Debt Reducers

[Debbie]

Congratulations MinnieVanMom!!! How great for you! Someday, I too, will announce that I am debt free, but for now, I rejoice with YOU!

 

[RetroMom]

You are awesome!!! I look forward to the day that I can come on here and say the same!!!!

 

[tinaninea]

Congrats MinnieVanMom!

I paid off my second debt yesterday! It was the second and final credit card that had a little over $500 on it. I paid $290 to pay it off. the funds came from our garage sale this weekend. So with my regular payments on other debts, I am at $3762 paid, $58,073 to go.

Just wanted to add: Next up, a small student loan with $912 left to pay.

 

[RetroMom]

Congratulations on paying off your second debt! Thanks for sharing.. it really is inspirational to hear about all of this.

 

[minnie1928]

Is there a code for the $25 for opening an ING account? I didn't see anything in our Sunday paper about it but I'm interested in maybe starting an account with them.

Did you find a code yet? If not, I have my copy of SmartMoney and I can pm the code to you.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I really do believe it takes writing down a monthly budget and account for each penny. Being aware of the amount owed and the money coming in.

The biggest thing I had to change is my relationship with money. I had to learn that what I buy had a direct affect on my bank account and I had to suffer.

Example. I bought a Wii on credit card, then there was a game, and extra controller, etc. $400 dollars later on credit and working a job only 30 hours a week. I felt each payment to the credit card company. I went without and I learned.

Each purchase does have a price and I had best make dang sure I have the money in hand. Make sure the purchase is a need not a want.

I think of purchases and money in a different way now, better and more responsible.

Good luck to each person here. It is possible, not easy but it can be done. I can't wait for everyone to be posting the same soon.

 

[RetroMom]

Just checking in with everyone

Things are going okay for us. We have been so very good about not going to stores. That was probably our worst habit. I love nothing more than a good thrift store! It doesn't cost a lot, but you can find some fun things. But go a lot of times and it adds up. I used to also not make a meal plan for the week, so now that I joined a program on line (thanks to a DIS mention ) I don't go to the grocery store every other day! Woo, that saves a whole lotta money! We did splurge today. We were just dying to eat out. So, we had gone to Wally World to pick up those school supplies that are on sale and when we left, the boys were just begging. On our way home, we passed the Sam's Club that I belong to. We went in and had 3 combo lunch meals (hot dog,pizza and drinks) for $6 and some change. It felt great to eat out somewhere. It didn't really matter where!

Haven't been able to set any money aside yet, but I haven't been spending extra either, so feeling good so far!

How's everyone doing? Any tips or things to share? Need to just have a shoulder to lean on?

 

[littlelulu33]

We had a garage sale this weekend. It was a sub sale--I did not think I was going to be able to do it because I was called to jury duty Thursday and was worried that if I was picked that I would be there on Friday too. So I said not that I could not do it and did not get things ready to sell. Well they sent all the jury home at 10:30 and the hunt begin for things to sell. I did not even have things set up and people were going through boxes offering $$. I was able to do for a couple hours on Thursday and I did Friday and Saturday and was not able to open today. I heard that Thursday was crazy crazy busy and I am sorry I missed it anyway there is next year. We made 3-4 times what I thought I would. It all is going to the CC. All in all it was a great weekend!!

 

[JoanneNC]

Great Job - Your Free

I'M DEBT FREE! Ok, it is not on the radio but it is here. I paid my last CC bill last Sunday and I have a savings account too!

I sold a minivan, 3 horses and tons of fishing lures. I had a garage sale and watched every penny. I lived the budget and put everything extra into making CC payments.

Now it almost feels weird to get a paycheck and not know who to send the money off to. I opened a savings account with my young child and we are going to keep money in there until we figure out how to invest it wisely.

I also have a trip coming to Disney that was paid in full before 2 months before we are scheduled to leave. I have $300 in Disney Gift card that I earned on sunshine rewards for extra gifts, drinks and tips.

I am no longer a slave to debt. I am DEBT FREE!

 

[8 Ears]

As I already have 30 hours for the week I was given tomorrow off. I really do not mind as I have been only working an hour or 2 on Friday's and is not really worth the gas $$ to get there.

So, I got my check today and paid off another medical bill! But now I have VERY little "play money" for the week.

We received yet ANOTHER medical bill within the last week or 2. Do not clearly recall when as I was so depressed about it! Just put it away til I could deal with it.
It was $318.70. Although I feel good about paying it off it means I did not pay any on the other 2. Thus we still have the $451.60 one and the $1,952.15 one.

And yes, I fell off the bandwagon again last week. Well sort of, I did pay extra on the vehicle's

Guess I better go get some shut eye, as I see I am babbling

What are you planning on paying off this week?

