Debt Dumpers 2026

[ruadisneyfan2]

I have heard that the newer Speed Queen washers are nothing like the older ones.

That is terrible. I love my Speed Queen. It's built like a tank. Probably 12+ years old.

 

[DisneyMandC]

That is terrible. I love my Speed Queen. It's built like a tank. Probably 12+ years old.

That's what I'd always heard everyone say. I was willing to spend the money on it when our old washer died thinking I'd move it to our new house we were building and get the matching dryer then. It's awful to say, but I'll just continue the sad cycle of essentially cheap disposable appliances at this point.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

That is terrible. I love my Speed Queen. It's built like a tank. Probably 12+ years old.

Same thing happened to Dyson vacuums. Got popular, quality went down as they got addicted to high revenue. Sales don’t stay high when people only have to buy your products once.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

Ugh! We were hoping to get a new Speed Queen set when our washer and dryer finally bite the dust but we're definitely rethinking that now.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Same thing happened to Dyson vacuums. Got popular, quality went down as they got addicted to high revenue. Sales don’t stay high when people only have to buy your products once.

True but it's awful to create so much trash. I know they can recycle some of the large appliance parts but not all of it.
My parents had 2 refrigerators since 1968 when they bought the house my dad still lives in today: the old avocado green one that they had my from earliest memories until they remodeled in 1994 and the one he got in 1994. He still has that one.

The house ds25 bought came with an old Amana fridge with the freezer on the bottom. It's built like a tank and he says he's keeping it til it dies.

 

[barkley]

been quiet on this thread-hope that's an indication everyone is doing well

 

[firefly_ris]

been quiet on this thread-hope that's an indication everyone is doing well

All good here... spendy January trying to figure out our attic issue, plus 2 trips, and high utility bills for January as well. But I think I'm still on track to make the first extra mortgage payment in March, hopefully.... other than that just anxiously awaiting spring!!

 

[Tygerlilly]

The check from the sale of my late FILES estate should be here Wednesday. Once we see how much it is we will be making some plans and paying off some things immediately. So, I'm sure I'll have a decent update for the end of the month.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

Paid off a credit card, yay!

Still have the largest one, but while the other carried less of a balance, it had a higher APR. So I'm glad to be rid of it.

Now to focus on the last one.

I'm looking at selling off a couple of things I found stashed in the closet--do people still find ebay is the best place? Anyone use Mercari or something else?

 

[princesscinderella]

I had a budget meeting with my husband to go over where we can trim some of our spending to cashflow our daughter's college tuition next year. Our biggest area we can cut was dining out, I had gotten lazy not cooking at home as much. Also, because I have to eat GF the restaurants that tend to have safe kitchens also cost a lot more to eat at which makes a lot of our meals out $200+ for 5 of us. Travel is also our other big spending category, but we aren't wanting to cut out our big summer trip this year as it may one of the last with my middle daughter as summers will be for internships most likely from her sophomore year on. Our youngest is a sophomore so we will be empty nesters in 2.5 years. The kids are definitely more expensive the older they have gotten. (Car insurance most especially!!!)

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

been quiet on this thread-hope that's an indication everyone is doing well

I think everyone is in the doldrums of a month into the year. Everyone has gone through the ups of the beginning of the year and wanting to change. Now we're just going through the process. Nothing newsworthy or noteworthy about the process. Exciting when it begins, and you set your goals. Exciting when it ends, and you've completed your goals. But the middle is just ho-hum, non-newsworthy.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I did talk to DW about budgeting and why I want to pay down debt. And she seemed positive and on board. Now it's just a matter of stopping spending. Just reckless spending. Our biggest issue is still food/groceries. Trying to cut there still.

 

[Bellex917]

We have a large unexpected bill coming our way for some plumbing work we need done. Even though we have the money in savings, I REALLY hate using it. Every time I need to use my savings I have a big emotional reaction, which likely is not healthy.

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

We have a large unexpected bill coming our way for some plumbing work we need done. Even though we have the money in savings, I REALLY hate using it. Every time I need to use my savings I have a big emotional reaction, which likely is not healthy.

Just make sure the people you're using are licensed. I've seen people reaching out on Facebook looking for plumbers. And they'll get some random unlicensed Joe that'll do it for next-to-nothing. And I always have to tell them to make sure they're using licensed plumbers because using one that is not can void any warranties on your items. So just a heads up there.

