I have started a number of times trying to write about finance. I find it to be really hard. I have felt like I was in the middle of the sea in a row boat with no shores in sight. The thing about that is I know you have to stay the course. Frankly there is no going back to having nearly 40K in debt. I do not want that life. And I don't want to maintain this level of debt either.
I know
1) If I had not started the journey when I did I would have had to declare bankruptcy - especially as many cards are now raising their rates & minimum payments.
2) I want to retire some day and I cannot do that carrying this debt burden.
3) I want my son and daughter to live a debt free life so they can learn healthy attitudes and carry that behavior forward into their own lives..
Knowing and feeling are two different things. Right now I feel despairing that I will ever get out of debt. And I relate (as I often do) to Paid Twice's journey that knowing there is light at the end only seems to invite Murphy to stop by more often. (you can read her post here http://www.paidtwice.com/2009/09/09/the-home-strecth-can-be-as-difficult-as-the-start/)
It is much easier to know what I want... College for my children and a house.
I have about 2.5 years left until my DD comes home from college. So far I have only had to borrow about 4k (Her college is 32K per year so keep it in perspective) I am willing to be in debt for her degree. I want her to have an education. It could have been cheaper, but She is happy.
The house debate within myself continues to rage. There are a lot of factors. I really wanted to take advantage of the 8K house credit. But I think my DH and I were a little ambitious there. It would have been a stretch. And while I think we are a good risk I have no idea if a mortgage lender would see that and grant us a mortgage. And even if they did grant us a mortgage would it be enough for me to get the type of house I would want.
It might be better to wait. I think If we take our time and do it carefully I will get all the things I want but I am the least patient person on the planet. All I can offer myself is that there is hope at the end of the tunnel.
So with Mad money Monday in mind....
So I am turning to the tool...
What's the cost to re-evaluate where I am today.
I have to account for some of the setbacks that I had during August....
Setbacks
Man oh man I know every dollar needs to have a purpose but right now the names all seem to be debt. And I cant even cry misfortune. Lack of planning? maybe, a little hid under a rock definitely, but its time to stand tall, take the hit and get back on the wagon.
Like weight watchers you are more apt to stay on track if you track your progress. Over the summer I have to say time has been fleeting at best and I have often been derailed. The thing is I know I need to get back on track. Right NOW.
So starting today, I logged into many of my different accounts. I have created an outline for My October budget. I will also have to do a where did my money go budget but I cant face that yet. And seriously I will only avoid getting back on track if I have to beat myself up. So today Is no judgment Monday. Just evaluate where you are and what we can do today...
I have to wait till month end to get the true numbers. And I will be receiving a check back from the college to pay back money I was forced to put on a credit card for some of my daughters education because the financing was not lined up. So I charged $2680 to CC#2 (Currently focus of the debt pay down. ) I also charged school supplies and gas because this card was having a promotion I wanted to take advantage of. Time to get back on track...
What's the Cost predicts my debt pay off, given my current standing (which includes the almost 3k in education), to be September 2012. I am sure when I adjust the numbers for the education charges I will come back from that date a bit. More like something around May 2012. Not surprisingly the first card of focus is CC#2.
So we are back to the 3 year plan. Its a long journey to pay down nearly 40K in debt. It looks like I will have paid off most of my credit card debt as my DD graduates college. I can live with that. The only worry I have is that now the minimum payments are larger from certain of my cards how will that effect my schedule. But onward. Row Row Row
I am not a financial professional. If you are looking for financial advise you should seek it elsewhere. If you would like to join me on the journey, walk with me for a while and be my friend......
Showing posts with label No more debt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label No more debt. Show all posts
Monday, September 21, 2009
Monday, August 03, 2009
Debt elimination vs savings
I read Paid twice's blog often. I have found that if you surround yourself with people who are on the same path for a goal you will be more likely to achieve that goal. I really really want to be out of debt. I can not ignore the huge credit hunk of change I owe. And I have noticed that the interest rates did indeed go up. The banks want a little more from me... I do not really want to give it to them but I did borrow the money.
