Debt Dumpers 2024

[ruadisneyfan2]

I just bought Garth tickets for Feb as a surprise for my DH. I think I will tell him for Christmas since we'll have to arrange childcare. But I think I am going to order a laser engraved ticket off of etsy to wrap, like this one
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1443357200/personalized-2023-concert-ticket

We just left the show. Just wow!

The man’s amazing and like most country music artists, always showing so much respect and gratitude to his band, his wife and fans. Trisha Yearwood was his +1. I don’t want to give away too much more and make it predictable for you.
You’re going to love it.

When I first told dh, he wasn’t as excited as I expected but by the time we walked out, he said “That was amazing!” Having awesome seats helped. Sometimes he was about 10-15’ from us.


Yes, totally worth the trek to LV from the east coast.

 

[barkley]

Plano is very large. Older and newer areas. It's also surrounded by toll roads. Just give thought to where travel might be needed. If anyone has to commute to Dallas, it is a bear. Lots of very nice areas though. The Legacy development is impressive, plus nearby Star in Frisco and Grandscape in The Colony.

Also, it is extremely hot and humid during the long summer. It can be intense for people not used to it.

Even without income tax, the property taxes are extremely high and the appraisals go up rapidly each year. Taxes are not as low as many expect, and overall costs for services in DFW are comparable to any other large US metro.

It's a great place to live and raise a family and we like it a lot. Just know there are positives and negatives like anywhere else. It is certainly not a low tax nirvana like some expect, and houses are expensive in an area like Plano.

you bring up excellent points. when considering a move to a new state (or even a different region of the same state) it's important to research what the cost of living and (for lack of a better term) 'style of living' entail. when i lived in california the public agency i worked for paid the highest wage in the state for certain categories of jobs and we would get applicants from other regions who looked entirely at the wage differential. they did not explore how much more the housing in particular cost let alone regional differences in insurance (auto, renters or homeowners) and basic items of need. we had such a large number offered jobs only to turn them down only after they started planning a move that we began to recommend researching our region BEFORE accepting an interview.

we moved to a different state and while we def. enjoy the benefits of no income tax and some lower expenses than we experienced in california there are other expenses that come with some things we just took for granted as being the norm at a low or no cost. a lack of extensive public transportation can create for some the need to find/fund private transportation. some area schools have extended their no bus service regions and if public transportation is not available/appropriate then costs and accommodation have to be made. certain public services/programs being non existant can create the need for some to have to purchase insurance policies (in california we took for granted the state disability program to protect us up to a full year in a time of need-it's not something our state offers beyond a 12 week period so long term disability insurance can be a costly addition to a budget). medical insurance-we've found that it can GREATLY vary in cost state to state, and it's not at all unusual for employees/retirees of california based employers to learn that the out of state providers they contract with come with many times the employee/retiree premium/share of cost and limited if any providers (we were literaly on a 6 month wait list to get a primary care provider when we moved, now with the loss of so many providers post covid it can take 2 or more years unless you are in an hmo that does a random assignment with months long waits to get appointments).


it's all something to consider. investigate housing and utility costs, car registration/insurance, rent/mortgage insurance, health care availability and premiums....

 

[disney-inspired]

Plano is very large. Older and newer areas. It's also surrounded by toll roads. Just give thought to where travel might be needed. If anyone has to commute to Dallas, it is a bear. Lots of very nice areas though. The Legacy development is impressive, plus nearby Star in Frisco and Grandscape in The Colony.

Also, it is extremely hot and humid during the long summer. It can be intense for people not used to it.

Even without income tax, the property taxes are extremely high and the appraisals go up rapidly each year. Taxes are not as low as many expect, and overall costs for services in DFW are comparable to any other large US metro.

It's a great place to live and raise a family and we like it a lot. Just know there are positives and negatives like anywhere else. It is certainly not a low tax nirvana like some expect, and houses are expensive in an area like Plano.

We're coming from SoCal where it's been like 108-110 degrees this week, so we are very much adapted to heat. Humidity will take some time to adjust to though but I do go to FL very often so I'm not a stranger to it.

Property taxes aren't an issue as my BIL is exempt due to his military status.
Expensive home prices are definitely subjective, coming from CA everything they've seen in Plano is mostly affordable. It def has its outliers in the higher price end but most are cheaper than anything here and have more sq ft and property size.

Thankfully both my BIL and I work remotely so commuting isn't a concern.

