Debt Dumpers 2021

[ruadisneyfan2]

Well, dh was able to get them to knock a little off the repair price for his truck so it's only $5200 instead of $6000. Better than nothing I guess. Also lucky that ds20 has 2 vehicles so dh can borrow one and we don't have to pay for a rental. Dh is happy that it's the hardtop convertible Miata that he borrowed. lol. He hasn't had a little sporty, impractical car in so so long. Too bad it's not convertible weather.

So between that, the Disney trip, a nice wicker chair/glider I just bought my dad for his birthday to keep on his front porch once spring weather arrives, and another payment for my laser hair removal, I will be siphoning off our snowball through the end of June. I can't really call it debt, we are using savings to pay for it all but then will replace that savings for the next 3 months. I'm feeling a tad bit selfish. The laser and Disney trip aren't exactly must-haves but it's been a crazy year and we could all use a little extra TLC.

As for my dad's gift, every year I feel like this could be his last birthday (he has already lived far longer than any men on his side of the family) and considering we have lost all 3 of our other parents, he gets extra nice gifts these days. I know for certain I will never regret giving him things that bring him joy.

 

[imbatman]

$3k has cleared into my bank. I haven't paid it toward the CC because he hasn't been able to arrange shipping yet.

Youngest just passed her driving test today. Hooray for a licensed driver! Not hooray for the insurance increase! We shopped around and got the best deal from Farmer's. And though many parents have their kids pay for their car insurance, it's part of the agreement we made with them about their grades: good grades, we pay for car insurance.

 

[barkley]

Youngest just passed her driving test today. Hooray for a licensed driver! Not hooray for the insurance increase! We shopped around and got the best deal from Farmer's. And though many parents have their kids pay for their car insurance, it's part of the agreement we made with them about their grades: good grades, we pay for car insurance.

good grades also qualify for a discount with farmers (including during college years).

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

good grades also qualify for a discount with farmers (including during college years).

With GEICO as well.

 

[imbatman]

good grades also qualify for a discount with farmers (including during college years).

Working on the college student to get hers...

With GEICO as well.

We had GEICO until we needed towing ONE time. It was like a wrestling match with a greased pig to get reimbursed. Never again! Not even worth the $12/mo. savings.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Working on the college student to get hers...

We had GEICO until we needed towing ONE time. It was like a wrestling match with a greased pig to get reimbursed. Never again! Not even worth the $12/mo. savings.

We decline that from GEICO and pay AAA instead. They have been great on the few occasions that we’ve needed.

 

[crazycatstacy]

So bored at work today (don't tell anyone and jinx me!) so I am doing a budget for our Disney World trip in December. We already have it booked but I need to figure dining (we usually have a dining plan, we were thinking about massages, my mother in law is coming for her first visit and we are taking her to tea at Grand Floridian. So I have it all figured out and am guessing what possibly might be a discount but I am also checking into military rates (currently on the phone with Disney now for a 20 minute hold). My father in law (deceased) was retired military so my mother in law is eligible for the military salute tickets and discounts on rooms.

My only concerns are: 1- we are there 10 nights and the most military tickets is 5 days. We will also be doing the Christmas party so that is 6 days in the parks but I'm wondering if that leaves us with too much down time. 2- What if last minute she changes her mind and then I am stuck with military tickets and military rate hotel that I can't use.

Any thoughts? What direction would you go? Just in my checking (not getting an exact number yet from Disney since I'm on hold) but I think it would save us about $1500.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

So bored at work today (don't tell anyone and jinx me!) so I am doing a budget for our Disney World trip in December. We already have it booked but I need to figure dining (we usually have a dining plan, we were thinking about massages, my mother in law is coming for her first visit and we are taking her to tea at Grand Floridian. So I have it all figured out and am guessing what possibly might be a discount but I am also checking into military rates (currently on the phone with Disney now for a 20 minute hold). My father in law (deceased) was retired military so my mother in law is eligible for the military salute tickets and discounts on rooms.

My only concerns are: 1- we are there 10 nights and the most military tickets is 5 days. We will also be doing the Christmas party so that is 6 days in the parks but I'm wondering if that leaves us with too much down time. 2- What if last minute she changes her mind and then I am stuck with military tickets and military rate hotel that I can't use.

Any thoughts? What direction would you go? Just in my checking (not getting an exact number yet from Disney since I'm on hold) but I think it would save us about $1500.

