Debt Dumpers - 2013

[disneychic2]

Just wanted to hop on and give virtual high fives to all of you doing so well at working a plan for financial freedom!! Keep up the great work!

DH and I use the envelope system from Dave Ramsey and it works for us. I just give him a certain amount of cash to carry with him in case he has to stop for something at the store on the way home. It works best because we do tend to spend less when it's cash going out. Sooo much easier to overspend when it's plastic! But, finding what works for you and your household is the key. I'm glad there are viable programs for all of us.

Auroa, I hope you are able to pay off your student loans by October. That would be so awesome!!!!

Pianokey, I'm so sorry to hear about your cat. I hope they find whatever is causing the problems and it is an easy fix.

 

[AuroraRora]

So sorry for you and your kitty pianokey! If you'll be back in there with him, I'd definitely recommend doing some quick googling on tests/meds the vet wants to give your cat, it can help keep costs down if you can understand it all and know about cheaper options. Last year when I had mine at the vet, she insisted he needed $120 medicine and there was no alternative. When my cat refused to take it, she relented and gave him $4 medicine that she said was just as good Funnily enough I didn't get the $120 back though!!

Speaking of kitties and costs, I inadvertently rescued one last night! A ginger kitten was wailing on the doorstep of the apartment building next to mine at 1am, so I went and brought it in and stuck a note on the building door saying where the owner could find it. This morning it occurred to me that it might not have a home though.... I can't afford another cat right now. I really hope someone in the building sees my note and comes for it.

 

[pianokey]

Yeah the problem is they don't know what's wrong.

They have ruled out cancer, pan leukopenia, and he didn't swallow anything he shouldn't have.

The emergency vet hadn't seen his symptoms before or our regular vet. If he doesn't get better, they said next step is ultrasound. He's already had X-rays and blood work. His blood cell counts are low, but they said its not cancer from that.

He's only 2 years old. It's just tough because there's nothing out there on google about his symptoms and I don't want him to live in agony, so I don't know what to do.

 

[honeybunches]

We had house guests unexpectedly this week so were afraid the budget would be blown. Thanks to good meal planning and not giving in to the temptation to overspend we stayed well in our budget. So glad because my mom & stepdad are coming this week, so it will be another chance to blow the budget! Luckily my mom will just want to stick around the house. Would really like to get our Disney trip paid off before the end if August so I can get back to paying down bills. I have been doing surveys to earn some gift cards to help pay for the OOP meals we planned for the trip.

PianoKey I am sorry about your cat. We called our last pound kitty the $5000 cat because it was so expensive to get her well. Totally worth it though.

So sorry for you and your kitty pianokey! If you'll be back in there with him, I'd definitely recommend doing some quick googling on tests/meds the vet wants to give your cat, it can help keep costs down if you can understand it all and know about cheaper options. Last year when I had mine at the vet, she insisted he needed $120 medicine and there was no alternative. When my cat refused to take it, she relented and gave him $4 medicine that she said was just as good Funnily enough I didn't get the $120 back though.

Hmmm...time to find a new vet I think!

 

[gracie1]

Vets bills are definitely a budget buster!! When I got my Chihuahua she had to have surgery on her 2 back knees because they didn't develop properly. To the sum of $4000. So imagine the shock when my black lab and her play and she lays on her back so the lab can pull her across the living room carpet by her back legs I always yell at her to get off of her sister's $4000 legs Of course, the lab has severe allergies, separation anxiety....anything that can cost money!!
I hope your kitty gets better soon!

 

[megsoro]

Yeah the problem is they don't know what's wrong.

They have ruled out cancer, pan leukopenia, and he didn't swallow anything he shouldn't have.

The emergency vet hadn't seen his symptoms before or our regular vet. If he doesn't get better, they said next step is ultrasound. He's already had X-rays and blood work. His blood cell counts are low, but they said its not cancer from that.

