COOL! ~News Release

March 3, 2010
18 finish emergency response training at Northwest








Cribbing is used to raise the debris off of the victim. 18 people recently completed C-CERT training at Northwest

Left, rescuers pass cribbing material from a Maryville Fire and Rescue truck to the location of a victim trapped under heavy debris during recent Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) training. The cribbing, along with leverage bars, is used to raise the debris off of the victim. Right, 18 individuals completed the training, including three faculty members. (SUBMITTED PHOTOS)

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Eighteen individuals recently completed this trimester's Campus-Community Emergency Response Team (C-CERT) training at Northwest.

The C-CERT program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, including fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization and disaster medical operations. Using training learned in the classroom and during exercises, C-CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood, campus or workplace after an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.

The training is open to all students, staff and faculty at Northwest.

It concludes with a disaster simulation. Fifteen role players, consisting of school guidance counseling graduate students enrolled in Dr. Linda Sterling's course, acted as victims of a disaster.

The following individuals completed the training:

Nathan Barnes
Larry Boller
Ann Cherne
Jackie Eckle
Mattew Engel
Alice Foose
Andrew Haring
Aaron Johnson
Heidi Johnson
Cynthia Perkins
Dylan Scobee
Melissa Searl
Jessica Seipel
Karna Shepherd
Mitchell Wahlen
Lauren Leach
Sunshine Sutherland
Christopher Edwards

The following people were trainers or safety observers for the program:

Dr. April Haberyan
Dr. John Fisher
Diana Pope
Dr. John Pope
Tanja Shimak
Regina Butler
Bryan Williams
JoDee Lantz
Chaz Johnson
Bradley Head

For more information contact Dr. April Haberyan, assistant professor in the psychology, sociology and counseling department, at 660.562.1305 or ahaber@nwmissouri.edu.



# # #

For more information, please contact:

Mark Hornickel
Media Relations Specialist
E-mail: mhorn@nwmissouri.edu
Phone: 660.562.1704
Fax: 660.562.1900

Northwest Missouri State University
215 Administration Building
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

CERT finished!

As I posted earlier, Yea! I finally was able to take CERT classes. Well now I think I’ll share my thoughts about the class and let you know what CERT is.

CERT stands for community emergency response team. And what you do there is learn how and what to do in case of an emergency in your neighborhood.

You learn very basic first aid, fire suppression, and light search and rescue. I had fun meeting new people and relearning and learning new procedures. I learned where my weaknesses were and what myy strengths are.

Some of the things you can do as a trained CERT person can help when you have a crisis in your community. I know of many examples that can help you think about where you can help.

When Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped many of the people searching the mountain side were trained in search and rescue.

In July 2009, there was a landslide in Logan, Utah. Cert personnel helped with the emergency.

Here in my own community, my first winter living here we had an ice storm that knocked out power to most people for a week. Some people lived in their offices and we had one household come to our house to take showers and eat. My house had power and I had plenty of heat because I had a wood burning stove. My house was taken care of because of my family’s preparation. This made it possible for my husband to keep his radio station on the air. And so that the people of this community could find out what was going on and where to go if they needed shelter. At this time in 2007 we didn’t have the CERT program here.

For this community, we have CERT available on campus. Check your local fire department or community government offices for a location near you. Or you can search for one close to you at:

http://www.citizencorps.gov/cc/searchCert.do?submitByZip

Emergencies "in a pinch"

While taking the First Aid part of my CERT, one of the ladies shared a story of an emergency that happened in her family. I asked her to email her story to me to share it here so you could be thinking about what you could use "in a pinch" in an emergency. Thank you Karna!





Emergencies don't always happen at convenient times or when you have the essential materials handy. Sometimes you have to make due with the materials you can gather around you. For example, if you don't have sterile 4x4 gauze pads, in a pinch a t-shirt will do or a pillow case can be used as a sling. The key is that sterility is preferable. Some common sterile household items that could be used as a dressing when nothing else is available are women's feminine napkins, tampons, sealed packages of diapers, or even incontinence pads. As long as these products are still in their sealed packages then they are sterile and can be used as an alternative sterile dressing. A word of caution: please note that if you decide to use these items to pay particular attention to any treatment they may have received. For example, my younger brother who is extremely prone to horrible nose bleeds had one such episode one afternoon while we were out with our mother. We didn't have anything readily available to put on his face to catch or stop the bleeding. What we came up with was to cut a tampon in half and put each half up each of his nostrils. Voila! Crisis averted, or so we thought. About 10 minutes after the initial insertion he began to become agitated. He began waving his hands in front of his face and told us that the inside of his nose was burning. After taking a better look at the tampon we used to stop the bleeding we found that it was a scented tampon. As the tampon began soaking up the blood the chemical perfume wicked its way up his nose and into his sinus cavity causing him pain. If we had paid better attention to what we were using as an "in a pinch" dressing we wouldn't have caused him any pain other than the embarrassment of being 17 and having a tampon shoved up your nose by your big sister. Love ya Matt!

