The biggest thing I got from these books is that my money is *mine.* Noone else's. I can do what I want with it. I can use it to pay my rent, I can buy a meal, I can give it away to my friends (or enemies). It is mine to do with as I please. This was (and in many ways still is) very hard to get my head around. I have the power (*cue music - dah! dah! da-da-dah!)

So, on to the system. First, write down all your debt. Once you recover from the shock, arrange them all in order for which you pay them back. Ideally, you put your biggest interest cost debt first, then the next smallest, next smallest, etc.

For me, that looked like this:

Visa                 $839.37        19%
Line of Credit       $4,934.38      Prime plus 2%
NSLC Canada          $5,547.00      Prime plus 2%
NSLC Integrated      $3,854.00       "
Royal Canada         $4,765.00      Prime plus 1%
Royal Sask.          $1,860.00        " 

*note: I'm not actually paying off the last four (student loans) yet, but that's what they will charge me in the future

Now, next time you get paid, actually do the whole pay yourself first thing (quit rolling your eyes, I'm serious!). I took 10% of my income right off the top of my cheque (which started at $660, so $66). I split that into 5 piles - 1/2 of the 10 % ($33) goes to my first debt. 2/5 went into a special account in ING called my "Totally Fun" account. 1/5 each went into three other accounts - Permanant Wealth, Income Security, and Future Growth. All this is explained in the Credit Diet book.

I know most people say you shuoldn't have savings when you're in debt but I *love* the fact that, regardless of what happens in my financial situation, I have $600 of my own money that I can use to get out of that situation, without having to take on more debt. These may not be best for you, but don't get rid of the Totally Fun account. It is essential - it gets you your rewards for doing such a good job at getting out of debt (that's how I paid for my Boston trip - it doesn't have to be that big a thing though).

I then paid the rest of my bills (if I couldn't afford them, I made a change in my life - for instance, move to a cheaper place or get a roomate, buy cheaper food, use less electricity (really!), drive less).

Since my $660 a month days, I got a second job (don't do this until you read _Work Less, Play More_ and some of the other books) and earned a better scholarship, while paying less tuition. Without these changes, I wouldn't have maintained my lifestyle while paying off my debt. In that case, I would have made other changes.

So, that's the system. I hope that makes sense and that, if you need it, it gives you a place to start. Of course, make it your own; you know your finances and your situation better than I do, obviously. And take responsibility for your situation, the good and the bad, so you can make your choices to get out or stay there.

Ugh! That sounds like Dr. Phil or one of those other "7 step" writers. Sorry about that - I generally dislike those people. Again, hope this was what you were looking for!