Debt Dumpers - 2014

[dtr_angel]

argh. DH is going to lose pay for today due to the weather, but glad they are shutting down. It's too cold to be out there all night! I hope everyone else is staying warm, I think it's 8 degrees here and it's the warmest part of the day. He did volunteer to go grab some groceries though so the toddler and I can stay home

 

[Eureka]

I thought MA was used to snow? 2-3" cancels school? I think the -40's we had here 2 weeks ago has made our district thing we can just tough it out now. My car read -8 on my drive to school! Ahhhhh! -20 (actual or with windchill) will cancel in my district. My classroom is an icebox! I'm typing with gloves on, my winter coat and hat! Brrrrr.....

But I hear you on not leaving! When we were -40 a few weeks back, I didn't leave the house for 4 days! Closed up all the curtains and blinds to save heat (even our new windows had ice on them inside), and tried to stay warm.

I'm in Maryland, not Massachusetts, although I am originally from New England. Down here, they just don't have the equipment to get everything done quickly like they do elsewhere. Although, every year it's the same, so they really should find money somewhere to buy more equipment. My poor heat pump is running nonstop…those things are just not meant for 10 degrees.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I'm dying for a winter vaca! I'm in Michigan and we've already hit our annual total of snowfall with 3 more months to go! AHHHHH! I used to escape during my break in Feb w/ my mom. But she's been taking her time to help my sister with her business (women's golf clothing line) and is currently off at the PGA show this week. My DH is a CPA and was in public accounting so our coldest months = his busiest months = no winter vacas!

But he's in corporate accounting now, so I'm holding out hope maybe next year we can escape the winter!

Dh is stronger than me. He never feels like he's dying for a winter vacay so he says go without him. Same with ds17. That's fine with me. Makes it less expensive.

 

[gracie1]

Dh is stronger than me. He never feels like he's dying for a winter vacay so he says go without him. Same with ds17. That's fine with me. Makes it less expensive.

Do you take solo vacations? Have you done Disney solo?

 

[Deffenm]

Ah another frozen day here for us. The kids did have school though (only 2 snow days left). One good thing about the bitter cold is nobody wants to go out and spend money.

I am very pleased that some of our unexpected expenses this month have been less then I thought and I have stuck to our budget. I have only gone out to eat one time this month so far. I thought for sure I would miss going out but this has made me cook better meals at home and then I bring the leftovers in for lunch. My family hasn't complained either.

This weekend I will know exactly where I landed for the month. This thread has been great and keeps me motivated and on track!

 

[fbb]

I think everyone is getting side tracked here. The last thing I want is anyone feeling attacked and people to stop posting.
Some of us have debt were dumping. And some of us have dumped the debt and come on here for budget advice, etc. we are all on here to support others. It is not up to is to tell them how to spend their money but to cheer them on dumping their debt! We are all going to have unexpected items come up that can prolong and add to the debt dumping - but that's life.

I ask that everyone please respect everyone and not be judgemental.

This thread has lots of potential, but it will probably evolve into an IM cheerleading group where the same handful of posters talk about day to day stuff. The TV post is an excellent opportunity for real debate on the subject.

 

[Kachina]

Wow, that's amazing! Thanks for the link and hope this next round gets knocked out quickly for you.

Thank you! Most of that was a wedding and honeymoon. Wouldn't trade those memories for anything, but if we could do it all over again .. you know the drill.

Enjoy the link.

I'm also in MA, our town cancelled school for today... snowfall ranging from 7" in one part to 15" on the other side
I think they thought it would be worse than it turned out to be in some parts. Seems many towns are calling snow days the day before just to "be on the safe side"

Yikes. Seems like the east coast is really getting it bad this year. Meanwhile out here in Montana it's been 40's and sunny, with more rain than snow so far this year. Make no mistake though, February is almost here and mother nature will make us pay for it. Maybe I should look into renting a bulldozer for snow removal now while we can still get out.

I hope everyone is safe and warm today.

That is great that you paid off the last of your debt last year!! It's amazing how owning a home costs so much!! It seems to never end!

