Wow, am I in a better place than I was 5 years ago. As of August 1st, my mortgage goes down to $1044, compared to $1900 in 2004. My kids are old enough to stay home alone during the summer, saving me $500 a month in day care. If I was still paying those other things, with the price of gas being what it is and the increase in the cost of groceries since 2004, I don't know how I'd be making it.
Then again, we've added luxuries.. new car payment, digital cable with many premium channels and DVR, cell phones for the kids. But, I do recognize they are luxuries and if things got bad, I could cut those expenses. And, now I'll be adding about $4000 a year tuition/fees when I start grad school, over and above the $3000 my employer will pay me in tuition reimbursement (but which I DO have to pay upfront). I feel quite lucky to be in a better spot now than 5 years ago!
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