International Region, Women in Red Racers

[debtheaven]

Aww Minnesota that's so sweet!

The boiler loan is gone! It's only a difference of 160/mo, but I'll take it.

We still owe:
9,340 @ 4.3%, 186/mo, 58 months left (rental reno loan)
28,556 @ 4.0%, 586/mo, 55 months left (old rental mortgage)
40,827 @ 3.5%, 307/mo, 179 months left (new rental mortgage)

As far as I can tell, my next "win" will be Rental 1 (29K) in 55 months (yikes!). The Rental Reno Loan (9.3K) will get paid off the following month. Then that money will be used for DS3's college education for three years. Gd willing, that's the plan!

If we get a windfall, I'll pay down the reno loan. But for now, it's all on "set it and forget it".

Now I just need to earn more money! Hopefully come September. I did oral interviews for my new business school job this week, and told them that I'd be happy to do more hours if anything changes for them.

[financiallyfreeinbc]

Yay DH!!!!! 160 is 160 is 160. That's great!!

Good luck with new interviews you have done.

[Minnesotagirl7]

debtheaven- Congrats on knocking out the boiler loan!!

[debtheaven]

Thanks FFBC and Minnesota! It only took me four years and one month to be consumer-debt free, and I don't even own a traditional credit card LOL!

FFBC, it was actually me interviewing potential students for September. But since my bosses were there too, I mentioned being happy to do more hours when I said goodbye to them.

[psychobabbler]

Back after 6 months of not posting and my finances are devastated...I was under 19K and am back up to 26K- coming back here is the first step but I still have my head in the san so I havent posted numbers or done a budget. Coming here is the first step. feeling awful. major setback after not using my cards for a whole year

lots of you won yourraces- congrats to you all and well done to others who've kept the faith.

babbler

[alicesfreedom]

Welcome back psychobabbler.

Just pull up yer britches and start again.

[Minnesotagirl7]

psychobabbler- Welcome back. I know it can be rough coming back after a long hiatus, but you'll be glad you did. We're here to help get your behind back in gear. You'll be back to under $19k before you know it, with some hard work and determination. Race on!

[financiallyfreeinbc]

Babbler-Please don't feel awful! You have done a great thing by coming back and getting support. We all have disheartening/difficult times but the fact that you have made the decision to do something proactive is a wonderful thing!! Try looking at this step as a great positive instead of looking at the new debt as a negative. We know you can do this!!

[ldawngirl]

Congrats DH! I would definitely take $160 a month right about now! Enjoy!

Psychobabbler - Good on you for coming back. You did it once, and you can do it again. Do you know what happened to make you fall off the wagon?

My sister's wedding was this weekend. It went quite well, although there were a few glitches. The main issue was that the zipper on my dress was not working! I knew it was broken, so I had taken it in to be fixed, but it wasn't fixed! I didn't realize this until I was trying to get it on on Saturday afternoon! Luckily the wedding was casual enough (no strict 'wear this specific dress' code), so I ran home and put on another dress I had. Everyone wound up saying it looked better anyway! lol But I'm annoyed at this seamstress. I paid to have this dress fixed and cleaned and I never would have done that if I had known the zipper was a lost cause. I'm definitely going to be back and complain.

Now my wedding is next!

[bankergurl]

$100K Club updated as of 6/12/11! $5,431.70 in debt is finito!! Great job this week!
- 1 new member, tobinikui from the Northeast! 1 returning member, Stormysix from the West....but I know you won't be here long!!
- 1 Leapfrog, Red Ruby from the South!
- Congrats to Red Ruby for paying off over $40K!
notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wir&thread=2929&page=2

[debtheaven]

Babbler
I agree with the others, you did the right thing by coming back! It will keep you accountable and you'll keep going down again. Welcome back! Remember even if you just get rid of a few of those debts, and not all of them, you'll still be in a much better place. Maybe you would prefer to revise the debts you're racing so they are less daunting?

Idawn
GRRR at the seamstress! I'm glad it worked out with the dress. When is your wedding? I'm thinking October but I'm not sure. How exciting!

We went a bit crazy with the garden this weekend. The gardeners are coming on Wed. On Saturday we bought a fountain for the small pond that DH and DS3 made this year. And today I ordered a hammock (with a stand) online. So just under 800 for everything (gardeners, fountain, hammock). I'm hoping to cash flow it but I may have to use part of the reno money and hope for the best.

The good news is that we're on a billing plan for natural gas. We pay 200/mo but we got our annual bill and we don't have to pay in July or August. We're on a billing plan for electricity too. So hopefully we won't have to pay that bill (100/mo) in July or August either; I should find out any day.

