$2500 on the credit card, $40,000 on the mortgage (paid off in 7.83 years if life makes it that long), $3000 monthly bills. 10+ year old autos-paid off. No kids. Started putting stuff aside, not enough to survive on other than a storm.
Going to school, taking tests, looking for jobs closer to home. No eating out, kerosene heater, no vacations, no entertainment, no shopping for fun, worry and stare at Quicken a great deal.
I hate my austerity plan!
Dang. That's nasty stuff at what - around 20% interest? Gotta get rid of that - maybe first.
If you’re near a town of any size at all there will be no-charge public events, concerts, music, even outdoor classic movies, that will break the monotony but not the budget.
Speaking of budgets, I’ve eased off on my austerity budget somewhat, since things are looking better for me at present, didn’t have much debt so that helped, monthly total outlay is less than $2K. But, during the course of my rough patch in 2008-2010, I found it very helpful to get out into the world to see that it was still there and not gone all completely to hell just because my life had personally. Seeing people still having fun, kids and dogs, smiling faces, helped tremendously.
Life does go on.
Austerity stinks. Try picking up a little escapist (’junk’) reading at rummage sales or thrift stores. A buck or less a book, and you can take a break from even the worst austerity program.