I got this E mail today from Mary Hunt’s newsletter, Everyday Cheapskate. She also writes a Debt Proof Living column to which one can subscribe for a fee.

She is trolling for participants to the Debt Proof Living Olympics (DPL)

Here is the concept (edited for brevity):

Dear Everyday Cheapskate Friend,

(this is) … where participants in the Olympic spirit--challenge themselves to achieve a specific personal finance goal.

The DPL Winter Olympics will run concurrently with the Olympic Games in Vancouver, starting with Opening Ceremonies on Friday, Feb. 12, and ending with Closing Ceremonies on Feb. 28.

The rules are simple: DPL Olympians are required to begin a personal finance project during the Opening Ceremonies on Friday, Feb. 12, and finish before the flame is extinguished 16 days later.

Like the real Olympics, there are many areas in which to compete: Tracking, organizing, saving, selling, inventorying and so forth. Participants are encouraged to come up with their own events that will have measurable results, provided the challenge requires some level of sacrifice and difficulty. (sacrifice, difficulty – I’m history).

Registration is underway now at my blog, MoneyRulesDebtStinks.com. … This is really fun and so easy. And don't worry about anything. You will remain completely anonymous, and accountable to only one person: You! And, you can even opt out from participation if you're just not up to it, just grab a seat in the stands as a spectator! (Sorry, I don’t even want to watch.)

Go check it out now. Participants are getting very creative in their events. So much fun!

Let the registrations begin! (Ummm, don’t wait up.)

End of the pitch

My approach to finance is don’t overspend. My approach to exclamation points is how cute can you get. My remarks in parentheses about sum up my feelings. There must be a prize involved. Probably a copy of one of her books, or a free one year sub to Debt Proof Living. Trust me, she is not giving away Ferraris.

But if any of you have ambition for this sort of thing, check it out.


xx, Teal