Ask:
ok, so i am trying to turn things around moneywise in my house. our car will be paid for in the beginning of december, and all our bills will be completely caught up in the beginning of november, we aren't that behind, only on 2 bills we are a month behind but that month is very hard to catch up. but in december we are switching what we are paying on the car to the visa card, and in 2 years if i don't spend on the card, we will have it paid off. and soon we will hopefully be able to start putting money into savings, since as of right now we have nothing to fall back on at all. we are also putting money onto the line of credit as usual and we are trying not to spend any of that. if we can do that it will be paid off completely in 4 years. its a pretty big loc. my problem is i tend to spend money where i don't need to but i convince myself i need to. i buy extra groceries and clothes for the kids and stuff like that. i know i have to stop, so from now on i am gonna come on here and tell you waht i am planning on buying, and i need you ladies to verbally smack me upside the head when its something stupid. can ya'll do that for me? i would appreciate it.
Answer:
Congratulations! It seems like you can see the light at the end of the tunnel. (Wish I could say that. Right now, our tunnel is just toooo long!) Good for you for having a plan and working hard at it! You can do it!
Answer:
I would recommend getting an emergency fund set up at about $1000 before you start putting extra onto the CC's. This is what Dave Ramsey says to do. He says that "Murphy" will always come around and if you aren't prepared you will just end up putting more on the credit cards - which in turn makes it harder to get them paid off in a timely manner. Also try the envelope and cash system - you will be amazed how it will help control your spending!!
Good luck!!
Rachel
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good for you! sure i will tell ya you don't need it i have to tell myself that everytime i go to a store and i'm real good at it now lol!!!!
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I'm here for you. I am trying to do the same thing for differnt reasons. We are fine on our bills and make enough to cover everything, even after we put money in our various retirement, college and other savings account and pay all our bills, we have over 1000 a month left over. This is for food, entertainment, clothes, etc and we never go over but we come very close and that is more than enought for those things., so my new goal is to not buy a bunch of stuff we do not need and I have been really good this month. When we were at target today, I put the break up dvd in my cart and then realized that would be a stupid purchase and I put it back.I know it is little, but I was so proud of myself.
Answer:
Stick that cc somewhere that you can't immediately and easily access it. Freeze it in a ziplock baggie/container of water to make a block of ice. Put it into a small locked safe at home, with your important papers. If you don't have it in your wallet, you'll be less apt to use it. Remember, shop at home before you think about going out somewhere. If you have 10 random things in your cupboard and don't know what to make out of them for dinner, post the ingredients on here, and we'll pull something together for ya. I am guilty for buying extra groceries a lot of times, as I can't stand not having food in our cupboards.. But I've taught myself to use the strange leftovers in our cupboards, and most of the time, they make the best dinners! (seriously!!) We'll help ya out here, don't you worry. Post your successes (we'll congratulate you) and your failures (we'll support and encourage you) so that you'll learn from both! I'm proud of you!! It takes initiative and strength to make this decision and make yourself accountable to others!
p.s. Gopher02, I'm proud of you!! Baby Steps! Baby Steps! Like my momma always told me (and believe you me I got sick of hearing her say it! lol).. "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time babe. One bite at a time." *sigh* I guess I'm finally becoming my mother.