I currently have 6 cards that have a balance on them. 3 of the cards are at a fixed rate until the balance is paid off. I like that fact. It saves me a LOT of money. The other three cards drive me bonkers. CC#2 is the currrent card I am paying the largest amount to each month. CC#3 will be next and CC#4 has a 9.9% rate that has not increased... However... I am charging my web design space to CC#4. It is $14.00 per month. So I eliminate any debt reduction by the charge. Previously I did not want to get rid of my domain name. But currently my job focus is elsewhere and I no longer need to post a portfolio. And if I did need to host a web space I could sign up again. Nothing there is critical any more. So it has to go. It is important to revisit these charges. Because as few as 3 months ago I felt differently. But my career goals have shifted just so slightly and I feel it is no longer necessary to have web space. Actually I feel it is foolish to hold on to something that is costing me money for no benefit.
So How do I feel about Debt elimination over savings?
Well I am in the middle. It has been saving grace that I have paid down as much as I have so that when issues come up like vacation, child's father not paying for college and school expenses I just reallocate some of the debt elimination/repayment money to the current spending challenges. Life does happen. Just because I got myself into debt does not mean my child has to pay and pay. She will have her own challenges. And having a college degree for her is so important to me I would do a lot to make sure it will happen. I would even take on more debt. I know its not Dave Ramsey's philosophy - but he is a multi-millionaire and he funded his kids schools long ago. Each of his kids are in college. There is a classest divide in this country. Those who do not have good skills or a degree have a much harder time in life supporting themselves. I want my daughter to have a degree so she can get employment. I am committed to it.
SO Anyway....
I also see the value in building up savings. I used a little savings to carry us at the end of May. Things were just too tight. That is why we have savings, to bridge the gaps, so we do not feel the need to put charges on the credit cards. Well.... I would like to pay back to savings the money I borrowed. But I chafe at the pace of debt repayment. I want it all to be over now. I want to be debt free today. I also want to be skinny now and wanting it does not make it so.
There is a rhythm to each financial year. My spending is always higher in the summer because the child is home, then there is back to school, then Nov birthdays and then Christmas. So If I am honest with myself Aug - Dec are always slimmer then Jan - July. The BEST debt repayment months are during winter. But I have felt the power of debt elimination. I feel how wonderful it is that I can decided to pay less each month if I needed to. I am committed to paying of the remaining balances.
Each month just a little more goes to elimination and a little less goes to interest. It is so powerful to be able to make progress.
For myself the argument for savings is a big one we want to purchase a home. We will need to have money for closing costs and other expenses. I am not sure if one month's savings would make a dent so I keep eliminating debt. But that is where the tug and pull comes from. Rationally I think we will end up purchasing a home in 2 years after the debt is much lower. We'll see. If they offer the tax incentive again next year it will give us pause... again.
My actions are to debt elimination even though some times I feel the savings pull. I almost always choose to put the money into debt pay down. I just don't want to live a life with an expensive anchor anymore.
Food for thought. Enough ranting... thanks for reading
I am not a financial professional. If you are looking for financial advise you should seek it elsewhere. If you would like to join me on the journey, walk with me for a while and be my friend......
I currently have 6 cards that have a balance on them. 3 of the cards are at a fixed rate until the balance is paid off. I like that fact. It saves me a LOT of money. The other three cards drive me bonkers. CC#2 is the currrent card I am paying the largest amount to each month. CC#3 will be next and CC#4 has a 9.9% rate that has not increased... However... I am charging my web design space to CC#4. It is $14.00 per month. So I eliminate any debt reduction by the charge. Previously I did not want to get rid of my domain name. But currently my job focus is elsewhere and I no longer need to post a portfolio. And if I did need to host a web space I could sign up again. Nothing there is critical any more. So it has to go. It is important to revisit these charges. Because as few as 3 months ago I felt differently. But my career goals have shifted just so slightly and I feel it is no longer necessary to have web space. Actually I feel it is foolish to hold on to something that is costing me money for no benefit.
So How do I feel about Debt elimination over savings?
Well I am in the middle. It has been saving grace that I have paid down as much as I have so that when issues come up like vacation, child's father not paying for college and school expenses I just reallocate some of the debt elimination/repayment money to the current spending challenges. Life does happen. Just because I got myself into debt does not mean my child has to pay and pay. She will have her own challenges. And having a college degree for her is so important to me I would do a lot to make sure it will happen. I would even take on more debt. I know its not Dave Ramsey's philosophy - but he is a multi-millionaire and he funded his kids schools long ago. Each of his kids are in college. There is a classest divide in this country. Those who do not have good skills or a degree have a much harder time in life supporting themselves. I want my daughter to have a degree so she can get employment. I am committed to it.
SO Anyway....