 

[disney-inspired]

you bring up excellent points. when considering a move to a new state (or even a different region of the same state) it's important to research what the cost of living and (for lack of a better term) 'style of living' entail. when i lived in california the public agency i worked for paid the highest wage in the state for certain categories of jobs and we would get applicants from other regions who looked entirely at the wage differential. they did not explore how much more the housing in particular cost let alone regional differences in insurance (auto, renters or homeowners) and basic items of need. we had such a large number offered jobs only to turn them down only after they started planning a move that we began to recommend researching our region BEFORE accepting an interview.

we moved to a different state and while we def. enjoy the benefits of no income tax and some lower expenses than we experienced in california there are other expenses that come with some things we just took for granted as being the norm at a low or no cost. a lack of extensive public transportation can create for some the need to find/fund private transportation. some area schools have extended their no bus service regions and if public transportation is not available/appropriate then costs and accommodation have to be made. certain public services/programs being non existant can create the need for some to have to purchase insurance policies (in california we took for granted the state disability program to protect us up to a full year in a time of need-it's not something our state offers beyond a 12 week period so long term disability insurance can be a costly addition to a budget). medical insurance-we've found that it can GREATLY vary in cost state to state, and it's not at all unusual for employees/retirees of california based employers to learn that the out of state providers they contract with come with many times the employee/retiree premium/share of cost and limited if any providers (we were literaly on a 6 month wait list to get a primary care provider when we moved, now with the loss of so many providers post covid it can take 2 or more years unless you are in an hmo that does a random assignment with months long waits to get appointments).


it's all something to consider. investigate housing and utility costs, car registration/insurance, rent/mortgage insurance, health care availability and premiums....

The main thing is that my sister & BIL can't have the lifestyle they want on one income in CA. TX is much better suited to allow that.
They both want my sister to be a SAHM mom as she homeschools the kids and cares for the home.
They attend a hybrid school now and they'll likely look into that for TX but 100% homeschool isn't an issue for them either.
I know my BIL wants to put all the kids into some kind of sport so will likely look at those programs as well.

 

[OlliePop27]

We're coming from SoCal where it's been like 108-110 degrees this week, so we are very much adapted to heat. Humidity will take some time to adjust to though but I do go to FL very often so I'm not a stranger to it.

Property taxes aren't an issue as my BIL is exempt due to his military status.
Expensive home prices are definitely subjective, coming from CA everything they've seen in Plano is mostly affordable. It def has its outliers in the higher price end but most are cheaper than anything here and have more sq ft and property size.

Thankfully both my BIL and I work remotely so commuting isn't a concern.

Great! Everyone will love it. I've lived in DFW a long time and love it, so I'm not trying to dissuade anyone. Good luck with the move and settling in.

A new Universal kids park is opening in Frisco in the coming years. Very close to Plano!

Also, short and easy nonstop flights to Orlando and SoCal!

 

[goofytinkerbell]

1

 

[disney-inspired]

Great! Everyone will love it. I've lived in DFW a long time and love it, so I'm not trying to dissuade anyone. Good luck with the move and settling in.

A new Universal kids park is opening in Frisco in the coming years. Very close to Plano!

Also, short and easy nonstop flights to Orlando and SoCal!

Honestly the shorter flights to WDW is a huge check in the plus column. Also, I'd only be losing 1 hour vs the 3 hours in the time change coming from CA. We're planning for a big trip in Sept next year.

 

[OlliePop27]

Honestly the shorter flights to WDW is a huge check in the plus column. Also, I'd only be losing 1 hour vs the 3 hours in the time change coming from CA. We're planning for a big trip in Sept next year.

Living in DFW you become very spoiled with air travel. Plentiful and easy nonstop flights to essentially anywhere in the US. Most are less than 3 hours away. The longest flights are to Boston and Portland/Seattle - about 4 hours. Also, lots of great international nonstops and to Hawaii usually year round to Honolulu and Maui, seasonal to Hilo and Lihue.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Not a good weekend for my budget, and I already regret closing that CC. Little short story because I'm still upset.

DW called me Friday saying she was almost home, and her car (the one that she wrecked back in May) was showing it was overheating. Got it home, and as soon as she got out of the car, there was a big puddle of coolant on the ground underneath. I had gone to my boss' house to spend the evening with he and his wife at a football game, so when we got up Saturday, I checked it out. Put some water in it, before I could close the hood, half the water had leaked out. Took it to the mechanic at the end of our alley, about 5-6 houses away.

They sent me an estimate ... $1800! Busted radiator and oil filter housing unit needs replaced. The radiator will cost $180, but the labor is nearly $500. The oil filter housing is the rest. So much for an EF. Now I wish I had that $700 back I used to pay off my CC. Guess I'm going down to that loan place where she took oujt the loan last year to try and get enough to cover the cost of fixing it. Love that a $1,800 fix will turn into a $6k fix thanks to a loan that will have a 540% APR. But what can we do. I was stupid and paid off my CC instead of putting that into an EF.

Got to love dropping $2k on a car that is worth probably $2k in perfectly working condition.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Not a good weekend for my budget, and I already regret closing that CC. Little short story because I'm still upset.

