What a way to start off the new year!

coasterqueen wrote: You know I think it's entirely IMPOSSIBLE to get out of debt! Every freaking time we try something comes up EVERY TIME. I get to start the new year out with a $1000+ crown and possible root canal next Tuesday.

I think I'll just stay in debt FOREVER.

Hillbilly Housewife replied: I know what you mean... we've been putting close to an extra 600$ a month on paying our credit debt... and it doesn't seem to be going down, with all the needs that keep popping up....

we still have about 40K to clear, not counting our vehicle.

Yay, money.

CAMSMOM1 replied: Root canal...poor sweetie! HOpefully you can set up a payment plan with your dentist.

We just got out of debt this year. We were horrible with our money, didn't know what or how to budget, and always paid everything late! We were up to our ears in bills and late payments...luckily we didn't have any credit cards! But we needed help. My MIL is an accountant, and she offered to take over our finances and get us back on track. She put us on a budget, and gave us an allowance. (ok , I felt like I was in grade school again getting my allowance, but it really worked out well) DH and I each get 40 dollars for "play" money a week. We have a certain amount set aside for gas, food, ect. She took our monthly income, figured out how much we pay to everything, and put it all on paper. She taught us when to pay certain things, and how to save up money for our mortgage. We took out a small loan from her to pay on things that were late. And we cut out certain things so we could have more money. We realized we had enough money to pay everything, we just weren't spending it in the right way.

You may not have a MIL to help you figure out the bills, but there are many debt conculors and programs that can help you get back on track, and get back on a budget.

I hope everything works out for you.

Maybe I read into your post to much, and you aren't really in "debt". But I thought I could share somethings that worked for us.

Ann

CAMSMOM1 replied: ZenMommy

Rocky, I know that most credit card companies will be willing to work with you to pay off your debt. You said you are paying 600 a month towards credit cards? Take the credit card you owe the least on, and ask them if they will settle for 600 dollars to pay it off....even if you owe more than that...they will usually be willing to settle for less to get their money. KWIM?

There are also debt consoldating companies that can take all of your credit card debt and consulate it into one monthly payment.

Just trying to throw some things out there that might help you get towards your goal of being debt-free.

Ann

coasterqueen replied:
Thanks for the tips. We are in a lot of debt but are able to pay our minimums+ each month. It's just that we have a LOT of debt. Mainly credit card debt. So truthfully we aren't bad off because we can pay everything we have each month and then some, but the numbers don't go down to far, kwim.

DH has some hair brain scheme to get us out of debt in a year or two but it's a RISKY scheme IMO and I'm not sure I want to do it. He's upset I won't but I'm sticking my ground on the matter. We could be much much worse off not able to pay our bills so I try not to complain. It just seems like every time we get some type of bonus and have a plan to pay it towards something something else comes up.

fashionmumofboys replied: Yes the lovely money part.

In December 05 I had to get my wisdom teeth extracted and 2 more other teeth that were bothering me. I ended up spending $1,500.00 in one day at the oral Surgeon's office . So I know where your coming from.

Good Luck!!!

moped replied: Yep - it is neverending!!!! Sorry.

I just can't imagine paying a dime to go to the dentist - that bites

mysweetpeasWil&Wes replied: I'm sorry you're going through this...money is always hard. You should have watched Oprah yesterday! Okay, I know you work, so you can't, but the topic was about helping people get out of debt. I think consolidating all your debt onto one credit card with the lowest rate is the best bet and always try to pay more than the minimum. We typically use only cash now that we're debt free. But I'll have to ask my DH how he did it, because I'm not financial savvy. We were like $25k or something in credit card debt about five years ago. It takes time and a change in lifestyle, but it is possible.

Jamison'smama replied:
I think she meant that the 600 was over the minimum due---so 600 extra (which is great by the way). Also, having a credit card settle for less than the amount looks TERRIBLE on your credit report from what I understand.

Your ideas look interesting. Debt consolidation seems like a good idea--but using a credit assisting agency like consumer credit counseling looks bad as well--only to be used if nothing else is possible.

I'm right there with you Karen!!! I hate when things like massive dental work set me back---just frustrating!

Hillbilly Housewife replied:
Yeah - we pay the minimum every month, and every 2 weeks we spend an extra 300$ (or 600 monthly) to add on to our misc cards. That may seem great - but we have so many cards, it doesn't add up to much.

We have too many cards... which we use: that's our problem.

If we can stop using our cards... and only spend cash.... if we don't have the cash, then we don't spend... then we'd be out of debt in no time.

The balances are all so high... i should put all the 600$ one one at a time... hmmm wonder why i didn't think opf that before, duh - now i feel like an idiot.

And we did consolidate - last year... which is still about 22000 remaining on it (575$ a month) and so we cannot consolidate again.

kimberley replied: sorry hon. i feel your pain. hope things get better.

amynicole21 replied: I'm sorry I know just what you mean, though.

TeagansMom609 replied: At least you still have a chance to get out of debt. When I was 18 I got myself into about $7,000 worth of debt and just never paid it. So now I have a bunch of write offs on my credit report. I tried to find out how I can start paying for some of it and I cant because the companies already wrote the debts off. I dont think I could get out of debt if I wanted to.

A&A'smommy replied: OOOO I will be SOOO glad when we get out of debt ... I blame ours on my MIL because if she didn't let him transfer his debt to one of her larger credit cards we would have paid them off already and probably ran them up agin but it would have been easier to pay off the smaller ones anyway I'm sorry Karen that really sucks!!!

SOUTHERN MOMMY replied: Well, Luckly when our house burned the insurance we had was great and paid well over what we owed on the house morgage so i in turn bought a way smaller cheaper house and and paid the whole thing then. So thankfully i don't have that And the car was in the garage so i got a newer/used car not new by no means and paid for it. I however have 2 credit cards and they do seem impossible to pay off For over a year i have charged nothing and refuse to and i always pay well over the minim and am nowhere near paying them off. I could not imagine with one income having a morgage and car payment. I can barley make it now. If i did not get child suport there would be noway i could di it and i work 2 jobs. I think my problem is the lifestyle change since the divorce is my BIGGEST problem. But, hopefully i will soon get it through my head that i can't just go and buy something that i seen just because i like it I can;t tell you how many times i have had to return things because i buy them and get home and realize that i did not need to spend money on the items so i have to return them the next day As my mom has said many times people have to learn to live within their means and this is a hard lesson to learn of anybody i think.



~~~~~~~~~GET OUT OF DEBT VIBES FOR EVERYONE~~~~~~~~~

My3LilMonkeys replied: It sounds like we are all working on getting out of debt!

Root canals, ugh! I haven't been to the dentist in 2 years because I just know he's going to tell me my wisdom teeth have to come out and we can't afford it. 6 months until DH gets dental coverage so I will just bear with them until then!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: I'm sorry. That really sucks and I know how you feel. I've got to have a crown and a bridge. I'm not ready to do it, though. I HATE paying for dental work. HATE IT....HATE IT...HATE IT!! I know it needs to be done and it's only my fault for letting it get so far.