I also see the value in building up savings. I used a little savings to carry us at the end of May. Things were just too tight. That is why we have savings, to bridge the gaps, so we do not feel the need to put charges on the credit cards. Well.... I would like to pay back to savings the money I borrowed. But I chafe at the pace of debt repayment. I want it all to be over now. I want to be debt free today. I also want to be skinny now and wanting it does not make it so.
There is a rhythm to each financial year. My spending is always higher in the summer because the child is home, then there is back to school, then Nov birthdays and then Christmas. So If I am honest with myself Aug - Dec are always slimmer then Jan - July. The BEST debt repayment months are during winter. But I have felt the power of debt elimination. I feel how wonderful it is that I can decided to pay less each month if I needed to. I am committed to paying of the remaining balances.
Each month just a little more goes to elimination and a little less goes to interest. It is so powerful to be able to make progress.
For myself the argument for savings is a big one we want to purchase a home. We will need to have money for closing costs and other expenses. I am not sure if one month's savings would make a dent so I keep eliminating debt. But that is where the tug and pull comes from. Rationally I think we will end up purchasing a home in 2 years after the debt is much lower. We'll see. If they offer the tax incentive again next year it will give us pause... again.
My actions are to debt elimination even though some times I feel the savings pull. I almost always choose to put the money into debt pay down. I just don't want to live a life with an expensive anchor anymore.
Food for thought. Enough ranting... thanks for reading
I am not a financial professional. If you are looking for financial advise you should seek it elsewhere. If you would like to join me on the journey, walk with me for a while and be my friend......
Saturday, January 03, 2009
January begins again
January begins again. Thank God that I put my goals on automatic pilot. I have just added up all my payments with the year end and in 2008 I paid down 13,255.42 in debt. I paid off 33.3% of my total debt. Man I rock. I even made progress in December even though I was trying to hold steady at no new debt. I accomplished that and more. I am so proud of myself. I managed to pass through Christmas without getting further into debt. WOW. I did it. Wow. I need to take time to bask in that.
Plans for 2009... The same as this year but at a slower rate. I will not have as much money for bills as I did before. Happy baby boy needs Daycare. I have allocated Some funds to pay off the debt though and I will continue to try.
My credit card #1 is paid off. My credit card #2 is paid down to 68% of the original amount. I will keep chunking away at it. My DH yelled at me to take care of myself. He thinks I need new socks. I think I need to make due with what I have until the debt is paid off. By paying off the debt I am taking care of myself.
I will post more later. For now Lunch is calling.
Plans for 2009... The same as this year but at a slower rate. I will not have as much money for bills as I did before. Happy baby boy needs Daycare. I have allocated Some funds to pay off the debt though and I will continue to try.
My credit card #1 is paid off. My credit card #2 is paid down to 68% of the original amount. I will keep chunking away at it. My DH yelled at me to take care of myself. He thinks I need new socks. I think I need to make due with what I have until the debt is paid off. By paying off the debt I am taking care of myself.
I will post more later. For now Lunch is calling.
Saturday, September 06, 2008
August Wrap up
Well I did it. I survived August. I did not think I would but I did. Phew. The end result was I went 1400 over the budget. Mostly for taking Child to college. Thank God I had a wind fall from my Awesome grandmother. Thank you Grammie! I would not have been able to get daughter off to college without that.
Here is my NCN Progress chart. I am so proud. I have passed the 25% mark. I never never thought I would see that number change. Never never never. And here I am. Working it!
The question or perhaps worry I have now is How will things change when the baby comes? Will I be able to continue paying down the debt? I am resolved that I need a budget now more then ever. July and Aug were out of the realm of reality. I need to settle down and focus on myself now. We have begun the hunt for child care. Most cost around $1500 per month. Ihave promised to contribute about $500 per month to child care leaving my husband the other thousand. The next big debate is the MBA or second job. Dave Ramsey would say second job without question. I am actually thinking about delivering Pizzas. Although I also am looking into picking up some consulting on the side. That would earn me WAY WAY more money. We shall see. But just for todau I have a roof over my head. I have paid down 26.76% of my debt. I have made Septembers debt payments. I have covered my bills. All is okay.
Here is my NCN Progress chart. I am so proud. I have passed the 25% mark. I never never thought I would see that number change. Never never never. And here I am. Working it!
