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Archive for September, 2007

Dentist

September 26th, 2007 at 07:20 pm

I finally went to the dentist today after putting it off for too long. I hadn't been in over a year. Luckily I only had one tooth that needed a filling. I was so relieved. I was imagining that I'd need like six fillings (which has actually happened before). They did tell me I need to wear a night guard because the grinding on my teeth is wearing down some of my molars, and they said I'm likely to fracture a molar if I don't wear a night guard. That would be VERY expensive, because to fix it you have to have a root canal and then a crown. So I'm going to start wearing the night guard.

I heard somewhere that things like going to the dentist and car repairs, big things that are expensive but not regular expenses, are what get people as far as debt. I think it's partially true. I know that much of my credit card debt is from not only small things that I should have budgeted for, but larger purchases and expenses that came up that I hadn't planned for either.

Got my refund check from my second job that was for my CPR class. Had to pay for the class out of pocket and wait to be reimbursed. The check is tiding me over till I get paid on Friday.

update

September 25th, 2007 at 08:43 pm

So I've decided not to do Debtor's Anonymous. The premise to DA is much like AA or NA. I disagree with the whole idea that I am powerless over my debt because I feel like I am actually in control of it now that I am doing a debt management plan. Plus I was so anxious during the meetings because I didn't know anyone and no one really talked to me. But mainly my decision is based on the fact that I want to be more pro-active. I think that DA could be helpful to many people but it just doesn't seem to be right for me.

My spending on food has gone down some this month due in part to one of my good friends cooking dinner at her home almost weekly instead of us going out. She is an excellent cook and it's just as much fun as going out.

I need to develop a plan to pay down my one card that is not in the DMP. I am going to make that a goal.

broke again

September 18th, 2007 at 06:07 pm

So it's only four days after pay day and I'm broke already. Mainly it's due to poor budgeting, but I had to pay my mid-year taxes and I bought a plane ticket to Denver for October. I'm so mad at myself. Sometimes things seem really out of control. I paid all of my bills first though. I bought groceries last night and went to eat and that was a mistake, the eating out part. Don't know how to get better at the budgeting thing. Guess I will just keep trying.

DA

September 13th, 2007 at 08:52 pm

Went to my first DA meeting last night. I was very inspired and found it to be a really positive experience.

I am feeling much more comfortable about my finances this past week. I feel like maybe I can really pay down my debt and spend within a set plan. Don't mean to sound all Pollyanna, but I am just very excited that things feel like they are coming together.

I wrote my counselor at CCCS and she suggested I limit my food spending by buying gift cards for the amounts I want to spend so I want to go over. Not sure if I will do it but I might. Thought it was a good idea.

Now I just need to come up with a plan to pay down the card that is not part of the DMP.

breaking bad habits

September 7th, 2007 at 03:03 pm

I haven't posted in a while, but today I felt like I should. I have been keeping track of my food spending and it is still too high. This past month (August) I spent about $500 on food, including groceries and eating out. Most of the eating out includes fast food and coffee shop purchases that add up quickly. I've really got to get this under control if I want to maintain my DMP.

The first of the month is when most of my money goes toward bills and the DMP. During the later part of the month I have more money because I only have to pay student loan payment, electric and phone bill and insurance. No credit cards because that's taken care of with the DMP. But I am having trouble budgeting well enough so that I have enough money left between the first of the month and the next time I get paid.

I know there is a connection between my food spending and my weight. I'm working to try and get both under control.