Debt Dumpers - 2014

[gracie1]

I made no new years resolutions this year. Well, I guess staying out of cc debt is one! A resolution I made right before new years which I have kept is not to let work take advantage of me anymore

 

[gracie1]

I'll jump in.
My goals are:
1) Eliminate my CC debt (about $7000)
1a) Or reduce it by more than half (at least $4000)
2) Pay on the principle (or is it principal? I can never remember) of my mortgages so that this year is equivalent to 2+ years payments. (Moving them from 29.5 years, 8.5 years, and 9.75 years to 27 years, 6 years, and 7.5 years)
3) Avoid arguments on Facebook - really, it just raises my blood pressure and doesn't convince anyone anyway.
4) Restart contributing to my Roth IRA
5) Restart my stock purchases
6) Create a savings balance of at least 2 months salary (after taxes)
7) Stop smoking (which will go a LONG way to helping with the finances above )
8) Get Lilo's autograph

I also need to do #7. Maybe this year will be the year

 

[SpaceGirl]

I also need to do #7. Maybe this year will be the year

Slowly raising my hand, I need to do # 7.

 

[Eureka]

I agree with what Beckie says that it doesn't have to be 50/50 but there has to be input from both of you. For us, I do the day-to-day paying of the bills, most of the household shopping and money management. DH does the long-range planning (retirement, saving for the kids' college etc). He doesn't like that we have a bunch of credit card debt, yet he also wants to "live" now and not miss out on some things. I hate seeing the credit card balance and it makes me nervous, but as he has said in the past (and has been right) "we've never not been able to pay the bills." And if the worst came, we do have a nest egg to fall back on.

My point is, you don't have to agree on every bit of it but still have similar bottom-line ideas about money. For us, it's that we want to have money for retirement and also some to "play" with now. And that's working fine.

Just my 2 cents...

 

[dayvewc]

Good luck on #7. I hope you succeed. One of the hardest things you will probably ever do but well worth it.

Thanks. I know it will be difficult, but also know it will be worth it.

I also need to do #7. Maybe this year will be the year

Slowly raising my hand, I need to do # 7.

We can do it!! I've taken to telling myself "Every pack I don't buy is 3 more minutes at Disney World."

 

[GirlWhoWaited]

It just goes to show there's always something... Take care of those fur babies.

I agree! I love my dog like a child, and I would never skimp on medical care for a child (Well, I'm assuming, I don't have a child yet!)

Even when I haven't budgeted the money for my Buddy's vet bills, I still take him no matter what.

It's a reflection upon you as a person that that's a non-negotiable item on your list. And you're not alone.

Sorry for the unexpected budget item, but what a great investment in your furry or scaley, I'm not sure what you have, friend!!

 

[OhMari]

I agree! I love my dog like a child, and I would never skimp on medical care for a child (Well, I'm assuming, I don't have a child yet!)

Even when I haven't budgeted the money for my Buddy's vet bills, I still take him no matter what.

It's a reflection upon you as a person that that's a non-negotiable item on your list. And you're not alone.

Sorry for the unexpected budget item, but what a great investment in your furry or scaley, I'm not sure what you have, friend!!

My puppy eats rabbit poop and he will start puking and cannot stop. I will take him to the vet to get the shot and medicine to settle his stomach. $145. I have to keep him off the yard or he goes right back and finds them. My vet says he will eventually stop being stupid.

 

[GirlWhoWaited]

My puppy eats rabbit poop and he will start puking and cannot stop. I will take him to the vet to get the shot and medicine to settle his stomach. $145. I have to keep him off the yard or he goes right back and finds them. My vet says he will eventually stop being stupid.

Bahahaha. I'm so sorry for that, but I'm laughing because I feel your pain. I have a Beagle. He eats...anything. In the past, the vet has said that a zantac tablet is acceptable to settle his stomach, and there's a list floating around on the interwebs of medicines that are pet safe. Don't quote me on this, but I think pepto was on the list. But she also added that eventually, he may stop being stupid. Though I shouldn't hold my breath. I feel for you!