Thank you! Any homeowner knows, if you have a few hundred bucks left over at payday, something will happen that will require you to spend exactly that amount of spare money. Wouldn't change it for the world, though.

So glad to have found such a nice bunch of talkative folks.

 

[Colleen27]

Why is Murphy such a jerk?! I wouldn't hate him so much if it didn't seem like he was always taking my money AND laughing at me while he's doing it. Sorry to hear that your trip has been postponed- but at least it's something to look forward to!

True, but it is hard not to whine when it is -8 outside... I wanna go to Florida NOW!

I'm hoping (knock wood) that Murphy has headed elsewhere but with this cold I'm not counting on it. A 135 year old house and record-setting cold are NOT a good combination.

I'm dying for a winter vaca! I'm in Michigan and we've already hit our annual total of snowfall with 3 more months to go! AHHHHH! I used to escape during my break in Feb w/ my mom. But she's been taking her time to help my sister with her business (women's golf clothing line) and is currently off at the PGA show this week. My DH is a CPA and was in public accounting so our coldest months = his busiest months = no winter vacas!

But he's in corporate accounting now, so I'm holding out hope maybe next year we can escape the winter!

I'm lucky - DH is in construction, so the "OMG I hate Michigan" months are usually his slow season. I've managed to escape twice this winter and it still doesn't feel like enough, but he's in the middle of a big project with a June deadline and the money just isn't there for another trip so here I sit with my tea and my computer, trying to stay warm.

Hey fellow (likely frozen) Gander! Just reminded me to get swagging! LOL. And I'm going for every nickel and dime too!

Oh so frozen... Spent most of my day in the car because I had 4 different shops back-to-back that I scheduled before the forecast showed it would be slightly colder than deep space outside. But I got it all done with just enough time to thaw before heading out to DD's basketball game tonight.

Tomorrow I'm hibernating, I swear!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Do you take solo vacations? Have you done Disney solo?

I've never taken a solo vacation anywhere but I'm not against the idea. I might have but ds13 changed his mind and decided to come.
Unfortunately DCL charges a single supplement so 1 person isn't much less than 2. I used miles for my flight so just had to buy a seat for ds.

 

[dayvewc]

Just jumping in on the conversation, looks like I'm doing Disney solo in March. My SO is having to work (yay! job), my sister and family can't go, and my other friends don't think they can save enough between now and then.

 

[gracie1]

Just jumping in on the conversation, looks like I'm doing Disney solo in March. My SO is having to work (yay! job), my sister and family can't go, and my other friends don't think they can save enough between now and then.

I have been contemplating a solo trip to Disney. I really, really want to see it at Christmas time. I'm thinking next year may be my year.
How long are you going for??

 

[dayvewc]

I have been contemplating a solo trip to Disney. I really, really want to see it at Christmas time. I'm thinking next year may be my year. How long are you going for??

total trip is 9-10 days. Leaving out Friday March 21 after work and returning beginning on March 29, arriving home on the 30th. I'll be driving, so depending on how I feel after I get there, I may go to one of the parks Saturday night, but not planning anything until Sunday.

 

[momtosam]

Perhaps I should share the fact I saved $40 at Target this weekend using just coupons I printed online, mobile coupons and cartwheels.

Or share the fact I managed to save $30 at the grocery store this weekend again using just printed online coupons.

Look, $70 "found" which will pay for my first TV payment.

Can you explain the Cartwheels? I've heard of it but haven't used it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Wow, we are junkies. This thread started about supporting each other for dumping debt & look how quickly it turns into a vacation planning thread.
I think I'm a bad influence.

 

[gracie1]

Wow, we are junkies. This thread started about supporting each other for dumping debt & look how quickly it turns into a vacation planning thread. I think I'm a bad influence.

Lol!! Can't help but think of vacations! But atleast were budgeting for them!!

 

[gracie1]

total trip is 9-10 days. Leaving out Friday March 21 after work and returning beginning on March 29, arriving home on the 30th. I'll be driving, so depending on how I feel after I get there, I may go to one of the parks Saturday night, but not planning anything until Sunday.

