Debt Dumpers - 2014

[southlakejr]

So I did it- paid off $800 in CC debt today! I had budgeted it in YNAB at the beginning of the month but hadn't made the transfer. I think part of me was holding back with a "but what if I need it for something else" I know that the only way that we would need those funds is if we went over budget or an emergency came up- but we have an emergency fund, and going over budget just isn't going to happen anymore

We still have some funds that are a buffer for going over in groceries or gas, but I'm just not letting us see spending extra fun money over budget as an option.

Still more to go this month, too. I think we'll be able to pay off 10% this month. That's a lot more than we'll normally be able to do, since we had an escrow refund to add in there, but looking at it in terms of % is definitely encouraging!

 

[Stuarotra]

So I did it- paid off $800 in CC debt today! I had budgeted it in YNAB at the beginning of the month but hadn't made the transfer. I think part of me was holding back with a "but what if I need it for something else" I know that the only way that we would need those funds is if we went over budget or an emergency came up- but we have an emergency fund, and going over budget just isn't going to happen anymore We still have some funds that are a buffer for going over in groceries or gas, but I'm just not letting us see spending extra fun money over budget as an option. Still more to go this month, too. I think we'll be able to pay off 10% this month. That's a lot more than we'll normally be able to do, since we had an escrow refund to add in there, but looking at it in terms of % is definitely encouraging!

Good Job!!!

 

[penguin1102]

I just have to say how proud I am of DH. We had $100 worth of rewards credits on our card and he used it to make an extra payment! Plus by doing so we are getting a $25 visa gift card.

 

[Stuarotra]

I just have to say how proud I am of DH. We had $100 worth of rewards credits on our card and he used it to make an extra payment! Plus by doing so we are getting a $25 visa gift card.

That's wonderful. It's always helpful when our spouses are on board with us!! What I nice perk with the gift card.

 

[McFlea]

Still more to go this month, too. I think we'll be able to pay off 10% this month. That's a lot more than we'll normally be able to do, since we had an escrow refund to add in there, but looking at it in terms of % is definitely encouraging!

I love this! I never thought of it in terms of %, but you're right - it's totally encouraging! AND if you pay at least the same $ amt each month, the % keeps going up!

 

[Eureka]

My van is acting up again, grrr. The people I take it to said it wasn't doing it when they looked at it, but thought it might act up again. Not what we need right now. Oh well, what can you do?

 

[Stuarotra]

My van is acting up again, grrr. The people I take it to said it wasn't doing it when they looked at it, but thought it might act up again. Not what we need right now. Oh well, what can you do?

Ugh!! Vehicle problems are such a pain. If it wasn't so necessary to have one....

 

[gracie1]

So I did it- paid off $800 in CC debt today! I had budgeted it in YNAB at the beginning of the month but hadn't made the transfer. I think part of me was holding back with a "but what if I need it for something else" I know that the only way that we would need those funds is if we went over budget or an emergency came up- but we have an emergency fund, and going over budget just isn't going to happen anymore We still have some funds that are a buffer for going over in groceries or gas, but I'm just not letting us see spending extra fun money over budget as an option. Still more to go this month, too. I think we'll be able to pay off 10% this month. That's a lot more than we'll normally be able to do, since we had an escrow refund to add in there, but looking at it in terms of % is definitely encouraging!

Great job!! That is a nice chunk on your cc!!

 

[gracie1]

I just have to say how proud I am of DH. We had $100 worth of rewards credits on our card and he used it to make an extra payment! Plus by doing so we are getting a $25 visa gift card.

I love seeing the rewards balance on my statement! I was going to use mine towards the statement this month but I think I will just let them build throughout the year and apply it in December when my homeowners insurance is due and put on the card. This should knock it down a couple hundred dollars hopefully!

 

[crazycatstacy]

Paid off the rest of the second credit card today so that makes two paid off this month. Next month will be a little slower as we have two birthdays and our car tags due. Hopefully we can stay motivated next month. We are going to try to only spend $50 on groceries first of the month so we can put more towards debt. We have a ton of food at our house we have to just quit being lazy and plan and cook

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

My van is acting up again, grrr. The people I take it to said it wasn't doing it when they looked at it, but thought it might act up again. Not what we need right now. Oh well, what can you do?

