This inspirational story comes from my reader Michelle….
The last year has been a year of huge discovery for my family and I. Due to rough economic times and cut backs at work, we started the beginning of 2010 not sure if we were going to have a home to live in or not, but no matter what we did, we were going to do it together. After selling almost everything that we owned at a sale in our front yard, we had enough money to hire a lawyer and on April 1, 2010 we filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy so that we could keep our home and stay in the only home our three daughters had ever known.
I am crying now as I think back to that very scary April Fool’s Day. I just kept thinking that this was some kind of joke and that we were going to wake up and this will all have been a dream. But reality set in and it was time to make changes in our life. As part of the bankruptcy process we were required to go to a budgeting class. This started us on the path to a whole new discovery.
A few months later I was discussing this with a friend of mine and she gave me a list of couponing and information sites and yours was one of them. As I visited your site I realized this was a completely doable situation and I was determined to do this. I worked for the Disney Resort Reservations when my husband and I got married we honeymooned at Disney’s Beach Club Resort. We have since moved to Ohio, but we have always wanted to take our children back and share this beautiful place.
The weekend that I visited your website…we bought 5 newspapers and stated clipping our coupons and we have never looked back. Now, we have all of our bills paid ON TIME, our pantry is stocked, and we opened TWO savings accounts! One of course being our future Disney Vacation where we will celebrate our wedding anniversary with our children. We might even renew our vows there. Who knows…because through a positive attitude and positive life changes everything seems possible now. Thank you for inspiring us all and for being a guiding light.
Do you have an inspirational story to share? Please include it in the comments below or feel free to email it to me. I would love to feature it on Couponing to Disney!
Shellie says
You can do this and have fun. Maybe you can teach someone else in the process. Please let us know after you get back from Disney. Thank you for sharing such an inspirational story!
Michelle says
Thanks everyone…this is my story! I read your posts and started crying again! Kristin is such an inspiration by running this site and so are all of you! Since I sent this story to Kristin, we have also started making extra payments on our bankruptcy and we will be paid off 3 years early! For those of you who think your story is not an inspiration…think again. Can’t wait to go to Disney…and yes…I will post pics. It will not be for a few months yet, but it WILL happen! :) Candace, your story is just as great, you made it and that is awesome! Stacy, hang in there, my heart is with you and so are my prayers.
stacy says
I am crying when I read your story. My husband lost his job and we have a 7 1/2 month old at home. We have not been able to afford the mortgage and we are starting a short sale on our house. We have an angel of a real estate agent helping us to see if we can get another cheaper house or help us to find a rental. We never lived above our means and have used coupons for the past year hoping that would have helped. This story shows that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you for the inspiration.
candice says
I loved your story!!! Mine isn’t that great… My husband and I had to pcs, since i was leaving my home town (with support out the wazoo) pregnant to a whole new place with my daughter and step son, i quit my job. moving here has certainly cut our income from 2 to 1 with my husband paying on so much debt we were always overdrafted, struggling by mid month…. it was a bad time, but once i started couponing all that changed. I went to the store at first and paid the same amount as usual but ended up with 200 bucks in free grocerys now i no longer go to the store once a month, i hardly go at all any more (i only go on a “stock up” sale) Our freezers are full, we even invested in a pantry, which is stocked to the rim….. Now we can afford to eat out sometimes as a family, or go shopping…. all kinds of things!!
Courtney says
What an awesome story! My family hit a rough patch recently that we’re persevering through. Your website has taught us so much about couponing and has taught us great ways to save! Thanks for sharing such an inspiring story!
Rosemary says
Hope you post back after your trip to Disney. It;s great that you didn’t give up. Alot of people are going through tough times. Hang in there. Hope your trip to Disney is as Magical as ever.
Becca says
It is a scary road to travel down! We have had quite a struggle but together as a team anything is possible. Thanks for sharing your story Michelle and I can’t wait to see your pics from your future Disney trip! Best of luck in the future!