Karna

CCERT!

Finally!

I am now taking the CERT program offered at my university. I am so excited to be able to finally take this class. I encourage you all take the course if you get the opportunity. You will at least be able take care of yourself.

Best wishes to you all.

Cynthia

Food Storage Cooking Made Easy

Food Storage Cooking Made Easy

by Debbie G. Harman

LDS cooks around the world have often looked at their freeze dried food and thought, “Can I actually make anything good out of this?” The answer is a resounding yes! Try out some of these delectable recipes and be surprised at how good food storage can actually taste.

Shepherd's Pie
* 3 cups dried potato slices
* 1 quart mixed vegetables
* Salt and pepper
* Paprika


Boil potatoes until tender and drain. Drain vegetables and pour into a greased 9 × 13 casserole dish. Spread potatoes over vegetables. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika. Bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.



Beef Stroganoff
* 2 pounds ground beef
* Salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste
* 1 can cream of mushroom soup
* 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
* 1 can evaporated milk
* 3 tablespoons sour cream powder
* 1/4 cup water
* Egg noodles


Brown ground beef with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Drain fat. Stir remaining ingredients into browned meat. Simmer until heated through. Serve over hot cooked egg noodles.



Brown and Wild Rice Pilaf
* 1 (4-ounce) can mushrooms, chopped
* 1/2 cup green onions, chopped
* 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
* 3 1/2 cups water
* 3 teaspoons chicken bouillon
* 1 cup brown rice
* 1/2 cup wild rice
* 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
* 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/2 cup frozen peas
* 1 carrot, shredded


In a large saucepan, saute mushrooms and green onions in hot oil until tender. Add water and bouillon and bring to a boil. Add brown and wild rice, basil, and pepper. Cover and reduce heat. Simmer 40 minutes or until rice is tender and most of the broth is absorbed. Stir in peas and carrots and simmer 5 minutes or until heated through.



Split Pea Soup
* 1 pound dry green split peas
* 1 ham hock
* 1/2 cup minced onions
* 2 teaspoons chicken bouillon
* 2 1/2 quarts water
* Salt and pepper
* 1/2 cup dehydrated diced carrots
* 1/2 cup dehydrated diced celery
* 1 10 ounce can evaporated milk
* 2 tablespoon butter (dried or fresh)


Combine split peas, ham hock, minced onions, bouillon, water, salt, and pepper into a large soup pot. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 1 hour, stirring frequently. Add carrots and celery and simmer additional hour or until tender. Remove ham hock; de-bone and chop ham. Return chopped ham to soup. Stir evaporated milk and butter into soup and heat through.



Applesauce Muffins
* 2 cups applesauce
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 cup sugar
* 2 eggs, well-beaten
* 2 cups whole-wheat flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon ground ginger
* 1 teaspoon allspice


Mix first four ingredients until well blended. Sift dry ingredients together. Stir into applesauce mixture until just moist. Pour into greased or paper-lined muffin cups. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until tops are golden brown. Yield: 2 dozen muffins.



Lemonade Cream Pie

Pie crust
# 1 1/3 cups whole-wheat flour
# 1 1/3 cups unbleached flour
# 1 teaspoon salt
# 3/4 cup shortening
# 6 tablespoons cold water


Sift flours and salt together. Cut in shortening until coarse and crumbly. Sprinkle in water a few tablespoons at a time. Blend together with fork until dough forms into a ball. Roll out on lightly floured surface. Gently roll dough around rolling pin and lift over pie pan. Unroll dough and gently press down into sides and bottom of pan. Trim crust 1/2-inch wider than pan. Fold edge under and pinch to flute. Bake according to pie directions. Makes 2 9-inch single crusts.