He's only 2 years old. It's just tough because there's nothing out there on google about his symptoms and I don't want him to live in agony, so I don't know what to do.

Have they checked for a urinary track blockage? My kitty has similar symptoms- they ran several tests and finally a tech felt his tummy and he had a blockage.

 

[milwaukeemommy]

We were doing so well paying things down. Got a curveball with our poor kitty. He started vomiting and various other issues yesterday. Took him to the emergency vet because he was dehydrated. Still don't know what the cause is. That was a bill of $800. We can pay that, by making some other things tight. However, I don't know how much more he will cost if they can't figure out the issue.
:-(

So sorry, hope he's feeling better. I can totally relate to those vet bills - my Jake was diabetic - so lots of vet visits, special (expensive) food & insulin. It really added up. BUT - he lived another 8 yrs after diagnosis so it was worth it. {healing thoughts for kitty}

Good news - we close on our refi on Friday! Yay!! I cannot WAIT to say good bye to that home equity payment, & HELLO to our new low mortgage payment

 

[disney-inspired]

Welp, there goes my savings (and then some). It's okay since it was an expected cost. RT airfare to KY to visit my sister and BIL for Thanksgiving. Now back to saving!

My WDW trip for Sept 2014 was canceled/postponed to 2015. I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG. My current savings goal is for a short (3 nights, 4 days) trip to WDW for my little sister and myself in January 2014.

It will be ultra budget (probably only 1 TS meal, if that!) and probably commando as well. If the crowds are as low as everyone is saying, I shouldn't have any problems.

The only killer is the airfare, UGH! It costs almost the same as our hotel and tickets! I'd drive but CA to FL is A LONG WAY and we are short on time since she will be in school.

Other than that, everyone is going along well. Hope you are all making headway in your debts.

 

[gracie1]

So sorry, hope he's feeling better. I can totally relate to those vet bills - my Jake was diabetic - so lots of vet visits, special (expensive) food & insulin. It really added up. BUT - he lived another 8 yrs after diagnosis so it was worth it. {healing thoughts for kitty}

Good news - we close on our refi on Friday! Yay!! I cannot WAIT to say good bye to that home equity payment, & HELLO to our new low mortgage payment

Wow, I can only imagine your vet bills!! But I would do the same! My two dogs are my children! My vet tells me I treat them better than people! Lol

 

[pianokey]

Thanks for all the advice and good thoughts. The vet now thinks it is pancreatitis. So they started treating him for that and he's been responding well. Hopefully he can come home today or tomorrow. Feel much better with having a diagnosis.

 

[gracie1]

Thanks for all the advice and good thoughts. The vet now thinks it is pancreatitis. So they started treating him for that and he's been responding well. Hopefully he can come home today or tomorrow. Feel much better with having a diagnosis.

I thought about pancreatitis when you posted this. A coworker of mine had a dog with a lot of the same problems, and they diagnosed pancreatitis. Then they ended up diagnosing the dog with diabetes as well.
Good luck with your kitty and I hope he gets to come home soon!!

 

[AuroraRora]

Sorry your trip had to get postponed disney-inspired! That's really rough But time will fly and you'll be there before you know it!

Piankokey I'm so glad they figured out whats wrong with your cat!! Hopefully it won't be too expensive to treat, I feel like half the costs of vets these days are tests and scans etc, so it's great you're done with that part of it and have a diagnosis. It is easily treated?

I still have my random rescue kitty from the other night in my house - I can't believe no-ones come to claim it I left a note on the door of the apartment building it was crying outside of, but nothing. I'm not sure how long I should wait before I take it to a shelter . My roommate has been talking about getting a cat, so I'm kind of hoping when she gets back from vacay on Thursday, she might fall in love with it hehe!

EDIT: Rescue kitty was picked up by her owner - YAY! Turns out she has six babies at home and dashed out the door the other night... maybe she needed a break from the kids

 

[bababear_50]

All I can think of is this

"I'm OUT!!!!!!!!!!! OF DEBT!!!

