Congratulations to her on saving over 16 percent of gross income.

Considering the sacrifices both of you are making to obtain Sean's advanced degree, you are to be commended for really living on a shoestring budget.

Every time a fixed-expense item is paid off, reallocate that former payment against another debt. Combined with Mrs. Brown's employment as a nurse in 2002, you will be able to stop the interest clock from ticking forever.

My initial advice is to hunker down.

It's almost too late to sell now.

Get yourselves focused, build a financial base, then go for it.