Ugh!! Vehicle problems are such a pain. If it wasn't so necessary to have one....

I hear ya!! Last night my battery died in my minivan. I was so afraid it was something major electrical that was killing the battery since it's less than 3 yrs old.

I was just home sick from work 3 days with an awful GI virus and really couldn't miss any more time. So we quick scrambled to jump it, drop it back of at Toyota's night time drop off lot, borrow my mom's car and $140 later I have a new battery.

He said AAA batteries are notorious for being junk. Not sure how true this is but I didn't feel like arguing. (Original battery died while spending a week in Williamsburg, VA in 2011) It never comes at a good time. Oh well, knock a little more off my snowball....

 

[Stuarotra]

I hear ya!! Last night my battery died in my minivan. I was so afraid it was something major electrical that was killing the battery since it's less than 3 yrs old. I was just home sick from work 3 days with an awful GI virus and really couldn't miss any more time. So we quick scrambled to jump it, drop it back of at Toyota's night time drop off lot, borrow my mom's car and $140 later I have a new battery. He said AAA batteries are notorious for being junk. Not sure how true this is but I didn't feel like arguing. (Original battery died while spending a week in Williamsburg, VA in 2011) It never comes at a good time. Oh well, knock a little more off my snowball....

Hope your GI virus is better. I just cringe and car problems because you have no idea if it's gonna be huge or manageable. My husband has a VW Golf and last year the turbo something went out, $3000.00 to fix. About a month ago, it didn't want to start.... panic... He took it in and they said it must have been bad fuel. Cost $0. You just never know.

 

[Stuarotra]

Paid off the rest of the second credit card today so that makes two paid off this month. Next month will be a little slower as we have two birthdays and our car tags due. Hopefully we can stay motivated next month. We are going to try to only spend $50 on groceries first of the month so we can put more towards debt. We have a ton of food at our house we have to just quit being lazy and plan and cook

I know what you mean. We could probably go a few weeks without getting anything other than milk if we would just use what's in the pantry and freezer. Good job on getting rid of the cc debt. I get so encouraged reading about people's success!!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hope your GI virus is better. I just cringe and car problems because you have no idea if it's gonna be huge or manageable. My husband has a VW Golf and last year the turbo something went out, $3000.00 to fix. About a month ago, it didn't want to start.... panic... He took it in and they said it must have been bad fuel. Cost $0. You just never know.

Thanks, I'm much better. Back to my old self but all I could think of last night was, "EEEK! I can't miss any more work!!" If I had to get up at 4am to walk to the train station, I was going to get there!


It's very stressful between not knowing what to expect, not knowing if they're telling the truth & the stress of it being something major. I was so relieved it was "only" the battery. It could have been much worse.
So far, for it being the Toyota dealer, they've been honest & right on the money with their advice.
I have family in so many trades: HVAC techs, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, welders, kitchen designers, but alas, no car mechanics.

 

[Stuarotra]

Thanks, I'm much better. Back to my old self but all I could think of last night was, "EEEK! I can't miss any more work!!" If I had to get up at 4am to walk to the train station, I was going to get there! It's very stressful between not knowing what to expect, not knowing if they're telling the truth & the stress of it being something major. I was so relieved it was "only" the battery. It could have been much worse. So far, for it being the Toyota dealer, they've been honest & right on the money with their advice. I have family in so many trades: HVAC techs, electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, welders, kitchen designers, but alas, no car mechanics.

I have a Toyota as well and have had excellent service at the Toyota dealership. Been very blessed by them. It's like we are at the mercy of the mechanic. Looks like you have everything else covered with all those family members. How wonderful is that?!?!?

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have a Toyota as well and have had excellent service at the Toyota dealership. Been very blessed by them. It's like we are at the mercy of the mechanic. Looks like you have everything else covered with all those family members. How wonderful is that?!?!?

