Debt Dumpers - 2016

[mrsabbott]

I wish I could find something I could do for a few hours at home. Any extra money would be great! There are so many scams out there though.. it is hard to find what it genuinely helpful!

 

[Dentam]

I wish I could find something I could do for a few hours at home. Any extra money would be great! There are so many scams out there though.. it is hard to find what it genuinely helpful!

The story I saw covered on the news (still can't find a link and can't remember if it was the national news or local) was based on this Forbes article.

 

[toystoryduo]

Not totally debt related, but still kind of excited!

Last month, we had unexpected car repairs and a dryer that suddenly decided to stop working. We had to dip into our savings to cover those expenses.

Our goal is to build up our savings account back up to where it was before the car and dryer expenses from last month. Our goal for this month is to add $300 back into the account by March 31st.

Well, yesterday, we got an unexpected check in the mail and added that to the savings account. So, we are at $210/$300 for the month of March, and it's only the 4th! Very happy about that! Once the savings account is back to being funded, we can start paying off debt. The sooner, the better!

 

[Angeejoe]

Actually, it was a totally different company it looked like. Something regarding fitness if I remember right. I'll have to see if I can dig up the news story. So far what I've seen for my area is stuff like going around doing price checking by scanning bar codes in different stores... there's some interesting stuff out there. In the past I've taken part in focus groups which pay well for about two hours of your time (I was paid $150 for taking part in a two hour focus group regarding marketing strategies for a new brand of cottage cheese) but you can only do them every six months through the company I signed up with.

How did u sign up to do the focus group?

 

[stayhomemom77]

Not totally debt related, but still kind of excited!

Last month, we had unexpected car repairs and a dryer that suddenly decided to stop working. We had to dip into our savings to cover those expenses.

Our goal is to build up our savings account back up to where it was before the car and dryer expenses from last month. Our goal for this month is to add $300 back into the account by March 31st.

Well, yesterday, we got an unexpected check in the mail and added that to the savings account. So, we are at $210/$300 for the month of March, and it's only the 4th! Very happy about that! Once the savings account is back to being funded, we can start paying off debt. The sooner, the better!

Saaaaweeeeett!! Love it when that happens!

 

[Dentam]

How did u sign up to do the focus group?

There is a company here called Field Work Denver that I signed up with. I think it was on their website. I really enjoyed the focus group. It was downtown in one of the high rises with amazing views of the mountains and city. They gave us free snacks and drinks and the six of us just answered questions about our food shopping preferences and how they could market the new cottage cheese. It was after work one day. I was called for others but they were during work hours so I couldn't do them. Plus they said they prefer you only do them twice a year so that was a bummer. I'd highly recommend taking part in one if you have this available in your area. I'm guessing they're mostly in larger cities but not sure about that.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

How did u sign up to do the focus group?

I participate in focus groups in Chicago through Focuscope and my kids participate in online groups through Kidzeyes and Teensyes. You can try searching for part-time opportunities on Craigslist in your area (search the ETC and part-time categories). That's how my oldest daughter found a few focus group opportunities.

 

[Angeejoe]

There is a company here called Field Work Denver that I signed up with. I think it was on their website. I really enjoyed the focus group. It was downtown in one of the high rises with amazing views of the mountains and city. They gave us free snacks and drinks and the six of us just answered questions about our food shopping preferences and how they could market the new cottage cheese. It was after work one day. I was called for others but they were during work hours so I couldn't do them. Plus they said they prefer you only do them twice a year so that was a bummer. I'd highly recommend taking part in one if you have this available in your area. I'm guessing they're mostly in larger cities but not sure about that.

I participate in focus groups in Chicago through Focuscope and my kids participate in online groups through Kidzeyes and Teensyes. You can try searching for part-time opportunities on Craigslist in your area (search the ETC and part-time categories). That's how my oldest daughter found a few focus group opportunities.

Thank you!

 

[gracie1]

Not totally debt related, but still kind of excited!

