Women in Red Racers - Northeast Region

[tribeca7]

UPDATE: tribeca7: 6/4/14, $33,739.84 (3/6/13, $45,406.31, NE101)

[wudnit]

movinonup:  Whoooooo Hooooooooo is right!!!  Congratulations on the new "0"!!!  WAY TO GO!!!

[scrgrl47]

Old racer rejoining the race!  scrgrl47: 06/06/2014 $73,996.10 NE118

Debt	Interest Rate	6/6/14	Paid This Month	7/6/14	Total Paid
Mom	0.0%	$1,000.00	$0.00	$0.00
Transferred SL	0.0%	$9,185.07	$0.00	$0.00
SL - G DUSL	6.6%	$1,637.35	$0.00	$1,637.35	$0.00
SL - G FSL	6.6%	$6,556.95	$0.00	$6,556.95	$0.00
SL - G FUSL	6.6%	$10,260.49	$0.00	$10,260.49	$0.00
SL - UG DSCL	3.4%	$12,218.09	$0.00	$12,218.09	$0.00
Short Sale	3.0%	$33,138.15	$0.00	$33,138.15	$0.00
Total		$73,996.10	$0.00	$73,996.10	$0.00

Backstory - I joined the original board waaaaaaaaay back when (so far back I'm now too old to remember when exactly).  It was a tremendous resource, a great support system, and incredibly inspirational.  I'm so, so happy to see it is still here. 

During the few years I participated, I was able to pay off a good amount of debt but then dropped off after <<enter long list of excuses here>>.  It's a few years later and I'm back to racing, no excuses.  In the interim, I've picked up a ton of grad school debt, short sold my condo (to my tenant!  Who paid cash!  Just kill me!), complete with the unforgiven loan to show for it, and owe my mom some money from when I was in dire straights.

I'm so fortunate to have a full-time job that pays enough for me to make some headway.  In the short term, I'm going to focus on reducing my expenses and picking up a little extra revenue where I can.  My super secret goal (shhhhhhh!) is to get this down to $60k by the new year.  

Debt rundown: Mom is going to be paid off first and at $500/month, that will be by August.  That money will be snowballed into the Transferred SL which are 6.6% student loans transferred over to a 0.0% credit card via 2% transfer fee.  There's a 15-month term on that, so I want it paid off before then.  The other loans will trickle down until the snowball can be applied. 

Thanks for letting me come back!     

[wudnit]

scrgr147:  Welcome back!!  You have got what a lot of people haven't got:  A plan!!  Go for it!!

[kristin11]

Update:

Kristin11: 6/9/14 $6,180.56 (12/31/09 $16,567.73 NEU8)

Creditor	4/15/14	6/9/14	Difference
Discover:	$4,858.86	$4,886.27	$27.38
Disney:	$960.80	$1,294.29	$333.49
Total:	$5,819.66	$6,180.56	$360.87

My totals went up again this month but I really had no option because of some changes at work. We renewed our health insurance and decided to go with an HSA plan. They only gave us about 4 weeks’ notice and we had to contribute the first $1,000 and my job would pick up the rest. The actual medical plan doesn’t sound too bad except for the fact that I had to come up with $1,000 out of nowhere. I had money set aside for certain things that I had to use for the insurance so in turn those things had to go on my credit card as they came up. Most notably paying for some expenses for my cousins bridal shower. Thankfully it is over and done with now so hopefully things will be back on an upswing. Looking forward to a much more positive update next month!

[scrgrl47]

wudnit - thanks for the kudos! The solid plan is the silver lining around the big, gray this-ain't-my-first-debt-rodeo cloud. Look at you, though! $120k in a little over 4 years? That's amazing! Agree that celebrating the smaller milestones along the way is so helpful.

tribeca7 – making enviable progress on the SLs! Are you making this much of a dent while you’re still in school?

kristin11 – that’s bizarre when companies do that. Where do they think people are going to pull $1k? Sounds like with your plan, you’ll be able to recover quickly. Keep up the good work.