I'm very thankful for that. The 2 biggies that aren't list and are too big for dh to do own his own are roofers & brick/cement layers.
Would have saved a lot! Oh well...

We always tell our kids either be really handy or make plenty of money that you can afford to pay someone else to do the labor.

 

[Stuarotra]

I'm very thankful for that. The 2 biggies that aren't list and are too big for dh to do own his own are roofers & brick/cement layers. Would have saved a lot! Oh well... We always tell our kids either be really handy or make plenty of money that you can afford to pay someone else to do the labor.

Lmao!! Exactly!

 

[glaserjm]

Glaserjm

WELCOME

Sounds like you have a good plan in place, your student loan payments sound massive hopefully you have degrees that will help with the repayment.

As for balancing between one lifestyle and another remember this will be temporary. After you have changed some expensive habits you may prefer not to start them back when you have your budget back on track.

When I went on my moneysaving cut backs I'm not even sure my DH knew about half of them...he was helping with laundry one day and just started putting the cloths on hangers instead of transferring them to the dryer like he normally would, he had no idea why I had been hanging the cloths to dry. I just thanked him.

Thanks for the welcome! I'm looking forward to reading about other debt dumpers money saving ideas!

Luckily the student loans were for both my law degree and my husband's second degree (which is allowing him to work in a more lucrative field) so our income is enough to support the payments and will continue to grow. So while it's frustrating to have it, as you say, it's temporary while our earning potential is permanent (until we retire I guess!).

We also hang dry most of our things! I like it because it saves money on our gas bill and I also feel it makes my clothes last longer.

Our only expensive habit we have to break is restaurant dining and we've really cut down on that in the last month, which has been good. For us it is more of a convenience thing since we both work full-time, however with proper planning it's been easy to avoid and DH is an excellent cook so it doesn't feel like we're missing out!

I'm looking forward to trading tips/stories/encouragement!

 

[Deffenm]

Well just when I was making good progress it looks like I will have a car repair that will cost anywhere between $250 - $600 depending on what the issue is. If it cost $250 I can still make all of my goals set for Jan. If it is at the $600 range I have no clue where that money is going to come from. If we would have had the $1,000 emergency fund established this would not have been a problem, but that was #1 goal for me and I don't have it yet. Please say good thoughts for me that it will only cost $250.

I am so excited.. well excited as I can be for an unplanned expense. It only cost me $144 to fix my truck. I am glad the expense was so low as we just found out my DH's aunt only has a short time to live so he is meeting his sibilings and parents in the state where his aunt lives so they can all say their goodbye together. She lives several states away so I need to come up with around $300 for DH for the trip.

I am ready for Jan. to be over with from an expense perspective as we had a lot of one time things hit in Jan. If we didnt have to pay for HOA fees, water bill (every 3 months), Farm buereu fee, annual vet examine, truck issue, unexptected trip for DH I would have had $1173 to put towards debt.

In Feb. the only "extra" thing I am aware of is to pay our accountant for our taxes. She is a family friend so only charges us $80.

I can't wait until I can have a success to say I paid something off. Right now I will just be happy to make it through the month.

Here is hoping for a good Feb.

 

[gracie1]

I am so excited.. well excited as I can be for an unplanned expense. It only cost me $144 to fix my truck. I am glad the expense was so low as we just found out my DH's aunt only has a short time to live so he is meeting his sibilings and parents in the state where his aunt lives so they can all say their goodbye together. She lives several states away so I need to come up with around $300 for DH for the trip.

I am ready for Jan. to be over with from an expense perspective as we had a lot of one time things hit in Jan. If we didnt have to pay for HOA fees, water bill (every 3 months), Farm buereu fee, annual vet examine, truck issue, unexptected trip for DH I would have had $1173 to put towards debt.

In Feb. the only "extra" thing I am aware of is to pay our accountant for our taxes. She is a family friend so only charges us $80.

I can't wait until I can have a success to say I paid something off. Right now I will just be happy to make it through the month.

Here is hoping for a good Feb.

That is great news on your truck!! So sorry to hear about your dh aunt
And you will have the success of saying something is completely paid off! We will all do the happy dance with you