The American Dream seems to have changed from having a car in every garage and a chicken in every pot to finding a way to pay for gas for that car and coming up with anything to put on the table – even if it’s just mac and cheese. More and more people are finding the wolf – or the repo man – when they answer the door and debt free living seems like the most impossible dream imaginable.

But you can make debt free living a reality. It’s not easy. And it requires a complete change of your mindset and your lifestyle. But the peace of mind that comes with it is priceless.

Perhaps the hardest thing you’ll need to do is to realize that you have to make some changes. Erasing your debt is going to take some time and a lot of effort. And it’s like dieting or smoking – you have to want to make the change if you want to see results and you’ll have to believe that those changes will benefit you. If you’re not completely dedicated to the idea of debt free living – if you’re not ready to stop competing with the Jones’ and make a few sacrifices – then you’ll never succeed.

In order to achieve your dream you’re going to have to take a serious look at your finances and determine where you are and where you want to be. Then you’re going to have to make a plan to get from Point A to Point B. That may involve eliminating things like cell phones and cable TV. You might have to start cooking meals and eating in instead of dining at restaurants every other night. You might even need to consult with a financial planner or a debt consultant to help you with a plan.

These little sacrifices may seem difficult in the beginning but, just like dieting, when you start to see small successes you’ll be motivated to see how many more lifestyle changes you can make that will help you achieve your goal that much faster. Before you know it your dream of debt free living will become a reality.