The question or perhaps worry I have now is How will things change when the baby comes? Will I be able to continue paying down the debt? I am resolved that I need a budget now more then ever. July and Aug were out of the realm of reality. I need to settle down and focus on myself now. We have begun the hunt for child care. Most cost around $1500 per month. Ihave promised to contribute about $500 per month to child care leaving my husband the other thousand. The next big debate is the MBA or second job. Dave Ramsey would say second job without question. I am actually thinking about delivering Pizzas. Although I also am looking into picking up some consulting on the side. That would earn me WAY WAY more money. We shall see. But just for todau I have a roof over my head. I have paid down 26.76% of my debt. I have made Septembers debt payments. I have covered my bills. All is okay.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Progress
Well I am proud to announce progress. My debt total is Under 30K it is 29,976.86 to be exact. I am so tickled. I love it. We are doing well and making progress. I am now turning my intensity to Credit card #2. The next highest interest rate card. I did a balance transfer a long time ago and it sits at 15.99%. Time to get it gone. By the calculations I made on the What's the cost website, I will have paid this sucker off by July of next year. Hoorah! I feel good about making progress. Its not perfect. Its not exactly what I want it to be but I feel confident that I will be doing the right thing. After all 24.69%progress is progress.
Here is my chart....
Here is my chart....
Monday, July 21, 2008
Renewed focus, Credit Card#2
So After looking at my different side bars I have decided to change the Credit card bar to read Credit card #2. I have paid off about half of what was on Credit card #1 and re financed the rest to lower interest rates. That card is GONE baby! So Credit card #2 is at 15.99% and the Balance in June was $ 4,562.21. I have made the June payment of $ 100.00. I am working on my cards in interest order. Dave Ramsey suggests to make progress with smallest first and then interest But I am tracking the debt pay down as a whole and I want to pay as little as possible to those stupid banks. I can see my progress in my NCN Chart. Interest order will accomplish that. The interest makes a bigger difference if you start with 40K in debt then if you had 10k. Its a lot of interest. As a matter of fact Credit card #2 I have never made a single purchase on. I opened it for the introductory balance. And then I never moved the money. Bad plan. Those were the old days this is the get out of debt world and I am not looking back. According to my debt snowball plan, Credit card #2 will be paid off in May 2009. As long as we keep on track. Whoop Whoop Whoop.
I think it is a sickness. I am actually looking forward to my statements this month so I can log in my progress. I am also looking forward to making my August payments. just so I can track the progress. It really helps to have a fully funded emergency fund. Hooray debt is going down this month.
I think it is a sickness. I am actually looking forward to my statements this month so I can log in my progress. I am also looking forward to making my August payments. just so I can track the progress. It really helps to have a fully funded emergency fund. Hooray debt is going down this month.
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
March Money Madness
Well it has been a long road this month. I will do a budget recap probably this weekend. Today I want to talk about graduation and college insanity which took place this past week. There were two forces at work on me last week. One was work and one was my family. I have never been able to travel for work in my life. When I was offered the opportunity to attend training I was excited to go. I knew pretty far in advance and gave my travel dates to my daughter and fiancée. It was not too big a deal she is a senior in high school and the pair get along most of the time. We created a plan. I was to travel to the training. On Thursday I would meet them in NC and we would then go together to a freshman registration weekend at the college my daughter is planning to attend. Great. I felt confident leaving things in my fiancée's hands and I felt my daughter would have the chance to have a little fun too.
Monday I flew to the training location. Fiancée had hurt his back. Oh boy. I was already wishing I could turn around and go home to be there for him. Tuesday he let me know that there was no way he could travel down with the daughter for the college weekend. Drat. Okay, So I hopped on line and found a cheep airline ticket for her to meet me at the airport and we would drive together to the college event. Hmmm... but wait... how would we drive? Well my dad lives not to far away... Oh no, the beloved basketball team is playing tonight. Drat. and I am going to need to get from the hotel to the college. Okay rent a car.
Now I should interject here that I have not put a single new charge on my credit cards since January. I am RESOLVED to be out of debt. So I did not take a credit card with me on the trip. I had enough coverage in my checking account to handle the trip. I have been holding a small sum waiting on the car insurance to tell me how much the insurance would be. So as I went off to training I thought I was covered. I was really resolved not to put any new charges onto plastic.
Oh but Murphy's law..... when something can go wrong it will go wrong. And so Murph dog came to visit me. First the additional plane ticket. Plus the planned expense of the hotel for the college weekend. Then the rental car. The freshman sign up weekend cost me are you ready..... $770.48. Oh its true. GULP where on earth am I going to get funding for that?