DW called me Friday saying she was almost home, and her car (the one that she wrecked back in May) was showing it was overheating. Got it home, and as soon as she got out of the car, there was a big puddle of coolant on the ground underneath. I had gone to my boss' house to spend the evening with he and his wife at a football game, so when we got up Saturday, I checked it out. Put some water in it, before I could close the hood, half the water had leaked out. Took it to the mechanic at the end of our alley, about 5-6 houses away.

They sent me an estimate ... $1800! Busted radiator and oil filter housing unit needs replaced. The radiator will cost $180, but the labor is nearly $500. The oil filter housing is the rest. So much for an EF. Now I wish I had that $700 back I used to pay off my CC. Guess I'm going down to that loan place where she took oujt the loan last year to try and get enough to cover the cost of fixing it. Love that a $1,800 fix will turn into a $6k fix thanks to a loan that will have a 540% APR. But what can we do. I was stupid and paid off my CC instead of putting that into an EF.

Got to love dropping $2k on a car that is worth probably $2k in perfectly working condition.

Sorry that you're going through this. Do you have any family members who could loan you the money?

 

[trenty]

Not a good weekend for my budget, and I already regret closing that CC. Little short story because I'm still upset.

DW called me Friday saying she was almost home, and her car (the one that she wrecked back in May) was showing it was overheating. Got it home, and as soon as she got out of the car, there was a big puddle of coolant on the ground underneath. I had gone to my boss' house to spend the evening with he and his wife at a football game, so when we got up Saturday, I checked it out. Put some water in it, before I could close the hood, half the water had leaked out. Took it to the mechanic at the end of our alley, about 5-6 houses away.

They sent me an estimate ... $1800! Busted radiator and oil filter housing unit needs replaced. The radiator will cost $180, but the labor is nearly $500. The oil filter housing is the rest. So much for an EF. Now I wish I had that $700 back I used to pay off my CC. Guess I'm going down to that loan place where she took oujt the loan last year to try and get enough to cover the cost of fixing it. Love that a $1,800 fix will turn into a $6k fix thanks to a loan that will have a 540% APR. But what can we do. I was stupid and paid off my CC instead of putting that into an EF.

Got to love dropping $2k on a car that is worth probably $2k in perfectly working condition.

Do you have anything you could sell instead of going to the loan shark? Then, try a credit union for a loan. Ask family for a loan. You could probably even rent a car instead and pay less than you would with that crazy loan interest.

 

[mom to minnie&mickey]

Since you are close enough with your boss to be going to his house can you perhaps ask him for a loan until next pay day or an emergency advance on your next pay because at this point anything is better than that loan place. Whatever you do, do not go there. Can you work out a payment plan with the mechanic since you are neighbours.
I remember you posting that you had baseball cards (or something like that, forgive my memory) that had value but you refused to sell them. Maybe you could consider selling some now.

 

[firefly_ris]

Why is a PayDay loan your only option? Is it because your credit is bad?

Go to a credit union or a bank and see what they can offer you for a personal loan. That would be less interest than an insane loan shark loan OR credit card interest.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Not a good weekend for my budget, and I already regret closing that CC. Little short story because I'm still upset.

DW called me Friday saying she was almost home, and her car (the one that she wrecked back in May) was showing it was overheating. Got it home, and as soon as she got out of the car, there was a big puddle of coolant on the ground underneath. I had gone to my boss' house to spend the evening with he and his wife at a football game, so when we got up Saturday, I checked it out. Put some water in it, before I could close the hood, half the water had leaked out. Took it to the mechanic at the end of our alley, about 5-6 houses away.

They sent me an estimate ... $1800! Busted radiator and oil filter housing unit needs replaced. The radiator will cost $180, but the labor is nearly $500. The oil filter housing is the rest. So much for an EF. Now I wish I had that $700 back I used to pay off my CC. Guess I'm going down to that loan place where she took oujt the loan last year to try and get enough to cover the cost of fixing it. Love that a $1,800 fix will turn into a $6k fix thanks to a loan that will have a 540% APR. But what can we do. I was stupid and paid off my CC instead of putting that into an EF.

Got to love dropping $2k on a car that is worth probably $2k in perfectly working condition.

Do you HAVE to have 2 cars right now? Can you get by with one with carpooling and rideshares? It may be inconvenient for a little bit, but it beats the ridiculous interest you will pay on that loan. And doesn’t say your wife doesn’t want to. She is keeping you in this financial hole.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As far as asking others, I don't want to ask my boss or family members because I don't have to have that stress/tension hanging over our various relationships in case something happens and I'm not able to pay it back right away. As far as a payday loan, I'd have to take out a month's pay to cover the $2k. I believe I'd be putting myself in a worse situation by taking out an advance and not getting paid for a month (thus not being able to pay rent, bills, etc).