This may sound ridiculous but I've noticed a change in my attitude toward money and spending in the 4 days since I've rejoined.  A more heightened awareness of where it's going.  I'm nowhere near 'there' yet - still have cable, parked outside my apartment last night even though I knew there was a chance of a street cleaning ticket (which I did in fact wake up to!), etc.  Getting back in that no-spend frame of mind is a multi-step process, for sure. 

My weakness always has been, is, and probably always will be around expensive food.  Now that farmers market season has started here in the NE, I can't keep my hands off that $30/lb artisanal goat cheese, asparagus and brie ravioli, $5 bag of spicy and delicious arugula, etc.

What are your financial weaknesses and the one (two, three?) things you don't feel like you can sacrifice?   

[wudnit]

My financial weaknesses are:

1.  Cable: although we have one of the lower cost options, my DH WILL NOT go without Cable (although I would in a heart beat!).
2.  Good food.  We do not eat out, but what I buy is more expensive.  Lots of vegies and good meat.
3.  Our camp!!  Although that is now paid for, so I'm not sure it counts, but it costs quite a bit in gas to drive up there every weekend but that is what I live for!!!

[nidena]

My financial weaknesses:
1. If I find one shirt that I like, I buy it in all the colors.
2. Same as wudnit's #2
3. I'm going to have to think on this more...I know there are other things.

[lazysundays]

Lazysundays 6-20-14 $175,403 (3/27/14 $178,652) NEU173, From NJ

CC1 $5874 last month-->5874 this mo
CC2 $2459 -->2443
CC3 $1172 --> ZERO
CC4 $4851 -->4803

SL1 $76692 -->76861
SL2 $64140 -->63803
SL3 $21805 -->21619

$3249 paid off. Love that first zero

[heartvolunteer]

I am a bad bad bad bad monkey. No bananas for me. Not even one of those cute dancing ones. I can't even remember the last time I posted. Paying off, mostly, debt *has* been happening, but not to the extent that it needs to. So it's like a big round Ferris wheel of maintenance. And I get sick on Ferris wheels. So time to saddle up and get moving. I promise that tonight, when I go around doing my other chores, I will pull my numbers together and post them all. I've missed talking to y'all and reading about things. I will answer scrgrl47's question because it interests me and I'm trying to me more mindful of the things I do. So here we go. My financial weaknesses:

1) Fast food. (Because I'm an indifferent cook - I do get big meals together and go the leftover route, just not lately, which means I eat out a LOT. Neither my wallet nor my waistline are particularly thrilled with me right now.) My answer to that is to go on Pinterest and Budget Bytes and get more creative so that I actually *want* to get into the kitchen. I started on this path about a month ago. Need to do it more though.

2) Actually, that's my biggest weakness. I'm good about getting books/movies/CDs out of the library. I buy my clothing mostly used from Goodwill. I entertain myself cheaply with hiking and camping, crocheting, reading. My next vacation is totally booked and paid for.

My mindfulness means that I need to get myself revved back into the game and organized. In the meantime, I will go back and read more to remind myself of where I need to be and why I want to be there. I have a bucket list vacation in mind - I think I need to be printing out some shots of it and placing it in my wallet, on my bathroom mirror, on my door, etc. Need a goal to keep myself focused. Boredom sooooooo gets me in trouble.  Wishing everyone well!

For what it's worth - I paid off Monro ages ago, and Royal has gone to zero twice in the last year - I just put money on it and then pay it off again and again. I had called them late November, and they got cranky with me - despite the fact that I've had the card for a decade!?!?, they still insisted I needed to use it more often in order to 1) increase the limit and/or 2) decrease the interest. Told me I had to put something on there for 6 consecutive months. The wankers. This is the end of the 6th month, so they will be getting another call from me. I've been getting better about calling every 6 months to have my interest rate lowered on my other cards, and it's been working slowly but surely. And with my total amount still owed, I'm only about $800 above where I was last year, and that's including the fact that I added another card to the running list. So not as bad as I thought for a re-starting point.

