Debt Dumpers 2025

[Tygerlilly]

Can you both share?

Mine came from The Frugal Fit Mom on youtube. I believe it's in one of the featured videos she has on her channel.

 

[barkley]

Most people IME these days have already put those things largely up on FB marketplace, ebay, their local neighborhood site most especially Nextdoor, etc. Everyday there are posts about people putting things up for sale or in some cases free between Nextdoor and eNeighbors (that's what my specific neighborhood uses).

we don't see this much with furniture and larger items on FB marketplace b/c people don't want strangers coming to their homes for pick-ups (regular warnings from the local p.d. to meet up in public venues or their parking lot) and to do that they have to transport it which is not worth it with the number of flake-outs on meet ups people report on the marketplace (people either hang on to the stuff or if they have a means to transport they take it to a charity shop).

nextdoor hasn't caught on here-people are very concerned with their privacy (I personaly question how it's set up in the first place-i've gotten multiple emails saying I was invited to join up but they were from neighborhoods in states I've never lived in or been associated with in my life).

No bread maker needed but it requires a cast iron Dutch oven. I bought a cheap one on Amazon many years ago. It has served me well.

I love cast iron! glad you got a good deal on amazon but if you ever want more wander around your local goodwill or salvation army b/c the amount people donate is mind boggling (and they sell it cheap). also a great source for entirely unused pampered chef items (I'm guessing a popular gift but not as far as the recipients are concerned).

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

we don't see this much with furniture and larger items on FB marketplace b/c people don't want strangers coming to their homes for pick-ups (regular warnings from the local p.d. to meet up in public venues or their parking lot) and to do that they have to transport it which is not worth it with the number of flake-outs on meet ups people report on the marketplace (people either hang on to the stuff or if they have a means to transport they take it to a charity shop).

Yes I already addressed safety with FB marketplace in a prior post including meeting at designated safe areas which are normally police stations. But to your comment you even gave an example of a rake. I'm just saying it's not quite as common to just have your neighbors offer you stuff or your friends and family to have stuff the same it was in the past. We have a good relationship with our neighbors but chances are if they have anything that we might want if we were start completely fresh it would have already been listed online for sale, free pick up, etc. Many of us started out with hand me down stuff but that was a different era. Garage sales here are still pretty big way to get rid of things if outside of online especially as many neighborhoods have them as a big event in the spring so someone doesn't just have to set up only their house for one you'll get more traffic that way.

nextdoor hasn't caught on here-people are very concerned with their privacy (I personaly question how it's set up in the first place-i've gotten multiple emails saying I was invited to join up but they were from neighborhoods in states I've never lived in or been associated with in my life).

In the 'burbs here it's been as popular as ever, even the privacy concern people have accounts they just complain about privacy while on the site lol. I set up our Nextdoor as soon as we moved in in 2014 and the predominant posts outside of your normal neighbor rants is things to buy, sell or donate although recommendations for services are also a top post. Same with eNeighbors. In my neighborhood the official communication for 99% of HOA stuff all is done through eNeighbors and they tell you that when you are invited to join online if you don't you'll lose out on necessary information. The only thing you'll get in the mail is the dues notice or I suppose if you get an infraction.

Like this was on eNeighbors on Sunday

Quite a nice table honestly at an amazing price, was sorta interested in it but realized we'd probably want one with 6 seats and this one was only 4.

Nextdoor does tries to keep these types of post in the "For Sale & Free" area. Like in the last 30mins in a 3 mile radius there are 45 different things listed including a large sectional, a wooden corner hutch, a tv, several board games, clothing, shoes, some Christmas decor (must be going through what they want to put up), kids toys, etc.

My point was really someone could totally ask friends, families and neighbors but the days of that being a very reliable, easy given of a choice are mostly over. Obviously in your area people aren't as keen to use the internet the same way but it's the predominant way here. I could ask some friends or family for stuff but chances are they've already posted it online even my mother-in-law has posted numerous things from her garage including big furniture items on FB marketplace to sell. It's a good suggestion what you gave it just wouldn't be as successful in my area unless someone is getting it directly from their parents still.

 

[barkley]

In my neighborhood the official communication for 99% of HOA stuff all is done through eNeighbors and they tell you that when you are invited to join online if you don't you'll lose out on necessary information. The only thing you'll get in the mail is the dues notice or I suppose if you get an infraction.

your state law allows for that? that would not fly where I live-each individual HOA homeowner has the right to choose how to receive information (snail mail, fax or electronic). even if they choose electronic and the HOA decides to use some kind of site be it their own private or something like eNeighbors the HOA is required to send separate notices every time new information has been posted (separate as in-a separate email to everyone whose opted for electronic notifying them of new info. on whatever site).

 

[huggybuff]

Hi everyone, I'm making another quick stop by to report that tomorrow another credit card will be paid off. (The crappy Credit One card that charges a monthly fee.) I'm closing this one as soon as the payment posts. It served its purpose but I'm moving on.