Last month, we had unexpected car repairs and a dryer that suddenly decided to stop working. We had to dip into our savings to cover those expenses.

Our goal is to build up our savings account back up to where it was before the car and dryer expenses from last month. Our goal for this month is to add $300 back into the account by March 31st.

Well, yesterday, we got an unexpected check in the mail and added that to the savings account. So, we are at $210/$300 for the month of March, and it's only the 4th! Very happy about that! Once the savings account is back to being funded, we can start paying off debt. The sooner, the better!

Yay!! That is great!!

 

[scdak]

Prepare for a short rant - Sometimes I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle with debt but seeing things in black and white makes all the work I have done in the past 2 months worthwhile! I guess all it took for me to realize that I am making a dent in things is being railroaded by a CC company to accept a rewards card that I DECLINED, to be told an account that was breached thru no fault of my own(the card was locked up in my house, it was not lost or stolen) was being switched to a rewards card I didn't want taking away the rewards card I DID want that was sent to me just 6 weeks ago - but all of a sudden that type of card doesn't exist???? Oh well, the conversation just made me realize that I will activate it, store it in my lock box until it is paid off (probably not until 2017 but it will be paid off) then it will just sit there for an extreme emergency - and trust me, it would have to be VERY extreme to have me use it

But anyway, back to black and white proof that my hard work is paying off - since Jan 1, 2016, I have paid off my vehicle, paid off 3 small CC's and my total debt is down $2125, and my savings account is up $450. I know that its probably more important to pay down CC bills than to build up a savings account that pays virtually nothing but for peace of mind I like to know that I have fast access to money for small emergencies than to have to use a CC for the same thing. So a little peace of mind is worth the small amount extra I would pay on a CC

End of rant - and now I will return you to your regularly scheduled debt dumping topics LOL!

 

[gracie1]

Prepare for a short rant - Sometimes I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle with debt but seeing things in black and white makes all the work I have done in the past 2 months worthwhile! I guess all it took for me to realize that I am making a dent in things is being railroaded by a CC company to accept a rewards card that I DECLINED, to be told an account that was breached thru no fault of my own(the card was locked up in my house, it was not lost or stolen) was being switched to a rewards card I didn't want taking away the rewards card I DID want that was sent to me just 6 weeks ago - but all of a sudden that type of card doesn't exist???? Oh well, the conversation just made me realize that I will activate it, store it in my lock box until it is paid off (probably not until 2017 but it will be paid off) then it will just sit there for an extreme emergency - and trust me, it would have to be VERY extreme to have me use it

But anyway, back to black and white proof that my hard work is paying off - since Jan 1, 2016, I have paid off my vehicle, paid off 3 small CC's and my total debt is down $2125, and my savings account is up $450. I know that its probably more important to pay down CC bills than to build up a savings account that pays virtually nothing but for peace of mind I like to know that I have fast access to money for small emergencies than to have to use a CC for the same thing. So a little peace of mind is worth the small amount extra I would pay on a CC

End of rant - and now I will return you to your regularly scheduled debt dumping topics LOL!

You have done an awesome job on debt dumping since January 1st!! That is fantastic!!!!! I think it's smart that your building up your savings account. It's good to have incase murphy pops by.

 

[Miss Whimsy]

But anyway, back to black and white proof that my hard work is paying off - since Jan 1, 2016, I have paid off my vehicle, paid off 3 small CC's and my total debt is down $2125, and my savings account is up $450. I know that its probably more important to pay down CC bills than to build up a savings account that pays virtually nothing but for peace of mind I like to know that I have fast access to money for small emergencies than to have to use a CC for the same thing. So a little peace of mind is worth the small amount extra I would pay on a CC

Peace of mind is INVALUABLE. Yes paying off CCs is important but in the end the interest is small change next to the long-term peace of mind of some small savings.

