Debt Dumpers 2021

[CaleCakes]

Thank you! Yes I am proud of myself too as I have a habit of being a bit impulsive when I see "spare" money in the account lol

 

[CaleCakes]

Nettlelondon- I have leased in the past and my parents lease but for me I will not do that again. I just drive too many miles. I can easily put an extra 1100 miles on a month just for work, add that to regular driving and I probably put 1500-1800 miles a month on my vehicle. Leasing just don't work for me.

 

[sara mom]

The Rav4 Hybrid is actually one of the options I'm looking at! It was actually already on the short list for options as I was thinking about getting a new vehicle in about 18 months anyway, and seeing your posts about it made me look in5 years aout to them even more. Wouldn't be a new one though with our budget, so we are looking at ones a few years old. Settlement for my car should hit our account Monday, and I have a few specific ones I've been eyeing on the dealership's website but trying not to get too attached and have them sell before we get over there.

With hybrids, remember the life expectancy of the battery is about 10 years/ 100,000 miles. Something to consider if buying a 'new to you' and your driving history. We had a Civic hybrid and sold it at about 5 years in because we were at about 80,000 miles.

 

[Nettlelondon]

Having had a non-plug in hybrid a few years ago I second the being careful around the battery life. The technology is so new and evolving that sometimes there are mis-steps along the way. The car we had needed a whole new battery system after about 20,000 miles which was far from ideal. OK, it was covered by the warranty but it still meant we had a few months of poor performance trying to get a diagnosis and a few weeks of a loan car while a solution was put in place. I would be very wary of purchasing one without some sort of battery warranty just yet. I know standard engine systems aren't infallible but they are better understood at present making their maintenance cheaper.

 

[PhoenixStrength]

With hybrids, remember the life expectancy of the battery is about 10 years/ 100,000 miles. Something to consider if buying a 'new to you' and your driving history. We had a Civic hybrid and sold it at about 5 years in because we were at about 80,000 miles.

Having had a non-plug in hybrid a few years ago I second the being careful around the battery life. The technology is so new and evolving that sometimes there are mis-steps along the way. The car we had needed a whole new battery system after about 20,000 miles which was far from ideal. OK, it was covered by the warranty but it still meant we had a few months of poor performance trying to get a diagnosis and a few weeks of a loan car while a solution was put in place. I would be very wary of purchasing one without some sort of battery warranty just yet. I know standard engine systems aren't infallible but they are better understood at present making their maintenance cheaper.

I've actually moved away from the hybrid model, mostly for the reasons you have stated. I want to be able to hold onto this vehicle for quite a while, so both for the reason of short-battery life and price we decided to go with gasoline engine this time. Hopefully by the time we need our next vehicle they will have improved enough we can get one then.

 

[DLgal]

I've actually moved away from the hybrid model, mostly for the reasons you have stated. I want to be able to hold onto this vehicle for quite a while, so both for the reason of short-battery life and price we decided to go with gasoline engine this time. Hopefully by the time we need our next vehicle they will have improved enough we can get one then.

Hybrids seem like a bad idea when we are THIS close to having so many full electric options. I feel like the next couple years will be a turning point in electric car technology and hybrids will just cease to be manufactured as the fully electric options gain momentum.

 

[RamblingMad]

With hybrids, remember the life expectancy of the battery is about 10 years/ 100,000 miles. Something to consider if buying a 'new to you' and your driving history. We had a Civic hybrid and sold it at about 5 years in because we were at about 80,000 miles.

My significant other's Prius was good up to 160 thousand miles before she replaced it. Hybrid batteries are generally good up to 150 thousand miles before they need replacing.

 

[dina444444]

My significant other's Prius was good up to 160 thousand miles before she replaced it. Hybrid batteries are generally good up to 150 thousand miles before they need replacing.

That’s where I’m hoping to get to with my Prius. Car is 9 years old and has just under 107k. Hoping I can get another 4ish years out of it. Likely will replace with another Prius since I like the car. I’m also diligent with maintenance and repairs being taken care of.

