I wish to thank personally the thousands of people who have written to me over the past three years. Your candor, courage, and reports of progress have encouraged me more than you will ever know. Your enthusiasm and approval ratings have annihilated my perceived personal limitations and your willingness to share your personal financial struggles and remarkable progress have contributed to the success of Cheapskate Monthly. Special thanks to my assistant Cathy Hollenbeck for her constant help, invaluable expertise, and loyal support; Chris Purcell for hours of manuscript reading; my agent Toni Lopopolo; my editor Jennifer Weis and the staff at St. Martins Press. Finally, I want to acknowledge and thank my wonderful husband Harold and sons Jeremy and Josh for their love and patience, and for never complaining when the table is covered with books and manuscripts instead of dinner.
Counseling
Debtors Anonymous. If you have a problem with debting, you may wish to check them out. DA is a 12-Step Program which operates very much like Alcoholics Anonymous. They use the same guidelines and principles. To locate a group in your area you may call (212) 642-8222 or write: Debtors Anonymous, General Service Board, P.O. Box 411, Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10163-0400.
National Foundation for Consumer Credit. Consumer Credit Counseling (CCCS) provides low-cost or free assistance to consumers who are having trouble paying their bills. To find the office in your area call 1-800-388-CCCS. You will be referred to one of the more than 600 local offices.
Overspenders Anonymous. If you have a problem controlling your spending, this 12-Step Program may be for you. Check the white pages of your telephone book to find out if there is a group in your area.
Consumer Fresh Start. This is a group for people who have declared bankruptcy. They provide counseling, support, and other benefits. Call them at (815) 875-4078 or write: 217 N. Church St., Princeton, IL 61356.
Cutting Expenses
52 Ways to Stretch a Buck, Kenny Luck, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
1001 Ways to Cut Your Expenses, Jonathan D. Pond, Dell Publishers.
The Best of Cheapskate Monthly, Simple Tips for Living Lean in the 90s, Mary Hunt, St. Martins Press.
Cheaper and Better, Homemade Alternatives to Storebought Goods, Nancy Birnes, Harper & Row:
Cheapskate Monthly, newsletter, P.O. Box 2135, Paramount, CA 90723-8135. Published monthly. (See following page for special offer.)
Cut Your Bills in Half, the Editors of Rodale Press.
Cut Your Spending in Half, How to Pay the Lowest Price for Everything Without Settling for Less, the Editors of Rodale Press, distributed by St. Martins Press.
Eat Well for .$50 a Week, Rhonda Barfield, Lilac Publishing, P.O. Box 665, St. Charles, MO 63302-0655.
The Penny Pinchers Almanac, Handbook for Modern Frugality, Hundreds of Simple Ways to Spend Less and Get More, Dean King and the Editors of The Penny Pinchers Almanac.
Penny Pinching, How to Lower Your Everyday Expenses Without Lowering Your Standard of Living, Lee and Barbara Simmons, Bantam Books.
SavingMoney Any Way You Can, Mike Yorkey, Servant Publications, 1-800-486-8505.
Planning and Budgeting
The Family Budget Workbook, Gaining Control of Your Personal Finances, Larry Burkett, Moody Press.
Get Rich Slow, the Truth (not the hype) About What to do With Your Money and Why, Tama McAleese, Career Press, 1-800-CAREER-1.
How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt and Live Prosperously , Jerrold Mundis, Bantam Books.
Make Your Paycheck Last: The Complete Step by Step Guide to Personal and Family Financial Success , Harold Moe, Career Press, 1-800-CAREER-1.
The Money Drunk, 90 Days to Financial Freedom, Mark Bryan and Julia Cameron, Ballantine Books.
Saving and Investing
Guide to Understanding Money & Investing, Morris and Siegel, The Wall Street Journal and Lightbulb Press, distributed by Simon & Schuster.
How to Invest $50$5,000, Nancy Dunnan, Harper Perennial.
Straight Talk About Mutual Funds, Dian Vujovich, McGraw-Hill.
Cheapskate Monthly is an eight-page newsletter published twelve times a year, dedicated to helping those who are struggling to live within their means find practical and realistic methods and solutions to their financial problems. Cheapskate Monthly provides hope, encouragement, inspiration, and motivation to individuals who are committed to financially responsible and debt-free living and provides the highest quality information and resources possible in a format exclusive of paid advertising. You will find Cheapskate Monthly filled with tips, humor, and just plain great information to help you stretch those dollars til they scream!
Ive Been Where You Are
Theres a very good chance Ive been where you are now, financially speaking. Ive experienced just about every situation imaginable. Ive been slightly uncomfortable. Ive been in huge jams. Ive gone through minor dilemmas, moments of unbelievable abundance, and seasons of interminable financial drought. Ive been on the mountaintop of plenty, in the valley of desperation and every point between. Ive made most of lifes worst financial decisions. I know the secret terror of wondering not if, but when, to call the bankruptcy attorney. On more than one occasion Ive thrown myself into a heap wailing; This is it, theres absolutely no way out this time.
From time to time I experienced the delight of having what I considered large sums money come my way. But time and time again to my utter astonishment instead of more money solving the problemsand fixing everything, I would be left in an even worse situation when the money seemed to disappear into thin air.
I know what it feels like to live in a perpetual financial panic while trying to keep up appearances, dodge creditors phone calls, figure out clever new ways to make sure the mail mysteriously disappears, hide the shopping bags, cope with foreclosure notices, finagle, contrive, and cleverly deceive. I know how to manage a new outfit even when the checking account is overdrawn, the utilities havent been paid, and the credit cards are way beyond their limit.
Ive been caught up in the trap of worshiping money, convinced that just having enough of it will fix everything. I know how to envy others who in my distorted way of thinking have perfect lives, make more money than God, and are my living proof that money can absolutely buy happiness beyond belief. I know how to zap the joy right out of a marriage. I know how to put a spouse under so much financial pressure that his career is in jeopardy and his patience is all but spent.
Believe me, if financial juggling were an Olympic event Id be wearing a gold medal.
No matter what shape your finances are in, no matter how embarrassed, frightened, or uneasy you are right now, relax. I know what you are going through. If I havent experienced your exact situation I probably know someone who has. Ive heard it all, so you cant shock me. You should find comfortin knowing you are not alone and relief in understanding Im not going to judge, condemn, or flog you.
My own excursion into credit hell began quite innocently. As a college freshman I quickly adapted to the privacy, convenience, and freedom my personal checking account offered. And the flexibilitythat was the best part. By exercising a few clever maneuvers I could make purchases as early as Wednesday, get paid on Friday, deposit my check the following Monday and feel a little bit too cocky knowing that once again I had beaten the system. No problem. I could appear as affluent as any of my friends. I could cash checks at the local market and have sufficient time to figure out how to cover them later, in private and at a more convenient time.