My   higher education cost me $66k (plus interest) .


I was happily under the impression that I was eligible for the public service loan forgiveness program passed in 2007 (forgiving loans after 10 years of consistent payments). The program provides loan forgiveness to public/non-profit/educators/health workers, knowing that these public service sectors pay far less than the private sector and yet society needs good teachers, etc.


Since I’ve only ever worked in the non-profit/public sectors, I was excited when I first learned that I may someday vanquish the financial burden of being educated. But now that I’ve been looking over requirements closer, I think  I’m ineligible because my loans are through the Federal Family Education Loans program, not the Federal Direct Loan program. Moreover, you can only consolidate once (without adding more student loans), and I only wish that I had read this fine print a few years ago when I learned of the program.

On a side note, I found a site that proposes forgiving student loans to stimulate the economy. I couldn’t agree more.


Do you have student loans?


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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

I’m still trying to digest our expenses for the month of February, because it honestly doesn’t feel like we spent that much money. Once I looked closer at the expenses, there’s actually nothing we purchased the will last longer than what’s in our fridge/cupboard. In fact, w e spent a total of $438.83 on groceries, and another $278.77 eating out. We also spent $170 on charities. But we were frugal in other ways, my $20 haircut and we only filled the gas tank up once (still have a half tank too).


Now I can better see how Hubby’s common saying is that “we are hemorrhaging money!” It does make it seem more real to type it all up and share it with you …here it goes:


Feb 1st

• $60 – boot camp classes – cash
• $60 – paid remainder of birthday party expense – cash
• $4.50 (+ .50ct tip) – Fuego burrito cart – cash
• $41.17 – Spud –  AmEx Costco card

Feb 2nd

• $1,954 – Childcare tuition – automatic debit

Feb 3rd

• $66.90 – Turbotax – debit card
• $9.45 Hubby’s lunch – debit card
• $65.49 Electric utility – automatic debit

Feb 8th

• $3.75 Hubby’s coffee – debit card
• $3.99 my lunch – debit card
• $10.00 OPB member donation – Continental card

• $4.38 my lunch – debit card
• $26.28 Rite Aid – no recollection – debit card

February 28th

• $13.97 – healthy work snacks – debit card
• $288.00 – student loan – automatic debit

Have you written out your expenses lately…or ever?!

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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.

I’ve raved before about the great deals I’ve found on Groupon and Living Social, but since the new year I’ve been taking an intentional hiatus from online deals.


Sometimes the bargains seemed too good to pass up, and I got caught up “saving” money…all the while spending too much!  Thankfully, I can truly say that the majority of the deals were at local places where we already enjoy going, and I think that we saved some money eating out. 


But Groupons/Living Social deals are tricky for budgeting because you spend the money sometimes long before you ever use the service.


Then there’s also the issue of expiration dates, which has been the biggest hassle for me. I find myself strategically planning our weekend around where we need to use a Groupon. It’s certainly not a stress I need in my life.


In full disclosure, I felt the need to tally/share all the Groupons I’ve bought in the past year. Like I suspected, the expense really does add up. It shows how easily a well meaning budget conscious person can spend a lot to save a little. 


Current Groupons:

• $40 Soluna Grill – paid $20
• $80 Fish Window Cleaning – paid $40
• $25 Pistils Nursery – paid $10
• $60 Pixie Project – paid $30
• $25 Hash Restaurant – paid $12 –                                                  Subtotal=$112

Past year – used already:

• $50 Nordstrom rack – paid $25
• 3 Santa photos – paid $10
• Pumpkin patch Oregon Maize – paid $7
• $10 SuperDog – paid $5
• $15 Pizza a go go – paid $7
• $15 Habibi Lebanese – paid $7
• $25 Ukiyoe Japanese Restaurant – paid $12
• $15 x2 Elephant’s Delicatessen – paid $15
• $8 x2 Wayne’s Chicago Red Hots – paid $8
• $25 Concordia Ale House – paid $12
• $13 Posies Cafe – paid $6
• $10 Cafe Brioso – paid $5
• $45 Strut Salon – paid $20
• $35 x2 Chameleon Restaurant – paid $30
• $15 x2 Bella Faccia – paid $14
• $25 Pizza Fino – paid $12
• $50 Spud – paid $25                                                                   Subtotal =$220

Living Social current unused:

• $30 – Cup and Saucer – paid $15
• $20 – Homebrew exchange – paid $10
• $35 – One hour massage at Ruby Violet
• $25 – Brow shape – paid $12.50                                                  Subtotal=$72.50

Already enjoyed:

• Skamania Lodge – $169
• Hot Stone massage at Written on the Body – $30                         Subtotal=$199

GRAND TOTAL=  $603.50

1. Must be in our neighborhood or a favorite place of ours.
2. Must have/make plans to use within the next month – not just by the expiration.
3. Must truly save us money on something we would regularly buy.
4. If in question, check with Hubby – he’ll almost always tell me not to buy it…unless it’s someplace he can’t resist either…

Lastly, while I’m little scared to sign up for it, the site Mind. Body. Green is supposed to be the new Groupon for Greenies…

Have you become addicted to Groupons?


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Sustainable Family Finances 
The story of a family creating an abundant and sustainable life.