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It was a crazy thought - paying off and cutting up every single one of my credit cards. It was an even crazier thought that one day we may not owe anyone a single dime.
这是个很疯狂的想法--还清一切欠款，剪掉每一张信用卡。下面的想法更加疯狂：也许有一天，我们可以不欠任何人一分钱。
Our family members looked at us like we had lost our minds when we told them we no longer had a credit card for "emergencies".
当我们告诉自己的家人我们没有用于"紧急情况"的信用卡时，他们的神情就好像我们疯了一般。
My friends thought I was insane when I started walking dogs for extra money to pay off our debt even faster. "Uh, you're hugely pregnant and you're walking dogs in this heat?! Y'all must really need the money."
当我开始遛狗挣外快以尽快还清债务时，我的朋友们都以为我疯了。"额，你的孕肚这么大，你还在这么热的天遛狗？！你肯定急需这笔钱吧。"
And the truth is, we did need the money. We needed every penny because we had a crazy plan of paying off all our debt. And this year, we are going to finish that plan and pay off our house. It hasn't been easy, but then again, nothing worthwhile ever is. If you want to join my family in the crazy and pay off debt, here's how you get started:
事实是，我们的确需要这笔钱。每分钱我们都需要，因为我们制定了一个还清全部债款的疯狂计划。今年，我们打算完成这一计划、还清房贷。这不是件易事，但没有什么比这更值得做了。如果你想加入我们这一疯狂的还债计划，那就这样开始吧：
1. Stop Using It
1. 停止欠债
In order to completely become debt-free, you have to make a commitment to stop using debt - of any kind. That means no more credit cards, no more taking out loans of any kind, and no more borrowing money from a relative.
为了还清欠款，你必须发誓不再欠债。这就意味着你将没有信用卡、不能贷款、也不能和亲戚借钱。
It'll be scary at first, like real scary. You'll feel a little panic like you won't know what to do if this or that happens, which is why you must do step two . . .
刚开始的时候十分可怕，真的很可怕。你会感到不知所措，发生事情时，你不知道该做些什么，因此你必须采取第二步……
2. Start Saving
2. 开始省钱
Trust me when I tell you this - once you make the declaration to become debt-free, all of a sudden all these worries and panic will hit you. You'll start worrying how you'll pay to fix the car when it breaks down or how you'll pay your insurance deductible if an emergency happens. This is why you must absolutely start building up an emergency fund.
这点你该相信我--一旦你决定不再欠债，担心和恐慌会突然间向你袭来。你会开始担心如果车出了故障你该从哪拿钱修车，又或是如果发生了紧急情况，你又该如何支付自负额保险。正因如此，你才必须建立应急基金。
Start with your starting point - talk to your spouse about how much you want to save first. It could be as little as $500 and as high as $5,000. The point with the starting point is to pick a number that works well for your family but is not overwhelming.
从起点开始--和另一半谈谈刚开始的时候想存多少钱。可能至少500美元，至多5000美元。起点的意义就在于选择一个你们家可以承受但又不会感觉压力太大的数字。
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