Edited to add numbers and tag.

Heartvolunteer: 6/26/14 = $9,888.47 (4/30/08 $15,351.37, NE75 )

Name	Interest	Old Amount	Paid off	as of 6/27/2014
BOA	17.99	6,561.90	200.00	6,361.90
Citi	15.99	2,181.80	80.00	2,177.80
Royal	18.50	253.77	100.00	153.77
Ideal Image	0	1,295.00	100.00	1,195.00
Monro	0	774.79	774.79	0
Home Depot	21.00	0	0	0
Car Loan	3.90	0	0	0
Best Buy	0	0	0	0
Totals		11,067.26	1,254.79	9,888.47

[wudnit]

heartvolunteer:  It has been awhile!  Glad to see you are posting again!   You owe less than $10,000!! I so wish I was there.  I enjoyed reading your post.  Glad to see you are getting back into the game.  Welcome back.

[wudnit]

UPDATE:  Wudnit $47,493 (1/0 $172,915 NEU46)


Whoooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!!!!  I am under $50,000.  Okay, I've got to say that again!!  I am under $50,0000.  Okay, to be honest, that isn't completely accurate.  I am under $50,000 on my racing debt.  However, we just bought a "new to us car" that set us back a bit.  We financed at 2.90%, but we do have the money aside to actually pay for this car as I refused to buy another car until I could pay for it so we've been saving and received a windfall that helped us.  For now, though, I have the funds invested and I want to see if it is worth keeping them invested while paying down the loan from the funds gradually (as payments are due).  If it is looking like I'm not making enough in interest, then I will simply pay off the loan.

But as far as my mortgages go, I am at less than $50,000 and, trust me, that feels wonderful for me.  So my racing debt currently stands at:

HE:  $37,159
Home Mortgage $10,333

Since I am paying $2,850 per month on the principal of the mortgage right now, I should have it paid off in November.  I have been tempted to pay it off with some of the windfall money, but my dh's business isn't doing well, so I want to hold off on that for now as I think we are going to need those funds.  Still, I look at that HUGE home equity loan and that makes me gulp.....I will be tackling that by the end of the year. 

I am less than $50,000 in mortgages........WHOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!

[nidena]

Jun 27, 2014 8:06:23 GMT -5 wudnit said:

UPDATE:  Wudnit $47,493 (1/0 $172,915 NEU46)


Whoooooooooo Hoooooooooooooo!!!!  I am under $50,000.  Okay, I've got to say that again!!  I am under $50,0000.  Okay, to be honest, that isn't completely accurate.  I am under $50,000 on my racing debt.  However, we just bought a "new to us car" that set us back a bit.  We financed at 2.90%, but we do have the money aside to actually pay for this car as I refused to buy another car until I could pay for it so we've been saving and received a windfall that helped us.  For now, though, I have the funds invested and I want to see if it is worth keeping them invested while paying down the loan from the funds gradually (as payments are due).  If it is looking like I'm not making enough in interest, then I will simply pay off the loan.

But as far as my mortgages go, I am at less than $50,000 and, trust me, that feels wonderful for me.  So my racing debt currently stands at:

HE:  $37,159
Home Mortgage $10,333

Since I am paying $2,850 per month on the principal of the mortgage right now, I should have it paid off in November.  I have been tempted to pay it off with some of the windfall money, but my dh's business isn't doing well, so I want to hold off on that for now as I think we are going to need those funds.  Still, I look at that HUGE home equity loan and that makes me gulp.....I will be tackling that by the end of the year. 

I am less than $50,000 in mortgages........WHOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO!!

And that mortgage will be only four digits very soon!!

My next update will coincide with my seven year WIRR anniversary so to end my sixth year of tracking, here's my current total:

UPDATE:
nidena: 6/27/2014 $159,015.52 (8/22/2007 $223,361.2 N453,503,NE648,NPT25) 
I'm under $160,000 so that is exciting.  I expect to reach $65,000 paid off by my next update.

