Debt Dumpers - 2013

[BernardandMissBianca]

Some advice please.... I'm looking to cut costs, and I'm considering dropping cable. Right now we have the Xfinity triple through Comcast for $155/month. Our contract (and promotional discounts) are up in August. It would be a $45 termination fee to cancel the contract. To keep just internet would be $71.95/mo plus taxes. I would also get (at least one) of Netflix, Hulu plus or Amazon prime, which would be $7.99/mo plus tax. Thoughts? any other suggestions? Thanks!

Just getting back to this thread and saw this.

We cut cable TV in October (Comcast) but kept the phone and internet.

We picked up Netflix, Hulu Plus, and Amazon Prime. I will probably dump the Amazon because we don't use it often enough because we have a huge DVD library and we have Apple TV with iTunes.
Netflix is great for older shows and seasons, Hulu is great for current TV.

Our cable bill was $245 a month, now it's $95 a month.

I have found that we don't watch as much TV now and we are more selective about what we watch. The kids used to just have it on for background noise, now they listen to Pandora though the TV or DS16's phone if they want noise.

I doubt we will ever go back to cable.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

Not sure where I left off. We just got back from DC and seeing my dad in the inaugural parade.
Managed to pay for the whole trip without using credit cards, with the exception of the hotel. Mom is paying for 1/2 of that and DH's expenses will cover the other 1/2.

Things paid off or down 2013:
Car taxes $1600
1/2 the Apple card balance - $530
1/2 remaining balance kids tuition - $2811
heating oil bill - $652

This were the big things hanging over my head since Dec. Now that those are out of the way, I feel like I can get ahead instead of treading water. I have a few more things to catch up on, but they are smaller one time bills.

 

[bigsis1970]

This is a great thread.. Our goal for 2013 is to pay off 4 CC (all maxed out) and the rest of Hubs student loan.. that will leave us with one CC, one personal loan and Hubs truck to pay off in early 2014.. we had a vacation slated for the end of Oct for the Food and Wine festival (there is always 2014) but our 2013 had a rocky start with car troubles for both of us and our pipes freezing (thankful not bursting though) but rather then derail the payment plans I made the choice to nix the vacation.. we will keep our summer plans though as those include the kids. keep up the good work friends!

 

[Disneefun]

Dropping that 12% 401K is absolutely a BAD BAD BAD idea. You are leaving a 100% return on the table to save some other interest. Even if your other debts have 50% interest rates, your husband should still contribute 12% to get the match.

And remember that cutting your 401K contribution may not raise your take home pay all that much. Since 401K contributions are pretax, what you'll see in your check will be quite a bit less once taxes are taken out. It's not like you're going to get that full 12% to pay down debt. Depending on your tax bracket, etc. you might not see much difference at all, or at least not the kind of difference that warrants giving up 12% in "free" money. Oh, and depending on your tax situation, the lack of that contribution may cause you to own on your taxes next year, or get a substantailly smaller refund, which would, again, sort of negate the point.

 

[danielle79]

Woo Hoo for everybody on the debt dumping!!!! I was afraid that January was not very good for me due to a bad work schedule. I paid one of the last bills of the month and I am only $9 behind on my schedule to be out of debt in 24 months. As long as I make that by Thursday (the 31st) I should be on schedule. I am doing my own rendition of the snowball method along with the debt worksheet on www.gailvazoxlade.com, I had a bad month at work and still stayed on track, very proud of myself! Also thought I might have to put a dentist bill on my cc ( obviously don't want to do that at all) but I didn't have to, they are giving me 6o days to pay it off at the office, no interest!

 

[fun4me]

I just cancelled Dishnetwork!! I've been wanting to make that call a for awhile but I've been dragging my feet. Feb 2 is our last day of programming. We'll see how we do with just OTA and I may pick up a new Roku.

I tried to cancel our lawn service but they talked me into staying with a $3.00 cut in price and they are only coming out 5 times a year instead of 7. We'll see how that works out for us. I don't like weeds in our yard and dh isn't so great with weed control and keeping our lawn green without it.

I also changed my internet a few weeks ago and cut my landline down to the basic plan without long distance. I'm waiting for my first bill to see how that pans out.

I've been talking about doing these changes for awhile and it feels good to finally get them taken care of.

 

[ajh88]

Mailed medical bill payment today so it will get there Monday - got a 10% discount for paying within the first 30 days! It was less than $200, but still good to be paid. Of course, got a different doctor bill of $55 in the mail today, but that is no biggie - will pay it next week too.

