In our house, we find it easy to have simple rules that help manage our luxuries and hedonic lifestyles. For instance, I generally only drink one can of store-brand seltzer per day and look forward to it as a treat. I know, living the high life.
Please observe the attached text from my likewise frugal SO, who approved my celebratory second seltzer.
In all seriousness, I am proud that I have finally paid off my $21k of student loan debt, most of which was due to my Masters program. I'm on a teacher's salary, so I am not rolling in money, and I am sure I could have done it faster than I did. But it's done now. In total, it took about two years of intense effort to pay off.
Now: to research IRAs :)
