4 posts tagged “debt”

I decided that since last month I paid off my last credit card bill, that I would treat myself to something before forwarding my money to Tanzania.

So, I got an iPhone. Love it! I almost feel like one of the cool kids!

Last year I made a commitment to myself to pay off all my credit card debt. I was tired of lying in bed at night chiding myself for letting it get to be so much. On five or six different cards (I don’t remember now).

I started by enrolling in Financial Peace University, a 12-week course "led" by Dave Ramsey.

For the class I had to actually tally up what I owed. When you live in the land of denial, you never do such things. I swore I would never tell anyone how much it was. I was (am) too embarrassed that I let myself get that far into the hole. Let’s just say it had five figures ($00,000) and is probably more than you think.

I buckled down and followed the rules. Got my $1,000 emergency fund set. Did the Debt Snowball. And in November I made my last credit card payment. It is so lovely to see the last balance finally at $0.00!

It took 20 months. At first the projections of when I would be done were five and six years out. A lifetime away. It was very discouraging. Instead of letting it get me down, I just became more determined to not let it take that long.

I set a strict budget for myself (which I’d never done before). Post bills, every last cent from my paycheck went towards the debt. As did every extra dollar that came my way. By the wayside went trips to the bookstore. The Hallmark store. Target (cause you can find everything there!). Basically all shopping outside the grocery store.

I scrabbled together enough to take two weekend trips during that 20 months. Me, who used to take five – six – seven trips a year! It’s been a struggle, for sure.

But, something inside of me pushed myself to get it all under control. With the economy the way it is today, I feel less worried now. If something happened tomorrow, I don’t need to go to Africa. I could get a job at B&N and still pay all my bills. That’s a burden lifted too.

I should be starting Step 3, but instead I am paying for my trip to Tanzania (approximately $10,000). I plan to have that paid off by August.

Then on to Stages 3 and 4. And I don’t need to worry about Stage 5 . . . whoot! I’m nearly there. And that feels great!

A cool website: How I Spent My Stimulus

In January, Congress approved $152 billion in economic stimulus checks for millions of American households, intended to boost the economy and avert a recession. Just how this money will be spent remains to be seen. We hope this website helps shed some light on where the stimulus money is going.

Mine came today. Originally it was earmarked towards credit card debt, but instead is being used for some necessities:

67,500 mile check-up for my car ($88)
Pest Control visit ($65)
License renewal ($54.30)
Summer Spanish class ($95)
New dusk to dawn light ($250)

Turns out the stimulus came in the nick of time!

I need to make some changes in my life. I'm trying to think of a slogan for 2007. Like . . .

2007: The year I get my ass in gear

Okay, that's not it. Unfortunately, not much ryhmes with seven. But you know what I mean. I need a little something to say to myself whenever I need a little kick-in-the-ass reminder.

There are three areas of my life I need to pay more attention to: my house, my finances and my health.

My house is a mess.

Problem: Seriously, even my dustbunnies are starting to bitch about the mess.

Solution: I've been thinking I just need to take a week from work and spend some time cleaning, throwing stuff away, gathering stuff for a yard sale, opening boxes that haven't been opened since I moved in nearly five years ago.

My finances are a mess.

Problem: I am not in trouble, but I have too much credit card debit for my own peace of mind. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night. I need to learn to tell myself "NO." That I do not need to live in a world of immediate gratification. That I can work for it. Save for it. Pay cash for it. I need to get over my affluenza.

Solution: I've signed up for Financial Peace University at a local church through Dave Ramsey. It is a 13-week course that starts February 6.

My health is a mess.

Problem: I weigh too much. I am not aerobically fit.

Part of my issue is Celexa. I gained 22 lbs when I started taking it. So we added Wellbutrin XL, which stopped the weight gain, but hasn't helped with the weight loss. Needless to say, I plan on taking Celexa for the rest of my life, but I have got to figure something out.

Solution: First I have an appointment with my doctor on February 2 (bloodwork is being done this week). I guess I'm waiting for my cholesterol numbers to shock me into action. 

Maybe I can get a bike. I really want to run, but I don't think that's going to be possible.

Overall, I just want to live a simplier life. With less stuff.