It didn't work until after Christmas and then I kicked it into high gear. I was bringing in about $800 clear a month. Not a lot, but it made a dent. Then we used most of our tax refund as well and that helped.

We kept seeing small bills drop off as we paid things off from smallest to largest. Our list was long. Each time we paid off one, I applied the payment from that one to the next one's payment. Ten bucks became $35, then $50, now that payment is $388 every month.

But the trick to leaving the emergency fund alone was to put it in a separate account that had no internet access, no checks or debit card. If I need it, I have to physically go into the bank to get it.

One of the things that helped a lot was using the envelope system for household expenses. Using cash has taught us how to be more careful with our money.

I got laid off in March and got a job making less money, but we are still rolling. My job ends at the end of August and I will probably have two months without a check, but I think we will be ok.

The intoxicating feeling of dumping debt is addictive. I have not charged anything since November and that's saying a lot.