The travel out of pocket costs are $360.58. This money I will get back but companies are very slow to pay, which is why I did not want to put it on a credit card and have to front the interest. No thank you. So I have not yet figured out if March comes out even. I will pull all the numbers together.
On a side note. I had been missing listening to Dave Ramsey on my laptop while I go to sleep. (I like to listen to the archives) As I was catching up yesterday he had TWO callers ask about credit cards for traveling. He unequivocally stated that NO, you do not use credit for travel. Build up a small reserve and let it fly. Man am I glad I had that small cushion this week. This is why my goals for an emergency fund are $2000.00 not $1000.00 I just need a little more cash flow then the average bear with a teenage daughter.
Well I am really proud of myself this week. I was so nervous about needing to use the plastic. But I did it I stuck it out and I resisted the temptation to use that crutch. Yea HOO!
Monday I flew to the training location. Fiancée had hurt his back. Oh boy. I was already wishing I could turn around and go home to be there for him. Tuesday he let me know that there was no way he could travel down with the daughter for the college weekend. Drat. Okay, So I hopped on line and found a cheep airline ticket for her to meet me at the airport and we would drive together to the college event. Hmmm... but wait... how would we drive? Well my dad lives not to far away... Oh no, the beloved basketball team is playing tonight. Drat. and I am going to need to get from the hotel to the college. Okay rent a car.
Now I should interject here that I have not put a single new charge on my credit cards since January. I am RESOLVED to be out of debt. So I did not take a credit card with me on the trip. I had enough coverage in my checking account to handle the trip. I have been holding a small sum waiting on the car insurance to tell me how much the insurance would be. So as I went off to training I thought I was covered. I was really resolved not to put any new charges onto plastic.
Oh but Murphy's law..... when something can go wrong it will go wrong. And so Murph dog came to visit me. First the additional plane ticket. Plus the planned expense of the hotel for the college weekend. Then the rental car. The freshman sign up weekend cost me are you ready..... $770.48. Oh its true. GULP where on earth am I going to get funding for that?
The travel out of pocket costs are $360.58. This money I will get back but companies are very slow to pay, which is why I did not want to put it on a credit card and have to front the interest. No thank you. So I have not yet figured out if March comes out even. I will pull all the numbers together.
On a side note. I had been missing listening to Dave Ramsey on my laptop while I go to sleep. (I like to listen to the archives) As I was catching up yesterday he had TWO callers ask about credit cards for traveling. He unequivocally stated that NO, you do not use credit for travel. Build up a small reserve and let it fly. Man am I glad I had that small cushion this week. This is why my goals for an emergency fund are $2000.00 not $1000.00 I just need a little more cash flow then the average bear with a teenage daughter.
Well I am really proud of myself this week. I was so nervous about needing to use the plastic. But I did it I stuck it out and I resisted the temptation to use that crutch. Yea HOO!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Focus and Trust
I have some time management choices and some financial choices to make. This week I went to an information session about getting a masters degree. I have been thinking about it for a while and I wanted to be sure it was what I wanted to do. My time line was to apply for enrollment for the fall 2009 semester. I had in mind that in Sept. 2008 after my daughter goes to school I will have more time in the evenings and weekends as a result I would be able to get a second job. I would crank on my debt snowball while she is in School and I might be able to pay a large amount off before Sept 2009. The date it is currently set for. As long as I snow flake and keep going the way I have been for the last 3 months I will definitely have it paid before that.
My time line plan was to study for the next few months Take the GMATs in the fall and apply in Jan 2009 for fall of 2009. Here is the bonus... They might wave the GMAT because I have over 10 years of progressive work experience. If they were to wave the test I could probably pull the paperwork together by July and start taking classes this fall. Here is the wrinkle with that... I would not have as much time to get a second job and accelerate the debt snowball.
I read "How to Make the Time for Your Personal Goals" over on Zen Habits. I poured over it because one of my short term goals I have set is to read one hour a day. I mean to read a book for one hour per day. I seem unable to find time to accomplish this. I seem to spend A LOT of time reading blogs and not books. So as soon as I read the title I zoomed over to see if there was some insight into my life I could glean to help myself accomplish this goal. And I was brought up a little short by number one... “One goal at a time”.
