Shawanda Greene doesn’t mind being called cheap. In fact she’s embracing it. You’ll find her tweeting from @theycallmecheap and blogging at YouHaveMoreThanYouThink.org. This Financial Reporting Manager at a software/consulting services company is this week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile.
OODC: How did you get started blogging and tweeting?
@TheyCallMeCheap: My mom bought me an internet marketing course from a guy she saw on a Christian program about 10 months ago. I can’t remember his name, but I thought his techniques were antiquated and useless. But I still found blogging interesting. So, I started writing about one of the few areas I know quite a bit about: personal finance.
Tweetin’ just comes with the territory. When you don’t have any one commenting on your blog, Twitter gives you an opportunity to engage in conversation with people who share similar interests.
OODC:You went from having $25,000 in debt and $54 in savings to being debt free with a $7,500 emergency fund in a year. Where did you get the inspiration to do that?
@TheyCallMeCheap:Dave Ramsey. I started listening to The Dave Ramsey Show Podcast on a daily basis in mid-January 2008. It was so inspirational to hear people call in to scream that they were debt free. If someone making an annual income of $50K with a spouse and three kids can pay off tens of thousands of dollars in debt in a couple years, it’s hard for a single professional like myself to justify doing anything less.
OODC:Even though you’re debt free, do you still live with extreme frugality? Why or why not?
@TheyCallMeCheap:Yes and no. I’ve loosened the purse strings a little bit. However, I still suffer from extreme fits of frugality. For instance, the other day I sewed the ear piece back onto a pair of prescription eyeglasses I’ve had since 2004.
I don’t easily part with money I’ve worked hard to earn. There’s no point in wasting it.
OODC:Who are some of your favorite money tweeters?
@TheyCallMeCheap:@brokeinthecity @RevancheGS @mrsmicah @ctreit
I actually appreciate that they don’t always tweet about money.
OODC:What’s your best piece of advice for others trying to get out of debt?
@TheyCallMeCheap:If you’ve practiced bad money habits the majority of your financial life, you’re not going to change over night. When you make a mistake, there will be plenty of people to judge you for failing TEMPORARILY. Don’t let them get under your skin. Eventually, you’ll get it right.
Special thanks to @theycallmecheap for being the focus of this week’s Twitter Tuesday Profile. Want to be considered for an upcoming profile? Just tweet me!