 

[decaff38]

I am gathering my info to post in the next few days. In the mean time I heard on the news that CNBC is starting a new show called, On the Money. It is airing on Aug. 4th at 8:00pm ( not sure what timezone) . It is supposedly designed to help people with money issues during this difficult economic times. Going to check it out and see what they say. I am starting my baby steps and have started attacking one of multiple cc. It is so time to get this out of my life. I am planning on 2-3yrs to be done with that and then the attack of the student loans. 3 little part time jobs and a full time one, couponing, really shopping only sale items, no clothes shopping and only with a list. Am building a budget that is workable and funding the emergency fund. I have done most of this in bits and pieces for many years but need to make a solid game plan and stick to it. No vacations or big trips in the next year. Will have 2 in college which will hurt but they both work so that helps. Best of luck(work) to everyone!!

 

[Kathi OD]

August is a 3 pay month for me, so I just put $2200 on one of the credit cards and paid it off! Boy did it feel good! I have one more CC to go, a personal loan, and a car note to go. Hopefully the other CC will be paid off before the end of the year. The personal loan and car note will take longer unless DH finds a new job soon.

 

[8 Ears]

Way to go Kathi!

How is everyone else doing, even if it is paying down instead of paying off?

 

[littlelulu33]

Still paying down here. I made another payment to the CC and we are moving the payoff date up another month. YEAH!!!

 

[Doodlebug939]

My husband got paid yesturday and I paid off $410 in credit card debt and then our normal truck payment (but hey it is one more payment off my back) and my student loan payment of $325. So if you add it up then I have paid off almost $1,000 this payday. Not bad considering I dont get a paycheck this payday. (I work at a school and elected to get paid for 11 months rather then 12. but then again I thought we were moving so that is why I did it. August 15th I will get a check again so my amounts should increase pretty good. How are you doing?

 

[RetroMom]

Hey everybody! It sounds like everyone is marching along . Things are pretty stabilized here, but just when I feel like I might be able to put a little extra money towards the CC debt, here comes school shopping . My DS6 is taken care of, but DS11 and DS17 are in middle school and high school. They both need new clothing and supplies. Senior dues are $100 alone! Oh well, at least I will be paying cash for it and not acquiring new debt. Baby steps, baby steps.

 

[8 Ears]

littlelulu33, way to go on making another payment it will be paid off in no time

Doodlebug939, until recently I had not been counting when I made a vehicle payment but am now and mentally I put a check mark beside that payment

RetroMom, I so understand where you are coming from We told the "boys" that we were only buying them so many pants, shirts.... and whatever else they wanted this year they would have to purchase.

The 14 year old said "Wow Mom, you ARE serious about no more debt"!

Good luck with reducing your debt quickly

 

[littlelulu33]

Way to go everyone!!
What I did was I wrote out which places I pay every month along with a balance due for the car and CC so I can see it going down every month. As I pay a month I cross it off so I know it has been paid for the month. I did my calculations this morning and we should be done with the CC in November now and the Car payment 1 3/4 years early in March. The car payments is a 0% interest, but we like the idea of no bill. So that is our goal 8 months and counting.
Our trip is all paid for thanks to mom and dad who are coming with us, the only thing they are having us pay for is the tips and some extras (sweatshirt/t-shirt/etc.)
I am done x-mas shopping except if I find anything that I know my DD would love other wise I am all done and my DH and I decided to get a wii fit when we find it for our gift, but I have that $$ set aside.

 

[Kathi OD]

Way to go everyone!!
What I did was I wrote out which places I pay every month along with a balance due for the car and CC so I can see it going down every month. As I pay a month I cross it off so I know it has been paid for the month. I did my calculations this morning and we should be done with the CC in November now and the Car payment 1 3/4 years early in March. The car payments is a 0% interest, but we like the idea of no bill. So that is our goal 8 months and counting.
Our trip is all paid for thanks to mom and dad who are coming with us, the only thing they are having us pay for is the tips and some extras (sweatshirt/t-shirt/etc.)
I am done x-mas shopping except if I find anything that I know my DD would love other wise I am all done and my DH and I decided to get a wii fit when we find it for our gift, but I have that $$ set aside.

I have the snowball thing on my computer and highlight the boxes of the payments I make each month. It really helps to visualize where you are each month. I've already got one of September's bills paid. It's only $65, but hey, it puts me ahead a little bit ahead and if I have any cash left over I can always make another payment and double up.

I've started, but haven't finished Xmass shopping yet. I did manage to get one of the big items out of the way already, so I feel like I have a good head start on that.

 

[bubba]

Finally ! I spent about a week getting our budget on paper. Everything I could think of is on this budget. I am so happy to actually be able to see where our money is going. And, you know what ? Once it's on paper, it doesn't seem as overwhelming ! We left ourselves lots of wiggle room and made sure we budgeted for savings every month. DH and I talked about it and, while it bothers me more than him, he understands the need to get rid of the debt. We're going to follow the budget this month, then sit down at the end of the month to see where it can be tweaked. We have decided anything left in the bank account at the end of the month goes to our snowball payment to get rid of our cc debt. Even though we are still in debt, we have a plan now ! How strange that just getting it down on paper is a weight off my shoulders !