Filling
# 1 1/2 cups sugar
# 1/3 cup cornstarch
# 1/3 cup powdered milk
# 1 pkg. lemonade punch powder
# 2 cups water
# 2 tablespoons lemon juice
# Pinch of salt


Blend first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan. Add water, lemon juice, and salt, and stir until dry ingredients are dissolved. Bring mixture to a boil. Continue cooking over medium-high heat, stirring continuously until thickened (7-10 minutes). Pour into baked pie crust; chill.


---
Excerpted from Cooking with Food Storage Made Easy, Covenant Communications 2009. Available here.
Covenant Communications, 2009.

Out with the Old

Out with the Old

When looking at Debbie Harman’s food storage recipes, consider your own supplies.

Often we are quick to assume that our unperishables are . . . unperishable. But many of those items sitting in your food storage will not last forever. Here are guidelines for when some of the basics need to be thrown out:

Pancake mix: 6-9 months
Crackers: 6 months
Pasta (without egg solids): 1 year
Cereals: 6-12 months (but they can go stale quickly if opened)
Plain white rice, in airtight container: 2 years
Popcorn: 1-2 years
Canned fruit: 12-18 months (unopened)
Baking powder and soda: 6 months (opened)
Flour: 6-8 months
Sugar: 2 years (indefinite if kept free of moisture)
Prepared cake, pudding, and biscuit mixes: 9-12 months
Shortening: 18 months (unopened)
Vanilla extract: 1 year (opened)

100 Items to Disappear First in A Panic By Joseph Almond

100 Items to Disappear First in a Panic

October 12, 2008 by arksoaper

This list was originally prepared for Y2K, but it is still relevant, especially considering our current economic situation. (And let me interject here that I did nothing for Y2K except fill the bathtub with water, and sit around on the internet watching to see what happened in Australia when 12:00am rolled over. When it appeared they were ok, I went to bed and slept soundly! Our current situation, however, has alarmed me beyond anything I’ve experienced thus far. I urge you to prepare for a spike in inflation at the very least – whatever you can stock for your family now will help you down the road later.)

****************************************************************************************************

100 Items to Disappear First in A Panic

By Joseph Almond

#1. Generators (Good ones cost dearly. Gas storage, risky. Noisy..target of thieves; maintenance, etc.)

#2. Water Filters/Purifiers (Shipping delays increasing.)

#3. Portable Toilets (Increasing in price every two months.)

#4. Seasoned Firewood (About $100 per cord; wood takes 6 – 12 mos. to become dried, for home uses.)

#5. Lamp Oil, Wicks, Lamps (First choice: Buy CLEAR oil. If scarce, stockpile ANY!)

#6. Coleman Fuel (URGENT $2.69-$3.99/gal. Impossible to stockpile too much.)

#7. Guns, Ammunition, Pepper Spray, Knives, Clubs, Bats & Slingshots

#8. Hand-Can openers & hand egg beaters, whisks (Life savers!)

#9. Honey/Syrups/white, brown sugars

#10. Rice – Beans – Wheat (White rice is now $12.95 – 50# bag. Sam’s Club, stock depleted often.)

#11. Vegetable oil (for cooking) (Without it food burns/must be boiled, etc.)

#12. Charcoal & Lighter fluid (Will become scarce suddenly.)

#13. Water containers (Urgent Item to obtain. Any size. Small: HARD CLEAR PLASTIC ONLY)

#14. Mini Heater head (Propane) (Without this item, propane won’t heat a room.)

#15. Grain Grinder (Non-electric)

#16. Propane Cylinders

#17. Michael Hyatt’s Y2K Survival Guide (BEST single y2k handbook for sound advice/tips.)

#18. Mantles: Aladdin, Coleman, etc. (Without this item, longer-term lighting is difficult.)

#19. Baby Supplies: Diapers/formula/ointments/aspirin, etc

#20. Washboards, Mop Bucket w/wringer (for Laundry)

#21. Cookstoves (Propane, Coleman & Kerosene)

#22. Vitamins (Critical, due 10 Y2K-forced daily canned food diets.)

#23. Propane Cylinder Handle-Holder (Urgent: Small canister use is dangerous without this item.)

#24. Feminine Hygiene/Haircare/Skin products

#25. Thermal underwear (Tops and bottoms)

#26. Bow saws, axes and hatchets & Wedges (also, honing oil)

#27. Aluminum foil Reg. & Heavy Duty (Great Cooking & Barter item)

#28. Gasoline containers (Plastic or Metal)

#29. Garbage bags (Impossible to have too many.)

#30. Toilet Paper, Kleenex, paper towels

#31. Milk – Powdered & Condensed (Shake liquid every 3 to 4 months.)