For months I have been reading along and working so hard to get myself out of a very bad situation.
Without betraying a certain persons privacy
I bought a cottage with a family member 3 years ago. This was a secure investment that went so far south of the border due to a fast addiction to drugs by the other party. The stress in my life has been twofold-concern the person was and is going to die and the financial responsibility that I may lose everything.
Well as of yesterday the cottage sold and I have redone all of my finances,as of Sept 1st I will only have my primary home mortgage and will never again get involved with a joint ownership of property or home equity line of credit EVER AGAIN! 2013 has been the worst time of my life.

To anyone living or dealing with someone that has a drug addiction there is light at the end of the tunnel and hope.

Best wishes to everyone who is dealing with paying off debt
I will say a prayer for you.
BIG HUGS
Mel

 

[pryncess527]

My WDW trip for Sept 2014 was canceled/postponed to 2015. I CAN'T WAIT THAT LONG. My current savings goal is for a short (3 nights, 4 days) trip to WDW for my little sister and myself in January 2014.

Sorry to hear about having to postpone your trip. I haven't quite given up on ours yet, but when I'm realistic I think we'll have to push our 2014 trip back to 2015 as well. It will be worth it though to take a trip that is paid for up front!

All I can think of is this

"I'm OUT!!!!!!!!!!!

...
Well as of yesterday the cottage sold and I have redone all of my finances,as of Sept 1st I will only have my primary home mortgage and will never again get involved with a joint ownership of property or home equity line of credit EVER AGAIN! 2013 has been the worst time of my life.

Congratulations!!!! I bet that is a huge weight off your shoulders. I hope the second half of 2013 and all of your 2014 is awesome

Thanks for all the advice and good thoughts. The vet now thinks it is pancreatitis. So they started treating him for that and he's been responding well. Hopefully he can come home today or tomorrow. Feel much better with having a diagnosis.

I'm so glad you have a diagnosis, it's so hard not knowing what is wrong. Now that you know, I hope your kitty is better soon.

 

[peel]

Thanks for all the advice and good thoughts. The vet now thinks it is pancreatitis. So they started treating him for that and he's been responding well. Hopefully he can come home today or tomorrow. Feel much better with having a diagnosis.

That's great news, I'm sure he'll make a speedy recovery now that they know what's wrong.

Unfortunately, I only have negative news to report. Yesterday, I paid back the $395 to the evil government, and then DH's car decided the $1600 worth of car repairs it had earlier this month was not enough and shredded its serpentine belt to the tune of $290. Can't wait to go to the vet for Annie's Round 3 of chemo in a couple of weeks--$540.

I can't help but feeling if I didn't start up with YNAB this month these things wouldn't be bothering me so much....put them on the CC and deal with them later. But now that I caught a glimpse of building a quick buffer, it stings even more that we will be behind by the time July is over. There is a tiny bright spot--I quickly sold a bunch of my textbooks on Amazon for $160, which was a lot more than I was expecting to get for them.

 

[pryncess527]

I can't help but feeling if I didn't start up with YNAB this month these things wouldn't be bothering me so much....put them on the CC and deal with them later. But now that I caught a glimpse of building a quick buffer, it stings even more that we will be behind by the time July is over. There is a tiny bright spot--I quickly sold a bunch of my textbooks on Amazon for $160, which was a lot more than I was expecting to get for them.

I know the feeling. Starting YNAB was painful for us because we had to face reality. In the past, we would have kind of swept financial problems under the rug, put it on a CC, and dealt with it later. Now the cold hard reality hits us in the face and sometimes that stings. But I also remind myself that the old method was just me burying my head in the sand, so while the reality is painful, at least I'm facing reality -- and you can't really make good choices when you aren't dealing with reality!