It is hard for me to focus on one goal at a time. I have many balls in the air and to keep a balanced home I am always juggling something. I am also been a big fan of Dan Allen GTD. Trust in the system. If you don’t trust the system then you won’t feel confident in your minds ability to keep track of the goals. The gerbil running “gotta go… gotta go” in my head spins and spins.
I keep a running list of goals. I also track a running list of “to do” items. I use the site http://www.netvibes.com/. I make lots of little web notes into a very large list and I cut and paste based on priority. This way the list follows me where ever I go and I can jot things down before I forget them. I have so many things on my “to do” list I could not begin to get the list down to one item. I mean if you have a goal of retiring with a fully funded 401k how does someone accomplish that goal? Break it down into smaller tasks. Okay then what? Do a little bit every day or every month. But then I would have a lot of time left in a month to do other stuff if I only had one focus.
Perhaps it is a matter of while you are doing the one task stay focused on that task until you accomplish it. Don’t start doing the dishes until you have finished the blog entry. That part I can understand. I get so many interruptions per day staying on track for any given project is a real challenge. But then am I robbing myself of accomplishing my goals because I have to multi task or is it a matter of style?
There are two really big items I want to accomplish in the future. The first is getting rid of the debt I have. The second is getting a masters degree. I will not melt if I never start to read a book for one hour per day. But if I never start on the Masters I feel I will be 50 before I am finished. I will not accomplish my goals. I am determined to keep blogging about debt. I am determined to continue on the journey to be debt free. I have made Major strides in working this plan. The question is could I do both?
Ah… wait there is another factor… the cost. I have committed $ 1,000.00 of my monthly budget to pay down the debt. I cannot waiver in this commitment. I do get tuition from my employer for classes.
Evaluating the cost…
| Employer | $5,250 | Me | Credits | ||||
| Fall 2008 | 3630 | $1,620 | | | 6 | 2 | |
| Spring 2009 | 3630 | $1,620 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Summer 2009 | 1815 | ($195) | 3 | 1 | |||
| Fall 2009 | 3630 | ($3,825) | | $3,825 | 6 | 2 | |
| Spring 2010 | 3630 | $1,620 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Summer 2010 | 1815 | ($195) | 3 | 1 | |||
| Fall 2010 | 3630 | ($3,825) | | $3,825 | 6 | 2 | |
| Spring 2011 | 3630 | $1,620 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Summer 2011 | 1815 | ($195) | 3 | 1 | |||
| Fall 2011 | 3630 | ($3,825) | | $3,825 | 6 | 2 | |
| Spring 2012 | 3630 | $1,620 | 6 | 2 | |||
| Summer 2012 | 1815 | ($195) | 3 | 1 | |||
| Fall 2012 | 3630 | ($3,825) | | $3,825 | 6 | 2 | |
| Spring 2013 | 1815 | $3,435 | 3 | 1 | |||
| Fall 2013 | 1815 | $1,620 | 3 | 1 | |||
| $ 15,300 | 72 | 24 |
When I become Debt free the cost of $4000.00 per year is very manageable. It will cost over $16,000 to get the degree. BUT the average salary of someone after they complete this degree is double my salary. Getting the MBA makes it easily worth the investment of money. I would earn back the cost of school in one year.
The Challenge...
Start grad school this year? Or work for 1 year to pay off debt and then have enough progress on the snowball that would allow me to go to school.
Trust….
I trust the math. I believe in the numbers. I believe I will be debt free on or before Sept 2011. If I postpone my start of school I will be MUCH better off than if I were to start now. I came across a budget I created in 2000 to pay off a credit card. The payments were unrealistic and I remember not doing it at all. After much debate today I have come to the conclusion that I should maintain focus on debt and the degree will come next. It is the price I must pay for the poor money choices I have made in the past. And what is a year really? Time for fiancée and I to enjoy one another alone. Not a bad choice at all. Maybe if I got a job at the gym they would give me a discount. Hmmm… It is food for thought.
So In conclusion. I think short bursts of focus are good. But you have to keep balance and the big picture in mind. Of course I travel a road less traveled and so maybe my choices are not for everyone. But that has made all the difference in my life. It has made me the person who I am today.Monday, March 03, 2008
Murphy and being prepared
Today was a day that will live in the family lore for a very long time. I am still not over how well I was able to handle it. Really living on "No Credit Needed" and "No more debt" was put to the giant test today. I am proud to say I passed. And maybe BECAUSE I passed things turned out so well for us..... Here are the details. you decide...
