Sandy Smith has been a personal finance blogger since January 1, 2009, when she resolved to get out of debt or die trying. No, no, that was 50 Cent. At age 29 she was frankly tired of paying living paycheck-to-paycheck and feeling as if she would never get ahead financially.

Her blog, Yes I Am Cheap, was born out of sheer frustration with the hope of paying down a $120,000 debt much faster than the average debtor without filing for bankruptcy.