Estimated reading time: 10 minutes
Get inspired by this true budgeting story. Learn how one family tackled debt and took control of their finances for a better future.
Budgeting With Someone You Trust To Guide Your Financial Journey
A True Budgeting Story: Thanks for sharing your story, Jen.
This is very inspirational, and I hope you enjoy it and realize anything is possible.
It’s Amazing How Much You Can Accomplish With Your Debt When You Just Talk To Someone- Jen
Dear CBB,
When I was younger, my parents always said they were “in the hole” and talked about their credit line.
We never really went without anything and still took family vacations (more so as I got a little older).
Now, in my early to mid-30s with a husband and a 20-month-old son, we are over $41,000 (Line of credit and two car loans) in debt, not including the mortgage.
My Financial Story
I got my first job at 14 and worked all through high school and college (I was lucky enough that my parents paid for my schooling).
I’ve been in and out of debt since I was young, and it wasn’t until now that I started to buckle down.
It got so scary that we even went through the process of being on the TV show “Til Debt Do Us Part” in hopes of getting us back on track.
We did the interviews, booked our sessions, and found out the network didn’t like us.
However, we got along too well and weren’t at the end of our ropes in finance and relationships.
I have rolled debt into the mortgage two or three times (I can’t remember).
One time was after my divorce (I put some debt and the buyout money into the mortgage), and when my new hubby and I went to put his name on the mortgage, we rolled his debt into the mortgage over $45,000!
We tried doing Gail’s budget after this experience and failed miserably after one week.
We figured we were doing OK, just saving money by using coupons, and went on living with blinders.
Maternity Leave Happened
When I went on maternity leave in 2010, we were almost $5,000 in debt (just the line of credit).
By the time I finished maternity leave, we were $21,000 in debt, plus over $30,000 in car loans as we purchased used cars.
This debt is accumulated by living above our means (including using the line of credit for a $3,000 down payment on a used vehicle).
We don’t try to keep up with the Jones with the latest gadgets, but we spend more than we make.
Using Coupons To Help With Budgeting
In January 2012, I researched Canadian Couponing a little deeper to see what else I could do, even though we used them weekly.
Then, I found a Canadian Couponing site that no longer exists but helped us learn about coupons.
I found some valuable information to help save money through Couponing, such as price adjustments, stockpiling tips, free samples, rewards programs, etc.
How I Found Canadian Budget Binder
Shortly after, I was introduced to Canadian Budget Binder, and my life began to change.
I started to learn more tips and tricks for leading a frugal lifestyle, but I still wasn’t doing well enough.
Through my “talks” with Mr. CBB, I realized how we were headed would never get better, and we needed to change.
I realized that if we didn’t start budgeting and spending less than we earned, we would keep digging a hole for our family.
My savior was born in April! Mr. CBB discussed needing BETA testers for his Canadian Budget Binder Spreadsheet (CBBS).
Mr.CBB just finished designing his budget in Excel for his family and wanted to offer it to the fans if they wanted to use it (for Free).
At this moment, I knew this was my chance to get us back on track with his help.
I was lucky enough for Mr. CBB to select me, and that’s when my money-saving journey began.
Our Budgeting Journey
The first month required a lot of re-calculation, more math than I like to do, and some frustration (but it has gotten easier since then).
It is still an ongoing process, but I am confident we can make this work.
My husband and the rest of my family criticized me for Couponing, so I wasn’t looking forward to their reactions when they found out I was budgeting.
Getting My Spouse Onboard With Budgeting
He was not very receptive to budgeting as he doesn’t like to be told what he can and cannot do with his money.
Inevitably, this caused a few “money arguments” and some tension between us.
I tried to show him how the CBBS looked occasionally and our numbers, but he didn’t pay much attention.
He gets irritated sometimes when I say we can’t afford something, but other times, I unfortunately fall back into my old ways and give in.
My parents seemed almost proud of me and have been relatively supportive of this journey.
If I say we can’t afford to do something not within the budget, I’m comforted knowing they understand.
Balancing Needs vs. Wants
However, I can still do better, but right now, there are just some things I am not willing to give up (like my cell phone and satellite).
I try to find other ways to make up for it, like calling my service providers and asking for deeper discounts, and my hubby works overtime.
A part-time job doesn’t make sense when my hubby can make triple what I would at a part-time minimum-wage job (my job does not allow for paid overtime).
I have also been trying to sell as much stuff as I can find in our basement that we no longer need to supplement our income and do product testing, which pays $20-$40 cash for 30-60 minutes of work.
