Debt Dumpers - 2016

[DisneyMandC]

If any of you are so inclined, please send some good thoughts my way at about 2:30 today. Really, really hoping to get this job I have an interview for and need all the thoughts I can get!

 

[Dentam]

If any of you are so inclined, please send some good thoughts my way at about 2:30 today. Really, really hoping to get this job I have an interview for and need all the thoughts I can get!

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[Shmily1]

If any of you are so inclined, please send some good thoughts my way at about 2:30 today. Really, really hoping to get this job I have an interview for and need all the thoughts I can get!

Good thoughts and pixie dust coming your way!

 

[toystoryduo]

Sorry to hear that about the job. They really should be up front and honest with job applicants instead of wasting everyone's time interviewing & getting excited over one job, when it's actually something else. Scummy...

Thank you. We're still scratching our heads about the job switch. We're kind of disappointed that the original job didn't work out. It just seemed like such a perfect fit with my DH's current work schedule.

 

[toystoryduo]

Quick update...

We sold 2 more items on eBay today which means less clutter and more money in savings. I really want to re-start paying debt off, but I know we need to get our savings at a level we are comfortable with before we re-start the debt snowball. Once school is out for summer, I should have more time to eBay. I've also thought about doing some mystery shopping here and there. Anyone have any experience with that?

 

[DisneyMandC]

GOOD LUCK!!!

Good thoughts and pixie dust coming your way!

Thank you! I think it went really well, I'll know this week if I get it or not. I sooooo want this job. It's less pay than my current job, but better benefits, commute, and public service student loan forgiveness (the holy grail). Fingers crossed!

 

[Dentam]

Discouraged lately with my debt dumping. I'm just tired of living in such an expensive area for housing. Almost half of my take home pay goes to rent and I am getting a good deal actually. I could be paying a lot more but am very lucky with my situation for this area.

Anyway, things are paused in the debt dumping area right now. Spent a bit too much last month and am now playing catch up. Still daydreaming about winning the lottery.

 

[toystoryduo]

Discouraged lately with my debt dumping. I'm just tired of living in such an expensive area for housing. Almost half of my take home pay goes to rent and I am getting a good deal actually. I could be paying a lot more but am very lucky with my situation for this area.

Anyway, things are paused in the debt dumping area right now. Spent a bit too much last month and am now playing catch up. Still daydreaming about winning the lottery.

I understand. We paid off a couple of debts last year, and have been paused in debt dumping since. My DH is self-employed, so we are trying to get a bigger savings/emergency fund established before we re-start the debt snowball. It's hard being in pause mode! We daydream about winning the lottery too!

 

[bcwife76]

@DisneyMandC crossing my fingers for you!! Sounds like the interview went well!

@Dentam

Try not to get too discouraged.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Discouraged lately with my debt dumping. I'm just tired of living in such an expensive area for housing. Almost half of my take home pay goes to rent and I am getting a good deal actually. I could be paying a lot more but am very lucky with my situation for this area.

Anyway, things are paused in the debt dumping area right now. Spent a bit too much last month and am now playing catch up. Still daydreaming about winning the lottery.

We are at a slight pause in our debt dumping too. Frustrating, but still thankful we have DH's bonus coming in to clear some things out. Every time I think we're about to have a break through, something happens and we don't get to throw as much at debt as we hoped.

 

[stayhomemom77]

We are at a slight pause in our debt dumping too. Frustrating, but still thankful we have DH's bonus coming in to clear some things out. Every time I think we're about to have a break through, something happens and we don't get to throw as much at debt as we hoped.

This used to happen to me all the time for debt dumping and it's now carried over into savings. I think I can reasonably expect to be able to put away $X.xx and then something or other happens (never the same thing twice) and it ends up being less. I think it's just the nature of the beast...but in debt reduction and savings building--only backwards is bad.

Good luck on the job!!

 

[Shmily1]

Quick update...

We sold 2 more items on eBay today which means less clutter and more money in savings. I really want to re-start paying debt off, but I know we need to get our savings at a level we are comfortable with before we re-start the debt snowball. Once school is out for summer, I should have more time to eBay. I've also thought about doing some mystery shopping here and there. Anyone have any experience with that?

I've done mystery shopping. It is great if you can get with several companies and shop at places you would be going anyway. A good resource is volition dot com.

 

[DisneyMandC]

This used to happen to me all the time for debt dumping and it's now carried over into savings. I think I can reasonably expect to be able to put away $X.xx and then something or other happens (never the same thing twice) and it ends up being less. I think it's just the nature of the beast...but in debt reduction and savings building--only backwards is bad.

Good luck on the job!!

Thank you! And yes, you're right, as long as you're moving forward no matter how slowly, it's still good. Our biggest problem right now is my astronomical student loan payment. We can afford it, but it leaves absolutely no room for extras.

I've done mystery shopping. It is great if you can get with several companies and shop at places you would be going anyway. A good resource is volition dot com.

My husband also does mystery shopping. I'm not sure of the website he uses, but he's a trained Chipotle mystery shopper and we get paid to eat at Chipotle (plus extra) several times a month!

 

[stayhomemom77]

My husband also does mystery shopping. I'm not sure of the website he uses, but he's a trained Chipotle mystery shopper and we get paid to eat at Chipotle (plus extra) several times a month!

Cool!

 

[DnA2010]

This used to happen to me all the time for debt dumping and it's now carried over into savings. I think I can reasonably expect to be able to put away $X.xx and then something or other happens (never the same thing twice) and it ends up being less. I think it's just the nature of the beast...but in debt reduction and savings building--only backwards is bad.

Agree- what I am trying to do is note these large things that come up so I can better predict/budget for them- ie have some $ aside for emergency vet bills for the animals, DD's $250 (ish- I can't remember) school camping trip (so more money allocated for DD school activities), DH's motorcycle insurance (I didn't have that one in the budget) things like that which are coming up, trying to note them so they don't surprise me again

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

Well I got rid of another $35,000 in credit card debt by taking out a loan at less than half the interest.
So in 36 months that will be paid off - wooh! But the savings on interest is huge.
Added another 1% to my 401k and upped to $500 per paycheck into savings.
Feeling very good about the progress I have made.
And I am limiting my shopping which is the hardest thing for me!

 

[Dentam]

Got a new credit score that is supposed to be what lenders use. It's about 80 points lower than what my previous score was - I'm told the previous score was for educational purposes. Unfreakingbelievable. Now I'm in the average category. Nothing has changed in the past month except the model they are using apparently. And the weird thing is that they have me rated excellent or good in all of the categories (on time payments, credit available, credit length/number of years, etc.)

 

[Dentam]

Well I got rid of another $35,000 in credit card debt by taking out a loan at less than half the interest.
So in 36 months that will be paid off - wooh! But the savings on interest is huge.
Added another 1% to my 401k and upped to $500 per paycheck into savings.
Feeling very good about the progress I have made.
And I am limiting my shopping which is the hardest thing for me!

I've thought about doing this but wonder about the closing costs. Were yours minimal?

 

[Dentam]

Just got a new cc with 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers. I'll transfer money from my highest rate cc to this one. I haven't used the cc in over a year but paying it down has been slow due to the interest charges. This will help to bring those down by having a lower balance on that card. Every little bit helps!

 

[DisneyMandC]

Guys...

I GOT THE JOB!!! I just got the call, the five people who interviewed me unanimously voted for me!! I am so, so thrilled! This is especially exciting for me because it's my first permanent job as my current job and my previous job were both one year term positions. Thank you to all of you who have listened to me complain about my current job and listened when I struggled! It has finally paid off, and I am so happy!