Russell and Kandy Hildebrandt paid off $106,000 in debt in five years with the help of Stillwater-based credit counseling agency Family Means. Russell worked 100 hours a week, sometimes sleeping in his car between jobs, while Kandy stayed home with the kids.

The inspiring story has thrust the New Richmond, Wisconsin family of five into the spotlight. Several papers have picked up their story. You can hear their story on public radio.

And today, the National Foundation for Credit Counseling released

"Russell and Kandy's tips for celebrating when money is tight or non-existent."

Hopefully some of these are helpful to you. I hope you'll share your own suggestions below. If you shoot an e-mail to kmcguire@startribune.com, I'll put your name in the running for a copy of the book "10,001 Ways to Live Large on a Small Budget."

Here are Kathy and Russell's tips:

  • Don't lie to yourself about the reality of your current situation by buying things on credit -- it isn't worth it. "Buy" yourself some future peace of mind by doing the right thing now. "Peace on Earth" begins with "peace of mind," one family at a time.
  • When there was no money for purchasing gifts, we used the gift money we received from our parents to buy our children their gifts. If there was any money left, we used it to buy necessities for the household that we had been going without.
  • Focus on the blessings of just being able to spend time with loved ones. We valued the gift of food and fellowship around the dinner table, the gift of laughter while everyone participated in a family-favorite game, the gift of nature while enjoying a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the beautiful winter woods, and the gift of love by the giving of our time or talent at the local nursing home during the Holidays. Making memories is priceless, and not very costly.

Now that they're out of debt, the couple wants to keep it that way. So this year, they're planning on cash only holiday and are still thinking frugally when shopping.

But they are going all out and planning for two Christmas trees!