How I Handle Seasonal Layoffs
Another obstacle I have to overcome is my seasonal lay-offs.
I get laid off for two weeks in December, one week in March, and all of July and August (I am a special needs teaching assistant).
I’ve always saved money for these lay-offs in a particular account and figured I was doing well enough with that.
I can/do collect Employment Insurance for these lay-offs (however, that dramatically reduces my income).
Typically, during these lay-offs, I never changed my spending habits and continued using our line of credit to go further into debt.
However, with a budget now, I made it through my summer lay-off without using it or living off the overdraft like we used to.
The Grocery Game Challenge
The Grocery Game Challenge (GGC) has helped me more than anyone could ever know.
Our budget is $100 per week (before I started the GGC, we were spending $600-$700 a month plus money on eating out – which we no longer do).
This figure includes everything from food, health and beauty items, cleaning/laundry supplies, and baby items.
I’d never thought about buying “pink sticker” reduced items like bread before I saw Mr. CBB talk about it.
I throw most of them in the freezer anyway.
Why The Grocery Game Worked For Me
Edit: Please note the GGC is no longer running.
The GGC has worked for me because it holds me accountable to someone for the way I spend my money.
If I didn’t use the GGC, I wouldn’t care if I went over my budget.
Knowing that it will be on the internet for Mr. CBB and all my fellow fans to see motivates me to do well (I compare this to Weight Watchers.
I am a Lifetime member, and I have always found that I do far better when I attend meetings and have group support and weigh-ins.
If I weigh in and leave, I am not accountable to anyone and don’t do well at all.
Having people clap for you when you lose a few pounds is surprisingly motivating!)
Some weird kind of relationship has developed with Mr. CBB, and now all I want to do is make him proud.
Watching Our Debt Decrease With Mr. CBB
When I began budgeting with Mr. CBB in May, my line of credit was just over $15,800.
Not even three months later, it was down to just over $13,500.
That was a little help from a lovely gift from my parents, but before Mr. CBB, I wasn’t paying money on it except for tax returns.
I was using it as income and paying the money back on a regular bi-weekly basis.
Furthermore, I had cut out any savings except for my RRSP until the line of credit was paid.
When it was paid, I would then start up my Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and education fund (RESP) for my son again.
I was incredibly proud of myself for making it through my entire summer layoff this year without using my line of credit.
Opening A Line Of Credit
Then, In October, we started looking for more ways to save money and decided to get a Home-line of credit,
The line of credit is secured with your home and charges prime plus a half percent interest).
We put our line of credit debt and car loans into this Home-line plan.
I did this because the interest rate on our line of credit was 6.31%, our car loans were 5.99% and 6.99%, and the Home-line interest rate would be 3.5%, saving us a great deal in interest payments over time.
We pay the Home-line of credit bi-weekly, just like a mortgage, so this loan will be paid off before they were even originally due to be paid off through the dealership’s financing companies.
Getting Our Finances On Track
I have also started contributing bi-weekly to my son’s Registered Education Savings Plan again.
We think more about purchases, often not impulsively, and either wait to get a deal or check Free-cycle or Kijiji for items.
It’s November, and I’ve caught my husband taking more interest in the budget.
When I am sitting on the couch working on it beside him, he glances at it and asks questions or makes comments.
He tries to bring me all of his receipts, and he is getting better at saying “no” to people at work who want money for things and saying “no” to himself when he wants something.
He also talks to me more when it comes to making purchases.
I want to impart financial wisdom to my son (not that my parents did a horrible job with me,
However, there are some things I wish I had known then that I know now) and have him live a debt-free life with parents who are not always stressed about money.
He is my motivation.
We are still working hard at our finances, but budgeting has gotten us back on track, and we will be forever grateful.
Mr. CBB is incredible!!!
Jen Peacock and Family
New! Now you can read Part 2 of their Budgeting Journey! Couple on the Debt Binge Train Rid of $40,000 worth of Debt
Discussion: What steps did you take to help you get on the budgeting track?
Please leave me your comments below, and don’t forget to sign up for the blog.
Stories like these are always great to hear. I am happy for you Jen and hope you continue on your path to financial freedom. Budgeting is a great, but very under-utilized tool by many.
Thanks Debt RoundUp I whole heartedly agree 🙂
So glad to hear that your spouse is slowly getting more and more on board. Also, very interesting to hear that you got along too well for Gail! Congratulations on all of the progress you have made. Sounds like things will be ship shape for you very soon, which is awesome!
