Before they were married, Steven and Lina Zussino, 34 and 37, took fancy skiing trips and stayed at all-inclusive hotels. But once they got hitched, the reality of the debt they owed settled in and the luxury vacations came to an end.
The couple didn't have any credit card or student loan debt, but Steven brought $150,000 in mortgage debt to the table, thanks to a condo he bought in Victoria, British Columbia that they now live in.
So the couple soon looked for every possible opportunity to save -- like signing up for home swaps instead of expensive hotels and buying smaller gifts for each other, said Steven.
Food was another major expense. The couple began scouring the internet for coupons and deals, and found that even the little things -- like buying an entire leg of pork and getting 45 servings out of it (which would last them more than two months) instead of buying individual pieces -- really made a difference.
The couple soon began blogging about the grocery money they were saving. And their blog, Grocery Alerts, became popular enough that they were able to get advertisers. They now use the website as a way to bring in extra income -- which also goes toward paying down their debt.
Being married has helped motivate them to meet their goals, said Steve.
"The whole synergy of marriage really pays off," he said. "Prior to being married, if I paid my debt off in one year or three years it wouldn't make a difference because it would have just been me -- but now in paying this off we're changing each other's lives and our daughter's life."
Now that they have their two-month old baby, the couple hopes to pay off their condo and buy a home with more space. That means, of course, that they may have to take on some more debt.
Many same-sex couples face financial difficulties because the federal government doesn't recognize gay marriage.
