e-booklet called Penny Pinchin' Mama: 500 ways I lived on $500 a month that is available in our bookstore and will soon be released as an e-book.
-Jill