 

[scdak]

You have done an awesome job on debt dumping since January 1st!! That is fantastic!!!!! I think it's smart that your building up your savings account. It's good to have incase murphy pops by.

Murphy is leaving ALL of us, I sent him to bother rich folks! So everyone should be good for the rest of the year

 

[dayvewc]

Prepare for a short rant - Sometimes I feel like I am fighting an uphill battle with debt but seeing things in black and white makes all the work I have done in the past 2 months worthwhile! I guess all it took for me to realize that I am making a dent in things is being railroaded by a CC company to accept a rewards card that I DECLINED, to be told an account that was breached thru no fault of my own(the card was locked up in my house, it was not lost or stolen) was being switched to a rewards card I didn't want taking away the rewards card I DID want that was sent to me just 6 weeks ago - but all of a sudden that type of card doesn't exist???? Oh well, the conversation just made me realize that I will activate it, store it in my lock box until it is paid off (probably not until 2017 but it will be paid off) then it will just sit there for an extreme emergency - and trust me, it would have to be VERY extreme to have me use it

But anyway, back to black and white proof that my hard work is paying off - since Jan 1, 2016, I have paid off my vehicle, paid off 3 small CC's and my total debt is down $2125, and my savings account is up $450. I know that its probably more important to pay down CC bills than to build up a savings account that pays virtually nothing but for peace of mind I like to know that I have fast access to money for small emergencies than to have to use a CC for the same thing. So a little peace of mind is worth the small amount extra I would pay on a CC

End of rant - and now I will return you to your regularly scheduled debt dumping topics LOL!

Way to go!!

 

[rideswithchrist]

Welcome!! Have you sat down and made out a budget? This way you can get an idea of when you can aim to have each cc bill paid off. Your balances are pretty low so if I were you I would do the minimum balances and snowball starting with the smallest. Then once that is paid snowball to the next one. Also - you have electric bill. Is this just for this month? Or money that you back owe? You definitely want to make sure your electric bill is paid first!!

That is an old electric bill, we got WAY behind and when we moved, they said we could just keep paying on it. I am happy to say we did not use our credit card this month and it is now under $400! I started paying $75 per month towards it so it will snowball first.
I am starting a new business so we are going to use that income set aside for Disney so we can try and go this year. I am still aiming for Sept but it maybe Nov.
My husband did run up the Amazon card to $400 though (I helped because I didn't realize it was not coming out of PayPal, but going onto the card!

I have a budget, and just started YNAB but we do not do so well sticking to it so we are going to have to be a cash family. (My budget is more of a expense sheet and less planning ahead at the end of the month)

 

[bcwife76]

@scdak you are on fire, way to go!! I think it's a good idea that you are building up a savings as well as paying off the debt for sure!

 

[scdak]

Thanks everyone for all your words of support and encouragement.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Murphy is kicking our butts again.
Tuesday night we flew to WDW for a 2 night stay prior to a 3 night cruise on the Magic. We planned to meet friends at MK Wednesday then travel together to the port. We rented points at BWV and bought the dining plan. Got an ADR for Ohana for breakfast and BoG for dinner. Woo hoo, right?
We arrived at BWV around 10 pm. Unpacked a few things, slept, showered and went to the Poly for breakfast. While waiting for our buzzer to tell us our table is ready, we get a call from our neighbor that a massive tree has crushed our house.
Ds19 did not want to join us on this trip and thank God he was ok in his bedroom at the other end of the house. It's a rancher so the tree crushed the roof, furnace/AC in the attic, knocked our chimney into the backyard, cracked the ceiling in 5 rooms and reached all the way from the back corner to the front of the house bending the front gutters.
It hit our kitchen so hard, a branch pierced right through the refrigerator door and knocked it off its hinges. It jostled the gas meter away from the wall. So it will be a while til we're back in our house. The outside wall that faces our neighbor's yard (and the demon tree) is kind of wonky now, looking like it's not straight anymore. Darn roof was only 2.5 years old.
So needless to say, we could not cruise nor spend a day at MK with our house like that. We called the police & my dad to check on ds19. He thought it was maybe an earthquake & wasn't really sure what it was until he left his bedroom. It took a crew of firemen to get our cat into her carrier which she hates and my dad kept them both til we could get home. We figured we had to eat anyway and already paid for the DDP so might as well get 1 meal out of it. I spent most of the breakfast changing our flight to 2:20 pm that day. Yay SWA! We packed in record time, like less than 5 mins. From the gate at MCO, dh called our tree guy and contractor that we know while I called the insurance company. Before we boarded the plane, all 3 were set to meet us there in the am.