[Maryland Monroe]

Update: Maryland_Monroe[2] 7/1/14 $75250.89 (1/1/14 $80451.89 NE 113)

[snapdragon]

Jul 1, 2014 4:21:35 GMT -5 Maryland Monroe said:

Update: Maryland_Monroe[2] 7/1/14 $75250.89 (1/1/14 $80451.89 NE 113)

MM - Did you realize you have paid off over $5000? 

Great Job!

[movinonup]

UPDATE- movinonup: 07/01/2014 $297,760.23 (02/12/13 $309,217.65 NE100) NY

Account	Interest Rate	02/12/2013	06/01/2014	07/01/2014	Amount Paid Since Last Update	Total Amount Paid	Percentage Paid
LOC	18.240%	$3,500.00	$2,005.84	$0.00	$2005.84	$3,500.00	100.00%
CC#1	0.000%	$20,688.08	$9,463.39	$9,264.66	$198.73	$11,423.42	55.22%
CC#2	0.000%	$(8.16)	$14,909.60	$14,610.60	$299.00	$(14,618.76)	(179,151.47)%
CC#3	19.990%	$10,300.00	$4,281.00	$4,103.66	$177.34	$6,196.34	60.16%
CC#4	16.990%	$9,135.05	$6,926.78	$6,866.24	$60.54	$2,268.81	24.84%
CC#5	10.990%	$4,910.22	$10,558.34	$10,447.48	$110.86	$(5,537.26)	(112.77)%
CC#6	0.000%	$1,239.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$1,239.00	100.00%
SL#1	3.500%	$23,021.50	$20,353.8	$20,221.36	$132.44	$2,800.14	12.16%
SL#2	6.800%	$4,748.54	$3,183.42	$3,089.43	$93.99	$1,659.11	34.94%
SL#3	6.550%	$2,533.57	$1,929.69	$1,890.42	$39.27	$643.15	25.39%
MTG	3.875%	$220,170.76	$224,148.37	$223,803.81	$344.56	$(3,633.05)	(1.65)%
Auto	4.240%	$8,979.09	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$8,979.09	100.00%
Total		$309,217.65	$297,760.23	$294,297.66	$3,462.57	$14,919.99	4.83%

EF=$379.19

It's a good thing I get three paychecks in July.  This is shaping up to be an ugly month.  I am pushing off some budgeted expenses because a few unexpected expenses.  Overall, I am sticking pretty close to my budget, but I do find myself making more tradeoffs that I would like.  I figure if I keep making updates to my budget spreadsheet when the month is over, I will have a more accurate budget for next year.  I am still pleased that my balances are moving in the right direction.  I hope to be more consistent in paying off my balances month-to-month, but I won't ever complain about having a big decrease. 

Have a Happy and Safe Independence Day!

-movinonup

[tribeca7]

UPDATE: tribeca7: 7/2/14, $32,917.41 (3/6/13, $45,406.31, NE101)

scrgrl47: I only wish I had been a bit more pro-active at paying down some of these student loans when I was still in school! I pretty much went through university with a "just don't think about it" mentality. Now, I'm just trying to pay them off as soon as I possibly can!



My financial weaknesses:
1. social things- I live in NYC, and it's hard to say no to all the concerts, theater, and just awesome places to go out to with friends.
2. skincare/makeup- I don't even wear a lot of makeup, but I love trying new things, which is definitely a problem for my spending money.
3. food- I tend to be lazy with preparing meals for my lunches or dinners; it's just easier to pick something up. I could definitely do better at this.

As always, I'm so thankful that I found this board, because it's really helped me to stay motivated. You guys are all so inspirational!

[Maryland Monroe]

Jul 1, 2014 11:01:49 GMT -5 snapdragon said:

Jul 1, 2014 4:21:35 GMT -5 Maryland Monroe said:

Update: Maryland_Monroe[2] 7/1/14 $75250.89 (1/1/14 $80451.89 NE 113)

MM - Did you realize you have paid off over $5000? 

