Debt Dumpers - 2014

[gracie1]

I agree this is a wonderful group. I don't get to post as much as I would like but I am reading every day and cheering you all on. Congratulations! That is awesome. There were too many posts about the Target thing for me to quote. So from my understanding and what I have read on the Target site that customers that shopped in a Target store and used a Debit card, Credit Card or a form of Target Red Card were at risk. The initial information stated that card numbers, names of cardholders and the 3 digit number on the back were taken. Target then came out and confirmed that PIN numbers were also taken. Even more recently they stated that Online customers are now affected. That names, addresses and e-mail addresses were breached. I shopped in a Target store twice during the time period of the breach. I used two different debit cards. One being my primary bank card and the other my child support debit card. At this time I have chosen not to have the cards replaced. Both my bank and the card I use for child support have put monitoring on the accounts. I will sign up for the Target monitoring when I have time this weekend.

I don't think I am going to cancel my cards either. Just going to keep an eye on them

 

[Holly Quinlan]

Has anyone else added up their monthly expenses after debt is paid off? I just did and I can't wait until all my debt is gone!!! I could go to Disney every 3-4 months!!!! Not realistically of course but I could easily swing a yearly trip much easier than if I had debt. It's so exciting to know that it isn't very far off!!!!

I have and am now asking myself why I'm in this situation in the first place apparently I have been blowing $1,000 every month. So I cant wait for all my debt to be gone. My goal is to buy a new car with cash by the end of next year and in 5 years I want to pay for at least half of a house in cash!!!

 

[yupikgal]

Yes I can't wait to have the extra $$ once our bills are paid off!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

This had me because we have two pet rabbits and our labs are still stupid with them even after almost a year. When the bunnies were young and not quite litter trained our younger dog would follow them around like they were treat dispensers.

Oh, the visual I have of this!

Has anyone else added up their monthly expenses after debt is paid off? I just did and I can't wait until all my debt is gone!!! I could go to Disney every 3-4 months!!!! Not realistically of course but I could easily swing a yearly trip much easier than if I had debt. It's so exciting to know that it isn't very far off!!!!

1288/mo. X 12 = $15,456/year
If we had only mortgage + car payment: $780/mo. savings x 12 = $9360/year.

Yes! This is what got me starting to want to truly eliminate it for good. It's at the top of The Plan to remind me how good it will feel to have it all gone.
We make excuses when it's only "a little bit" of debt or "I'm still comfortable" with handling x amount of debt. All it takes is one knock and we all fall down. Job layoff, cancer diagnosis, etc.
I think my sister said her breast cancer treatments (with good insurance and $30 copays) ended up costing over $10k. She was 44 when it all started.
So anyway that all got me thinking we've just been walking along the edge of a cliff and by the grace of God, when we fall it's never been off the edge.
Ds17 will be a HS senior in the fall and soon we'll be looking at colleges. He does have around $16k in his college fund but these days that doesn't go far. I don't want him to graduate college with a ton of debt simply because I love vacations and can't help him out.

 

[PrincessKymm]

Ds17 will be a HS senior in the fall and soon we'll be looking at colleges. He does have around $16k in his college fund but these days that doesn't go far. I don't want him to graduate college with a ton of debt simply because I love vacations and can't help him out.

Have him apply for scholarships every weekend. There is reason not to and if anything you can remind him of the money you will be forking over if he doesn't. My parents gave me zero help with college aside from child care and believe me it's a car payment every month. Show him what the cost would be if he doesn't have help and then show him what it could be like if he had help and then remind him scholarships are free money. If he's wise he will apply until his hands cramp and appreciate the benefits.

Good luck!!!!

 

[dayvewc]

Ds17 will be a HS senior in the fall and soon we'll be looking at colleges. He does have around $16k in his college fund but these days that doesn't go far. I don't want him to graduate college with a ton of debt simply because I love vacations and can't help him out.

Have him apply for scholarships every weekend. There is reason not to and if anything you can remind him of the money you will be forking over if he doesn't. My parents gave me zero help with college aside from child care and believe me it's a car payment every month. Show him what the cost would be if he doesn't have help and then show him what it could be like if he had help and then remind him scholarships are free money. If he's wise he will apply until his hands cramp and appreciate the benefits.