I'll try to write a more detailed goals plan for 2026. I'm not ready yet but I have thoughts beginning to percolate.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Hi everyone, I'm making another quick stop by to report that tomorrow another credit card will be paid off. (The crappy Credit One card that charges a monthly fee.) I'm closing this one as soon as the payment posts. It served its purpose but I'm moving on.

I'll try to write a more detailed goals plan for 2026. I'm not ready yet but I have thoughts beginning to percolate.

Nice! I have a Credit One too. They charge me the $99/year that comes out monthly. However, be careful closing it. I paid one off late last year and closed it, and my score dropped quite a bit. Might be better to leave it open and just charge on it once a month and pay it off. That's what I'm going to do with my Credit One after I pay it off.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Hi everyone, I'm making another quick stop by to report that tomorrow another credit card will be paid off. (The crappy Credit One card that charges a monthly fee.) I'm closing this one as soon as the payment posts. It served its purpose but I'm moving on.

I'll try to write a more detailed goals plan for 2026. I'm not ready yet but I have thoughts beginning to percolate.

Yay!!! Tell them to walk the plank, right outta your life!!

 

[Tygerlilly]

Nice! I have a Credit One too. They charge me the $99/year that comes out monthly. However, be careful closing it. I paid one off late last year and closed it, and my score dropped quite a bit. Might be better to leave it open and just charge on it once a month and pay it off. That's what I'm going to do with my Credit One after I pay it off.

It drops but the drop is only temporary. As long as the balances on other cards continue to go down so your debt ratio lowers the score will recover quick enough. But only if you make on time payments and keep lowering balances on everything that reports.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

It drops but the drop is only temporary. As long as the balances on other cards continue to go down so your debt ratio lowers the score will recover quick enough. But only if you make on time payments and keep lowering balances on everything that reports.

Me, I'd rather let it drop and send that money that was going toward a dumb fee toward the next debt in line.

 

[huggybuff]

Me, I'd rather let it drop and send that money that was going toward a dumb fee toward the next debt in line.

Exactly. I'm not in the market for a car or house at the moment so I don't really need it to be at a certain score. Of course I want it to go up, not down, but a few point loss for a couple of months doesn't worry me.

 

[royeheat]

Nice! I have a Credit One too. They charge me the $99/year that comes out monthly. However, be careful closing it. I paid one off late last year and closed it, and my score dropped quite a bit. Might be better to leave it open and just charge on it once a month and pay it off. That's what I'm going to do with my Credit One after I pay it off.

Why do you have a credit card that charges yearly? Why not have one that has no fees?

 

[huggybuff]

Why do you have a credit card that charges yearly? Why not have one that has no fees?

I realize you weren't asking me, but I can answer that. When your credit is in the dumper your choice of credit cards is limited to say the least. There are secured cards as a last resort, but most people with poor credit and want a credit card don't have enough to pay the security deposit anyway, so you go up to the next 'tier' of crappy credit card, which are ones with extremely low limits and some type of fee. The Credit One Bank company looks most attractive of these cards because the fee is monthly and not one lump sum per year. You figure you can absorb that more easily than a once a year payment.

SO happy to be able to tell that company to go kick rocks!

 

[Tygerlilly]

I realize you weren't asking me, but I can answer that. When your credit is in the dumper your choice of credit cards is limited to say the least. There are secured cards as a last resort, but most people with poor credit and want a credit card don't have enough to pay the security deposit anyway, so you go up to the next 'tier' of crappy credit card, which are ones with extremely low limits and some type of fee. The Credit One Bank company looks most attractive of these cards because the fee is monthly and not one lump sum per year. You figure you can absorb that more easily than a once a year payment.

SO happy to be able to tell that company to go kick rocks!

Yup. This is the exact reason both me and DH have Credit One cards. They have lower limits, which helps us not run up a massive balance, but I prefer to use them when traveling for deposits and such. They're also our oldest cards at the moment, so we're sticking with them until we qualify for something better. Having life happen a couple times makes it harder to build, so we're just plugging away at it and eventually when we can qualify for better cards with better offers/terms, we'll close them.

 

[barkley]

I realize you weren't asking me, but I can answer that. When your credit is in the dumper your choice of credit cards is limited to say the least. There are secured cards as a last resort, but most people with poor credit and want a credit card don't have enough to pay the security deposit anyway, so you go up to the next 'tier' of crappy credit card, which are ones with extremely low limits and some type of fee. The Credit One Bank company looks most attractive of these cards because the fee is monthly and not one lump sum per year. You figure you can absorb that more easily than a once a year payment.

SO happy to be able to tell that company to go kick rocks!

I hate cards that charge fees. the only reason we have one ($49 a year) is b/c it's through the credit union I bank with so i use it in place of a debit card to prevent my checking account from getting hacked (easier/faster to dispute fraud than get the money back after they've drained your account) and it's easy to just transfer from my checking to pay it whenever I make a charge. I could have gone with a zero fee but this one charges no foreign transaction fees (a plus when we went to Canada) AND I earn points which equate to between 1-3% of what I spend on so since I pay the monthly utilities, all my insurances, groceries, gas...that $49 gets paid with a statement credit within the first few months of each year.