Great Job!

Thanks for noticing! 

This is my second race. The first was only credit cards. This one has mortgage, a personal loan, and a 0% credit card that will be paid off before the interest rate changes.

[oceanfire31]

Oceanfire31: 7/16/2014 $5026.32 (09/07/2009 $22,908.15 NE679, NE692)

Account	2-25-14	7-16-14	Difference
SL (3.25%)	6550.31	5026.32	-1523.99
Savings	200	250	+50

Got a bit behind and then felt guilty and did not want to post.  Spring always puts an axe to my budget because I have no money saved up to buy things for gardening clients. I should start making them pre-pay or save up in the fall for spring expenses.  

As for financial weakness, I have a fondness for good quality clothing.  I try to get them on sale but if I can't I pay full price.  I also have a tendency to dip into my savings instead of keeping my mitts out of it. 

[lazysundays]

Lazysundays 7-19-14 $174,118 (3/27/14 $178,652) NEU173, From NJ

CC1 $5874 last mo -> $5699
CC2 $2443 -> 1891
CC3 $ ZERO
CC4 $4803. ->4755

SL1 $76861 ->76704
SL2 $63803 ->63577
SL3 $21619 ->21492

$4534 paid off

[lazysundays]

Maybe we should consolidate the regions again to see more activity?

[seahorse]

lazysundays: I second the suggestion on consolidating the regions again. I'm on the Midwest and there are days and days when no one posts and our region seems to be the most active but it can be really quiet at times.

[nidena]

I almost forgot that we used to be just one group.  I'm going to third that suggestion.  All those in favor, LIKE lazysundays post.  

[scrgrl47]

UPDATE!  scrgrl47: 07/21/14, $71,813.64 (06/06/2014 $73,996.10 NE118)

Debt	Interest Rate	Start (6/6/14)	Last Update	Paid Since	Current	Total Paid	% Paid
Mom	0%	$1,000.00	$1,000.00	$500.00	$500.00	$500.00	50.00%
Transferred SL	0%	$9,185.07	$9,185.07	$1,000.00	$8,185.07	$1,000.00	10.89%
SL - G DUSL P	6.6%	$1,637.35	$1,637.35	31.95	$1,605.40	$31.95	1.95%
SL - G FSL P	6.6%	$6,556.95	$6,556.95	$138.72	$6,418.23	$138.72	2.12%
SL - FUSL P	6.6%	$10,260.49	$10,260.49	$217.10	$10,043.39	$217.10	2.12%
SL - UG DSCL P	3.4%	$12,218.09	$12,218.09	$211.47	$12,006.62	$211.47	1.73%
Short Sale	3.0%	$33,138.15	$33,138.15	$83.22	$33,054.93	$83.22	0.25%
Total		$73,996.10	$73,996.10	$1,682.46	$71,813.64	$1,682.46	2.27%

The first update spanned payments for multiple months so this one is higher than monthly updates will be moving forward, but I'm proud of the progress.  One more payment to mom, then one month of stashing a little extra in my EF/clean up any outstanding CC balance (cancelled cable and have to pay off that fee, had an unexpected travel expense, etc). 

Great thing about cancelling cable - save the $$, theoretically save myself from getting too comfortable laying down in front of the TV every night even though I don't care about what's on.  Terrible thing about cancelling cable - I replaced it with Chromecast and am now totally binge watching shows on Netflix.  26 hours of Orange is the New Black in less than a week?  Don't mind if I do!

Lazysundays - doing that zero dance, wohoo!  Also, totally agree about consolidating.     

Heartvolunteer - wankers is such an underutilized word, thank you for unearthing it.  Welcome back.  Hopefully they honor what they said they'd do and give you what you want.  I hear you on the cooking boredom.  Sounds like you have a plan to get back on track!

nidena - your resolve and persistence is absolutely amazing.  Keep up the great work and inspiring the rest of us to just.keep.going.  Thank you. 