#32. Garden seeds (Non-hybrid) (A MUST)

#33. Clothes pins/line/hangers (A MUST)

#34. Coleman’s Pump Repair Kit: 1(800) 835-3278

#35. Tuna Fish (in oil)

#36. Fire extinguishers (or.. large box of Baking soda in every room…)

#37. First aid kits

#38. Batteries (all sizes…buy furthest-out for Expiration Dates)

#39. Garlic, spices & vinegar, baking supplies

#40. BIG DOGS (and plenty of dog food)

#41. Flour, yeast & salt

#42. Matches (3 box/$1 .44 at WalMart: & Strike Anywhere & preferred. Boxed, wooden matches will go first.)

#43. Writing paper/pads/pencils/solar calculators

#44. Insulated ice chests (good for keeping items from freezing in Wintertime)

#45. Workboots, belts, Levis & durable shirts

#46. Flashlights/LIGHTSTICKS & torches, & No.76 Dietz Lanterns

#47. Journals, Diaries & Scrapbooks (Jot down ideas, feelings, experiences: Historic times!)

#48. Garbage cans Plastic (great for storage, water, transporting – if with wheels)

#49. Men’s Hygiene: Shampoo, Toothbrush/paste, Mouthwash/floss, nail clippers,etc

#50. Cast iron cookware (sturdy, efficient)

#51. Fishing supplies/tools

#52. Mosquito coils/repellent sprays/creams

#53. Duct tape

#54. Tarps/stakes/twine/nails/rope/spikes

#55. Candles

#56. Laundry detergent (Liquid)

#57. Backpacks & Duffle bags

#58. Garden tools & supplies

#59. Scissors, fabrics & sewing supplies

#60. Canned Fruits, Veggies, Soups, stews, etc.

#61. Bleach (plain, NOT scented: 4 to 6% sodium hypochlorite)

#62. Canning supplies (Jars/lids/wax)

#63. Knives & Sharpening tools: files, stones, steel

#64. Bicycles…Tires/tubes/pumps/chains, etc.

#65. Sleeping bags & blankets/pillows/mats

#66. Carbon Monoxide Alarm (battery powered)

#67. Board Games Cards, Dice

#68. d-Con Rat poison, MOUSE PRUFE II, Roach Killer

#69. Mousetraps, Ant traps & cockroach magnets

#70. Paper plates/cups/utensils (stock up, folks…)

#71. Baby Wipes, oils, waterless & Anti-bacterial soap (saves a lot of water)

#72. Rain gear, rubberized boots, etc.

#73. Shaving supplies (razors & creams, talc, after shave)

#74. Hand pumps & siphons (for water and for fuels)

#75. Soysauce, vinegar, boullions/gravy/soup base

#76. Reading glasses

#77. Chocolate/Cocoa/Tang/Punch (water enhancers)

#78. “Survival-in-a-Can”

#79. Woolen clothing, scarves/ear-muffs/mittens

#80. BSA – New 1998 – Boy Scout Handbook (also, Leader’s Catalog)

#81. Roll-on Window Insulation Kit (MANCO)

#82. Graham crackers, saltines, pretzels, Trail mix/Jerky

#83. Popcorn, Peanut Butter, Nuts

#84. Socks, Underwear, T-shirts, etc. (extras)

#85. Lumber (all types)

#86. Wagons & carts (for transport to & from open Flea markets)

#87. Cots & Inflatable mattresses (for extra guests)

#88. Gloves: Work/warming/gardening, etc.

#89. Lantern Hangers

#90. Screen Patches, glue, nails, screws, nuts & bolts

#91. Teas

#92. Coffee

#93. Cigarettes

#94. Wine/Liquors (for bribes, medicinal, etc.)

#95. Paraffin wax

#96. Glue, nails, nuts, bolts, screws, etc.

#97. Chewing gum/candies

#98. Atomizers (for cooling/bathing)

#99. Hats & cotton neckerchiefs

#100. Goats/chickens

Dave Ramsey Quote

I really like this quote from Dave Ramsey that he posted on his Face Book page. What is thoughtful is we are coming to the Christmas Season and we can either pay cash or charge everything on our credit card. What would you do?

"Money is like a beautiful thoroughbred horse--very powerful & always in action, but unless this horse is trained when very young, it will be an out-of-control & dangerous animal when it grows to maturity." - Dave Ramsey

5 Mistakes We Make Teaching Kids About Money

Top 5 Mistakes We Make Teaching Kids About Money


By Laura Rowley


We all make stupid money mistakes. Find out if you're making bad money decisions with this advice from Kodak spokesperson and money expert Laura Rowley.

