Comments on: Small Changes Don’t Really Help

By: Jo/GaelicWench

Jo/GaelicWench — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 12:09:09 +0000

We are a society of immediate gratification. It’s like we have to have it yesterday. Stop the lattes, the lunches out and watch yourself get richer. You can’t see immediate results with moves such as this, but it helps as a start-up point. They’re called baby steps.

I tend to think that slow and steady wins the race, although a major step with refinancing one’s mortgage, as long as the savings are $200 and above can truly be a big boon for one’s budget. The caveat is that it won’t do any good if the savings aren’t reinvested somewhere else, such as paying down a car payment, put in retirement, set aside for any up and coming major purchase.

By: Minny

Minny — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 06:34:29 +0000

By: Rick

Rick — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:20:46 +0000

Small steps may help you from racking up additional debt, but it takes major steps to start paying it back.

By: Jimmy

Jimmy — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 23:26:16 +0000

Who cares about debt, corporations don’t pay their debts, the Govt. doesn’t pay their debts, why should you pay your debts? They can’t us all, just rack up as much debt as you can and don’t pay a dime, they can’t do crap to you.

By: larabelle

larabelle — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 21:19:26 +0000

I agree with Rachel people do save an extra $25 dollars just to spend and then they wonder why they are still in debt. Drastic circumstances (high debt) require drastic actions (extreme actions to delete debt).

By: Rachel McTague

Rachel McTague — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 19:33:45 +0000

The problem for many people is that they say, well I saved $10 with grocery coupons and $15 on the electric bill this month, so I have an extra $25 dollars (TO SPEND)…..

By: PrincessPerky

PrincessPerky — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 17:44:05 +0000

Maybe the mantra should change to ‘one small step at a time’.

Small steps can add up to big things, but basic math will tell you a big problem needs a big fix. You can’t get a big fix from one small step, you need lots of them. just not necessarily all at once.

Sometimes I think the old Tortoise and Hare story is more useful for adults than kids. Kids while they are impatient, are generally more willing to do a little bit and come back later to do more, adults have a ‘you must finish it all right now-or don’t bother’ mentality.

By: Allison

Allison — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:39:18 +0000

I agree with Leigh. Although I’m not sure what cows have to do with that…

By: Andrea Guennewig

Andrea Guennewig — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:02:50 +0000

I completely agree. Cutting the occasional latte won’t help individuals in the long run. What needs to happen is a re-evaluation of current expenses as they are now. Pay your bills and debt re-payments first. What’s left over is what you can spend on groceries, gas, dining out, etc. If that isn’t enough, request more hours or get a second job. Both are not easy, but they are necessary to getting ahead. It can be a long road…

By: PatientSaver

PatientSaver — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 01:44:45 +0000

If you spend all your time and energy doing “little” things to save money, you’ll have no energy left for the bigger things that count so much more.

So start with stuff like refinancing your mortgage or shopping around for car or homeowners insurance and forget about clipping .25 coupons if you’re not in the habit of doing so.

Priorities!