Good luck!!!!

Definitely apply for every scholarshio out there. Also, I heard last fall that Harvard is offering free tuition room and board for lower income families. I don't know your situation, but it might be something to look in to. I'm not sure what the cutoff limit was but I think it was $60k or higher depending on family size.

 

[dtr_angel]

Has anyone else added up their monthly expenses after debt is paid off? I just did and I can't wait until all my debt is gone!!! I could go to Disney every 3-4 months!!!! Not realistically of course but I could easily swing a yearly trip much easier than if I had debt. It's so exciting to know that it isn't very far off!!!!

Right now our minimum payments on the car & student loans is about $520. That's over $6000/year that could be going to our retirement and college for DS!

 

[SpaceGirl]

Finally...Just received that ESCROW overage check in the mail.

It will help with my annual association fees...$$$

Comes in-Goes right back out.

 

[njmom47]

I will be done with my debt mgmt. program later this year, probably Sept or Oct. Plus I have a small loan through my employer's credit union that I have enough in savings to pay off. I might do that because they cut out overtime and I can rearrange things so that I can still bring home a decent pay and actually save more each week than I am now. Just nervous to almost wipe out my savings account.
Oh, and we didn't realize when we redid our insurance, that we will be getting checks (got one last week) for "good drivers bonus" or something like that.

 

[GAGirlInVA]

We were so good today!

Used our cash envelope for our lunch out today. Used cash for our gas fill up. Used a free coupon for bath and body work lotions on the way back from the gym (saving gas and using the membership we already pay for!)

He got a refill in his Starbucks mug (Christmas gift) and I used $1 of my blow money for a coffee at Wawa (which is what I LOVE!)

Tonight we are eating in.

DH has off 4 more days so we just have to keep dialed in and not go splurgy! We get new envelopes on Friday!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Have him apply for scholarships every weekend. There is reason not to and if anything you can remind him of the money you will be forking over if he doesn't. My parents gave me zero help with college aside from child care and believe me it's a car payment every month. Show him what the cost would be if he doesn't have help and then show him what it could be like if he had help and then remind him scholarships are free money. If he's wise he will apply until his hands cramp and appreciate the benefits.

Good luck!!!!

Oh believe me, I paid for my own college too. I worked 25 yrs per week from 11th grade until 2 months before I took the FT job I've been at for 23.5 yrs. Of course college wasn't nearly so high as it is now but my parents gave me a car & paid for the insurance which was still a big help but really for many years I worked & studied so much I really had minimal to no social life from ages 16-23. I knew I couldn't afford an expensive school & lived at home. I was so glad to be done school but graduated with no debt.
Ds doesn't play any sports and isn't a great student. Used to be mostly Cs & Bs but this year he's trying much harder and got mostly As & Bs, except a C in gym.

Definitely apply for every scholarshio out there. Also, I heard last fall that Harvard is offering free tuition room and board for lower income families. I don't know your situation, but it might be something to look in to. I'm not sure what the cutoff limit was but I think it was $60k or higher depending on family size.

Thanks but we wouldn't qualify as low income and my salary alone would exceed the cutoff. I seriously doubt ds could get accepted into Harvard, or even Princeton which is drivable for us. I think Ivy League schools are out.
He's such a home-body I can't even see him wanting to go somewhere far enough to stay at school. Of course I would be supportive if he decided to. Rutgers is close and a good school too & not ridiculously priced. I'd be content if he was accepted there but we'll see and should apply to many places just in case.

 

[Holly Quinlan]

Finished paying off my Wedding today!!! 6 years later

 

[dayvewc]

Oh believe me, I paid for my own college too. I worked 25 yrs per week from 11th grade until 2 months before I took the FT job I've been at for 23.5 yrs. Of course college wasn't nearly so high as it is now but my parents gave me a car & paid for the insurance which was still a big help but really for many years I worked & studied so much I really had minimal to no social life from ages 16-23. I knew I couldn't afford an expensive school & lived at home. I was so glad to be done school but graduated with no debt. Ds doesn't play any sports and isn't a great student. Used to be mostly Cs & Bs but this year he's trying much harder and got mostly As & Bs, except a C in gym. Thanks but we wouldn't qualify as low income and my salary alone would exceed the cutoff. I seriously doubt ds could get accepted into Harvard, or even Princeton which is drivable for us. I think Ivy League schools are out. He's such a home-body I can't even see him wanting to go somewhere far enough to stay at school. Of course I would be supportive if he decided to. Rutgers is close and a good school too & not ridiculously priced. I'd be content if he was accepted there but we'll see and should apply to many places just in case.