JMHO but I think any vacation with 6 days in parks is plenty of park time. You can always buy more if you get bored.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Ok, finally off the phone. So we are currently booked at POP and there is no military discount rooms available there. We could move to Coronado Springs for a savings but we have never stayed there. I am not sure what route we will go. I really like POP and could do military tickets and hold off for a regular discount at POP and be fine, but I am still nervous that if she doesn't go I am stuck having paid for tickets to not get to use them and having to buy regular ones. Decisions, decisions....

 

[dina444444]

Ok, finally off the phone. So we are currently booked at POP and there is no military discount rooms available there. We could move to Coronado Springs for a savings but we have never stayed there. I am not sure what route we will go. I really like POP and could do military tickets and hold off for a regular discount at POP and be fine, but I am still nervous that if she doesn't go I am stuck having paid for tickets to not get to use them and having to buy regular ones. Decisions, decisions....

Do you know if for Coronado the offer was for the new tower or a regular room? The regular rooms were all renovated about 2/3 years ago right before Pop and the tower is basically brand new (opened in 2019). I’ve heard people rave about the tower.

 

[Birdie dog]

Hey all, I haven't checked in in a loooong time. (I think last summer). My recap is that we bought an old house that cost way more to update than we'd budgeted, add that to my "I make good money and I'm going to do what I want" ideal and I had $30,000 on CCs. When I got sick enough to my stomach, I came here to spill my ugly secret, made a plan, and started working on debt.
I've gone from $30.000 in debt to $6,000 currently on a 1% card transfer. My house will be paid off in 9 years. I've *still* increased my contributions to my retirement and am currently at 18% with an employer match of 5%. My credit score is back over 800. So, I"m super happy... my big (and new) fly in my ointment is my car. But that's another post.
Happy dumping folks, it can be done.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hey all, I haven't checked in in a loooong time. (I think last summer). My recap is that we bought an old house that cost way more to update than we'd budgeted, add that to my "I make good money and I'm going to do what I want" ideal and I had $30,000 on CCs. When I got sick enough to my stomach, I came here to spill my ugly secret, made a plan, and started working on debt.
I've gone from $30.000 in debt to $6,000 currently on a 1% card transfer. My house will be paid off in 9 years. I've *still* increased my contributions to my retirement and am currently at 18% with an employer match of 5%. My credit score is back over 800. So, I"m super happy... my big (and new) fly in my ointment is my car. But that's another post.
Happy dumping folks, it can be done.

That is great news! I read about your car. I hope they fix it right for you. A reliable car is a must. Ds20 has a 2017 Mazda Miata/MX-5 and it's been a great car so far but our local Mazda dealership is not so great to deal with. I hope yours is better.
I would do some research into your state's Lemon Law just to be aware of your rights and know the deadlines on when you would need to act, based on those rights, if necessary. I also wouldn't wait for them to call you. A little gentle pressure on them every few days to remind them you're still waiting is not out of line. JMHO.

 

[barkley]

We had GEICO until we needed towing ONE time. It was like a wrestling match with a greased pig to get reimbursed. Never again! Not even worth the $12/mo. savings.

we have a local mechanic we adore, he also operates a tow service. farmers has always let us use him (or for that matter anyone else wherever we are), pay out of pocket and submit the receipt. within a couple of weeks at most we get reimbursed. our agent says 'yes-they would prefer you use their contractors but if you are willing to initially pay out of pocket it's covered for immediate reimbursement'.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Do you know if for Coronado the offer was for the new tower or a regular room? The regular rooms were all renovated about 2/3 years ago right before Pop and the tower is basically brand new (opened in 2019). I’ve heard people rave about the tower.

It was a regular room, which I'm sure is still nice I just am undecided.

 

[DnA2010]

Thank you all for your kind words and wishes ... mortgage is officially paid off!! Dh and I celebrated with a nice steak dinner. It is odd and a bit thrilling to look around the house and realIze that it’s now “ours”! We’ve reallocated most of the payments now to topping up RRSPs, RESPs, TFSAs, etc (we are in Canada) and at first I was kind of bummed that nothing really will change in terms of our biweekly budgeting. Then DH reminded me that all the lump sums that we have been putting down these last few years - which has been quite a bit - will now become our “bonus” money. So I’m back to spending the money in my head... hot tub? Tent trailer? More DVC points ? A girl can dream!!

I think it's awesome! We are similar age to you, but still have 15 years/275K to go...we do pay extra but still a long ways...super impressive you are already done! What part of Canada are you in? We are in BC and the market is insane- wish I could sell, but then we'd have to buy!

My sister had a Prius and her husband had a Rav4. They traded them in for a CR-V and a HR-V a couple years ago. They had nothing but issues with BOTH Toyotas. I hope you have better luck
I've been driving my CR-V since 2007. It hasn't given me any trouble. Best car I've ever had. I have never seen horrible reviews of CR-Vs.