How long does it take you to drive? You will be there for my birthday! Where are you staying? When we went we stayed at pop century. I think it's been 5 years since we were there. My mom and I went in October. We stayed for 12 days! I was exhausted when we came home! Lol

 

[dayvewc]

1) How long does it take you to drive?
2) You will be there for my birthday!
3) Where are you staying?
4) When we went we stayed at pop century. I think it's been 5 years since we were there.
5) My mom and I went in October. We stayed for 12 days! I was exhausted when we came home! Lol

1) it's about 19 hours drive time. With the time zones, that's 20 hours there and 18 back.
2) Cool! I'll make sure to have a DoleWhip and Mickey Pretzel in your honor. Just let me know which day.
3) Holiday Inn Resorts at Orange Lake. (Yeah, I'm horrible. Going to Disney and staying off-site. Lol.) I have to use my other time share points. I will admit OL is the best place I've ever stayed. I actually like it better than the DVC rooms I've stayed in. Yeah, heresy, I know.
4) Fun. I still plan on staying at most of the different Disney resorts eventually, but I don't think I could wait 5 years. Lol.
5) Nice. I'm trying to talk my parents in to going back sometime. But my dad can't travel anymore, and mom won't go without him. Their only trip was for 3 days right before New Years in 2009, when Florida froze. Lol. Not the best trip.

But I'm ready for my next trip. Just gotta get my income tax refund first. Hoping I can file by late February.

 

[gracie1]

1) it's about 19 hours drive time. With the time zones, that's 20 hours there and 18 back.
2) Cool! I'll make sure to have a DoleWhip and Mickey Pretzel in your honor. Just let me know which day.
3) Holiday Inn Resorts at Orange Lake. (Yeah, I'm horrible. Going to Disney and staying off-site. Lol.) I have to use my other time share points. I will admit OL is the best place I've ever stayed. I actually like it better than the DVC rooms I've stayed in. Yeah, heresy, I know.
4) Fun. I still plan on staying at most of the different Disney resorts eventually, but I don't think I could wait 5 years. Lol.
5) Nice. I'm trying to talk my parents in to going back sometime. But my dad can't travel anymore, and mom won't go without him. Their only trip was for 3 days right before New Years in 2009, when Florida froze. Lol. Not the best trip.

But I'm ready for my next trip. Just gotta get my income tax refund first. Hoping I can file by late February.

Sounds like fun!! Do you have any table service reservations?? When I ever go back - I have to go back to O'hana's. Loved that breakfast! But I definitely have to try dinner there too!

 

[dayvewc]

Sounds like fun!! Do you have any table service reservations?? When I ever go back - I have to go back to O'hana's. Loved that breakfast! But I definitely have to try dinner there too!

Thanks. I think it will be a lot of fun, or else I wouldn't go. lol I do think that traveling by myself will be a much different experience. I'm debating on getting the Memory Maker package since it's just me and I have most of the pictures I'd want anyway. On the other hand, it is just me, so I can redo stuff a whole lot easier if the picture doesn't come out the way I'd like. Kind of a "6 dozen of one, 1/2 of the other" scenario.

I do have TS reservations. At Chefs de France and Garden Grill in Epcot. (Although, I've heard that Remy no longer does the rounds at Chefs, so I may cancel that one) and then breakfast at Chef Mickeys before one of my MK days and lunch in HS at '50's Prime Time Cafe.

Haven't managed to get to O'hana's yet, but everything I hear about it sounds great.

 

[LilSweetPeaPhoto]

Can you explain the Cartwheels? I've heard of it but haven't used it.

Cartwheel is done online. I do it on my phone as I'm shopping. I open up the cartwheel app and see if the items I'm buying are offered. If they are it's anything from 5% to 50% off at times. Then you add it to your list. You're only allowed a certain number of discounts (but you can earn more).

Then at check out you show the cashier the barcode after all other coupons and it takes the discount off. It's not a ton, but it's "free" money.

There's also a GREAT website (allthingstarget.com) that walks you through the target discounts for the week.