Yay for getting more for your books than expected!! Ever since we've started YNAB I've been finding things all over the house I can sell, it's so nice to be able to record an extra income and see the "available to budget" number go up. And I love knowing I'm decluttering the house at the same time.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Interesting article I thought you'd all enjoy. Happy Heat Wave everyone!

https://retirementplans.vanguard.co...L&ps=0&tab=libraryTab&libView=AllTopics&po=10

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

All I can think of is this

"I'm OUT!!!!!!!!!!! OF DEBT!!!

For months I have been reading along and working so hard to get myself out of a very bad situation.
Without betraying a certain persons privacy
I bought a cottage with a family member 3 years ago. This was a secure investment that went so far south of the border due to a fast addiction to drugs by the other party. The stress in my life has been twofold-concern the person was and is going to die and the financial responsibility that I may lose everything.
Well as of yesterday the cottage sold and I have redone all of my finances,as of Sept 1st I will only have my primary home mortgage and will never again get involved with a joint ownership of property or home equity line of credit EVER AGAIN! 2013 has been the worst time of my life.

To anyone living or dealing with someone that has a drug addiction there is light at the end of the tunnel and hope.

Best wishes to everyone who is dealing with paying off debt
I will say a prayer for you.
BIG HUGS
Mel

Sorry to hear about all of this. That's awful. It's good to hear that financially things are looking up. I hope your family member is doing better too.

 

[ceemys]

Once again, my work has stopped me from following this thread like I like. But my huge 2-3 month project is over! A lot of work but nothing as big as the last one was.

I have read through some pages and Big hugs to the ones that are struggling. I see a lot of awesome reports on paying things off, setting up the savings, or even just starting and realizing even though you have a lot of debt, you are in control now and will knock it out!

With work, I haven't been on top of my finances and we have been eating out more than I would like. But this weekend, I am sitting down and getting caught up. Two weeks of receipts to input lol. I don't use YNAB, I have quicken, but I should really utilize the budget that the program offers. I just use it for now on my checking account. I had my daughter open a checking account and she is putting all of her babysitting money in there.

I had my construction meeting yesterday on my house. Even though I was pre-approved last year, they have to do another pre-approval from my mortgage company. Then they have to do a 3rd pre-approval 10 days before closing. I am so nervous!! I have done everything the mortgage guy said with my CC. No more than $50 at any given time and always leave at least $10 in the account. I really hope that increases my credit score.

Good news is I am 93.5% saved to my downpayment!!! Holy cow! I pray that it isn't all for nothing if I don't get re-approved. This is making me sick to my stomach.

Christine

 

[Doodlebug939]

Once again, my work has stopped me from following this thread like I like. But my huge 2-3 month project is over! A lot of work but nothing as big as the last one was.

I have read through some pages and Big hugs to the ones that are struggling. I see a lot of awesome reports on paying things off, setting up the savings, or even just starting and realizing even though you have a lot of debt, you are in control now and will knock it out!

With work, I haven't been on top of my finances and we have been eating out more than I would like. But this weekend, I am sitting down and getting caught up. Two weeks of receipts to input lol. I don't use YNAB, I have quicken, but I should really utilize the budget that the program offers. I just use it for now on my checking account. I had my daughter open a checking account and she is putting all of her babysitting money in there.

I had my construction meeting yesterday on my house. Even though I was pre-approved last year, they have to do another pre-approval from my mortgage company. Then they have to do a 3rd pre-approval 10 days before closing. I am so nervous!! I have done everything the mortgage guy said with my CC. No more than $50 at any given time and always leave at least $10 in the account. I really hope that increases my credit score.

Good news is I am 93.5% saved to my downpayment!!! Holy cow! I pray that it isn't all for nothing if I don't get re-approved. This is making me sick to my stomach.

Christine

You have come so far with your savings this year. You should be proud and this is no time to have DOUBTS about yourself. You know the rules of the game and seem to have played everything just as you should. I hope that you get a good interest rate as I have seen them climbing up recently. It is not uncommon for them to do several checks along the process and it should be no big deal.