We love CRV's- OH's previous one we sold going strong with over 600,000km, OH's parents sold theirs with over 500,000km and our current one (knock on wood) going strong also!

 

[Minniemoo15]

I think it's awesome! We are similar age to you, but still have 15 years/275K to go...we do pay extra but still a long ways...super impressive you are already done! What part of Canada are you in? We are in BC and the market is insane- wish I could sell, but then we'd have to buy!





We love CRV's- OH's previous one we sold going strong with over 600,000km, OH's parents sold theirs with over 500,000km and our current one (knock on wood) going strong also!

We are in the Maritimes... so it is much more manageable to pay off a mortgage in our LCOL area . Our house was 350K and we had put half of it as a down payment. Took about 7 years to chip down at the remaining 160K. I can’t even imagine housing costs out west. Such a beautiful part of the country though... We almost moved to Vancouver Island a couple years ago. I remember we did a tour of the town in January... we drove past the ski hill and then 10 minutes later the golf course. Dh couldn’t believe they were both open at the same time!! What I wouldn’t give for winters like that ...

 

[DnA2010]

We are in the Maritimes... so it is much more manageable to pay off a mortgage in our LCOL area . Our house was 350K and we had put half of it as a down payment. Took about 7 years to chip down at the remaining 160K. I can’t even imagine housing costs out west. Such a beautiful part of the country though... We almost moved to Vancouver Island a couple years ago. I remember we did a tour of the town in January... we drove past the ski hill and then 10 minutes later the golf course. Dh couldn’t believe they were both open at the same time!! What I wouldn’t give for winters like that ...

Wow the fact that you had half down is absolutely amazing!
We are in Kamloops, so not as bad as Vancouver area, but in the past few years, people have been selling their Vancouver area properties for insane prices, then come and pay cash for houses up here, which in turn has sent the housing prices through the roof here (haha). Housing is really tricky here these days- buying, getting rentals etc..feel bad for people not in the market...

 

[jen7233]

So bored at work today (don't tell anyone and jinx me!) so I am doing a budget for our Disney World trip in December. We already have it booked but I need to figure dining (we usually have a dining plan, we were thinking about massages, my mother in law is coming for her first visit and we are taking her to tea at Grand Floridian. So I have it all figured out and am guessing what possibly might be a discount but I am also checking into military rates (currently on the phone with Disney now for a 20 minute hold). My father in law (deceased) was retired military so my mother in law is eligible for the military salute tickets and discounts on rooms.

My only concerns are: 1- we are there 10 nights and the most military tickets is 5 days. We will also be doing the Christmas party so that is 6 days in the parks but I'm wondering if that leaves us with too much down time. 2- What if last minute she changes her mind and then I am stuck with military tickets and military rate hotel that I can't use.

Any thoughts? What direction would you go? Just in my checking (not getting an exact number yet from Disney since I'm on hold) but I think it would save us about $1500.

You could cut a day, 10 days is long to me, that's just me though I like 7 days max. If she doesn't go, would you be out or would she? Last year I took a look at the numbers of doing a package, or buy the salute tickets and reserve room only, and we came out better on the latter. They are pretty strict about the refund policy on the salute tickets though, you can look into if they can be rolled into another ticket type should something occur, I'm not sure of their current rules. Right now it looks like it's use through Dec 17 on the latest batch, can't predict any extension right now.

 

[crazycatstacy]

You could cut a day, 10 days is long to me, that's just me though I like 7 days max. If she doesn't go, would you be out or would she? Last year I took a look at the numbers of doing a package, or buy the salute tickets and reserve room only, and we came out better on the latter. They are pretty strict about the refund policy on the salute tickets though, you can look into if they can be rolled into another ticket type should something occur, I'm not sure of their current rules. Right now it looks like it's use through Dec 17 on the latest batch, can't predict any extension right now.

We are each paying our own way so I guess we would both be out. My concern is I budget X amount because of military and last minute she doesn't go and now it is Y amount which is likely more. We always have done 10 days so that's just what we are used to. I am going to keep my regular reservation for now and at the 60 day mark reassess it.

 

[DLgal]

Through age 17 means being 17 in 2020? Because DS turns 18 in 2021. We might not qualify anyway; we got only a small amount for the second stimulus.

I wanted to correct something I said about this tax credit. IT WILL begin to phase out at $75k for single filers and $150k for married joint filers, unlike the standard tax credit which phases out at much higher amounts.

This credit was passed by the House and is expected to be part of the final stimulus package passed in the Senate as well.