Ok. Best plan is still to apply everywhere. It'll be a lot better to get to turn down choices than to not have one. IMHO.

Finished paying off my Wedding today!!! 6 years later

Woohoo congrats for you! Biggest reason I've ever seen to elope.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Help quick!

I'm reviewing my annual credit report after the Target mess. I'm actually kind of leery to accept their offer for identity protection. I have a hunch they're still being hacked & I'm reluctant to enter my ssn with any website having to do with Target. They are a Target literally.

Anyway, I don't see any errors but has anyone paid the extra to see what their credit score is? I started to with trans union but there was so much fine print about signing up for some membership & free trial , etc and I was afraid my log in might time out while I sat to read it all.

Now I'm onto Equifax and it's only $7.95.

Has anyone done this?

 

[SpaceGirl]

Help quick!

I'm reviewing my annual credit report after the Target mess. I'm actually kind of leery to accept their offer for identity protection. I have a hunch they're still being hacked & I'm reluctant to enter my ssn with any website having to do with Target. They are a Target literally.

Anyway, I don't see any errors but has anyone paid the extra to see what their credit score is? I started to with trans union but there was so much fine print about signing up for some membership & free trial , etc and I was afraid my log in might time out while I sat to read it all.

Now I'm onto Equifax and it's only $7.95.

Has anyone done this?

Equifax is one of the only ones that actually will give you your FICO score and not some score their company has made up.

After I get my free report I always check my FICO with Equifax...

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Equifax is one of the only ones that actually will give you your FICO score and not some score their company has made up.

After I get my free report I always check my FICO with Equifax...

Thanks! I hope I can go back and get it.
Theirs was not very printer-friendly!

 

[gracie1]

Help quick!

I'm reviewing my annual credit report after the Target mess. I'm actually kind of leery to accept their offer for identity protection. I have a hunch they're still being hacked & I'm reluctant to enter my ssn with any website having to do with Target. They are a Target literally.

Anyway, I don't see any errors but has anyone paid the extra to see what their credit score is? I started to with trans union but there was so much fine print about signing up for some membership & free trial , etc and I was afraid my log in might time out while I sat to read it all.

Now I'm onto Equifax and it's only $7.95.

Has anyone done this?

Target still hasn't sent me a pin or anything after signing up with my email the other day. You actually make a really good point though about them probably still being hacked. I think I may just go on Equifax, pay the $8 and get my report from them, because I would love to see my FICO score.

 

[gracie1]

Wow, I wasn't on the boards yesterday but you guys are all posting amazing things!! Weddings paid off, cars are paid off, rebate checks covering other expenses and the envelope system working out like a charm

You guys are all doing such a great job!! I have nothing to post as a savings, but.....for those that know about my dental experience, I am caught up and don't go back till April for a cleaning and review Although he did give me a card to get a consultation with the orthodontist, which I probably will, but let's face it, braces are way, way expensive and I think I really want to focus on saving for atleast a year in my emergency fund before I focus on putting that kind of money out. If I got them, I would not be able to save much at all, and I really, really want a cushion!!

 

[Minnie-Mickey]

Looks like everyone is off to a good start

 

[SpaceGirl]

Minnie-Mickey

Sorry you have been having such a rough time, while many of us have smaller issues, Death of a loved one is devastating as is your child's health.

We all have had the "Scr.. It" moments, all you can do is try and limit those times as best you can. Then just pick yourself up and start again, again & again if you need too.

Seeing your children smile shouldn't cost any money just make sure they are loved, and it sounds like you have that covered...

We'll be here so just stop by and we'll supply and support.