Entering The Debt-Free Zone - Here Come The Jars!

Yesterday I went to Target with my sister to buy some jars - and not just any jars, not jars to store food or marbles, but to store my financial future.  Yes, I said it - jars for my financial future.  It was my good friend who turned me onto to this show, "Til Debt Do Us Part." 

This show is about couples who are at the brink of financial catastrophe and the show's host shows these couples how to transform their current financial situation into a win to bring them out of debt.  Debt is universal, right?  For example, low income + high debt or as we like to call in my family - "Champagne Taste with Beer Money."  In the Boston area, the high cost of living alone can get you in trouble and into debt - whether you rent or own, have an active social life or love to shop - and most importantly, not paying attention to what is coming in and what is going out - that ugly Debt monster can creep right in.  The Debt monster is like a party crasher that never leaves.  So in 2010, I am kicking my debt monster out the door - and as the song goes - to hit the road, jack, and don't come back no more! 

Whether you are single or part of a couple, this show provides you with tools - spreadsheets, and a plan with jars.  Here are a picture of my jars:

There are five in total and they have categories to allot your income to:

So since being paid last Friday, I am keeping track of what comes in and what must go out and then storing that information.  Beginning on February 1st, I will be taking my salaried income, dividing  into the categories and saving with each pay check with the hope of realizing my dream home ownership in early 2011.  Wish me luck and may the jars runneth over!