Another medical bill down, a few lessons learned

Okay, in the giant scheme of things a $149 medical bill payment may not be a huge deal. It is to us. It frees up a little more breathing space in our monthly budget. That's pretty cool with me.  We still have the huge car repair looming over our heads but I feel pretty good about that.

You've probably read that our plan is to try to fix the engine instead of buying a new car. It's an unusual choice but I think it's the best for us. The more of the smaller bills that we can get out of the way, the better off we'll be.

Getting rid of the bills isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. What is working for us may not work for everyone. I think it's important to consider your lifestyle and to fit debt reduction strategies into that. I'm not a pro and this may backfire at some point. Right now, we're lowering our bills and I feel good about that.

Someone asked me if I'm really learning throughout this process. The answer is yes. Although we are still eating out, we're limiting the experiences to power lunches and the occasional treat. Accordign to some "experts" eating out is wrong. However; with our lifestyle it's also sometimes the only option.

We live between two large cities. Our work takes us to either city a few days a week. Sometimes, it takes us to both. It's not always possible to toss a picnic basket in the car. However; it is possible to continually keep an eye out for coupons and use them. Another thing that we do is pay attention to specials.

These things give us a psychological boost and the savings go toward other bills. It's slow, but it's progress and I think that's what counts the most.