The house was condemned and we're living in an extended stay hotel which is pet-friendly so our kitty is here with us. It took a crew of 10 men with a crane to cut it into smaller pieces and crane it over to the front yard. Sad as it was to witness, they were such an incredible group of guys that were so professional. At least the roof could be tarped before the snow came on Friday but of course with no heat, we worry about pipes freezing.

Anyway, this was our 18th Disney cruise and I always buy trip insurance but for some dumb reason I did not purchase this time. (Insert smiley kicking himself here.)

Our TA said to send her an email explaining it all. I wouldn't expect a refund but if we could apply the funds to a future cruise, that would be great. We will need one by the time we move home again.

So instead of celebrating dh's birthday at MK, we had 14 hours in WDW which makes it the most expensive breakfast we ever had. RT flights for 3, $400 for BWV, $370-something for DDP. All for some bacon and waffles. Oh and a picture of ds15 with Mickey. I tried to fake a smile but it wasn't easy.
So far I'm sticking with our snowball plan and hopeful that I won't have to abandon the whole thing for a while.

 

[Marlyn]

Murphy is kicking our butts again.
Tuesday night we flew to WDW for a 2 night stay prior to a 3 night cruise on the Magic. We planned to meet friends at MK Wednesday then travel together to the port. We rented points at BWV and bought the dining plan. Got an ADR for Ohana for breakfast and BoG for dinner. Woo hoo, right?
We arrived at BWV around 10 pm. Unpacked a few things, slept, showered and went to the Poly for breakfast. While waiting for our buzzer to tell us our table is ready, we get a call from our neighbor that a massive tree has crushed our house.
Ds19 did not want to join us on this trip and thank God he was ok in his bedroom at the other end of the house. It's a rancher so the tree crushed the roof, furnace/AC in the attic, knocked our chimney into the backyard, cracked the ceiling in 5 rooms and reached all the way from the back corner to the front of the house bending the front gutters.
It hit our kitchen so hard, a branch pierced right through the refrigerator door and knocked it off its hinges. It jostled the gas meter away from the wall. So it will be a while til we're back in our house. The outside wall that faces our neighbor's yard (and the demon tree) is kind of wonky now, looking like it's not straight anymore. Darn roof was only 2.5 years old.
So needless to say, we could not cruise nor spend a day at MK with our house like that. We called the police & my dad to check on ds19. He thought it was maybe an earthquake & wasn't really sure what it was until he left his bedroom. It took a crew of firemen to get our cat into her carrier which she hates and my dad kept them both til we could get home. We figured we had to eat anyway and already paid for the DDP so might as well get 1 meal out of it. I spent most of the breakfast changing our flight to 2:20 pm that day. Yay SWA! We packed in record time, like less than 5 mins. From the gate at MCO, dh called our tree guy and contractor that we know while I called the insurance company. Before we boarded the plane, all 3 were set to meet us there in the am.

The house was condemned and we're living in an extended stay hotel which is pet-friendly so our kitty is here with us. It took a crew of 10 men with a crane to cut it into smaller pieces and crane it over to the front yard. Sad as it was to witness, they were such an incredible group of guys that were so professional. At least the roof could be tarped before the snow came on Friday but of course with no heat, we worry about pipes freezing.