1. Becoming a Human ATM Machine
Give children an allowance and let them know what they have to pay for out of their own stash—whether it's the ice cream truck, the goodies in the $1 aisle at the discount store or that Scholastic book order form that comes home from school. This reduces nagging, allows them to develop math skills and learn from their mistakes. It's amazing to see how much more they value the things they paid for themselves.

2. Overlooking Every Day Lessons
Don't miss opportunities to discuss simple economics in every day settings. While grocery shopping, explain why it's smarter to choose the package that costs less per pound, or the more affordable generic brand; and why it makes sense to stock up when an item is on sale. Explain why savvy savings habits make sense: "By saving just $15 a week using the grocery store's loyalty cards and coupons, we'll have almost $800 at the end of the year to spend on something fun."

3. Not Involving Kids in Longer-Term Goals
Solid money management comes down to two things, planning ahead and making choices. If you're planning a vacation, talk to the kids about the budget: airfare, lodging and entertainment. Take a coffee can and label it the "Vacation Fund" and throw in your loose change at the end of the day. Take the coins to the bank and show the kids how the money is adding up; and how the bank will pay you interest for storing the cash in a savings account. Give them a specific budget for souvenirs—say $15—and suggest they increase it by earning cash for the trip through lemonade stands, dog sitting or lawn mowing.

4. Missing the Opportunity to Motivate Their Savings Habits
If your kids put money in the bank, match their contributions. I took my kids to our local bank branch when they were 8, 6 and 4 and opened savings accounts for all of them. I matched the money they deposited, using the opportunity to discuss how a 401(k) plan works and why someone should contribute up to the amount of the company match (free money!).

5. Not Explaining How Plastic Works
According to a study by Nellie Mae, the student loan firm, the average college freshman has $1,500 in credit card debt, and that figure doubles by the time they graduate. Some 56 percent of college seniors carry four or more credit cards. That's when the real trouble starts, because if teens lose the battle to understand and manage credit cards at 18, the damage can haunt them for years. An estimated 70 percent of employers check credit scores before they hire. Over time, a low credit score will suck tens of thousands of dollars out of your child's pocket when they seek financing for an auto or a home. Consider allowing a teen to practice with a pre-paid, reloadable debit card such as Visa Buxx. It has fewer fees than competing cards and features parental controls—such as setting a weekly cash limit. Parents can also get email alerts showing when and where a teen used the card, setting the stage for discussions about wise spending.


Do you have any fail-proof methods for talking money with your children? Chime in here and share your techniques!

The Biggest Losers (of Debt): How a Family Shed $106,000 in Debt

This is an awesome article about this family.





Photo: Jeff Holmquist
Russell and Kathy Hildebrandt of New Richmond, Wis., won an award for successfully tackling $106,000 in credit card and personal debt through thrifty spending, a second job and bit-by-bit payments on their credit card balances. They're shown outside their home surrounded by their three children, 14-year-old twins Heidi (left) and Holly, and 3-year-old Joey.