Now I just have to make sure I remember that I've already spent that money on the garden, and not spend it again (and again and again).

[indebtyogini]

Shoutouts!

Happy Monday everyone. I hope you all had a nice weekend!

Alicesfreedom – Congrats on your new zero!!! It’s a beauty!

Bubbleepink – Yay for almost under $35k!! You are almost there!

Debtheaven – Yay for your unofficial win!! Consumer debt free is the way to be!

[indebtyogini]

Please repost!

Smiley update!!!

=$100, ;D=$500, =$1,000, #wink_smile# =$5,000, #party# = $10,000, #angel2# = $25,000, #tongue2# = $75,000, #kiss# = $100,000, #palm# =$200,000, #lightbulb# = Location Needed

#rose#debtheaven[4]: 2/23/11 $0 (11/25/2009 $11,500 I257)#party# ;D
alicesfreedom: 6/7/11 $11,779.62 (9/2/2009 $25,341.42 I226, IPT4) #party# ;D
bubbleepink: 6/8/11 $35,502.63 (4/17/2009 $41,648.59 N178, IPT7, IPT9) #wink_smile#
#rose#financiallyfreeinbc: 12/24/10 $0 (1/5/2010 $28,343.05 IU13)#angel2#
#rose#EL1504[2]: 5/26/11 $0 (3/19/2010 $6,751.42 IU62) #wink_smile#
Idawngirl: 6/1/11 $7,632 (1/4/2010 $27,993 IU10)#party##party#
InDebtYogini: 5/31/11 $4,574.66 (9/19/2007 $14,490.83 N559)#wink_smile# ;D
#rose#Writer88: 1/4/11 $0 (12/21/2006 $27,917 IU51)#angel2# ;D
ZsDebt: 6/3/11 $37,703.51 (1/7/2010 $59,198.18 IU16)#party##party#

[debtheaven]

This message has been deleted.

[debtheaven]

Thanks Yogini, I really appreciate the shout-outs!

Yogini's Smiley update!!!

=$100, ;D=$500, =$1,000, =$5,000, = $10,000, = $25,000, = $75,000, = $100,000, =$200,000, = Location Needed

debtheaven[4]: 2/23/11 $0 (11/25/2009 $11,500 I257) ;D
alicesfreedom: 6/7/11 $11,779.62 (9/2/2009 $25,341.42 I226, IPT4) ;D
bubbleepink: 6/8/11 $35,502.63 (4/17/2009 $41,648.59 N178, IPT7, IPT9)
financiallyfreeinbc: 12/24/10 $0 (1/5/2010 $28,343.05 IU13)
EL1504[2]: 5/26/11 $0 (3/19/2010 $6,751.42 IU62)
Idawngirl: 6/1/11 $7,632 (1/4/2010 $27,993 IU10)
InDebtYogini: 5/31/11 $4,574.66 (9/19/2007 $14,490.83 N559) ;D
Writer88: 1/4/11 $0 (12/21/2006 $27,917 IU51) ;D
ZsDebt: 6/3/11 $37,703.51 (1/7/2010 $59,198.18 IU16)

[ldawngirl]

UPDATE

ldawngirl: 6/15/11 | $7,328 (1/4/10 | $27,993 | IU10)

$20,665 (73.8%) paid off

Another pay cheque, another payment on the loan! With the next payment, I'll be 75% paid off!

Mine and DF's birthdays are coming up soon and we've decided to not do anything big (even though it's my 30th!!! Eek!). I can't rationalize it when we have the wedding, two trips coming up this year (our honeymoon and we're planning a winter holiday for winter 2011/12), and debt. Plus there are so many other things I want (big things - car, new furniture, house, etc.). So we agreed to do/get something small for each other, but hold off on any big gifts or celebrations. I feel really good about the decision. We can put the money away for the wedding, which is really what I'm looking forward to. Plus we'll have a great time on our honeymoon and we can splurge there!

DH - I saw your last post before you deleted it... I hope everything is okay. PM me if you want to talk more privately.

[indebtyogini]

Update!

Boo ya!!! Citicard is dunzo!! 70% paid off and I just hit $10k paid! Hello new party hat!

