Simplify, Downsize, Adjust - Making the Most of Your Money

Lack of More Income Can Be Overcome with Lifestyle Adjustments

We all see it at some point in our life, too much month and not enough paycheck. At one time my income was considered upper middle class. A home in the country, a car and a truck in the garage, boat, RV, sports car, and a ATV were my toys. Some other expensive hobbies took up more of our income. Making payments, we had as many as five loans at once. Credit cards were well used, with a balance carried over every month. When all was said and done we had no money in savings, and clipped coupons to save money on food. As long as nothing went wrong we were meeting our obligations.

Over a period of time many things changed. At times it was a challenge to find ways to make it work. We're stable and secure now, partially by dumb luck, and partially with a dramatic change of attitude. Our combined income is about one third of what it was fifteen years ago, and yet we put money in savings every month. With two retirements building for that fast arriving day, we will be secure, though we should have done much more a lot earlier.

I was a foreman for the county, my wife worked for a national insurance company. Both secure in our jobs we decided to leave, it was time for a change. Selling everything we owned the equity paid off all the loans and credit cards. We headed for Arizona with one truck, one 36' travel trailer, a dog and two cats. Finally owing no one, we wanted to start a new life.

For eight years we moved around, doing many different things. When we tired of moving around we came back home, planning on staying put until we retired. This time we set up house with a different attitude. Those eight years out of state had taught us that no matter what, we could find some kind of work that would allow us to get by. We had gotten as low as only $175 remaining in our pocket, with no jobs to make more. But it always came together at the last minute, and at least one of us would find work. We learned to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.