5 Things I have Learned from NOT Relying on Credit

Many of you probably read my goals for getting out of debt in the next 5 years, but if you didn’t I suggest that you read it first right here. I plan to not have any debt, pay for my first house in cash, and be ready to for any emergency in the next 5-10 years, but most of it is happening in the next 1-2.

While paying off all of my debt, I have learned a lot of things including budgeting, savings, a little investing, as well as how to not rely on credit.

I was a little different growing up though. When I got a paper route, my money went into savings and I got to keep part of it. When I started working at McDonald’s almost 1/2 of every paycheck when to savings and I could use the rest for whatever I wanted. Through college, I used more savings than I put in there some months, but I was never worried because I had enough put away that I didn’t really need to work, plus I had my drill paychecks and GI Bill that helped out tremendously in the first year of college.

Throughout all of my jobs, my parents never encouraged me to get a credit card. I know GASSPP! I have no credit what-so-ever. This tends to be such a terrible thing for people today, but I guess my outlook is that you don’t really need credit if you don’t need a loan. Since I plan to buy my first house in cash, I don’t suspect that credit will really be a problem for me.

Here are the 5 main things that I have learned from not relying on credit:

My Financial Story

I have put a lot of thought into this blog, wanting to share some, but not everything. My debt story is unlike any others.

Most people who have a “debt story” talk about how they needed money, so they borrowed it. They racked up credit card bills without worrying about tomorrow. They needed that new 2015 car, so they bought it on a loan from the dealer. I am not saying that any of these are better or worse than what I did, but at 20 years old, I am 26k in debt.

One word.

College.

Why I Meal Plan!

I know there is a lot out there on the benefits to planning out meals at least a week in advance, so I thought I would add my two cents into it. I love meal planning, but I don’t necessarily do it the way that everyone else does. When I meal plan, I just list enough meals for 2 weeks and then we kinda go by week. I normally figure out what we are having the for supper the night before so I know if I need to prep anything or make sure something is ready to go.

My meal plan for two weeks consists of:
  A few new recipes
A few “convenience meals” (Hamburger helper, frozen pizzas)
A few traditional favorites (Spaghetti, burgers)
Two leftovers nights
One night out

Off the Desk Paper Organization!

Since I’ve been at home since the move, I have taken it into my hands to do the house cleaning (for the most part), meal planning, and organizing (again, what I can do.)

I am constantly finding that I don’t have a place to put the bills other than under a magnet on the fridge because 1. there are two drawers in our kitchen and they are both taken. and 2. There isn’t a whole lot of table and counter space as you walk in the door. (Bonus because our tables don’t become a catch all). Anyway, I am always afraid I am going to lose an important piece of paper and not be able to find it when it comes time to pay that bill. Our office desk is less than functional because we have a TV sitting on it to be used as a monitor for my broken laptop.

I decided that I needed some kind of organization process for mail, bills and other things of the sort. I finally got the hammer and nails out to hang up the bulletin board in the office and started to work away. I spent a little bit of time trying to figure out how to print on envelopes and it took a little experimenting, but I finally got it.

Save the MOST bucks from YOUR Commissary shopping trip

This doesn’t apply to a ton of my typical readers, but it is something that I have been working on learning and wanted to share with the rest of you.  If you do stumble upon this from a shared link of pinterest pin, please share with me the tips that you have found to work the best!

Rules for Shopping at the Commissary:

Why I Am Moving In, With No Ring In Sight.

I guess this isn’t really something that I need to broadcast, but I wanted to address it anyway. I am moving into an apartment with Matt this summer. We have no plans of marriage in the foreseeable future.
We have found a place in Omaha that we will be moving into. I am going to school. He got a full time job! I am going to continue with my military training.

Here is why I am addressing this. Many people have given me questionable, weird looks when I say that we are getting an apartment together. That I am switching from Lincoln to Omaha for school. I have gotten some “shame on you” finger pointing and some disapproving looks. I know that it doesn’t matter what other people think, but at the same time it does matter to me.

Money Saving Tips #2

As most people know from reading this blog, I am all about saving money. I am trying to come up with more creative ways to push that penny a little farther. Just in case you missed the first Money saving post. Here is the link to it. I have continued to find ideas and slowly add to them. I am hoping that this list gives you some more great ideas for saving money. Whether that money goes toward a new house, vacation, to pay off debt or whatever else it could possibly be.  This is my combination of other things I have found and other peoples comments.

Money Savings Tips #1

This blog is an extra one for the day to make up for all the days that I have been slacking off. It was started a while ago and when I come across something, I open up my blog and type it in there. Finally, I think I have finished this one at least.  I am hoping to make this a series of posts, but one step at a time.

Being young and working for every single penny that I earn. It is important to make sure that it all goes to something worth while. Right now, I am all about money saving.