Best of wishes to your special friend.

 

[gracie1]

Bahahaha. I'm so sorry for that, but I'm laughing because I feel your pain. I have a Beagle. He eats...anything. In the past, the vet has said that a zantac tablet is acceptable to settle his stomach, and there's a list floating around on the interwebs of medicines that are pet safe. Don't quote me on this, but I think pepto was on the list. But she also added that eventually, he may stop being stupid. Though I shouldn't hold my breath. I feel for you!

Best of wishes to your special friend.

Your right, Pepto is pet friendly. So is Pepcid. There must be something special in rabbit poop because my one dog has not stopped being stupid She now goes on a leash and is not liking it at all. They can actually get round worms because of rabbit poop (just found this out when she tested positivie for it). I have a large Chihuahua and a Black Lab/Dalmation mix (also has some pit bull in her). When I got the Chihuahua in the first year she had to have two major leg surgeries for luxating patella, so we have back legs that are worth almost $4000 Not counting her gastroenteritis and all the lovely problems she has. But I would do anything for my two babies!

 

[GirlWhoWaited]

Your right, Pepto is pet friendly. So is Pepcid. There must be something special in rabbit poop because my one dog has not stopped being stupid She now goes on a leash and is not liking it at all. They can actually get round worms because of rabbit poop (just found this out when she tested positivie for it). I have a large Chihuahua and a Black Lab/Dalmation mix (also has some pit bull in her). When I got the Chihuahua in the first year she had to have two major leg surgeries for luxating patella, so we have back legs that are worth almost $4000 Not counting her gastroenteritis and all the lovely problems she has. But I would do anything for my two babies!

Good to know about the drugs and the round worms, thanks for the heads up! Much love to a fellow fur baby parent!

 

[jenny105]

No snow day for us today! Sitting here at work, bored out of my skull lol. I did get a little extra in my paycheck this week. There was a contest to re-name our employee newsletter and they picked my suggestion. So I won $250! Nice little unexpected chunk to put toward my savings accounts (I have three - vacation, e-fund, and house fund) and CC.

 

[Deffenm]

I talked dh last night and it looks like we are going to sell fridge we have in basement. It just sits there and is not being used so it is wasting space and electricity since it is plugged in. So hopefully we will be able to quickly sell it and that money will go into our emergency fund! The faster I save up our emergency fund the faster I can pay down our debt.

 

[SpaceGirl]

I talked dh last night and it looks like we are going to sell fridge we have in basement. It just sits there and is not being used so it is wasting space and electricity since it is plugged in. So hopefully we will be able to quickly sell it and that money will go into our emergency fund! The faster I save up our emergency fund the faster I can pay down our debt.

While you're down in that basement look around maybe you can find some other items to sell. I think this is a great way to jump start your emergency fund... you will be helping with your electric bill an empty refrigerator cost quite a bit to run empty.

 

[wunkmom]

While we're talking about selling things........
Hubby is off work next week so we're planning to purge the entire house. How do you determine what's good to sell and what's good to donate? Then, how are you selling things? Yard sale in the spring? eBay? Local Facebook group?
Thanks for any info you can share!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

I talked dh last night and it looks like we are going to sell fridge we have in basement. It just sits there and is not being used so it is wasting space and electricity since it is plugged in. So hopefully we will be able to quickly sell it and that money will go into our emergency fund! The faster I save up our emergency fund the faster I can pay down our debt.

That's a great idea!

While we're talking about selling things........
Hubby is off work next week so we're planning to purge the entire house. How do you determine what's good to sell and what's good to donate? Then, how are you selling things? Yard sale in the spring? eBay? Local Facebook group?
Thanks for any info you can share!