Maryland_Monroe[2] - $5k, w00t!! 

movinonup - how great is it to have the knowledge and ability to deal with unexpected expenses?  So many people just throw their hands up and give up.  Good on you.  You'll get back to the consistency you're looking for soon but in the meantime - you're still going in the right direction.  Keep up the good work. 

tribeca7 - the social things are sooooo hard to not do or to do sparingly!  Like you, I'm living downtown in a city for the first time and there is sooooo much to do.  Every planned event seems detrimental to a) my wallet to the tune of no less than $40 a pop b) my waistline c) trying to keep the boozing down to an absolute minimum.  Sigh.  Why can't we have it all (or convince friends that a walk after work is still a great way to socialize?)  Great progress, though!  You're so close to <$30k, how fast can you get there? 

Oceanfire31 - holy cow you are so close to the <$5k group!  Everybody definitely has their financial weaknesses on here, it's really interesting to see the range.  Hate to admit this but the nice clothes feel luxurious, are tailored wonderfully, and you feel like a million bucks strutting around in them (don't know about you but when I'm in one of my 'investment pieces', my head tends to be higher and my shoulders are further back, so I totally get it).  You're thisclose though.....is there any way you could hold off on the next clothing investment until you've won your race?   
 
Wudnit - holy crap!!  That's something an enormous % of the population will never, ever be able to say.  Congratulations.  At the rate you're going, that will be gone in no time and you'll be <gulp> MORTGAGE FREE.  

[janie4]

Janie4: (07/21/14, $8,620)


Hi, so this is my first time on this website.  I've decided I need a little online support to meet my goals this time.  

Current debt load is:

Type of debt	Debt	Minimum payment
CC, 15% interest	$210	$25
CC, 2.99% until 1/2015	$531	$25
cc, 0% until 11/2014	$216	$25
Student Loan, 1.625%	$7,663	$158
Total	$8,620	$233

Home Equity Loan, 5.49%

93,420

$652

I'm kind of in a weird place right now debt wise.  In the past, when I needed to pay off debt, or wanted something extra (materials for a kitchen remodel), I picked up extra cash work.  And I had a roommate for several years.  But a recent diagnosis of OCD has meant that I had to give up pet-sitting, which was my best way to make extra cash, and how I paid for a lot of the extras.  It also meant that my roommate and I parted ways, which reduced my monthly income by $835 a month.  I'm lucky that I live in a city where I can turn my basement into an apartment, and I am in that process now, which will take a year (that debt and mortgage debt not factored in at the moment).  

But as you can see, I have debt I need to pay down before the apartment will come online.  The student loan debt isn't the priority at the moment, it's the credit cards. I've already started by slashing some monthly expenses.  I've cut out a cable company DVR for entertainment and higher grade channels ($60 a month), reduced my netflix account ($12),  reduced my utility costs ($30 a month on average).  I'm trying to drive less, which since I can walk places, means I'm getting healthier too. I'm trying to cook more, or at the least eat cereal when I don't want to cook.  

 I am still saving the same amount in my retirement accounts (and want to increase that another one percent if I get a raise this year), and given that I am 36, and happily single and childfree, I kind of need to keep funding levels high, because I will not have family around in 30-40 years to help support me in retirement.  Anyway, I thought I would join this group to give me support to race to pay off my debt.  The plan is to spend $120 a month on CC until that's gone, starting with the 0% - one of those deals where if you don't pay it off by November, they charge you retroactive interest, then the 2.99%, then the 15% interest (I know, the reverse of what most people do).  

After that, I'll probably be looking for support about paying down the equity loan and the student loans.  Wish me luck.

[movinonup]

Welcome Janie!  You have a plan.  Great job!

[Maryland Monroe]

Jul 19, 2014 15:30:39 GMT -5 lazysundays said:

Maybe we should consolidate the regions again to see more activity?

Really? Did you actually hear me thinking? 

