Where to begin....

**sunray16** · 07-23-2007, 08:57 PM

Hi! I'm new here.

I happened to stumble across this site when I was searching google for budget information. I just finished reading Financial Peace and am ready to go...sortof. I know all the steps and I have all my pretty spreadsheets ready to go, but I seem to be having a problem actually starting the process...almost a fear. I don't know why and I can't really explain it other than overwhelming.

DH and I have been married 7 years and have had financial issues since the beginning primarily due to my DH's job problems. He spent quite a while out of work when we first got married and things were tough. We always managed to keep our heads above water and by some miracle keep all our accounts current. But with DH out of work, we relied on credit cards to supplement where my income and unemployment didn't cover things..needless to say, we're in pretty deep.

I've been lurking on here for a week or so now and am completely embarassed by the amount of debt we've accummulated. It seems like we have more than everyone else and I'm so completely overwhelmed with it all, I don't even know where to start.

**Cricketlegs** · 07-23-2007, 09:14 PM

First you have to put the debt in black and white on the paper!

It hurts but there it is.

Then find out what your bring home income is.

Then hit the smallest debt first,~~if you don't have an EMERGENCY FUND or EF then work on that at this time too~~.

When that one goes away SNOWBALL to the next one and so on down the list.

Make sure you are steadily adding to your EF! That way when they toliet explodes you don't undo all your hard work by having to pay with a credit card.

It spends easier than it gets paid for!

This is a great helpful site~~~http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx?country=us

Good luck and post often. Sometimes when it seems there is no way out there is someone here who has BEEN THERE and can help and support you.

You are not alone!

**Laurie in Bradenton** · 07-23-2007, 09:18 PM

Start with the smallest debt first, regardless of size you've got to have one thats less then all the rest. Focus on it. Pay it down with your extra pennies. When its gone focus on the next one. Your eating an elephant start with the first bite. Make it a small one so you don't choke. Also you won't sabbatoge yourself by trying to do too much. When you tackle the first one it will give you that boost to tackle the second one. Elephants always travel in herds.
Also remember nothing happens over night even God took 6 days. Pace yourself.

Laurie in Bradenton

**latierra84** · 07-23-2007, 09:23 PM

our situations are different, but i can tell you one thing.. frugal village has been such a wonderful tool for me. i have learned so many things on this site, through others experiences, both mistakes and victories.

welcome.

**Jaded** · 07-23-2007, 09:24 PM

Hi Sunray! First off, a lot of us have been where you are. There is absolutely nothing to be ashamed of. The reason you see a lot of us doing better, is because we've been working on it.

The more you read here, the more you can see that you CAN crawl out of the debt hole. You will need to cut up all but one of those credit cards, and only keep that one for emergencies. It sounds impossible, but I'm doing it. I recently ran up $300 on mine from a trip to see my son in April, and I've already paid it down to $101! Not so amazing, huh? Well, I only make $9.50 an hour. More amazing now?

You can do it too. Just keep reading, and keep doing what the people on here tell you to do, and you will be fine.

I hate hunting down the smilies, so I'm just gonna say **mega hugs**

**Cricket1** · 07-23-2007, 09:28 PM

Hey--but you're here. Welcome, by the way. The point is, you're doing something about it here. We all have to start somewhere.

**jamie79** · 07-23-2007, 10:32 PM

Welcome. Believe me when I tell you we are all familar with debt. Start small, take it slow, dont beat yourself up and remember to reward yourself occasionally ( small reward) for recognizing and doing something about it

**frugalfarmwife** · 07-23-2007, 10:42 PM

I agree with all listed above, and also peek into our grocery challenges, check into couponing, cutting things like extras on cable/phones, it's inspiring when you see all that can be done.

So take that big breath, put it all down in black and white and make a PLAN!

And yes, reward yourself from time to time, it's necessary.

And, big AND, if you fall off the wagon at any time just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start again, we've all been there too!