I start by looking at ebay to see what it's sold for in the past. If it isn't selling at all and I think it's worth more than $5 I'll try craigslist since it's free. If it hasn't gotten any interest at all after awhile I'll donate it. I haven't sold on facebook yet.

 

[orlandonewstarts]

At this moment I am very thankful for my 2013 Emergency Fund. Unexpected situtaion on Monday resulted in DS in emergency room and surgery within 30 minutes. Thankfully he will be ok and is home being spoiled.

But what a time to find out yesterday silly dork of my ex husband has him covered on an insurance plan at $4K deductible. My lawyer, state child support enforcment, and myself have been trying to get his insurance info since September at his new job. Trying to see the humor in it had to be Monday- 2 days before the end of the year so we start a new deductible in 2014 for all of his after surgery care

Thankful there was some coverage in place. But gosh darn this is going to hurt paying these bills. Time to tighten the budget a little more.

 

[Eureka]

No snow day for us today! Sitting here at work, bored out of my skull lol. I did get a little extra in my paycheck this week. There was a contest to re-name our employee newsletter and they picked my suggestion. So I won $250! Nice little unexpected chunk to put toward my savings accounts (I have three - vacation, e-fund, and house fund) and CC.

That's cool!

 

[OhMari]

While we're talking about selling things........
Hubby is off work next week so we're planning to purge the entire house. How do you determine what's good to sell and what's good to donate? Then, how are you selling things? Yard sale in the spring? eBay? Local Facebook group?
Thanks for any info you can share!

I belong to two Buy/Sell/Trade on facebook. I got a new dining Room table and I needed to get rid of my old one. It was a solid oak Table my inlaws gave me, with pastel cushion chairs. I hated it from day one. My nephew saw it and asked if he could have it for his 2nd year if college. I told him, if he comes and gets it it's his. Merry Christmas. My mil walked in my house and her jaw hit the floor.

At this moment I am very thankful for my 2013 Emergency Fund. Unexpected situtaion on Monday resulted in DS in emergency room and surgery within 30 minutes. Thankfully he will be ok and is home being spoiled.

But what a time to find out yesterday silly dork of my ex husband has him covered on an insurance plan at $4K deductible. My lawyer, state child support enforcment, and myself have been trying to get his insurance info since September at his new job. Trying to see the humor in it had to be Monday- 2 days before the end of the year so we start a new deductible in 2014 for all of his after surgery care

Thankful there was some coverage in place. But gosh darn this is going to hurt paying these bills. Time to tighten the budget a little more.

Timing stinks, but glad your son is ok. Hopefully you can deduct it on your taxes next year.

 

[dtr_angel]

At this moment I am very thankful for my 2013 Emergency Fund. Unexpected situtaion on Monday resulted in DS in emergency room and surgery within 30 minutes. Thankfully he will be ok and is home being spoiled.

But what a time to find out yesterday silly dork of my ex husband has him covered on an insurance plan at $4K deductible. My lawyer, state child support enforcment, and myself have been trying to get his insurance info since September at his new job. Trying to see the humor in it had to be Monday- 2 days before the end of the year so we start a new deductible in 2014 for all of his after surgery care

Thankful there was some coverage in place. But gosh darn this is going to hurt paying these bills. Time to tighten the budget a little more.

I'm glad your son is okay, but sorry about the unexpected financial situation. I hope he has a speedy recovery!

 

[orlandonewstarts]

Thank you both. He is expected to make a full recovery and while he is facing a 2nd surgery in 8 weeks I know we have the best care available at the Childrens hospital.

The hospital will work with me on a payment plan and I don't care what I have to sell, mortgage, or additional job I take on.... He will always have the care he needs.

Someday maybe the divorce decree will be upheld and ex will make enough money for wage garnishment to recoup his 1/2 of the medical expenses. LOL can I think of that as a long term savings account for my retirement. Try to see the humor in it rather than fret or worry. At this rate I will be retiring in Paris.