Debt Dumpers - 2015

[ruadisneyfan2]

I started in 2013 and since then there is a new thread every year, possibly in earlier years too. People tend to post what method they follow for paying down their debt: DR, snowball, avalanche, etc.

People often post accomplishments like when a bill gets paid off or maybe some windfall that will give their plans a little boost.
Some posts are about frustrations that derail our pay down plans (aka: Murphy)
Sometimes we post about falling off the wagon and booking a Disney trip.

Basically we're here to be supportive of each other without harsh criticism or judgement.

 

[Eureka]

Hi Everyone! I have been a Diser for many years, but dropped off the Disboards about a year ago. Our family had taken Disney vacations every year since 2011, until this year. DH and I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and decided to start dumping debt this past summer. So far, so good. We have paid off our first credit card, will pay off one car this January, and then start making double payments on the second. We have a total of 55K in debt. :-( We have one credit card with major debt on it, then we have about 30K in student loans. Those are the biggies.

So, how does this thread work? What types of things do you say or do to help and motivate each other? I would love to join the conversation.

Welcome! Congrats on paying that first card off. I had to smile when you asked how it worked....you'll see soon enough, pretty much anything goes. All kinds of support, recipe help, movie suggestions, you name it, you'll find it here, lol. But we do pretty much stick to finances. Most of the time, lol.

 

[stayhomemom77]

Hi Everyone! I have been a Diser for many years, but dropped off the Disboards about a year ago. Our family had taken Disney vacations every year since 2011, until this year. DH and I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and decided to start dumping debt this past summer. So far, so good. We have paid off our first credit card, will pay off one car this January, and then start making double payments on the second. We have a total of 55K in debt. :-( We have one credit card with major debt on it, then we have about 30K in student loans. Those are the biggies.

So, how does this thread work? What types of things do you say or do to help and motivate each other? I would love to join the conversation.

Welcome aboard! You have definitely inspired me in the past on the budget boards so I am eager to return the favour.

Basically we share our knowledge on this thread and then it's mostly just cheerleading!

You get to come on here to brag about paying something off and whine about when Murphy comes for a visit and wrecks the financial plan for the week/month and ask any ol' question you that pops into your head.

And we occasionally stray off topic and share the titles of some good netflix movies we've seen lately or we talk about the health of our pets and what have you. LOL It's all in good fun!

I'm sticking around...even though we finally dumped all our debt at the beginning of the summer to cheer for others and to work on building up a nice, comfy emergency fund but there are folks at all stages of the debt dumping journey on this thread...plenty of people to relate to and commiserate with so just jump on in with your questions and comments, any old time you feel like it.

 

[dayvewc]

On an unrelated note: [B]@dayvewc[/B] - didn't you just go on a trip and stay at the AKL? Curious to hear how you liked it!

Great job on paying off the 5k! And I second that, I want to hear about the AKL stay @dayvewc ! Stayed there in April and would love to hear your thoughts on it.

@Dentam and @DisneyMandC I'm _not_ promising a full TR, but right now I'm waiting for my FP+ window to open for Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

Lol, I'm not sure I want to know what it says about me that what I do during a break in my Disney vacation is to use my phone to check this thread. ;-)

 

[Dentam]

@Dentam and @DisneyMandC I'm _not_ promising a full TR, but right now I'm waiting for my FP+ window to open for Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

Oh, you're there now - even better!! Enjoy!!!

 

[gracie1]

Hi Everyone! I have been a Diser for many years, but dropped off the Disboards about a year ago. Our family had taken Disney vacations every year since 2011, until this year. DH and I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and decided to start dumping debt this past summer. So far, so good. We have paid off our first credit card, will pay off one car this January, and then start making double payments on the second. We have a total of 55K in debt. :-( We have one credit card with major debt on it, then we have about 30K in student loans. Those are the biggies.

So, how does this thread work? What types of things do you say or do to help and motivate each other? I would love to join the conversation.

Welcome!!! Congrats on paying off your cc! Sounds like you have the right mindset in dumping your debt and a well laid out plan!! As the other posters mentioned - we all come on here to support each other - whether we're here to celebrate a payoff or just here to vent about setbacks. No one on here is negative towards anyone!!! I believe this is the third year of this thread and that says a lot when you have a thread for three years with no negativity!! Just remember - you will hit bumps in the road (especially when you feel like everything is smooth sailing)! We've all had that happen and still have it happen!

On a different note - I was previously looking into combining my home equity loans and mortgage into the fixed heloc - and things just didn't work out but now I'm in the process of just doing a refinance. Keep fingers crossed for me that this works out! It's with my bank and believe it or not they cannot use the appraisel that was done less than 30 days ago because it was for the heloc department and not the mortgage department. Once the new appraisal is set up if there is a big discrepancy then I'm going to have to question it. Just hoping it comes out the same!!

 

[Angeejoe]

Very special payday today - paid off another card to $0! Always feels good to edit the spreadsheet and put that $ elsewhere. I think I will treat myself to a beer from the fridge when I get home to celebrate!

CONGRATS!!!!