 

[mmbrad02]

Not a lot to report on my end. I did our taxes last weekend and the refund has already hit my bank account which seems crazy. I did them in Turbo Tax (mainly because I'd used that prior years and with the information saved, it just makes it easier. But I feel like there are better services that I should probably look into in the future). If any of use use Chase credit cards, be sure to check your Chase Offers - I had a 20% Turbo Tax one and was able to get a $20 credit back on our tax fees. That too has also hit already which is nice. That said, for now I've transferred the entire refund to savings till we figure out how we want to distribute it. We normally put a large chunk toward our HELOC but I need to do a good thorough review first and make sure that makes the most sense for us this year.

I'm really dabbling with a Disney Land trip in June. With my dad's surgery and just life in general, I would really like something ahead to look forward to. It's not so much the financial aspect that holds me back , we have vacation money earmarked in savings plus thats what my ebay sales go to, but more so making sure I have the time off work, that I don't feel guilty for taking it if I end out being out much with dad etc. I will say we went and visited my parents this past weekend and they are a hot mess but funny and I do think they will be able to manage after a week or two at home with help.

 

[mmbrad02]

Paid off a credit card, yay!

Still have the largest one, but while the other carried less of a balance, it had a higher APR. So I'm glad to be rid of it.

Now to focus on the last one.

I'm looking at selling off a couple of things I found stashed in the closet--do people still find ebay is the best place? Anyone use Mercari or something else?

I dabble with selling on Ebay part time to make extra money. I follow several TTalkers who sell part/full time on other platforms and they seem to have good success on all. Some have better fees that others too which can make a big difference. I settled into Ebay only because I had sold a few things on there years ago and had a decent understanding of the process. I tried Poshmark but while tons of people have great success, I never could get the hang of it.

 

[Bellex917]

Just make sure the people you're using are licensed. I've seen people reaching out on Facebook looking for plumbers. And they'll get some random unlicensed Joe that'll do it for next-to-nothing. And I always have to tell them to make sure they're using licensed plumbers because using one that is not can void any warranties on your items. So just a heads up there.

He's def licensed and insured. I've used him for years, but that is generally good advice for any home repair!

 

[WDW_fan_in_TX]

I dabble with selling on Ebay part time to make extra money. I follow several TTalkers who sell part/full time on other platforms and they seem to have good success on all. Some have better fees that others too which can make a big difference. I settled into Ebay only because I had sold a few things on there years ago and had a decent understanding of the process. I tried Poshmark but while tons of people have great success, I never could get the hang of it.

I try to have stuff listed on eBay (mainly Disney stuff and stuff around the house). But most of my listings will go 30 days without a single person even looking at them. Doesn't matter if it's wooden crosses for the house, Disney pins, baseball cards. It's crazy. I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong (I try to list 5-7 items per week). But none ever

 

[barkley]

We have a large unexpected bill coming our way for some plumbing work we need done. Even though we have the money in savings, I REALLY hate using it. Every time I need to use my savings I have a big emotional reaction, which likely is not healthy.

I get it-we had to have an electrician out this month and there's some further issues but I don't want/need to deal with them until the weather is nicer. it also grates on me to have to pull from our 'savings'. it's a mental thing-in my mind it's 'savings' and supposed to be 'saved'. one thing that's helped me deal with it over the years has been taking a set dollar amount each month and putting it into a separate designated bank account we call 'the reserve' and just letting it build up and roll over, not pulling from it except for repairs. mentally it just sits with me better.

 

[Nettlelondon]

2 out of 3 of my eBay items have sold. Neither made much but I don't care, they were items that were free to me and that I have no use for and listing was quick and I don't have to sort out meeting anyone which is what really puts me off with Facebook Marketplace.

Mother's Day is sometime in March here, it is officially Mothering Sunday and it tied in to visiting your mother church, where you had been baptised in the run up to Easter. I am away for the first 2 weeks of March, landing back around 3pm on 15th, which is Mother's Day this year. There is no way I am going to be visiting my mum that day so today I have been organised and arranged for flowers to be delivered using a cashback site to get 15% cashback and by booking early I saved money on the flowers and got some free chocolates thrown in too.

Hopefully that will get me back in her good books as she was a little grumpy when she realised I was not going to around to see her that day. I will, of course, see her on the following day. And several times in the week before we go as a number of events have all dropped in to that week.