It's been a while since I've written on here. I've had some ups and downs since then. I've managed to finally stop using my credit cards, even though it's only been about a week and a half. I have $112 in a savings account linked to my checking for small emergencies. It's thanks to Keep the Change, the program that Bank of America does. After a year you get so much of the money that you've saved back. It's pretty cool. All of this probably sounds kind of pathetic to some people, but for me it's a big deal. I sat down with my therapist and came up with a plan to pay down my credit cards. I admit I haven't started that yet because I wanted to build up a small cushion in my checking and/or savings account so that I won't start using my credit cards again. But I've figured out that with just $300 a month extra paid on my cards I could be out of debt in 3 years. That's without getting the interest rates down on some of my cards that are at 29%. I plan to do that soon. Also if I pay more I will get out of debt sooner. I also got a deferment on my student loans until July so that I could get caught up. The only major extra expenses on the horizon are taxes, a vet bill for one of my cats in APril, and a plane ticket home for Memorial Day weekend. I think I'll still be able to start my plan in spite of all that. I'm hopeful that this is all going to work out.
so far so good
March 5th, 2007 at 06:59 pm
March 5th, 2007 at 07:05 pm 1173121521
March 5th, 2007 at 11:56 pm 1173138982
March 15th, 2007 at 02:23 pm 1173968636
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I have a spread sheet that I made at docs.google.com. I can access it from anywhere, and I update it everyday, so that I know how much I have and where my money is going. Before I even use my money, I already mark down what I absolutely need to pay for during that pay period-rent, metro, bills etc and deduct it from available money so that I always know how much money I can spend if I have to (I shouldn't be spending anything btw). Because I look at my financial situation everyday in a spread sheet that is marked down in red, blue and all kinds of colours, I don't want to use my cc for anything, or use cash for anything that I do not need to. Sometimes you break down and spend money though, but it's okay as long as you pick yourself up again. I have a long way to go, but hopefully I will get there soon.