As far as trying to get the money elsewhere, I don't want to take out a loan through a bank. I have worked too hard to get my credit score from sub 500 to around 650 over the past year, and I don't want loan application pulls going onto my credit score. I'm not sure how big of an impact they have, but I just don't want to take that risk without knowing. The loan shark place doesn't check credit scores (that's how my wife was able to take hers out).

The final part was about possibly sharing a car. DW and I have been just that the last couple of days. She works about 25 minutes away from me in the opposite direction from home, so I'm forced to try and find ways home from coworkers. I have 2 that live 5-10 miles of me, including my boss. So I've been using those 2. I don't feel comfortable doing uBer. I saw a story on the news here in DFW the other day where the uBer driver got out and punched the passenger. I'm scared of stuff like that happening.

I will continue to rely on DW, my boss and my coworker for rides to/from work for now until we can figure out how to get the money to fix the car. My wife picked up a different schedule this week (they asked someone to move to open and work Saturday, so she volunteered). However, that means I am now coming into the office at 6:40 in the morning instead of 8. And she doesn't get off until 5 or 6:15. But I believe that's just for this week because they had to shift some people's hours around after the schedule was released and the week had started.

And I believe we're going to just pay to have it fixed. We can't afford another $400-$500 bill right now, so we're just going to go with one car for the time being and try and make it through until we can get the money saved up. Hopefully we'll have that EF by the first of the year.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Thanks everyone for the advice.

As far as asking others, I don't want to ask my boss or family members because I don't have to have that stress/tension hanging over our various relationships in case something happens and I'm not able to pay it back right away. As far as a payday loan, I'd have to take out a month's pay to cover the $2k. I believe I'd be putting myself in a worse situation by taking out an advance and not getting paid for a month (thus not being able to pay rent, bills, etc).

As far as trying to get the money elsewhere, I don't want to take out a loan through a bank. I have worked too hard to get my credit score from sub 500 to around 650 over the past year, and I don't want loan application pulls going onto my credit score. I'm not sure how big of an impact they have, but I just don't want to take that risk without knowing. The loan shark place doesn't check credit scores (that's how my wife was able to take hers out).

The final part was about possibly sharing a car. DW and I have been just that the last couple of days. She works about 25 minutes away from me in the opposite direction from home, so I'm forced to try and find ways home from coworkers. I have 2 that live 5-10 miles of me, including my boss. So I've been using those 2. I don't feel comfortable doing uBer. I saw a story on the news here in DFW the other day where the uBer driver got out and punched the passenger. I'm scared of stuff like that happening.

I will continue to rely on DW, my boss and my coworker for rides to/from work for now until we can figure out how to get the money to fix the car. My wife picked up a different schedule this week (they asked someone to move to open and work Saturday, so she volunteered). However, that means I am now coming into the office at 6:40 in the morning instead of 8. And she doesn't get off until 5 or 6:15. But I believe that's just for this week because they had to shift some people's hours around after the schedule was released and the week had started.

And I believe we're going to just pay to have it fixed. We can't afford another $400-$500 bill right now, so we're just going to go with one car for the time being and try and make it through until we can get the money saved up. Hopefully we'll have that EF by the first of the year.

You desperately need to change your mindset. You’d rather pay 500% interest than have your credit score go down a few points temporarily. Think about that. You have to stop knee-jerk reacting to things and think them through because you don’t have the luxury of having extra cash to cover your financial mistakes. You’ve made a lot of progress in your lifestyle, don’t let your anxiety and need to make the stress go away overshadow your progress.

 

[trenty]

I don't want to take out a loan through a bank. I have worked too hard to get my credit score from sub 500 to around 650 over the past year, and I don't want loan application pulls going onto my credit score. I'm not sure how big of an impact they have, but I just don't want to take that risk without knowing. The loan shark place doesn't check credit scores (that's how my wife was able to take hers out).

I agree with @StitchesGr8Fan: stop worrying about your credit score. I get that it matters; but at this point and time for you, it really doesn't matter. Getting out of your financial hole is what matters; a dip to your credit score is not going to make a difference. A loan shark loan is going to put you deeper into that hole.

I know this is tough - but think about a part-time second job - for a short period of time - until you get get that first little EF and pay off your debt. If you and your wife hustle a little now - you will have a better life later.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

With a 650 credit score I think you may qualify for a bank loan. And it may even raise your credit score but you really need to stop worrying about that.

Also you don’t need to be so scared to take an Uber because you saw one report of someone being punched. Things happen. You can’t always live in fear.

 

[firefly_ris]

At this point who cares about the credit score. Get the debt under control and get savings built.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Hard to build savings when I've got an $1,800 debt staring me right in the face. I'm trying to figure out the best way to get that taken care of because I don't have a car if I don't get it taken care of. I was getting debt under control until this came out of nowhere.

At this point who cares about the credit score. Get the debt under control and get savings built.