 

[RamblingMad]

That’s where I’m hoping to get to with my Prius. Car is 9 years old and has just under 107k. Hoping I can get another 4ish years out of it. Likely will replace with another Prius since I like the car. I’m also diligent with maintenance and repairs being taken care of.

Her Prius held up remarkably well. But she didn't like the acceleration getting on and off the freeway, so she switched to Mazda. Now, she doesn't like the gas mileage she's getting.

 

[crazycatstacy]

Plugging along here. Throwing my mom a 70th birthday party at the end of the month and it has come to the time when I begin panicking that I don't have enough food, don't have enough décor, it doesn't look right etc... It is an open house for 3 hours and we are expecting about 70 people. I ordered a charcuterie table from a local caterer that is supposed to serve 150 so realistically savory is fine. I also ordered a cake (just for show as I want my mom to be able to take it home and enjoy it), cupcakes, cookies, mini pies and cheesecake shooters. I KNOW I have enough but I always do this when it gets close!

We are having the party at the party room in my complex. It is not a small room and so it doesn't need a lot. I have the table cloths, window décor, and my BFF and I started making an 8x8 foot flower wall to use as décor and a backdrop for photos. I ordered a bouquet of flowers this weekend for décor and for my mom to take home. It was more than I wanted to spend but was exactly what I had in mind so I am fine with it.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Plugging along here. Throwing my mom a 70th birthday party at the end of the month and it has come to the time when I begin panicking that I don't have enough food, don't have enough décor, it doesn't look right etc... It is an open house for 3 hours and we are expecting about 70 people. I ordered a charcuterie table from a local caterer that is supposed to serve 150 so realistically savory is fine. I also ordered a cake (just for show as I want my mom to be able to take it home and enjoy it), cupcakes, cookies, mini pies and cheesecake shooters. I KNOW I have enough but I always do this when it gets close!

We are having the party at the party room in my complex. It is not a small room and so it doesn't need a lot. I have the table cloths, window décor, and my BFF and I started making an 8x8 foot flower wall to use as décor and a backdrop for photos. I ordered a bouquet of flowers this weekend for décor and for my mom to take home. It was more than I wanted to spend but was exactly what I had in mind so I am fine with it.

You will never regret splurging on this.
I was just starting to dump debt when my mom turned 70. We had a small dinner party in a private room of a local restaurant. We had recently attended our next door neighbor’s 50th anniversary dinner party and their kids hired a caricature artist to sit off to the side and make drawings for whoever wanted one. Ours turned out so good I later had it framed and it still hangs in our home office. So I hired him to do my mom’s party. My siblings weren’t into the extra expense so I paid it myself.
Now that she’s gone and we look back, I regret not getting a fancier cake and we should have invited more people.
If I could have a do-over, it would be amazing!

 

[crazycatstacy]

You will never regret splurging on this.
I was just starting to dump debt when my mom turned 70. We had a small dinner party in a private room of a local restaurant. We had recently attended our next door neighbor’s 50th anniversary dinner party and their kids hired a caricature artist to sit off to the side and make drawings for whoever wanted one. Ours turned out so good I later had it framed and it still hangs in our home office. So I hired him to do my mom’s party. My siblings weren’t into the extra expense so I paid it myself.
Now that she’s gone and we look back, I regret not getting a fancier cake and we should have invited more people.
If I could have a do-over, it would be amazing!

I am excited about it. My mother in law turned 70 last year and no one though that was a big deal and wanted to do much! It drove me nuts. I have one sibling but he doesn't live here and is a worthless POS so even if he did he would be of no assistance. We have no family (except my two adult nephews) where we live so most of the people coming are my mom's friends. I am flying my daughter home for it so that will be exciting as due to covid my mom hasn't seen her since 2019!

 

[jen7233]

You will never regret splurging on this.
I was just starting to dump debt when my mom turned 70. We had a small dinner party in a private room of a local restaurant. We had recently attended our next door neighbor’s 50th anniversary dinner party and their kids hired a caricature artist to sit off to the side and make drawings for whoever wanted one. Ours turned out so good I later had it framed and it still hangs in our home office. So I hired him to do my mom’s party. My siblings weren’t into the extra expense so I paid it myself.
Now that she’s gone and we look back, I regret not getting a fancier cake and we should have invited more people.
If I could have a do-over, it would be amazing!

