Final Results: No Restaurants Equal Big Savings

Photo Credit: scott.eyre Well November has come and gone! As most of you already know, I wanted to challenge myself — and you — to commit to not eating out at any restaurants at all for the month of November. So I started the No Restaurants in November Challenge. Some were excited, some were pessimistic, and some even questioned the reality of doing such a thing. While I definitely consider it to be more realistic than some claim, I still see how different lifestyles could make it more difficult for someone to accomplish this. With that said, I say anything […] Read more »

22 Days of No Restaurants in November

Photo Credit: Eboli The “Normal” Justification Routine Cue Dream Sequence I’ve been up since 6 a.m. My 1 year old had a rough night due to teething and the day has not been much better. I completed some of the work I needed to do for today but there is so much more to do. I couldn’t keep the kids inside all day while I typed away and it was such a nice day so I took them out to play at the park. We played Frisbee, Downhill Racer, played at the park, then went home and helped Isaac work […] Read more »

Shocking News: Two Weeks of No Restaurants and I’m Still Alive

Two weeks without a single bite at a restaurant…Yippeee! No delivery. No fast food. No buffets. To be honest with you, this has been much easier than I expected. The rest of this month is going to be even easier. At this point I am wondering why something like this would be considered extreme and unrealistic to so many. Hard maybe, but extreme? Come on. Is making yourself exercise extreme? Is eating right extreme? I think not, although I admit that there is a degree of difficulty in doing any of the above. 😉 Still I find that it’s no […] Read more »

No Restaurant November Update and October Confession

Photo Credit: Yours Truly It was really fun reading the reactions from people related to this challenge. (responses on other blogs listed below) Until I started reading them I never really considered what I was proposing to be extreme, but apparently it is the equivalent of dangling your child over a balcony. Some adamantly opposed the idea right away, while others admitted it was something they would like to do, but just couldn’t. The rest said let’s do it! That’s what I’m talking about baby! I left a comment on Budgets Are Sexy suggesting that to those who said it […] Read more »

No Restaurants in November Challenge

Is your budget brutally pounded by your inability to stay away from the restaurants? Of all the things my wife and I have changed about our financial habits, dining out seems to be our current addiction of addictions. We did fine while we were jazzed and intense about getting out of debt, but ever since, we have been haunted by this ghost of convenience. Read more »

How To Dress Nicely On A Budget

This is a guest post by David Bakke Photo Credit: beckyjohns7 Up until recently, I always had the luxury of having the majority of my clothes purchased for me, either by my mom when I was younger, my wife when I was “grown up,” and by family and friends during the gift-giving holidays. I know, it sounds like I’m really spoiled or something, but in actuality, all of these close people in my life have always enjoyed shopping for clothes for me. Yup, I’m a pretty fortunate guy! However, my wife got a full-time job two years ago that made […] Read more »

Introducing EOD Basic 3.0: Made for Newbies, but Perfect for Everyone

The day has finally come! HERE–> EOD Basic 3.0 is RIGHT HERE!! <–HERE This one is lighter than the deluxe version (still to come), so I called it EOD Basic. I created it with newbies in mind with a step-by-step process to help you from beginning to end. I am confident that you will love this version. With 2.0, the first reaction I usually got when showing it was: “ohhhh…ummm…yeeaaahhh, where…do…I…begin? In their very best Bill Lumberg impression. 2.0 was great and certainly comprehensive enough for the nerd balls like myself, but I have to admit at first glance, it […] Read more »

EOD Basic 3.0 Almost Ready to be Released!

Photo Credit: Dr. Propaganda I have been working really hard to try and launch my third edition of the EOD Budget. The new version is called EOD Deluxe Budget 3.0, but as I ran into a few speed bumps trying to add more features to it and revamp the entire thing, I decided to publish the EOD Basic 3.0 Beta version so I could give you something sooner. (Deluxe version still to come) I am finishing up a few last minute details right now, but plan on launching it tomorrow. To those who have been patiently waiting for 3.0, I’m […] Read more »

Manage Your Money Week 3 – Death By 1000 Cuts

Welcome to week 3 of the Manage your Money Challenge! We’re half way through the month and I am excited to see how much these challenges seem to be helping you. We were down to only 9 participants last week but I am still so excited. Those 9 are really taking this budgeting stuff seriously, and the comments and openness have been so wonderful. Thank you so much for your participation! Let’s get to it, shall we? 🙂 This Weeks Prize Winners! (via Random.org) Financial Peace University DVD Lesson: Relating With Money – Michelle Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace Junior – […] Read more »

Manage Your Money Week 2 – Teamwork, Accountability, and Kids

WOW! Out of the 44 that signed up, only 12 showed up, leaving 32 people MIA. That’s alright though, there is still a chance to redeem yourself. Don’t give up before you even start! How are you going to change things if you don’t do the work? I know it’s hard! I know you’re scared! I know you’re intimidated! But you have to make some changes, and you may as well start now. You are still welcome, and can win some prizes. Make the changes now! To the ones that showed up, and blew me away with their honesty and […] Read more »

Manage Your Money Pre-Challenge Post: On Paper On Purpose

Hello all! I hope you are all excited to be taking part in the first ever Manage Your Money Challenge here on Enemy of Debt. If you have not already signed up, please do so now. I am excited to be working beside you on this. Now before we get started I want to say this. I do not inherently love budgeting. BUT, there are a lot of things that I have to do in life that do not thrill me but are necessary. So I do them. Budgeting can be simple, hard, boring, exciting, or as my good buddy […] Read more »

The March 2010 “Manage Your Money” Challenge: Featuring Pocketsmith – Are You In Or Out?

Howdy folks! Two of my 2010 resolutions for Enemy of Debt in the year 2010 were to 1) Engage subscribers more actively and 2) Build an active and supportive EOD community. That’s why I have decided to ask you to participate in a new feature post at EOD called “Manage Your Money”. OTHER MANAGE YOUR MONEY POSTS Manage Your Money Sign Up Manage Your Money Pre-Challenge Post: On Paper On Purpose I Love You…Like A Blogger! WEEK ONE CHALLENGE: Manage Your Money – Wants Versus Needs (Mandatory participation to win prizes) WEEK TWO CHALLENGE: Teamwork, Accountability, and Kids (Mandatory participation […] Read more »

12 Steps To Debt Freedom

I am addicted to becoming and staying debt free! Are you addicted to becoming and staying debt free? If so, these are the principles and ideas that you would follow to achieve such a thing.   You have probably heard about the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous, and how they really help these folks cope from day to day.  I just created 12 principles very loosely based on those of AA, with a debt free spin. I really just got the idea of where and how to list them, and then I just started thinking of all the things one […] Read more »

7 Tips To Make Your Budget Work

1. Maintain An Emergency Fund Of $1,000 This is very important!  If you do not have an adequate emergency fund when life happens to you, you will feel defeated.  It has a very negative impact on your desire to budget when you have to reorganize EVERYTHING to pay for emergencies.  If you have an emergency fund all you have to do is cover the emergency without reorganizing the entire budget. 2. Remember That You & Your Spouse Are On The Same Team The friction caused by disagreement will often cause the budget to be a flop before it ever has […] Read more »