Thanks Anne! Yes, I don’t think there was enough tension in our relationship for the network lol 🙂
Great story ! Glad to hear about the great progress! 🙂
Thanks Gillian!
Awesome story, mate! Congrats, Jen, on finding your way back and hope for all the best in the future. You should come back and post here once you have become debt free! 🙂
Thanks! I really hope to be able to write that post one day in the next few years!
Thank you for sharing your story Jen!
I am very proud of the turn around and choices you have made and I hope you are too!
Being here with Mr.CBB, you and all the other fans are really a great support group at my fingertips and so glad I am apart of it 🙂
Thanks Juanita! I glad that being a part of this group helps so many people out! 🙂
Jen, it sounds like you and hubby are well on your way to financial peace of mind and prosperity. Congratulations! Keep plugging away it at. Also , it would be wonderful to receive periodic updates from you to gauge your family’s progress.
Thanks Jennifer! I hope to be able to provide those positive updates! lol 🙂
Good for you Jen and thank you for being so honest about your story. It’s always nice to know that we’re not alone in the struggle and it’s encouraging to see the good progress you’ve made.
Thanks Beth Anne! I was surprised when I started this journey at just how many people do budget and are on the right track as well as just how many were living beyond their means and drowning in debt…seems like quite a split to me.
Great story Jen! So glad to see that things are back on the correct path for you and that you’re making some progress. I used to have the same aversion to budgets, but now I couldn’t live without ours.
Thanks John!
it’s great that you’ve begun budgeting employing other financially sound tactics to reduce your debt. Keep up the positive progress and it’s good that your husband is warming up to the idea. Mr. CBB is really helpful to so many including myself.
My hubby actually just said that he’s interested in reading my post! LOL I know that even though he doesn’t say it, he appreciates what I’ve done 🙂 Thanks!
Keep on picking away at it Jen! Some days are harder than others but when the debt is zero and the savings start rising…you will see ever bit of scrimping and saving has been worth it. 🙂
Thanks Mary! I really do hope to feel that way one day!
great story Jen! Keep it up;)
Thanks Wendy!
Jen, I too have been starting to really look at a budget. Going through some life changing events has forced me to do so….but I’m thankful for that. I don’t want to start my new life “on a bad foot” Congrats to you and your family! You are doing awesome!!!!
Thanks Zayba! Life changes really force you to step back and re-evaluate things. Start budgeting and you definitely won’t be starting your new life “on a bad foot”! Good luck and I hope your new life brings you nothing but happiness 🙂
Thats so awesome….thats an inspiration to me. Me and hubby got married only a year and a half ago…and he came into the relationship with no debt….i had claimed bankruptcy 4 years ago….and after a rough split up had just been able to save up enough to buy a car as i had lost the car in the split up. We have been trying out best to start saving but it seems like something always breaks or comes up. But i am determined and will definetly start my budgeting in january. The grocery game has been awesome…before i had no motivation to stay on a budget with groceries and now i find im putting stuff back….because in the back of my mind all i hear is what would mr cbb think! LOL….great story jen! and i hope one day that i will have an awesome story like this 🙂
Thanks Joanne! Definitely start that budget in January! You will be forever thankful that you did 🙂 I have the same problem of hearing Mr CBB’s English accented voice in my head when I’m grocery shopping! lol Start that budget in January and you WILL have a story like mine! 🙂
I love stories with happy endings!! Budgeting really is the way to go for EVERYONE, rich or broke.
I hope to have a happier follow up post in a few years about how Mr CBB got me completely out of debt with his support! 🙂
Great progress Jen, keep it up! Frugal is where it’s at 🙂
Thanks Shelley! I love being frugal! Sometimes it’s a challenge and I’m always up for a good challenge! lol
Way to go Jen! Your story is really relate-able. Lots of people would just give up and wait until he house of cards finally fell. Good for you for taking action at the start! Glad to hear your husband is getting on board!
Thanks Mandy! I was just sick of stressing about money and ended up just wanting to make Mr CBB proud lol. Now I want to be debt free so my son can follow in my footsteps and be proud too 🙂
Thank you Jen for sharing your story. A great inspiration knowing it CAN work! thanks again Jen and mr CBB! Go Jen Go!
Thanks Wing! 🙂
Great post. I know that Mr. CBB has helped a lot of people and it’s great to hear a real life story!
Thanks! He has certainly helped me more than he’ll ever know!