 

[Angeejoe]

Chugging along over here. My dog has an expensive vet appointment coming up in three weeks and I have my annual eye doctor appointment this weekend in which I get another year's worth of contact lenses. So... some bigger expenses coming up. One of my cc's just doubled my limit and is offering 0% for balance transfers through 2017 so I'll probably put my dog's expenses on my Disney cc to get the rewards and then transfer it to the other card. Someday I will get ahead and not have to play the cc musical chairs game but for now I am really trying to take advantage of these 0% offers. I have managed to pay off over 5k in debt this year, so I'm doing okay I think!

On an unrelated note: @dayvewc - didn't you just go on a trip and stay at the AKL? Curious to hear how you liked it!

That's so awesome that you've paid off $5,000!!!!!!

 

[Angeejoe]

Hi Everyone! I have been a Diser for many years, but dropped off the Disboards about a year ago. Our family had taken Disney vacations every year since 2011, until this year. DH and I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and decided to start dumping debt this past summer. So far, so good. We have paid off our first credit card, will pay off one car this January, and then start making double payments on the second. We have a total of 55K in debt. :-( We have one credit card with major debt on it, then we have about 30K in student loans. Those are the biggies.

So, how does this thread work? What types of things do you say or do to help and motivate each other? I would love to join the conversation.

We mainly offer support & some great ideas, plus a little chit chat too

 

[Angeejoe]

Welcome!!! Congrats on paying off your cc! Sounds like you have the right mindset in dumping your debt and a well laid out plan!! As the other posters mentioned - we all come on here to support each other - whether we're here to celebrate a payoff or just here to vent about setbacks. No one on here is negative towards anyone!!! I believe this is the third year of this thread and that says a lot when you have a thread for three years with no negativity!! Just remember - you will hit bumps in the road (especially when you feel like everything is smooth sailing)! We've all had that happen and still have it happen!

On a different note - I was previously looking into combining my home equity loans and mortgage into the fixed heloc - and things just didn't work out but now I'm in the process of just doing a refinance. Keep fingers crossed for me that this works out! It's with my bank and believe it or not they cannot use the appraisel that was done less than 30 days ago because it was for the heloc department and not the mortgage department. Once the new appraisal is set up if there is a big discrepancy then I'm going to have to question it. Just hoping it comes out the same!!

Good luck on the refi Gracie!!!

 

[bcwife76]

Hi Everyone! I have been a Diser for many years, but dropped off the Disboards about a year ago. Our family had taken Disney vacations every year since 2011, until this year. DH and I took the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class and decided to start dumping debt this past summer. So far, so good. We have paid off our first credit card, will pay off one car this January, and then start making double payments on the second. We have a total of 55K in debt. :-( We have one credit card with major debt on it, then we have about 30K in student loans. Those are the biggies.

So, how does this thread work? What types of things do you say or do to help and motivate each other? I would love to join the conversation.

as others have already stated, we're all here to help each other and not criticize. We all have set backs and celebrations so feel free to post when you've paid something off, when you have an unforseen money issue or whenever you want to chime in. There will probably be a new thread starting for 2016 in December sometime (I think this one started just before Christmas 2014) so be sure to join in the new one when it opens up too.

 

[bcwife76]

@Dentam and @DisneyMandC I'm _not_ promising a full TR, but right now I'm waiting for my FP+ window to open for Rock 'n Roller Coaster.

Lol, I'm not sure I want to know what it says about me that what I do during a break in my Disney vacation is to use my phone to check this thread. ;-)

Hahaha, it tells us that you are invested in our happiness too and realize we want to STALK you on your latest adventure ;-) Hope you're having a fab time!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone!!! I really look forward to using this thread. I tend to do GREAT with staying within our budget for a while, then I lose focus and have too much fun with money. DH gets pretty upset with me. Self Control are the two words I am trying to use in my life right now.

I do know already about setbacks. Murphy has been visiting a LOT lately. We have had enough money in our EF to cover that stuff. but money is super tight while we catch up. We are doing the debt snowball now. It will start in earnest when my car is paid off in January...that will be a nice amount of money to start applying to our debt each month.

DH started a new career over the summer after working for 20 years in the aviation industry. He earned his Business Administration degree, and now works in sales for a major computer company. He has a base salary that is just below what he made at his last job, and we are learning to budget around quarterly commission checks now. It has been tough, not gonna lie. He gets his first really large one at the end of this month, and it will help re-populate our EF. We will also be booking our next Disney trip with a fraction of it.This is a trip we promised our oldest daughter three years ago. It will be her senior year of high school, and maybe the last time she gets to go with us on vacation for a while.

 

[PrincessKymm]

So I finally have some good financial news. I checked my 401k account, first time in a while, and it has $3,000 more than I thought! I'm working at rolling over my other 401k into my current account so i can manage just one account now.

The bad news is I didn't get the job I was hoping for. The lady who was resigning decided to stay so they took the position completely off the table. I'm still looking but there isn't much here. I'm considering a career change. I'm youngish and DS only 5 years until he graduates after this current school year so I could reasonably make the change. I would need to go back to school but the options are endless. I joke about quitting and working for WDW when DS goes off to college so I can finally live my dreams, that may not be reality but the living my dreams part is. I've just got to figure out what they are!