And WELCOME!

kj

**rosebron** · 07-23-2007, 10:45 PM

As you can see here, most of us are or have been where you are today. Last year this time, I was too scared to reveal where I was or what was going on with me finanially and emotionally. But with time and encoragement from all at this site, I have become financially naked and it is very liberating as you can see in my sig below!!! In fact, I was able to pay off over $26,000 in credit card debt in less than a year.

So, my advice is to you is to FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS. But if you do get off-track, REFOCUS. If you have a question, someone(s) of us will have solutions. Continue reading here. But, you've already made the most important step, which is getting involved in your money management!!

**sunray16** · 07-23-2007, 11:05 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I'm working on my spreadsheet and getting all my numbers crunched.

I've got my debt snowball and budget all written out, now I just need to stick with it.

I do have a question though: I've got my budget balanced with every dollar of expected income allocated to a specific category or bill. At the end of the month, all the money balances out, but because a certain number of bills are due in the first part and the rest in the second part of the month (bi-weekly paychecks), I'm a couple hundred dollars short in the beginning and a couple hundred over in the end. How can I correct this? Should I call one of the bills and ask them to change my due date until after the 15th?

**TheRootedNomad** · 07-24-2007, 06:58 AM

Originally Posted by sunray16

Thanks everyone for the encouraging words. I'm working on my spreadsheet and getting all my numbers crunched.

I've got my debt snowball and budget all written out, now I just need to stick with it.

I do have a question though: I've got my budget balanced with every dollar of expected income allocated to a specific category or bill. At the end of the month, all the money balances out, but because a certain number of bills are due in the first part and the rest in the second part of the month (bi-weekly paychecks), I'm a couple hundred dollars short in the beginning and a couple hundred over in the end. How can I correct this? Should I call one of the bills and ask them to change my due date until after the 15th?

Bi-weekly here too. I would call and see if you can get one of them switched. I couldn't get that to work for us and had to use my very small beginning money (that should've been put towards my baby EF) getting started being ahead on one or two of the odd smaller bills so that my money flowed right. I've finally gotten my bills so that I'm always one or two months in my cash envelopes for when the bills are due. (like right now it's the end of July but I'm starting to put money in the envelopes for Sept. bills) It's taken a long time to get to this point but the "safe/prepared" feeling is worth it. I still have my EF, and if/when money starts to build in certain bill envelopes I make my dump to the EF.

The Villlage has definately been a huge support for me. It's rough at first going down this road, but if you stick to it, it can be done. And.... ya mine as well take some the journey with friends that understand.

**Its_Donna** · 07-24-2007, 07:08 AM

You have gotten some wonderful advise and I really have nothing to add so I will say

and

to FV...we're glad you're here!

**cheappearls** · 07-24-2007, 11:38 AM

HI!! Welcome to the village.

We are bi weekly here too. We called a couple of places and switched the bill dates so our budget evens out. Things like car payments and insurance are easy to change. Worse they can do is say no. Then you just have to keep the extra from one paycheck to pay a bill after the next pay check. Not much harder but less to remember if you can just get the bill date changed.

Just start small and you can get your debt down. You can do it!

**thrifty gal** · 07-24-2007, 12:11 PM

You are definitely not alone! Absolutely no need to be ashamed. I have a lot of debt, so I know it's hard. The main thing to do is to do something. Don't just let it pile up, and keep adding to it. Become proactive, which you have started doing! FV is a great place for support and info. Good luck!!

**justpeachy92** · 07-24-2007, 12:35 PM

hi and welcome to the group. Like the others have said you are not alone and there is no reason to be ashamed. My siggy only shows a fraction of the debt my dh and I owe, to be honest if I put the full amount on there I would be willing to bet many of the members here would have a heart attack. My siggy represents the debt I hope to have paid off by Feb 2008. As for your other question, yes I would call and see if you can change the due dates on your bills. The worst that can happen is they say no. If they do then you have to figure out how to due your budget so that those bills would actually be able to be paid early. So that at the end of the month you have the money for the bills that are due the beginning of next month. You will also find that as you follow the baby steps and your EF starts to grow you won't stress so much about the bills.