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I feel like all I've done lately is wallow in my own self-pity!! I have really come to terms with a lot of things this weekend, and some of them are actual positive! I wanted to share. . . Bear with me. I think this might get long!
I won't bore you with all of the background, since most of you know about our financial crisis. The really short version is that we are in serious credit card debt. We are dealing with CCCS, a credit counselor. Well, they've messed up a few things for us, causing us to have an extra $1000 deducted from our checking account (causing insufficient funds fees) and 5 of our credit cards were being paid late (by them!! which caused us late fees). It just felt like every time I thought we had a handle on things - something would come up, and we wouldn't seem to be getting ahead.
Okay. . . on Friday night, I expressed my concerns with dh, who is much more soft-spoken than I am. I ranted and raved (and bawled!) while he listened. I told him that I didn't want to have to get a second job, because I work my butt off as a teacher, and I don't want to have to get a minimum-wage second job. I will spare you all the details of my crying episode, but let's just say that I was really upset. Oh - and did I mention that I wasn't feeling well?
I was reminded by a FABULOUS lady on this board that I should pray about this. How could I possibly have forgotten to turn to God? (This is not meant to start any debates about prayer or religion!!) So I did pray, and turned this problem over to God, asking Him to help us through this.
So I started seeing things in a more positive light. I do not dread the idea of getting a second job at all now. I will go pick up some applications on Saturday and see what happens. (In case you're wondering, dh is also going to get a second job when his coaching season is over.)
Today, I found out that 4 of the 5 credit cards (the ones that were causing us the problems with the late fees) have been fixed!!! Hooray for small miracles!
I also read a Dave Ramsey book - which a coworker lent to me. His first baby step is to get $1000 in savings. That seems like so much money to us right now. We have $200 in there now. But, here's the good news. We have a $1000 CD that is coming due next month. We'll put that in savings and we'll have our first baby step done! Then we can work on killing this debt - which brings us back to these second jobs.
I am also going to do summer school (which I was dreading, because my new school does things really different for summer school and the stress on each teacher is INCREDIBLE!) But, for 12 days of work, I should take home $1500. I will also get an additional $1500 in August. It's not really a bonus, but I won't go into details about that. That's $3000 I will make this summer - and that doesn't include whatever second job I get! (This will pay off almost half of the one credit card bill that I brought into this marriage.)
So now, I'm looking at all this in a new light. I have a goal - to kill as much debt as I possibly can before school starts in August. I am a pretty competitive person, and I think this is a great way for me to be tackling it. (Again, dh is also going to be working toward this goal. I don't want anyone here thinking that I'm doing everything. Dh and I are REALLY on the same page now. I am proud of us about that.)
So here we are. . . I'm much more positive about where we are right now, knowing where we will be by the end of the summer. It's going to be tight, but I know we can do it. I just gotta keep the faith, turn to God through the good and the bad, keep my relationship with dh strong, stay frugal, keep coming to these boards for support and advice, and make some money!
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I'm glad to hear you sound so much more optimistic. Sounds like you have a good plan now. I'm sure with both of you working together you'll be able to work it all out. Congrats
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Faith can be so very powerful! Great to hear about your positive attitude. I know when I give up the the power to Him my situation improves. Not that I still don't have to work on the problem, the weight of the load is lighter.
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Originally Posted by lvr4jbns
Not that I still don't have to work on the problem, the weight of the load is lighter.
Yes, exactly! Thanks for putting that into words. I couldn't quite do it justice!
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That's great!! I am glad you have come up with a positve solution and are working on the problem!!
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Its good to have a positive outlook, and there is nothing wrong with a little prayer!
I know your trying to get pregnant so dont let yourself get to stressed, sounds like you and dh are on the same page which will certaintly make things easier for you. Can you maybe tutor on the side or have that as your second job in the summer? It would probaly pay you more that minium wage.
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I am proud of YOU!!! Isn't it so much easier when we just go ahead and give it to God? Please keep us updated...and let us know if there is anything at all we can do.
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Newlywed (you should PM me we could talk) it sounds like I COULD HAVE WRITTEN your message about 1 yr 1/2 ago.
I was just married I brought a ton of cc debt into our marriage and so did my dh.
We delt with CCCS**** yes I know the experience for us was horrible, they were charging us 35.00 per month just for using them and paying our bills late and we ended up getting out of the program (not to detur you YOU HOPEFULLY will have a BETTER experience now).
My husband got a second job, I because I started working full time and going to school also. It was sooo tough, but it was the two of us making strides together, even though I know everyone will say it IT TRULY GETS BETTER. and I am soo glad that you realized that the Lord was truly in control of the situation and though you must WORK your butt off to help yourself he will see you and your marragie through this.
It was totally NOT easy, but now we are totally OUT of MAJOR credit card debt (still have a few small store ones to pay) BUt I DO NOT HAVE A CCard now... ssad for me..... but good....... if you need ANY help OR QUESTIONS just Ask!!!!! God Bless and GOOd Luck
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Newlywed this is gonna sound weird but I love my 2nd job. There is just something about this job that I don't ever want to give up. It is only 20 hours a week or so. But you see the results immediately from your hard work and the paycheck which used to be weekly but now bi-weekly really comes in handy. I don't know about your school but where I work as a Paraeducator we get paid monthly! UGH
This doesn't mean that sometimes I don't get tired but I have such a healther attitude towards this job and when it isn't fun anymore I will quit and get another one!
We also went through CCCS and it was a good experience for us although we do have debt again but we are working on it
Good luck
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I'm so glad that you have made a plan! I think that having a plan and knowing that in X amount of time you can do this or that really helps you stay positive cause there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Good for you and your DH and I know all will be well soon!