The Biggest Losers (of Debt): How a Family Shed $106,000 in Debt
Karen Kroll
Friday, September 18, 2009
This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit
Meet the Hildebrandts; their frugal ways lost debt, won an award
Five years ago, the Hildebrandt family of New Richmond, Wis., was juggling more than $100,000 in credit card and personal debt. Through frugality, determination and hard work, they are now -- other than a mortgage -- debt-free.
At the time, Russell and Kandy Hildebrandts' credit card balances totaled about $89,000, and they owed $17,000 to a family member. While they were current on all the payments, the card companies had begun raising their interest rates, adding hundreds to their minimum monthly payments. Kandy acknowledges that they presented a higher credit risk, given how their balances had ballooned. Even so, with the bump in the required payments, covering the monthly payments was a struggle. "We had to change," Kandy says.
Change they did. For their debt-fighting prowess, the Hildebrandts were on Tuesday night named the winners of the Professional Achievement and Counseling Excellence (PACE) 2009 Graduate Client of the Year Award. This national award, given by the National Foundation for Credit Counseling, recognizes the hard work and commitment they demonstrated in repaying their debts, and their willingness to become effective managers of their money and change their lifestyle. (Disclosure: CreditCards.com Senior Reporter Connie Prater served as a judge in the awards.)
Slow Decline Into Debt
Not that the Hildebrandts' lifestyle was lavish. The couple, along with their twin daughters, Heidi and Holly, lived in a rented 1,000 square foot townhome. Vacations consisted of visits to extended family members in the Midwest. Russell was a chemist with a Twin Cities-based environmental testing laboratory; Kandy was a stay-at-home mom and home-schooled their daughters.
While the Hildebrandts weren't living extravagantly, they also weren't frugal, Kandy notes. They purchased most items, such as clothes for the girls, new. In addition, they had medical expenses related to Russell's diabetes and several miscarriages that Kandy suffered. At the same time, they remained committed to tithing, or giving 10 percent of their income to their church. The accumulation of day-to-day expenses left the family going a bit more into debt each year.
Bankruptcy? No Thanks
Several family friends recommended that they file for bankruptcy. That was out of the question, Russell says. "We were committed to paying off our debts." They also resolved to continue to tithe and home-school their daughters.
To get started, Kandy met with Linda Humburg, a manager with FamilyMeans Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) in Stillwater, Minn. Linda reviewed their finances, and developed a five-year debt management plan. While the schedule was daunting, the Hildebrandts signed on. "If we didn't make it, we knew that we would go out trying," Russell says.
Several steps were key to making the plan work. Kandy and Russell eliminated discretionary spending. Kandy began buying generic food and frequenting thrift stores for clothing purchases. They stopped exchanging Christmas and birthday gifts with each other and their relatives.
Even with the drastic cutbacks, the Hildebrandts couldn't cover the $2,000 they were sending to CCCS each month to be distributed to their creditors. At that time, the sum amounted to about half of Russell's take-home pay. So Russell took on a second job cleaning a local grocery store several nights a week from midnight to 4:30 a.m. He would arrive home from his day job, eat dinner, catch a few hours of sleep and head to work. After his shift, he would go back home, sleep a few more hours and then get up for his day job.
Slow Progress
The first two years were particularly tough. Russell's work schedule was grueling, while Kandy managed just about everything at home on her own. Moreover, while their credit card balances were going down, the drop wasn't yet noticeable. For about a year, the Hildebrandts made do with one car, until they received a used van from Kandy's family.

Even so, "they didn't let anything deter them from progress," Humburg says. "If the money wasn't available, they simply did without." Equally, important the Hildebrandts kept their goal -- becoming debt-free -- in mind.

After the first few years, the Hildebrandts' efforts finally seemed to be bearing fruit. Their card balances were coming down, and some were getting paid off. As one card reached zero, CCCS would apply the money that had gone to it to the remaining balances. As a result, those cards would get paid off even more quickly.

About this time, Kandy became pregnant with Joey, who's now 3. While recognizing that a new child would mean additional expenses, the couple was thrilled. "The joy he brought to a negative, grinding situation was the light we needed," she says.
Dream Home Appears
By the fall of 2008, the Hildebrandts had one year to go on the payment plan. Russell even started daydreaming about a new home when he saw a three-bedroom rambler for sale in New Richmond. It had all that they were looking for, including a large yard and a separate bedroom for Joey. Russell let a real estate agent know that they liked the house, but added that the family would have to pay off their debts before taking on a mortgage.
Several months later the agent called and asked if the Hildebrandts would be interested in a rent-to-own agreement. The current owner of the house had some health concerns and was eager to move. The monthly rent would be $1,000, which included $200 to be escrowed for closing costs. They could manage it.
Earlier this year, the owner wanted to accelerate the sale process. In April, using the tax credit for first-time home buyers, the Hildebrandts were able to swing the purchase and pay off the remaining balances on their credit cards about six months ahead of schedule.
Now, the Hildebrandts are content in their new home and free of debt, other than their mortgage. Russell has been able to quit his second job and spend more time with his family -- and catch up on sleep.
Frugal Habits Stick
Several things haven't changed, however. Kandy remains a dedicated bargain hunter. Shopping online, she found eight bar stools for their kitchen island and basement family room for $24; at a yard sale, she bought a $2 desk for the girls. The Hildebrandts "had to completely rethink how they spent and what was a need versus a want," Humburg says.
Both Russell and Kandy say that while bankruptcy might have seemed like an easier option at the outset, it would not have been as satisfying. They wouldn't have learned to take control over their money and spending. What's more, with a bankruptcy on their credit record, they wouldn't have been able to purchase a house when they did.
Their advice to others? "Get out of debt," Kandy says. "It's a chokehold."