This morning my daughter took her drivers test. She did not pass. It was a devastating blow for her. She was torn apart. She had been flying high all weekend. She was so excited she offered to get up at 5:00 in the morning to drive me to work. LOL Like I want to be there that early! I knew when the tester swapped spots with her on the exam course that she was going to explode. On the whole I tried to be the rock for her. I tried to have peace in my heart for my baby when really all I wanted was to go and fly swat that guy. Parallel parking did her in. Poor thing. We rescheduled the test for next Monday. She declined to drive for the ride home. (She cried the entire trip.) So I got into the drivers seat. The check engine light was on. Now you don't know me but car maintenance really stresses me out. I mean over the top you do not want to chat with me on a day I am having my car worked on. In the past a large part of that is because I know I cant afford to have anything go wrong. I can not afford a single thing to happen to that car. And I love my car. I got a very very reliable car that would have minimal maintenance issues. I have been taken advantage of by many many mechanics and I do not enjoy the ride. So As I am getting older I have begun to be just a smidgen wiser... This time I would NOT take the car to the dealer behind my home. I am taking it to the dealer where my fiancee bought his car. I called ahead to see if they would have time to work on the car today. The mechanic explained it would be a $104.00 charge to diagnose the problem. The light had been on before and my fiancee had turned it off. He is an excellent guy to have around in a pinch. We had discussed that if the light did come back on again it would need to go into the shop. So there I went. It is a intermittent problem and the dealer could not reproduce the problem. My fiancee talked to the manager and explained the day we were having. He had also just had his car there for repairs. They waved the fee to diagnose the issue. They looked at the car and could not see anything obvious wrong with the car. So..... they waved the fee.
The whole drive over to get the car looked at I just kept telling myself to be calm. I even stopped at the house to gather some relevant paperwork. I thought about putting the credit card into my purse "Just in case". But I was strong. I chose not to. I thought I will use my emergency fund if I have to this is what its there for. And God smiled on us. I did not need to use either one. Murphy has been politely asked to leave. Now if I could just catch up on all the things I need to do for my work. sigh.....
Total cost for the day $0
Effort to build up emergency fund and have it just in case... Priceless!
This morning my daughter took her drivers test. She did not pass. It was a devastating blow for her. She was torn apart. She had been flying high all weekend. She was so excited she offered to get up at 5:00 in the morning to drive me to work. LOL Like I want to be there that early! I knew when the tester swapped spots with her on the exam course that she was going to explode. On the whole I tried to be the rock for her. I tried to have peace in my heart for my baby when really all I wanted was to go and fly swat that guy. Parallel parking did her in. Poor thing. We rescheduled the test for next Monday. She declined to drive for the ride home. (She cried the entire trip.) So I got into the drivers seat. The check engine light was on. Now you don't know me but car maintenance really stresses me out. I mean over the top you do not want to chat with me on a day I am having my car worked on. In the past a large part of that is because I know I cant afford to have anything go wrong. I can not afford a single thing to happen to that car. And I love my car. I got a very very reliable car that would have minimal maintenance issues. I have been taken advantage of by many many mechanics and I do not enjoy the ride. So As I am getting older I have begun to be just a smidgen wiser... This time I would NOT take the car to the dealer behind my home. I am taking it to the dealer where my fiancee bought his car. I called ahead to see if they would have time to work on the car today. The mechanic explained it would be a $104.00 charge to diagnose the problem. The light had been on before and my fiancee had turned it off. He is an excellent guy to have around in a pinch. We had discussed that if the light did come back on again it would need to go into the shop. So there I went. It is a intermittent problem and the dealer could not reproduce the problem. My fiancee talked to the manager and explained the day we were having. He had also just had his car there for repairs. They waved the fee to diagnose the issue. They looked at the car and could not see anything obvious wrong with the car. So..... they waved the fee.
The whole drive over to get the car looked at I just kept telling myself to be calm. I even stopped at the house to gather some relevant paperwork. I thought about putting the credit card into my purse "Just in case". But I was strong. I chose not to. I thought I will use my emergency fund if I have to this is what its there for. And God smiled on us. I did not need to use either one. Murphy has been politely asked to leave. Now if I could just catch up on all the things I need to do for my work. sigh.....
Total cost for the day $0
Effort to build up emergency fund and have it just in case... Priceless!
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