经过安妮·加里亚诺（Anne Gagliano）
我的丈夫迈克（Mike）和我很高兴旅行很多。我们可以在这个美好的国家与消防员交谈，甚至更好，我们还可以花时间与他们在一起。We just got back from one such trip to South Carolina, and to our delight we spent quality time visiting with our dear friends Jonathan and Denise Jones, the couple who bravely shared their financial story in my last column, “Surviving on a Firefighter’s Income, Part 1.” When their children were babies, Denise desired above all else to stay home with them. It took major sacrifice and massive creativity, but they pulled it off.
乔纳森（Jonathan）今天是国家消防元帅，这是一个令人难以置信的享有声望的职位，丹妮丝（Denise）回到了教学学校。孩子们不再是婴儿，而是青少年！他们像从未有过的那样蓬勃发展，我们不能为他们感到高兴。他们确实设法靠消防员的收入生活了很多年。他们这样做了吗？他们申请了三个简单策略，the same ones we did so that I, too, could stay home with my babies—long ago.
#1.Downscale.Jonathan and Denise sold their bigger house and moved into her grandparent’s farm house that nobody else in the family wanted. It was nearly uninhabitable. The floors had obvious big holes and some that were not so obvious but were discovered as they went along. The roof leaked. It only had one tiny bathroom. It was very small and very old and in the middle of farm land and all the critters that come with it. Mike and I finally got to see this house we’ve heard so much about over the years; today, it is absolutely darling. They have completely renovated. But when they first moved in, it wasn’t so nice. They weren’t too proud to take this humble step, and today they are so glad they did.
消防员，如果您碰巧没有家庭拥有的农舍，请尝试以其他方式进行缩减。我知道几对卖出“大”房子并搬进了较小房屋的消防夫妇不再是妈妈可以待在家里，而是为了节省挣扎的婚姻，减轻经济困难，或者只是让消防员有机会工作一份工作而不是工作三。
Another way to downscale is by cutting living expenses. Food costs fluctuate drastically. Eating out is very expensive; simply吃进去more often. Make large meals that keep well—i.e., stews, chilis, pastas, casseroles—for convenience so as not to be tempted to buy that quick, easy fast-food meal. Home cooking is not only cheaper but better nutritionally.
电话，保险和有线电视 - 这三个账单是普通房屋中的主食，它们也有很多摆动的房间。始终在寻找切割它们的方法。如果不定期进行审查，他们实际上将“爬升”。实际上，这些实际上是可以谈判的，正如我在许多情况下发现的那样。您不需要所有可能的功能或升级。当您致电并要求特价商品时，他们有义务告诉您。为期一年的优惠，折扣，免费升级和入门税率，这些始终提供。和周围的购物；竞争是一件好事。这些公司知道这一点，并希望保持您的业务。
另一个低档的提示是在家玩得开心。这是一种从昂贵的郊游中节省资金的简单方法。通过家庭电影之夜或棋盘游戏娱乐孩子，而不是购买每个花哨的新电子玩具。骑自行车，散步，打球 - 所有这些都是获得不花钱的乐趣的好方法。约会之夜也可以在家完成。让孩子们提早睡觉并获得创造力 - 观看一部有趣的电影，您在约会时看过，并假装这是一家很久以前的剧院。或宿舍。想象力是免费的。简单的生活通常是最愉快的。
#2.成为节俭的购物者。Make very careful grocery lists and stick to them. Denise Jones became an expert “coupon” shopper. This is a great way to save money. I too clipped coupons when my kids were little, and today I still make careful lists and stick to them, just because; it has become a long-ingrained, good habit. It will also help us with our next transition in life—retirement, when once again our income will be less. Impulse buying often is a major mistake, an unnecessary way to blow discretionary cash; without a list, this is more likely to occur. Trust me I know, as when my husband Mike goes shopping—he comes home with the craziest things.
Buying used is another way to save–used cars, used furniture, clothing, and other household items. It’s easier than ever to do this with things like eBay and Craigslist. And you can even sell your unwanted items online as well; declutter and make money at the same time.
我在旧货店买了多年；是的，它们仍然存在。您会惊讶于在那里找到的宝石，尤其是儿童服装，这些衣服通常是在长大后捐赠的，而不是淘汰了。它可能是昂贵的衣服，只需清洗，就像新的一样。您的孩子，尤其是小孩子，比全新的设计师服装更珍惜时间。
＃3。偿还债务。有很多方法可以做到这一点。债务是财富杀手。兴趣使简单的购买成本超出了应有的价格。
乔纳森（Jonathan）和丹妮丝（Denise）通过阅读书籍获得了技巧。戴夫·拉姆西（Dave Ramsey）在这个主题上有几个（或找到吸引您的作者）。拉姆西建议先瞄准您最小的债务，并尽快偿还。一旦还清了该法案，就采用了新的收入来源并将其应用于下一个债务，而不仅仅是将其添加到一般预算中。随着每笔账单的偿还，将付款金额合并并申请下一张，直到所有债务付款，以众议院结束。
攻击信用卡债务的另一种方法是购买具有更好利率的卡并将您的债务转移给他们。过去，我做了很多次，获得的价格如此之低，以至于我们能够非常迅速地还清信用卡债务。
Shop banks for better checking and savings accounts. Find ones that charge no fees and offer higher interest rates on savings accounts. You don’t have to settle—it’s your money; be choosy.
Firefighters, if Mom (or Dad) wants to stay home with the kids, keep in mind that the stay-at-home parent, if paid for all that they do, would earn $112,962.00 (Salary.com). Being home saves money; pay yourself instead of others. If you really want it—go for it!
Or if you just want to work less, save for something special like a vacation, or even retire—find ways to downscale, become a thrifty shopper, and pay off interest-accruing debt. It is fun and satisfying to achieve financial goals together as a couple and as a family. Apply that firefighter can-do, type-A, fix-it personality to your finances, and watch what happens!
安妮·加里亚诺（Anne Gagliano）已与西雅图消防局的迈克·加利亚诺（Mike Gagliano）上尉结婚32年。她和她的丈夫一起讲授建立和保持牢固的婚姻。
