Comments on: Change of Pace — Have You Ever…. http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/ Providing HOPE for educators since 2007 Wed, 13 Apr 2011 17:59:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1786 Joel Sat, 15 Mar 2008 20:25:32 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1786 That's awesome Jonathan! What kinds of things have you done since then to restore your social network? Do you find that your liberation from the bondages of debt help you now by giving you more freedom? I find that since I destroyed my credit cards two years ago, I enjoy going out with friends more. When I can't afford it, I know a payday is coming up in the next month or so (ha), so I'll reschedule it until then. Now that I have a better control over my money (still not debt free yet), I have no problems telling friends I can't afford to go out with them or suggesting a less expensive alternative. That’s awesome Jonathan! What kinds of things have you done since then to restore your social network? Do you find that your liberation from the bondages of debt help you now by giving you more freedom?

I find that since I destroyed my credit cards two years ago, I enjoy going out with friends more. When I can’t afford it, I know a payday is coming up in the next month or so (ha), so I’ll reschedule it until then. Now that I have a better control over my money (still not debt free yet), I have no problems telling friends I can’t afford to go out with them or suggesting a less expensive alternative.

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]]> By: Jonathanhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1759 Jonathan Sat, 08 Mar 2008 23:28:20 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1759 Finally got back to this one. By the time I started teaching (after 18 months out of work and one year at a job that did not meet my expenses) I was buried in debt (I think 30k'ish). I was deciding which monthly bills to defer, and paying off one bit of plastic with another. I scrimped on meals, ate in. Begged a close relative, got turned down. Essentially stopped spending anything, unless necessary. Quit cigarettes. Worked (we call it 'per session') extra tutorials, as many as I could get. Walked to work (saved bus fare), and lost some weight in the exchange. Took extra work on weekends, summer school. Also, completely shut in, I blew off friends a lot. It was a high price... but the debt worked down, fast. Three years later my social network was in tatters, but I was debt-free. Finally got back to this one.

By the time I started teaching (after 18 months out of work and one year at a job that did not meet my expenses) I was buried in debt (I think 30k’ish). I was deciding which monthly bills to defer, and paying off one bit of plastic with another.

I scrimped on meals, ate in. Begged a close relative, got turned down. Essentially stopped spending anything, unless necessary. Quit cigarettes. Worked (we call it ‘per session’) extra tutorials, as many as I could get. Walked to work (saved bus fare), and lost some weight in the exchange. Took extra work on weekends, summer school.

Also, completely shut in, I blew off friends a lot. It was a high price… but the debt worked down, fast. Three years later my social network was in tatters, but I was debt-free.

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]]> By: Joelhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1727 Joel Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:00:12 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1727 Thaks for the kind words, Tim! Wow, Liza! You sure have helped to inspire me and I'm sure countless others. Thanks to both of you for sharing and welcome to the blog! Thaks for the kind words, Tim!

Wow, Liza! You sure have helped to inspire me and I’m sure countless others. Thanks to both of you for sharing and welcome to the blog!

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]]> By: Liza Lee Millerhttp://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1719 Liza Lee Miller Mon, 25 Feb 2008 00:14:20 +0000 http://www.soyouwanttoteach.com/change-of-pace-have-you-ever/#comment-1719 I have lost more than 30 lbs. It took a lot of time -- about 3 years -- too long really but I'm not complaining. How did I do it? Well, to be honest, I think my metabolism changed when my youngest son was 3 years old and that made it a lot easier. I also started really watching my portions and made tiny changes in what I ate -- moving towards healthier choices like switching to non-fat from 1%. At the same time, however, I have not given up anything that I really like -- I eat chocolate whenever I want to and I use butter instead of margarine -- just less of it. With chocolate, I love really good chocolate so I only eat REALLY good chocolate rather than whatever is handy. I think the biggest thing is not beating myself up if I "slip" and overeat. No worries -- I'll just get back on track. I also don't expect to lose every week -- if I lose, great. If not, I try to stay the same. My husband and I had way more than 10,000 in credit card debt. THankfully, it is nearly all paid off. It was hard and painful. The only debt we have now is our mortgage and to my mother-in-law. We will never have credit card debt again. It feels fantastic to be in this situation -- way better than carrying all that debt did. As for the the saying or doing something I regret -- well, that would take too long to explain as I say or do things I regret regularly! :) I have lost more than 30 lbs. It took a lot of time — about 3 years — too long really but I’m not complaining. How did I do it? Well, to be honest, I think my metabolism changed when my youngest son was 3 years old and that made it a lot easier. I also started really watching my portions and made tiny changes in what I ate — moving towards healthier choices like switching to non-fat from 1%. At the same time, however, I have not given up anything that I really like — I eat chocolate whenever I want to and I use butter instead of margarine — just less of it. With chocolate, I love really good chocolate so I only eat REALLY good chocolate rather than whatever is handy. I think the biggest thing is not beating myself up if I “slip” and overeat. No worries — I’ll just get back on track. I also don’t expect to lose every week — if I lose, great. If not, I try to stay the same.

My husband and I had way more than 10,000 in credit card debt. THankfully, it is nearly all paid off. It was hard and painful. The only debt we have now is our mortgage and to my mother-in-law. We will never have credit card debt again. It feels fantastic to be in this situation — way better than carrying all that debt did.

As for the the saying or doing something I regret — well, that would take too long to explain as I say or do things I regret regularly! :)

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