I've got a better cushion in my EF now and I will continue to add to it while progressing slower on my debt but the good news on that end is I haven't accumulated any additional debt! I've been staying on top of my bills and spending way less than I normally do. Christmas will be paid in cash and much smaller than years past. DS is fine with this, he needs clothes so I'm keeping my eye on Black Friday deals to see what I can get pretty cheap. I've tried used clothing stores and TJ Maxx but no one seems to have his pant size (26x30!) the 26's mostly fit but are still a little big but not nearly as bad as the 28's I've been making him try with belts. He is just super skinny and tall!

I'm still hoping for our Disney trip in June next year. I'm going to pay cash for this trip if it kills me! I'm also looking at joining a gym so that may be more money that I spend in the short term but less in the long term. I somehow hurt my back this weekend and may have to spend $75 to go to urgent care if it doesn't get better soon. I'm in day 2 of pain and the Vicodin I was prescribed last time isn't touching the pain. If I can avoid spending $200 on back pain every few months by joining a gym and getting healthier I will do it!

Keep up the good work everyone! This thread is a life saver!

 

[bcwife76]

Well November is determined to blow my budget. Not only does our youngest celebrate her birthday at the end of this month, both my kids been invited to at least 3 more birthday parties, all within the same 8-10 day period as my youngests'. Oy. I know I can't say yes to every party but......time to get more creative(read: thrifty) with the gift giving!

 

[DnA2010]

Well November is determined to blow my budget. Not only does our youngest celebrate her birthday at the end of this month, both my kids been invited to at least 3 more birthday parties, all within the same 8-10 day period as my youngests'. Oy. I know I can't say yes to every party but......time to get more creative(read: thrifty) with the gift giving!

I've always kept a "party box" -when I found sweet deals on toys- I bought them and into the box- when a party came around DDnow11 would go to the box and select a gift- Superstore, Toys R Us, even Costco discount stuff to good deals- I don't think I ever paid more than $5 for $20-40 presents.

 

[stayhomemom77]

I've always kept a "party box" -when I found sweet deals on toys- I bought them and into the box- when a party came around DDnow11 would go to the box and select a gift- Superstore, Toys R Us, even Costco discount stuff to good deals- I don't think I ever paid more than $5 for $20-40 presents.

Hey! Me too! I've gotten away from it in the last couple of years and I keep saying I'm going to get back to it but I haven't gotten much accumulated yet. I do have a couple of things though.

 

[DnA2010]

Hey! Me too! I've gotten away from it in the last couple of years and I keep saying I'm going to get back to it but I haven't gotten much accumulated yet. I do have a couple of things though.

I don't do it now that DD is 11- they are getting hard to shop for as they aren't really into toys, so it's usually a gift card or money, but I used to keep board games like Cranium family, art and craft kits, that sort of thing- DD enjoyed picking them out when we found sales

 

[Eureka]

Got one of those calls you never want, from the high school vice principal. My son was in his office, his iPhone and cash from his wallet stolen out of his gym locker, which apparently are easy to break into. The phone is still not registering on Find My IPhone so it's still turned off (plus it's password protected anyway). We think maybe it'll be dumped or sold. Fortunately we have insurance so I need to call and file a claim, and pay a deductible that is a fraction of the price of a new phone, thank goodness. DS is understandably upset and partly bc he's not sure how much was backed up to the cloud. We have an issue in the house sometimes where his and my phones toggle between wifi and cellular data, and it won't let us back up wirelessly. I told him that is the least of it; he can rebuild his pics and contacts etc with his friends' help. We are still paying installments on the phone, so that will continue. Also need to call tomorrow if it hadn't been located thru the Find app to turn off data just in case it is eventually turned on. Whoever did this got about $40 cash too but luckily he didn't have all his money in his wallet.

That call stopped my heart...at least he wasn't hurt, shot, whatever goes on at school these days from the news reports.

 

[gracie1]

Got one of those calls you never want, from the high school vice principal. My son was in his office, his iPhone and cash from his wallet stolen out of his gym locker, which apparently are easy to break into. The phone is still not registering on Find My IPhone so it's still turned off (plus it's password protected anyway). We think maybe it'll be dumped or sold. Fortunately we have insurance so I need to call and file a claim, and pay a deductible that is a fraction of the price of a new phone, thank goodness. DS is understandably upset and partly bc he's not sure how much was backed up to the cloud. We have an issue in the house sometimes where his and my phones toggle between wifi and cellular data, and it won't let us back up wirelessly. I told him that is the least of it; he can rebuild his pics and contacts etc with his friends' help. We are still paying installments on the phone, so that will continue. Also need to call tomorrow if it hadn't been located thru the Find app to turn off data just in case it is eventually turned on. Whoever did this got about $40 cash too but luckily he didn't have all his money in his wallet.

That call stopped my heart...at least he wasn't hurt, shot, whatever goes on at school these days from the news reports.

That is awful!! It's sad that you can't trust anyone anymore. Did they call the police out there?