What an awesome story Jen!!!! I’m so glad to hear you are digging out of that debt hole….Mr CBB is helping all of us to do better, he acts as our cheerleader and our best supporter!!!! Thanks to both of you!!! PS… You’re son is a cutie!!!!
Hey Hey Hey.. who you calling cheerleader…. what about a hunky Firefighter.. or.. you know.. not cheerleader haha.. Cheers Christine.. you’re awesome!
Thanks Christine! Yes, what a great cheerleader! lol
P.S. We have a bad habit of saying how cute he is all the time! lol Thanks! He’s our first so we find everything he says and does cute. That pic is a year old, I hope to have an updated one next week 🙂
That’s great to hear! I’m happy things are working out so much better for you!
Thank you budget and the beach! 🙂
Keep up the good work Jen! You’re story is inspiring! 🙂
Thanks Barb! You will have a success story too one day soon! 🙂
I’m looking forward to sharing it too!
Great story. Nice to read about these ones!
Thanks!
Thank you for sharing your story Jen. It takes courage to put it out there for everyone to see like that. At the same time I am sure many will find it inspiring and will hopefully take the same steps you have to better their finances. Mr. CBB must be very proud that he was able to be of help to you and to others. I too have found playing the Grocery Game Challenge has helped me spend less on my groceries and has encouraged me to try to make more of my food from scratch instead of buying convenience food (although I still need to work more on that). Reading your shops Jen inspires me as well as I see how well you do at couponing and price matching to save money. Thanks Jen and thank you Mr. CBB for all that you do!
Thanks Joanna, I always love to hear from the readers as they are my inspiration. I believe sharing true stories will help us all. Not all stories have to end in being debt free but it’s the process, the journey..Thanks for putting up and hanging out with me here! Mr.CBB
You’re welcome Joanna 🙂 And thanks…it did take some courage but I really do hope it helps someone else out. I am very grateful for Mr CBB’s help and I’m fairly certain that he is proud of my story 🙂 The GGC is awesome isn’t it!? lol What a smart man to come up with it! lol It is the only thing that helps me stick to my grocery budget and it may not look like it sometimes by what I buy but it has encouraged me to cook and bake more from scratch and eat a little heathier. I’ve lost 3lbs in the last 2 weeks! lol
Congrats on the weightloss Jen. I have noticed you and Ken have been cooking more in the kitchen from scratch and that is great. You will save so much money by scrapping the premade stuff and doing it on your own. Little at a time you will learn tricks and ways to make it a faster process but at least you aren’t blowing money on stuff you can easily make yourself and be proud of. We both love the Grocery Game for the same reasons as everyone who posts. I also encourage everyone to post in the What’s for Dinner as a motivator to have the fans start cooking from scratch. I really want fans to get back to basics and find ways to make it happen even if that means prep on weekends, crock pots, or freezer stock up meals…. Keep at it!
i love read stuff like this great stuff i to budget as i work seasonal and its been a rough couple of years i coupon my bf and i r trying to get our selves out of debt hopefully by oct of next ear we r both debt free he will be for sure im hoping work pics up and i will be to and i love couponing every little bit helps
I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂 Seasonal work is tough I know how that is but couponing and budgeting really help. Good luck!
Jen keep up the good work and use those coupons…People may not understand but when you and your husband are retired and debt free they’ll be green with envy.
Thanks! Yes, that is my hope! lol
since i have been broke since high school I am mister budget,lol
Good for you! I wish I had started sooner!
Keep it up Jen. Don’t listen to the naysayers. They’ll still be broke when you’re free. Couponing is a great way to save.
Thanks! My dream is to one day be free of debt 🙂 I love how much couponing helps!
This is a really great story. Congratulations on getting your finances back on track 🙂
Thank you Glen 🙂
Mr. CBB really has found his calling in this whole blogging business that’s for sure. Great story! Thanks so much for sharing!
He most certainly has! Thanks!
What a honest story of hardship and rewards. I saw Hoe Debt Do Us Part for the first time two months ago at my daughters house. ( We don’t have TV) and I was glued to the TV as I watched these people struggle to get out the red. Reading your story gave me the same feeling. Glued to each word you wrote. You are amazing. Keep up the terrific work.
Awww thank you so much! It’s getting easier but I still struggle sometimes 🙂
This is such a lovely story to hear! I’m so happy for Jen and her family and I hope they stick to their new found path. Awesome job guys!
Thanks! I owe Mr CBB so much!
