Debt with a chance of snow

**imagine** · 10-01-2010, 10:06 AM

I'm not sure it really is a snowball more like flurries. A bit extra here and there as possible. That is all we are able to accomplish at this point. This frustrates me. Tell me that flurries do add up and you can make snowballs out of that.

Trying to look on the bright side: Flurries are a step up from the drought of being in the red ( spend more than you actually brought in some months). So even months with no flurries are preferable to drought right?

Wishing for a blizzard not just flurries metaphorically speaking

**imagine** · 10-01-2010, 01:42 PM

I'm guessing the silence means that flurries don't turning in snowballs and that there isn't much hope for debt reduction.

**Greebo** · 10-01-2010, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

I'm guessing the silence means that flurries don't turning in snowballs and that there isn't much hope for debt reduction.

I think the silence just meant people read your post and thought that was a rhetorical question.

**imagine** · 10-01-2010, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Greebo

I think the silence just meant people read your post and thought that was a rhetorical question.

Oh I see.

Nope, a serious question hidden in there was, A bit here and there does bring down debt, right?

I guess if they thought it was a rhetorical question that it does work that way: flurries turn in, to snowballs, then avalanches.

**Momto5RN** · 10-01-2010, 02:42 PM

every little bit helps.
20$ paid down is 20 $ you dont have to pay back later and 20$ that doesnt have interest charged on it !!

of course its more fun to see it happen in big snowballs but hours of flurries can still add up to a foot of snow in the end !!!

**imagine** · 10-01-2010, 03:11 PM

Thanks

I feel more confident. Just needed to hear that it works from someone.

**frugal is fun** · 10-01-2010, 03:25 PM

Of course it works! you have to start somewhere and that start is usually baby steps or your "flurries".

Not many people can start with hundreds of dollars, if they could they wouldn't be in that position in the first place.

Look at the positives, stop looking at the negatives

give yourself a chance (and others by your gee, whoa is me, no one responded to my post).

be proud of every dollar, every penny, you can put towards your debt and the sacrifices you're making

Attitude is everything!

**imagine** · 10-01-2010, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by frugal is fun

Of course it works! you have to start somewhere and that start is usually baby steps or your "flurries".

Not many people can start with hundreds of dollars, if they could they wouldn't be in that position in the first place.

Look at the positives, stop looking at the negatives

give yourself a chance (and others by your gee, whoa is me, no one responded to my post).

be proud of every dollar, every penny, you can put towards your debt and the sacrifices you're making

Attitude is everything!

Sorry my anxiousness, nervousness, pit in my stomach and throat as I start out of this new journey made me impatient.

**Ceashels** · 10-01-2010, 04:15 PM

I believe every flurry has a purpose! And flurries do become snowballs to throw at debt.

I have a friend who didn't see how $20 a month could really help her climb out of debt... so 5 months later she still has the debt and not $100 to pay it down. She also doesn't know what the money was spent on.

Congratulations on your journey... the snow will start to fall and you'll be throwing snowballs before you know it.

**HappyMama** · 10-01-2010, 06:03 PM

Being debt free is an important goal and journey , the first step is a financial plan and commitment which you have done. Congratulations you are on your way and every little bit not only helps but makes you a master of your money and not the other way away. Each amount now matter how small is less you owe and that is the blessing behind beginning! Good luck to you , keep your chin up and your eyes on the goal,and success will be inevitable.

**Momto5RN** · 10-01-2010, 06:58 PM

alot of time in frugal books and dave ramseys books and shows you hear of people paying off tons of money real quick.

it can be frustrating and inspirational at the same time.

well the way i look at it alot of these testimonials - if they did it without selling houses/ cars property or taken second jobs etc they were actually wasting ALOT a month on non necessities to start with and for who knows how many years
so although it looks good on paper how quick they paid things off think of how much they wasted over the years with their bad habits .

its hard to make big snowballs when you have always been rather frugal to start with and when you stop doing unfrugal things all you have is a few snowflakes - not a huge pile of them
at the end of the month/

some people can find alot in their budget- some can work extra ( like i do when i can ) - some just have to do it one snowflake at a time
just remember its not a contest or a race - so many have their own special situations going on ;

for every little bit you pay down be proud of yourself you put it towards debt rather than blowing it in another way !!!

**kita** · 10-01-2010, 07:28 PM

And the control can be amazing. I made some stupid choices, got myself into a bad situation, lost my $45,000 a year job. BUT even though I am frustrated I am not further down the debt-free road than I am, I have to remember that I am underemployed and am making less than half what I was before. The fact that I have moved across the country, sold and purchased another car, went without an income for two months, and am not MORE in debt means that I have made headway from when my cat went into the hospital and they said that I had to get a CC to pay the bill. Because I couldn't pay cash.

**frugalfiend** · 10-01-2010, 10:49 PM

When I made our first budget it was depressing with a capital D! We hardly had anything extra to put towards debt. We're talking maybe $20 a month. Many months there was more money going out than coming in. We didn't live of CC, we just didn't pay what was left over. This is our second month of following DR plan, but really the first month that we've gone 100% gazelle intense. We had an unexpected snowball this month and are going to be able to add about $300 on the debt.

Just keep your chin up and remember that this time will go by whether you are working on your debt or not. It's going to be a tough process, but just imagine what it will feel like to be DEBT FREE!!

**Ilovesewing** · 10-01-2010, 11:17 PM

Absolutely flurries count! The trick when doing it a flurry at a time is to really really really make sure you don't run up any more debt at the same time....this will negate the flurries very quickly.

DH and I started with flurries....we are now up to avalanche and are on track to be completely, mortgage and all, debt free within 7 years which is when dh will retire.

So yes! Flurries are a fantastic way to start!

**khaski** · 10-03-2010, 09:10 AM

Flurries are AWESOME if ya can't get the snowball thing! I have been selling stuff on ebay for a bit now (yard sale finds, extra stuff lying around the house etc) and everytime I get paid, I pay it down on my CC...even if it's $3.18 or $11.24.....it DOES add up, I PROMISE!

I think it's even harder to work with 'flurries' than 'snowballs'...it takes much more determination to realize EVERY $ counts, yes, even that $12 you just put towards principle on something. It's far easier to toss aside and not properly use that $5 than that $50!

So hats off to you for having the gumption, it works, simply takes longer, but it's a testament to your determination to do this and it WILL pay off in the long run and you should be VERY proud of yourself for doing it, even the little bits! Keep at it...you're on the right track!