Hi Willie! Thanks so much for your blog - great reading and tips. Let me get my star struck self out of the way by telling you how much I enjoy your character on WC - you, and the rest of the cast are fantastic - wouldn’t miss a show.

Okay- now to the topic at hand…we are a family of 4 - and make under 3 figures. We’ve sent the two boys to private grade and high schools by my husband working and at times, me working three jobs - all worth it. But we’ve never wanted for anything…

As far as college goes, I knew I would have to get a job at a University or College prior to the first son leaving high school so that he could get his education at a major discount. Although I hadn’t been a secretary in 20 years, a private, local university hired me as such. T.J. got his 4 year bachelor’s degree basically free, and now they have hired him as a computer programmer, which enables him to get his MBA for free. He is almost done. Our youngest, Tyler,  just started college, and I just graduated with my bachelor’s, working on a master’s degree - all for just fees - which amount to almost nothing. The boys will not have college loans hanging over their heads. My sister-in-law did this also for her children.

I go to http://www.restaurant.com when they have 80% off of their already reduced restaurant certificates - that’s how we go out to eat - so it isn’t an arm or a leg.

For my clothes, I shop a local web site that has extensions all over the US - http://www.jolietyardsales.com Great place to buy and sell anything and everything.

We never sell a car until it is paid off - never rolling two loans together.

I bring my own pop and coffee to work instead of purchasing at a nice coffee shop or McD’s

Dicker with the cable company once a year to bring our internet/cable/phone bill down. They always seem to pull a deal out just before I say I’m canceling the service - funny how that works….

My husband worked on making double payments to pay the house off in 1/2 the time (yay!) And like you said - use credit cards like cash - paying them off at the end of each month!

Well, I’ve bored you enough - thanks again for sharing your ideas online and your other talents on screen —

Donna