Debt Dumpers 2026

[AliceandPete]

It went really well! They want to go to the next stage; so I could possibly be employed by the end of the month.

Congratulations!! Sending good wishes your way !
Dh felt good about the interview. That isn’t something he says unless it went really well. We didn’t hear anything though and doubt was starting to creep in, but they reached out this morning asking for some info they would need to proceed with an offer.
So .. looks like an offer is coming !

 

[LadybugsMum]

Congratulations!! Sending good wishes your way !
Dh felt good about the interview. That isn’t something he says unless it went really well. We didn’t hear anything though and doubt was starting to creep in, but they reached out this morning asking for some info they would need to proceed with an offer.
So .. looks like an offer is coming !

Yay!! I hope it's a good one!

I now have meetings set up with team members from company 2 for Weds. If it works out to have offers from both companies, it's going to hard to chose. But, I need to wait to see what happens.

 

[Tygerlilly]

Well our Pickle puppy isn't doing any better and honestly, I almost think she's kind of worse. We've been spoon feeding this like sludge I made out of canned pate dog food and some puree dog food I found and like, dumping it down her throat. And we're syringe dropping water and electrolytes. She still doesn't want to eat or drink on her own or get up and move. We're heading back to the vet in an hour. Hopefully the can do *something* for her.

 

[mmbrad02]

Well our Pickle puppy isn't doing any better and honestly, I almost think she's kind of worse. We've been spoon feeding this like sludge I made out of canned pate dog food and some puree dog food I found and like, dumping it down her throat. And we're syringe dropping water and electrolytes. She still doesn't want to eat or drink on her own or get up and move. We're heading back to the vet in an hour. Hopefully the can do *something* for her.

I'm so sorry your fury friend is still struggling. Pets being ill is frustrating

 

[mmbrad02]

A little financial update for us:

• I scheduled the final Capital One Venture One payment this morning, for next week. That pays that card to $0 and it will just sit now. Sadly half of this was for a repair on my car that....
• We no longer have! We purchased a new car last weekend. I'm not sure what came over us, I've never ever bought a new car on the first day we look. I've never bought a brand new car period for that matter. But 1) we knew we did not want to sink any more money into our Ford Escape, and above everything else she had going on, she was desperately in need of tires and 2) we had done some research, new the maximum we were willing to spend, the make/models we did not want and the ones we thought we would like to try, etc. So we now own a 2025 Mazda CX-5. She is a lot of fun and I love the safety features and hopefully she lasts us a long long time. Now that darn payment....
• I scheduled the final payment on our Wells Fargo card - a 0% purchase we had on furniture
• One of my financial goals was to save for a new car this year - kind nipped that one in the bud but I am figuring out ways to pay extra to my payment because I do intend to pay off faster than we financed.
• HELOC - balance has dropped the amount of one monthly payment (both the required interest payment and the amount we have always paid to the principal). Unfortunately the car purchase will probably slow down increasing our payment to that for now.

I was starting to dabble in the idea of a vacation this year outside of the extended family trip we have loosely planned.... but today it is confirmed my dad will have open heart surgery on February 10. With my moms mental issues, my sister and I will likely have to do some round the clock assisting for the first couple of weeks. I live too far to do it while commuting to work at all, so I will need to do mine in 2-4 day chunks. Before I book any vacations I'll need to see how much PTO time I end up needing to use. I'm more scared of his recovery time and efforts than I am for the actual surgery. But I know we are not the first to face this, nor will I be the last!

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

Here's an update:
Financial
- Stop the late fees!
I have caught up to date on electric, school and internet. Am paying the Jan. 11 car payment tomorrow (just paid the Dec. 11 today). After that ALL bills will be caught up and void of late fees ... for now.
- Keep adding to my newly created Fidelity retirement plan!
I have now set up automatic transfers of $25 per paycheck ($100/month) into the account. I know it's a small amount, but something is better than nothing.
- Building our EF to $2k!
Opened the Ally account and deposited $25 into there last week. Just did another $25 deposit today. Again, small steps until we're caught up on all bills.
- Set up sinking funds!
Haven't started this.

Personal
- Continue to meal plan!
We are continuing to meal plan and trying to stick to said meal plan.
- Eat out less!
Halfway through the month, we've spent less here than the $800/month we averaged last year. On track for $400 this month, so we've cut it in half.
- Step, step, step!
Did a couple of days with 4k steps. But that's it. Going to a baseball card show this weekend, so I should be able to hit 5k or even 6k steps.
- Attend more card shows and buy to flip.
Going to a 3 day show starting tomorrow after work. It's always been $35 to get in, but I was able to get a media pass this time since I have my Youtube channel. So I get in free all 3 days. Means every dime can go to cards I can flip. Excited about this one
- Read the Bible completely through!
Did well the first 2 days then fell off.

Home
- Purge items not used!
I've gotten rid of 23 items from around the house. I have sold 15 of them for $122 that I am putting on debt.
- Get the green thumb going!
Too early for this. Won't start until April.
- Just do what we can!
Everything above.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

A little financial update for us:

• I scheduled the final Capital One Venture One payment this morning, for next week. That pays that card to $0 and it will just sit now. Sadly half of this was for a repair on my car that....
• We no longer have! We purchased a new car last weekend. I'm not sure what came over us, I've never ever bought a new car on the first day we look. I've never bought a brand new car period for that matter. But 1) we knew we did not want to sink any more money into our Ford Escape, and above everything else she had going on, she was desperately in need of tires and 2) we had done some research, new the maximum we were willing to spend, the make/models we did not want and the ones we thought we would like to try, etc. So we now own a 2025 Mazda CX-5. She is a lot of fun and I love the safety features and hopefully she lasts us a long long time. Now that darn payment....
• I scheduled the final payment on our Wells Fargo card - a 0% purchase we had on furniture
• One of my financial goals was to save for a new car this year - kind nipped that one in the bud but I am figuring out ways to pay extra to my payment because I do intend to pay off faster than we financed.
• HELOC - balance has dropped the amount of one monthly payment (both the required interest payment and the amount we have always paid to the principal). Unfortunately the car purchase will probably slow down increasing our payment to that for now.

I was starting to dabble in the idea of a vacation this year outside of the extended family trip we have loosely planned.... but today it is confirmed my dad will have open heart surgery on February 10. With my moms mental issues, my sister and I will likely have to do some round the clock assisting for the first couple of weeks. I live too far to do it while commuting to work at all, so I will need to do mine in 2-4 day chunks. Before I book any vacations I'll need to see how much PTO time I end up needing to use. I'm more scared of his recovery time and efforts than I am for the actual surgery. But I know we are not the first to face this, nor will I be the last!

Perhaps it might help to apply for FMLA?
We used to be able to take it unpaid or use our time and get paid but they changed it to only use our time which stinks.

My FIL had triple bypass surgery in his early 80’s. (He would be 94 if still alive, but did not die from his heart.)
When I walked in his room that night I was expecting him to be knocked out still. Nope. He was sitting up in bed sipping water through a straw. He was a little giddy and couldn’t answer the doctor’s questions such as what year is it and who is our president. They said that was from the anesthesia.
His recovery was amazing. Nurses that I’ve worked with say it’s almost instant cure , of course some post op pain, but their heart finally gets the blood flow and oxygen it needs.
I hope your father does as well.