Card	APR	Starting	Payment	Current
Victorias Secret	22.80%	$385.12	$0.00	$0.00
Express	22.80%	$283.40	$0.00	$0.00
Wescom	15.90%	$5,458.22	$0.00	$0.00
Citicard	13.99%	$4,214.15	$140.75	$0.00
Nordstrom	11.90%	$159.26	$0.00	$0.00
Capital One	7.83%	$3,990.68	$47.79	$4,386.12
Total		$14,490.83	$188.54	$4,386.12

InDebtYogini: 6/15/2011 $4,386.12 (9/19/2077 $14,490.83)

I can't tell you how good this feels! It's been over a year since I've gotten a zero. I've had that Citicard hanging over my head for about 10 years and now it's gone! I'm down to one credit card and in six months that will be gone as well. I see a light at the end of the tunnel! In other news, my trip to Mexico is all paid off (in cash of course). Tonight I will be buying my tickets to Taiwan. And then no more big ticket purchases (at least until Nov) and all my cash goes to debt. Life is good right now. Much love to the universe for such a wonderful year ;D I hope you all are doing well. I lurk on a daily basis so I'm caught up with what you all are doing

[debtheaven]

Idawn
I think you're doing the right thing about your birthdays given the other upcoming expenses. Can you go out to your favourite restaurant for both your birthdays?
Also thanks so much. Happily things look like they are settling down. But I appreciate the offer greatly.

Yogini
YAY on that new zero!!! And on all those trips paid in cash! You were sort of treading water for a while there, and it's wonderful to see you moving ahead and so happy!

The gardeners came today, and the garden looks FANTASTIC, and SO much bigger!!! They took away an entire van of refuse, and left the rest (which was really sweet of them, because we paid the lower price saying we'd dispose of it all ourselves. But there was SO much of it, they felt sorry for me lol.) It will take us weeks to get rid of the rest, since they only take garden refuse here once a week, and there is WAY too much to put out at one time. They asked me to PLEASE call them every year, rather than every six LOL. I can't afford them every year, but I will definitely try to do every other year. They'll be back in the winter to trim a tree (again, for the first time in six years.)

In other good news, I got our annual electricity bill, and they owe us 138, which they will deposit into our account any day now. So between that and the gas, we "save" 738e this summer ... almost what the gardeners and pond purchases cost us this month!

Now I just have to remember I've already spent that money! I'm feeling VERY spendy too these days.

[ldawngirl]

Jun 15, 2011 13:24:16 GMT -5 @debtheaven said:

Idawn
I think you're doing the right thing about your birthdays given the other upcoming expenses. Can you go out to your favourite restaurant for both your birthdays?

Thanks DH! DF really wanted to go all out for my big 3-0, but I told him all I really want is the wedding and money in the bank! It feels weird saying that, but I know it's the way to go.

DF really wants to go to a new restaurant that just opened up, so we'll do that on his bday. It's actually a poutinerie (dedicated to all things poutine - lol), so I imagine it'll be a fairly inexpensive meal. For my bday (which is 3 days later), we'll likely go out for dinner with my parents and they'll cover our meal costs. My 'treat' will be the party with my girlfriends (it's small and at home, but we'll be buying snack food for the group).

I even told our parents that for gifts, I want items that are on our wedding registry! I'm getting far too practical!

I'm glad to hear things are settling down for you! I'm sure your garden looks lovely! And don't worry about that spendy bug. It doesn't seem to last too long!

Yogini - congrats on the new zero! What a great number of accomplishments in one update!

[debtheaven]

Idawn, I am a big fan of birthdays and I really like to celebrate the "5"s and "0"s. But a wedding is different, and probably the only situation where I'd react as you are.

So just a thought, if your wedding is relatively soon: how about candles for your "big" BD at your wedding, so the people at your wedding get to sing you"Happy Birthday"? Of course that depends on how formal or informal your wedding is, and how far from your birthday the wedding is. Just a thought!

Another thing. I've heard that people in the US consider this tacky, but it's VERY common here for couples who have been living together and who don't need any more "stuff" to register at a travel agency either instead of, or as well as, the regular gift registries.

[ldawngirl]

Our birthdays are in early July and the wedding is in early October, so too far away to do that. But it's a cute idea! Actually my future BIL will celebrate his birthday the day of our wedding (we checked with him before we settled on that day!), so if we do celebrate a birthday, it'll be his!

Yeah, I've heard of that being done. I think it's a nice idea! (Not sure why it's considered tacky ). For us we really do need new 'stuff' though (towels, bedding, dishes, etc.) as our stuff is all of our young 20-something stuff, so we really need to upgrade beyond dorm room chic! We registered for a ton of stuff and are also more than happy to get presentation as any money will go towards a car or down payment for a house.