Anyway, this was our 18th Disney cruise and I always buy trip insurance but for some dumb reason I did not purchase this time. (Insert smiley kicking himself here.)

Our TA said to send her an email explaining it all. I wouldn't expect a refund but if we could apply the funds to a future cruise, that would be great. We will need one by the time we move home again.

So instead of celebrating dh's birthday at MK, we had 14 hours in WDW which makes it the most expensive breakfast we ever had. RT flights for 3, $400 for BWV, $370-something for DDP. All for some bacon and waffles. Oh and a picture of ds15 with Mickey. I tried to fake a smile but it wasn't easy.
So far I'm sticking with our snowball plan and hopeful that I won't have to abandon the whole thing for a while.

Oh my...that is terrible. Murphy really hit hard! I feel for you, that must have been such a horrible ordeal. I am SO SO glad your son was not hurt. What a blessing that is. Houses can be repaired so focus on your son being safe. I hope this all gets resolved quickly and you aren't out of your home too long. Sending prayers your way.

 

[mrsabbott]

Murphy is kicking our butts again.
Tuesday night we flew to WDW for a 2 night stay prior to a 3 night cruise on the Magic. We planned to meet friends at MK Wednesday then travel together to the port. We rented points at BWV and bought the dining plan. Got an ADR for Ohana for breakfast and BoG for dinner. Woo hoo, right?
We arrived at BWV around 10 pm. Unpacked a few things, slept, showered and went to the Poly for breakfast. While waiting for our buzzer to tell us our table is ready, we get a call from our neighbor that a massive tree has crushed our house.
Ds19 did not want to join us on this trip and thank God he was ok in his bedroom at the other end of the house. It's a rancher so the tree crushed the roof, furnace/AC in the attic, knocked our chimney into the backyard, cracked the ceiling in 5 rooms and reached all the way from the back corner to the front of the house bending the front gutters.
It hit our kitchen so hard, a branch pierced right through the refrigerator door and knocked it off its hinges. It jostled the gas meter away from the wall. So it will be a while til we're back in our house. The outside wall that faces our neighbor's yard (and the demon tree) is kind of wonky now, looking like it's not straight anymore. Darn roof was only 2.5 years old.
So needless to say, we could not cruise nor spend a day at MK with our house like that. We called the police & my dad to check on ds19. He thought it was maybe an earthquake & wasn't really sure what it was until he left his bedroom. It took a crew of firemen to get our cat into her carrier which she hates and my dad kept them both til we could get home. We figured we had to eat anyway and already paid for the DDP so might as well get 1 meal out of it. I spent most of the breakfast changing our flight to 2:20 pm that day. Yay SWA! We packed in record time, like less than 5 mins. From the gate at MCO, dh called our tree guy and contractor that we know while I called the insurance company. Before we boarded the plane, all 3 were set to meet us there in the am.

The house was condemned and we're living in an extended stay hotel which is pet-friendly so our kitty is here with us. It took a crew of 10 men with a crane to cut it into smaller pieces and crane it over to the front yard. Sad as it was to witness, they were such an incredible group of guys that were so professional. At least the roof could be tarped before the snow came on Friday but of course with no heat, we worry about pipes freezing.

Anyway, this was our 18th Disney cruise and I always buy trip insurance but for some dumb reason I did not purchase this time. (Insert smiley kicking himself here.)

Our TA said to send her an email explaining it all. I wouldn't expect a refund but if we could apply the funds to a future cruise, that would be great. We will need one by the time we move home again.

So instead of celebrating dh's birthday at MK, we had 14 hours in WDW which makes it the most expensive breakfast we ever had. RT flights for 3, $400 for BWV, $370-something for DDP. All for some bacon and waffles. Oh and a picture of ds15 with Mickey. I tried to fake a smile but it wasn't easy.
So far I'm sticking with our snowball plan and hopeful that I won't have to abandon the whole thing for a while.

Oh. My. Goodness. That is just awful!!! ((HUG)) I don't even know what to say!