 

[huggybuff]

Yup. This is the exact reason both me and DH have Credit One cards. They have lower limits, which helps us not run up a massive balance, but I prefer to use them when traveling for deposits and such. They're also our oldest cards at the moment, so we're sticking with them until we qualify for something better. Having life happen a couple times makes it harder to build, so we're just plugging away at it and eventually when we can qualify for better cards with better offers/terms, we'll close them.

I received a lot of help from husband by him adding me on to a couple of his credit cards to improve my credit. I am very thankful for him in every area, and financially as well.

 

[Tygerlilly]

I received a lot of help from husband by him adding me on to a couple of his credit cards to improve my credit. I am very thankful for him in every area, and financially as well.

That would work, but his ex wife very sufficiently tanked his credit when they divorced, so he wasn't exactly going to be able to help there. It's okay, it isn't ideal, but we're slowly getting there. Eventually we'll get these all cleared and then put like our auto pay for Netflix and groceries and stuff on it and pay it off each month to boost our score up. Some day we'll have big kid credit cards... or not. Who knows.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Why do you have a credit card that charges yearly? Why not have one that has no fees?

This is probably the wrong thread to say this but we actually have 3 cards that have annual fees. Two Chase Sapphire Preferred cards and 1 American Airlines Citibank card. First, the AA card gives us one free bag pp when we fly. We flew AA 6x this year. At $30 per bag, may have even gone up recently, the card pays for itself. It isn't that great of a card that I'd want it for our main card. We put EVERYTHING on our card and pay it off each month. (That wasn't always the case before I found Debt Dumpers but I've come a long way.)

Back before I started taking care of my dad's bills & mail x2 houses, I used to churn bank account bonuses. Chase was offering $600 to open a checking account. We had to go in person. So ds then probably 19, dh and I go into Chase to open checking accounts. I'm thinking this is an easy $1800. At the time, I had the Chase Southwest Airlines card and I thought nothing on Earth could convince me to ever get rid of this card. We frequently flew SW anyway so we rarely paid for flights. While we were there, the banker at Chase offered dh and I a 50,000 bonus points credit card, the Chase Sapphire Preferred card. We were in the midst of a remodeling project and knew we could easily meet the minimum spend. So we took them. You get 3x points for dining and 2x points for any travel, even me taking the train to work or parking at the airport. Everything else earns 1 point per dollar. With those points, I can transfer them to multiple hotel and airline loyalty memberships. I can also book travel directly on the Chase website and pay with points.

So for example, if we have a very late arrival to Orlando airport, we like to stay at the Hyatt right inside the terminal. So convenient. I can pay through the nose in cash or I can book through Chase's website and pay with points or sometimes it's cheaper to transfer the points to my Hyatt account and book a free night through the Hyatt website.
If Southwest, by some miracle, offers reasonably-priced, non-stop flights to where we're going, we can transfer to the points to my SWRR account and book with points.

I quickly realized that I was rarely earning double points with my SW card because the only way is by charging SW purchases to our card, which we rarely did.

With all the points we earn, I can book trips for my niece and her family who take care my elderly father. They will be flying for free, 4 of them, RT in Jan to Universal and again in May to WDW. I love that I can show my appreciation in this way, for all they do for my dad. They would never be able to afford these trips otherwise.

So why do I have 2 CSP cards? Well, many years ago we were up to our necks in debt and even though we're past that now, I am used to being able to look at our everyday card and know how we're doing, whether we're low or a little too heavy on the spending and need to throttle back. If I had to put our car insurance or homeowners' insurance or a cruise on that same card, well then the balance looks HUGE and it really throws me off. I'd try to tell myself, it's ok, $2500 of that is for car insurance, but it still messes me up. So even though I originally had planned to cancel dh's CSP card after the first year, it ended up being good for me to keep things separate. One card for groceries, house stuff,etc. The other card for things that get charged irregularly such as Christmas shopping, insurances and travel. I still don't charge what I don't have in savings to cover but I'll gladly pay the fee because we get soooo much travel in return.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I received a lot of help from husband by him adding me on to a couple of his credit cards to improve my credit. I am very thankful for him in every area, and financially as well.

I just noticed that's your wedding photo. Beautiful!

 

[huggybuff]

I just noticed that's your wedding photo. Beautiful!

Thank you so much! He’s the best. He’s given me more time than I deserved to dig myself out of debt.

 

[huggybuff]

That would work, but his ex wife very sufficiently tanked his credit when they divorced, so he wasn't exactly going to be able to help there. It's okay, it isn't ideal, but we're slowly getting there. Eventually we'll get these all cleared and then put like our auto pay for Netflix and groceries and stuff on it and pay it off each month to boost our score up. Some day we'll have big kid credit cards... or not. Who knows.

You’re doing a fabulous job! Very impressive how you’re handling your mom while homeschooling and raising the kids and working. No way I could handle all of that.