Also mailed another car payment (designated principle only!) today. I'll be scheduling my "big" bills on Sunday, when I can see my paystub.

 

[mommytoxzande]

Just wanted to post that I was able to make an extra $150 payment to our cc today. This is because DH and I have stuck to the budget we created at the beginning of the year! It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction for us.

 

[AuroraRora]

Good job with the payments everyone!!

 

[dreamin_disney]

I'm breaking up my debt into 3 goals for the year

1st goal

Debt
1. (((((Paid)))))
2.paying off nextweek
3.Paying off in March
4. Paying off in March this is one that will open up $320 a month

*paying these off will open up $495 extra a month that I can use toward other debt

2nd goal
5. pay off by April
6.pay off by May
7. Pay off by June

3rd Goal
8. I'm giving myself until Dec to pay this one off but I'm going to really try by Sept

I also am doing the weekly saving challenge and will use that for xmas. Hopefully all goes as planned and I stay on track

 

[jenny105]

Are there any good debt tracker apps for the android?

 

[gracie1]

Everyone is doing so great with their payments!!!

 

[pumpkin21]

Just wanted to post that I was able to make an extra $150 payment to our cc today. This is because DH and I have stuck to the budget we created at the beginning of the year! It's a small step, but it's a step in the right direction for us.

Yay! Happy for you

 

[AuroraRora]

I paid off one of my credit cards today!!

I've been paying little amounts of money to it here and there, and not really checking in on the balance, and this morning I was looking at my online banking and realized I only had $61 left on it. Paid it immediately and now I finally have a credit card with no debt on it, woot woot!! Now I only have the other credit cards, and my store card, and my student loans to go... oh well, it's a start!!

 

[gracie1]

I paid off one of my credit cards today!!

I've been paying little amounts of money to it here and there, and not really checking in on the balance, and this morning I was looking at my online banking and realized I only had $61 left on it. Paid it immediately and now I finally have a credit card with no debt on it, woot woot!! Now I only have the other credit cards, and my store card, and my student loans to go... oh well, it's a start!!

Congrats on paying one off That is extra money you can put towards another one to pay it off faster!

I cannot wait to get mine paid off! I keep going over my budget, because I want my final payment to be done by May31st! It's going to be a struggle but I am determined!

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I paid off one of my credit cards today!!

I've been paying little amounts of money to it here and there, and not really checking in on the balance, and this morning I was looking at my online banking and realized I only had $61 left on it. Paid it immediately and now I finally have a credit card with no debt on it, woot woot!! Now I only have the other credit cards, and my store card, and my student loans to go... oh well, it's a start!!

Great job!!

 

[fun4me]

Yay! For getting things paid off. Every little thing adds up!
Good job!

 

[danielle79]

so just a little update, I had a great night at work! I will be able to pay what I am suppose to by the end of the month to be on track for my plan of debt free in two years! I will know exactly how much debt I have paid down this month on wednesday and will post my end of month progress, this feels so good to see an end in sight! Thank you all for keeping my accountable!!!!

 

[AuroraRora]

so just a little update, I had a great night at work! I will be able to pay what I am suppose to by the end of the month to be on track for my plan of debt free in two years! I will know exactly how much debt I have paid down this month on wednesday and will post my end of month progress, this feels so good to see an end in sight! Thank you all for keeping my accountable!!!!

Good job! I love those times when you make more than usual and you can envision the money going towards something! I do consulting, and my boss called me at 7pm tonight saying she had a casefile I could work on over the weekend and get paid on Monday, and I SO didn't want to get up off the couch and go pick it up and take on more work over the weekend. But I made myself do it, and now I'm so glad because its 3am, but I'm halfway done and when I drop it off on Monday, it'll almost pay my rent. I'm so glad we have each other to keep the motivation going!!

 

[gracie1]

Good job! I love those times when you make more than usual and you can envision the money going towards something! I do consulting, and my boss called me at 7pm tonight saying she had a casefile I could work on over the weekend and get paid on Monday, and I SO didn't want to get up off the couch and go pick it up and take on more work over the weekend. But I made myself do it, and now I'm so glad because its 3am, but I'm halfway done and when I drop it off on Monday, it'll almost pay my rent. I'm so glad we have each other to keep the motivation going!!

I know exactly how you feel not wanting to work! Everyone where I am is out with the flu, and today was supposed to be my one day off this week, but I figured I would sludge on in so I could get an extra day of overtime pay to sink into my bills! I figure it will only get them paid off faster!!!