[janie4]

Janie4:   7/24/2014 $8,575 (07/21/14, $8,620)

Type of debt	minimum payment	Initial Balance	Recent Payment	Current balance	Difference
CC 15%	$25	$210	$6	$204	-$6 (2.9%)
cc 2.99	$25	$531	$39	$492	-$39 (7.3%)
cc 0% until 11/14	$25	$216	$0	$216	$0
Student loan 1.625%	$158	$7,663	$0	$7663	$0
Total	$233	$8,620	$45	$8,575	-$45 (.05%)

Next week is the week I make a $24 payment on the 0% card, and an $180 payment on the 15% card - I got a small windfall I'm dedicating to that.  I'm going over my budget, and I've got to find a way to cut an additional 5-6% to get back on track.  No more shopping for me, and I'm really going to have to cut groceries and things to the bone and turn down the cooling/gas.  Ah well, such is life.  My goal is to dedicate 12% of net to savings, and 5% to debt reduction to pay the student loans off faster, so I have to figure out a way to live on 80% of my net income.  I reduced my cable package again, and it looks like I'm going back to wearing my hair long and up once this cut grows out.  Fortunately, I bought a lot of clothes this past year - separates and work dresses mostly, and some summer dresses, so I'm set on clothing for at least two years.  Slowly but surely.  

[wudnit]

I am in total agreement with consolidating the boards!!  I'm also missing the updated lists.  Some groups haven't been updated in a very long time.  I know it is hard with summer, just wondering if there is a way to get back on track.

I get a lot of motivation from this board.  It certainly has helped when I've felt like the debt is impossible to plow through. I also love the encouragement I get from the boards. 

I will be making my next update sometime next week.  I always look forward to doing that and seeing the numbers go down.

Glad to see we have at least some people posting.

Janie4:  I love plans and yours sounds good.  You can do this!!! 

Scrgrl47:  Thanks for the kudos!!  I'm loving that the mortgage debt is below $50,000 and it gives me more motivation to push through when I hit down times.  I've been at this awhile, but I've been working hard.  Good thing my dh is on board!!  We watch other people take big vacations and travel and we don't do that (thankfully, we have our camp which I love and which is paid for, so we use that for all of our vacations).  I always wonder when I know about someone going on a big trip, "I wonder how much debt they have."  I'd rather not travel and pay off the debt I have.  We pay a lot toward debt every month, it will be WONDERFUL, when we no longer have to do that.

Oceanfire:  Forget the guilt, just get up, brush yourself off and dive back in!!!  Good luck!

Movinonup:  Ha!!  I'm having the same kind of month!!  Financially ugly!!  BUT, I am staying the course.........trying to keep my eye on the prize of being debt free.

Nidena:  You are always encouraging, thank you!!!  Look at how far you have come!!!  Congratulations and keep going!!!

[heartvolunteer]

Ha! I'm keeping on track. Spend a little bit, but paid off more. Here's my tagline, in good time.

Heartvolunteer: 7/24/14 = $9,556.82 (4/30/08 $15,351.37, NE75 )

This weekend I have old college friends coming to visit me - I'm so excited! I've started a sideline small business making crochet projects every year - the first one is always for me to try something new, then other people see it, want it, order it, and then order more for their family and friends. My newest project was to learn a new stitch so that I could make a cabled sweater for my dad (his request!?!?!) and I did a cute neck warmer. Now I've got orders for 4 more (at $30 a pop - one of our accounting people was the first order and she insisted I charge that) and those people are bringing them to parties this weekend and basically selling my skills for me! They see it as xmas shopping early.  I look at this as vacation money - mostly because I've been using yarn that I have in my personal stash - so the only output, besides time (2 hours or so) is the cost of buttons. Sooooo, about $2 per project. One movie = one neck warmer. Takes a few more minutes after that to sew on the buttons, and I gotta say, they're the most frustrating part of it! I hope everyone's doing well at this mid-summer point. I'm wishing everyone well! Cheers!