[ldawngirl]

I logged in to my bank statement online and was shocked at how low my balance was considering I just got paid. Well then I realized I had set up an automatic transfer when I got paid to go into the wedding account! I set this up a couple weeks ago and totally forgot about it, so I even tricked myself! I'm glad I did it though as I know I would have transferred some money, but I'm not sure if it would have been as much.

[bubbleepink]

ldawngirl I was thinking about doing the same thing! I guess I should get on that! Great reminder:) Ty

[debtheaven]

Idawn and Bubblee, automatic bank transfers are your friend!

I set up a savings account 18 years ago after my ex left, with a VERY small monthly contribution, just 50 per month. I increased it to 75 per month five years ago.

The balance is nothing to write home about, but 23 years later, it's nothing to sneeze at either! It all adds up! It definitely helps that it's a very old "nest egg" account (a "nest egg" account is an old-fashioned, high-interest account that was traditionally used to save for a DP on a home) that still pays 4.5% interest.

I'm just trying to say that even small sums (50 or 75) add up over time.

[el1504]

Just popping to say hello - I've been enjoying a bit of a rest...

Babbler - welcome back. Good on you for deciding to get "back on the wagon". Karma to you! ;D

[ldawngirl]

I love automatic transfers! I have them set up for a few long-term plans - a car, vacation, down payment for house and emergency fund. With the wedding we were spending money as it came in because we were doing the early planning, but now we just have to buckle down and save, so I started the automatic transfers to be sure we could do it. So far so good!

So I have a scenario to pose to the group - I am currently paying $325/bi-weekly towards my loan. The minimum payment is $268, I had increased it to $300 a while ago (when the student loan was done) and then most recently up again to $325. This will have it paid off in May. I thought we could put some large lump payments on the loan between now and then as ideally I'd like to have it paid off in April. (I'm not sure why April, but somehow it just seems closer, when it's really only a month difference). But now I'm wondering if perhaps I should not just increase my loan payment to $350, which will have it paid off in April without the lump payments here and there. I know it will be tight and I'm not sure if I'm going to be pushing the budget a bit too much, but I know I'll feel really good as the balance drops more quickly. And post-wedding, those $350/bi-weekly payments will be MUCH easier, so it'll only be tight for 3 months.

Thoughts? It won't save much on interest, so this is all about the emotional aspect of knowing the loan is being tackled more quickly. I feel like I've been paying this loan for so long (it was originally a 5 year loan).

[debtheaven]

EL
I hope you enjoyed your rest! Nice to see you again!

Idawn
It's really hard to give you advice on this. It sounds like you KNOW you'll be getting some lump payments, or you wouldn't have planned to put them towards that loan. So it seems like by paying 350/mo you know you'll be stretching it a bit, but probably relying on those lump payments to keep afloat. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

So you want the satisfaction of being done in April rather than May. My only hesitation is that it's nearly a year from now, and things always come up. So I'd say go for it, but prepare to be flexible if at some point something changes and you need to cut back on those extra payments to ride that "something" out.

ETA: Sorry, finally got the timeline straight! You're getting married in Oct 2011, and talking about an April 2012 payoff for that loan, right? In that case, I think I'd leave well enough alone, since you're saving for the wedding now (I think you're still saving, I may be wrong). If you are, I'd wait till after the wedding in October to change anything.

I think with a wedding in the near future, it's too hard to plan for April or May now. (What I mean is, you're right to plan, but I wouldn't change anything until after the wedding.) But if it makes you feel better to change your monthly payment, then do, as long as you're prepared to be flexible.

This advice is worth exactly what you paid for it!

[el1504]

Idawn - I think you should wait to increase the payments until after the wedding. Right now you need to focus on the wedding (and increasing the payments would make things tighter for you). Once the wedding is over and your cash flow situation eases then you could up the repayments.

DH - I never said Yeah! on the boiler loan!

[bankergurl]

$100K Club updated as of 6/19/11! $9,748.27 in debt blown to bits!! Happy Father's Day!
- 1 Leapfrog, Mini4Me from the West!
- Congrats to Mini4Me for paying off over $40K!
$100K Summer Challenge - $18,864.65 paid off! $81,135.35 remaining!
notmsnmoney.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=wir&thread=2929&page=2

[ldawngirl]

I was worried you guys would say wait until after the wedding. I'm impatient! lol But I do know it's probably the right way to go. We are waiting on some money from DF's parents for the wedding (promised to us, but we haven't yet received it). Once that comes in, we'll have enough money in savings for the wedding, so perhaps I'll wait until then. That could be another month or two, so by then the wedding will be around the corner anyways. And perhaps at that point, I could up the payments to an even higher amount.