I agree! I wish I had entertained my mom a little more when she was here.

 

[mom2rb]

2021 Financial Goals
Pay off DH’s car-we owe $3700
Stay credit card debt free
Get 6 months of expenses in an emergency fund

Personal Goals
Get active. I just had surgery on one ankle and have the other ankle scheduled for the end of December. It will make recovery harder but with insurance deductibles it will save enough to pay for all of son’s tuition. No student loans at all. I hadn’t realized how inactive I had become because of the pain. I am looking forward to exercising again.
Take the Covid-19 vaccine. I am terrified of needles but I want to get back to seeing family and being safe. Knowing that I have to get 2 shots isn’t helping. I haven’t had a flu vaccine since they quit giving it up the nose. I read an article about a Covid vaccine up the nose too but it is not expected to be out for a while.

Update
Car is paid off and still credit card debt free but we had to have the house re-piped. Fortunately we had it done the week before the Texas ice storm. We did have to do tile work, fix walls and repaint the house. I had to take out a loan for the work but the interest rate is way lower than a credit card. It is still pretty hard to walk around after my two ankle surgeries but I do a little better every day. I am most proud of the fact that I got my first Covid vaccine. I was terrified but I did it.

 

[jen7233]

Bad news, woke up to finding ceiling bits on the kitchen counter, very small. It seems to have come from the crack right above in the ceiling, and that is the bathroom right above. Pretty sure the flooring needs to be replaced and that bathroom gutted for mold and rot. The owner is well aware of this crack, and well aware of the need to address the mold, but hasn't looked into it. The bathrooms here are really awful, we had a leak that had been dripping for who knows how long when we moved in, and mold issues the whole time. Allergies have been bad here and now my older kid is dealing with allergies and migraines also.

But, we found after much looking and inquiring, a new rental. It will be significantly more per month than we pay here. So, rent will go up when we move but also a much better place.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Bad news, woke up to finding ceiling bits on the kitchen counter, very small. It seems to have come from the crack right above in the ceiling, and that is the bathroom right above. Pretty sure the flooring needs to be replaced and that bathroom gutted for mold and rot. The owner is well aware of this crack, and well aware of the need to address the mold, but hasn't looked into it. The bathrooms here are really awful, we had a leak that had been dripping for who knows how long when we moved in, and mold issues the whole time. Allergies have been bad here and now my older kid is dealing with allergies and migraines also.

But, we found after much looking and inquiring, a new rental. It will be significantly more per month than we pay here. So, rent will go up when we move but also a much better place.

That’s awful that he’s dragging his feet in getting this repaired. Mold is so bad for people.

 

[imbatman]

Came up with a stimulus spending plan with the DH:

1. Buy new mattress. This can't wait any longer. We are in misery.
2. Pay $2600 toward remaining CC debt. This means I'll have it paid off in April!
3. Put the remainder into savings.

It is more important for us to get the mattress than pay off the CC at this point. And since the CC is still at zero percent, I don't feel particularly bad about our plan of action.

 

[Nettlelondon]

It is more important for us to get the mattress than pay off the CC at this point.

Absolutely - a good night's sleep is key to making everything else that is going on in life much easier to bear. Or means that we can take full advantage of the good things that come our way.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Found out a local kids clothing store is closing and everything is 75% off. Both girls needed new clothes for summer, so I popped in to see what was left. Spent $68 and saved $188 The girl working said they still had dozens and dozens of boxes in the back so to keep checking back. Can't beat $5 jeans and $2 shirts! Planning on going back in a few days to see what's there. I just need to take pictures of what I already bought so I don't buy duplicates.

Trying to decide what plans I want with the stimulus. I think I can get all our debt minus the car paid off and still pay about half of our Disney trip off. I'm fairly certain that's the path I want to take, but things change daily around here, so who knows. Lol

 

[jackers]

I think our 2020 tax return just phased us out of another stimulus but so be it. Didn’t need it but I would have always taken a little more in my savings account.