I like big bills Jen hahaha
This is a great story Jen. I am inspired by your stick-to-it-ivity.
I chuckled a bit when you said your husband now tries to bring you his receipts. I also think it was a testament to the strength of your love and respect for each other and your willingness to keep trying that you weren’t a good candidate for the show (which I watched religiously while it was available in New York).
Good for you both! Keep it up!
Thanks Diedra! I never thought about my hubby bringing me receipts in that way so thank you for pointing that out 🙂 It makes me feel even better about it 🙂 lol
hey Jen you have inspired me to now do more as i see you have done it and it has worked for you i am new to the coupon game and before i was like you n your husband if i wanted it i bought it i didnt care if it was in the budget! I am new to the whole process and just started couponing thanks to a fellow cbb member and i think this coming year i will sit down and plan out a budget and of course start taking part in the GGC! I think with the cpn knowledge and the great info i have found here that i will be able to one day be like others and have a + bank account. thanks for sharing your story much appreciated and good luck to you n your hubby!!
Great story. Jen.
Loved reading how you got on the budgeting bandwagon.
Keep up the great work
Wow, what an inspirational story. I too tested the budget and it is great. It was working pretty good until our income dropped and our bare expenses were still higher than the income. I found that at this same time I fell away from Mr. CBB as I was embarassed at how things had taken a turn for the worst. I have been volunteering for a year and a half since graduating Teacher’s College trying to get on the supply list in our school board but it has not opened up yet. I have been trying to keep things afloat with not much success. I have wanted to do the grocery challenge but it has been hard as we have not had a specific amount to budget each week with the financial situation. In fact, some weeks I have been trying to feed 3 of us with $30.
Now to the good news. Last week I was called to a school as they were unable to get a teacher to fill a half day spot. I found out later that this is the first step to getting on an “Emergency Teacher List”. It is not the “real” supply list but it is a step in the right direction. I was told to expect calls as we live in the north part of the board and there are not many occasional teachers in this area. Unfortunately, I will not know in advance when I will be working or what income I will be bringing in each month. I still have my income from being the janitor at the church we attend, a weekly cleaning job and the occasional opportunity to help with a catering company.
I am looking forward to things coming together over the next months as we move forward and get our debt paid off. We currently have two credit cards that are maxed at 1000 and 1500, a personal loan from my parents for $350 to help keep food on the table, a car loan of 21, 000 and the mortgage. The good news is is that with the proceeds from our house sale (we downsized as only one of five children are still living at home) we were able to pay off my car loan, the student loans, a 15 000 personal loan, an insurance loan and the two credit cards (which we have had to use to get through the last while).
Thank you for your inspiring story Jen. It has encouraged and motivated me to come back to Mr. CBB, despite the money troubles over the last while. I am ready to get back on track, use the budget sheet, takle this debt and move ahead. I may even be brave enough to enter the grocery game 🙂
Thanks again for sharing your experience to help others
Wendy, thanks for sharing that story and I’m glad to hear you are getting back on track. I’ve since updated the spreadsheet so email me when you are ready and I can send it to you again. Don’t ever give up…… Mr.CBB
Great story Jen! While reading this I found many similarities to my family’s financial situation. You are definitely an inspiration to me as I begin this journey of trying to pay off debt & live within a budget. 🙂
Great to hear you’re doing well…but as a Special Needs teaching assistant you have a lot more earning power than minimum wage if you had a job on the side. Respite work and tutoring pay a lot more than minimum wage and it is in high demand. When school is our people need child care, so your yearly layoffs are extra income opportunities. Children with special needs also often need help learning non-school skills, such as how to skate, swim, etc. If you played any sports as a teen that you could teach or coach now, your experience with kids with special needs would help you earn more. I have earned a lot of money over the years doing these things, just advertising on kijiji!
Hi Rebecca!
Thank you for your comment! I can’t remember if the blog post mentions it or not but I worked part time as a Pharmacy Tech for a while as well as I took in my cousins daughter during the summer and babysat her. The problem is that you can earn way more on EI unfortunately then you can working minimum wage jobs that will only hire you for the summer. You also have to take childcare into account. I would pay out anything I earn in childcare. My husband works night shift which prevents me from doing any sort of evening or weekend part time work as well. I have two children now and work full time. Spare time to earn any extra money is completely nonexistent. Fortunately, with the help we received from Mr CBB and our success budgeting we will be out of debt (other than out mortgage) in September 2016. My husband also has a higher paying job now which helps as well.