It’s really a simple word. Just two letters. Just a single syllable. And ironically, although we don’t use it nearly as much as we should, it’s probably one of the very first words we learn.
No.
In this journey of pursuing freedom from debt, it’s a word we’ve had to learn to use – a lot.
You see, to pay off over $114K dollars, you have to say no to a lot of different things. And you have to say no many, many, many times.
Good things. Fun things. Things that everyone else does.
Saying no isn’t easy. Saying no causes people to look at you like you have a third eye in the middle of your forehead. Saying no isn’t popular. It isn’t culturally accepted. It isn’t even fun.
But it’s necessary if you want to get traction and get out of debt.
We’re still saying no even though we’re close to the end of our journey {~ 6 months to go!}. And that’s because one of the ways we’ve been able to pay off as much debt as we have is by simply saying no $10 or even $5 or even $1 at a time.
We’re not killjoys. There are plenty of things that we would have liked to have done {and still do} . . .
Big things like: Going on vacation, giving Christmas gifts to each other {the King & I}, those adorable preschool photos of the Youngest Princess, improvements to our home, joining MOPS at our church {they are scholarships available but I didn’t feel like we rose to that level of need}, and giving big to those in need.
Little things like: Going to the movies, seeing our friends kids in musicals or productions, going to things at church like the Christmas Brunch, running events, ice cream out, sporting events, and giving in little ways to those in need.
But every time we say no, we get one step closer to our goal. And the majority of the items listed above aren’t one time opportunities. There will be more chances for us to do almost every single one of them once we’re debt free.
{lest you think we’re complete misers, we do practice generosity and giving on a regular basis but it is certainly not to the extent that we’d like to give. 🙂 ).
What do you need to say “no” to this month? This week? Today?
$114,665.76 paid off since April of 2008. With every “no” we’re one step closer to our goal.
[…] to look back and wonder what you even spent in these last few days of temptation. You can do it. Say, “no.” Stay out of the stores. Dial down the voices that cause you to stray. Lean in close to listen to […]