Lynn

You are soooooo right. Financial downturns are a big blow to the male ego but, it can be overcome. I too enjoy saving $$$. A little at a time really adds up. I save just $25.00 a payday and now have over $2k in that account. That is for a major emergency, car repair, A/C replacement or furnace. it is not for wants, it is for emergencies. DW and me do a lot of budgeting and we eat everything we cook, including leftovers. I found a cobbler shop that can fix my work boots for $20.00 verses $130.00 new pair. The guy down the road is a butcher and sells what he raises. We got 3 racks of ribs for $5.95 total each rack had 8 ribs in it and we have a freezer full of meats. This years is our first garden and I am going to get 4 chickens for eggs. I'm thinking of going in on a lamb and half a cow with my son. The folks around here sell cattle, sheep and hogs and the butcher does the rest. All the animals have records of what they have been fed and their health. We buy closest to the ground that we can (organic) and it has been a lot of fun doing this. DW is learning to can. we are determined to get out of debt and stay out of debt.

One good book to read is The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. It will encourage you and give hope.

Good luck on the road to debt freedom.