I'm going to stop using the credit cards!

**guest2** · 10-22-2003, 03:26 PM

I took a good look at our financial situation and am determined to stop using the credit cards if I can't pay off the balance in full each month. Right now I have to stop using them and work on paying them off. We had some really rough times financially and I used the cards to get us through. Now I can see that I just got us deeper into debt and I need to stop! I talked to my wonderful husband about this and asked him to forgive me and he did. Now it's time to buckle down, try to save even more money and apply that to the credit card debt we have.

Have any of you either done this or are in the middle of doing this? In all my adult life I have never had all of our credit cards totally paid off and I really want to do this!

**homesteadmamma** · 10-22-2003, 03:34 PM

Debbie, 7 years ago this past Sept. we cut up all our cc, wrote to the companies asking them to close our accounts and we began paying them off.   We were $18,000.00 in debt to cc companies (by mostly my foolishness).  Since that time, we have had no cc - zippo.   When writing to the companies, we told them our budget and how we planned on paying each off.    We were charged NO extra fees for closing out the accounts!!!

It was very scary, because I relied on those cc to get us through difficult times, purchase winter clothing etc., but I believed strongly I had heard a still small voice telling me to do so.     We have never regretted it and have never looked back.  Instead of relying on cc, we began to rely on God supplying our needs.    We prayed much and in those 7 years, we've never gone without when it came to needs.    (notice I mentioned NEEDS here.)  It really helped our faith grow.

Dh travelled for a number of years at the beginning of cutting up our cc without a cc.  We learnt to book our hotels in advance and to be there by 6.     We even rented a motorhome to go on a dream vacation in 2000 and we didn't need to use a cc, we only had to give them a draft of $500 deposit and the estimated amount they felt it would cost.     When we got back from our holidays, 2 days later we had the deposit back along with a few extra $$ we hadn't used.    Its interesting because they said they had never done it that way before, but they wanted our business.

It was one of the best things we did.    Had we been in debt when dh lost his job to downsizing and being sold, we would have lost everything!!!

It can be done, even though cc companies will tell you otherwise, society will tell you otherwise.    I'm a living example.     No we don't have everything I might want, but at no times have our needs not been met!!

 

**isaacsmommy** · 10-22-2003, 03:44 PM

Debbie,

I am in the process of doing this right now. Dh and I are doing really well financially, but currently carry about $6000 in cc debt. Just last week I sent a check off for $400 for one of our two cards. I want to get the entire balance paid off and get back to only charging what we can pay back within 2 months. I'll be here every step of the way as you whiddle down your debt!

Wendy

**bamamomto4** · 10-22-2003, 03:51 PM

I recently paid off our cc's (around $7,000 I think..there's a post somewhere here about it lol) It was hard and even though I've used them since,I ONLY charge what I can pay back each month.
What got me into so much cc debt was the candle making.I had to buy all my supplies online using my cc's and I wasn't using the money I made,to pay the balance off every month.
I still find great deals online that I think i HAVE to have,so I use my cc to get it,but it's paid off soon as the bill arrives!

Good Luck!! You can do it! I know you can!!!

**Mom23boys** · 10-22-2003, 04:04 PM

You can do it Debbie. Just set your mind to it and stay on track.

I only use one cc and only charge what I can pay off each month. I don't like finance charges.

**i.m.cheap** · 10-22-2003, 06:35 PM

Debbie, I am right there with you sister! We have about $7,000 in credit card debt. Most of it is for things that we did not desperately need, but bought it anyway. Like furniture, clothes and Christmas gifts. When we bought our home two years ago, I was anxious to decorate, so we charged paint, wallborder, windowcoverings, etc. That was really stupid. I would like to join you in climbing out of debt.

Deb

**mylittle4** · 10-22-2003, 06:45 PM

We did this over the summer closed our account and paid it off. We do not have much of an emergency account to fall back on and it is scary at times but I havent regretted it and I love knowing we are not carrying that debt around. Soon you will love the freedom it brings you too!

**Shell** · 10-22-2003, 06:49 PM

I almost had all of mine paid off then

I have been slowly paying off and cutting up my cc's. I'd like to cut up one more. You can do it!!!!

**PrairieRose** · 10-22-2003, 07:57 PM

It can be done Debbie, we've done it too. Just hang in there and work hard at not buying anything on impulse. I do my best to think my purchases through much longer than before. I'm not saying that I don't use credit cards because I do, but I use them for the purchase and pay it off before I'm ever charged one dime of interest. Every month, it's back to zero balance. It works for us.

**Darlene** · 10-22-2003, 08:21 PM

Good for you Debbie! You can do this! When you want kids to do something they don't particularly like (like picking up) we adults try to make a game out of it. Same thing works for some adult jobs too. See how much you can save and put towards dept. See how much fun you can have with what you have. You can do this!!!

**guest2** · 10-22-2003, 08:30 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouragement and words of wisdom!

We have way to much credit card debt and I want out! I look at how much we are paying in interest and it just kills me to think that money could be used to actually pay off other debt. I know that since DH and I have decided to do this that we will be tested in this area. But.....we just have to do it!

**lucy979** · 10-23-2003, 02:48 AM

We too have paid off all our cc's. It is very liberating to have them gone. We made a budget and paid alot more each month than the minimum payment. That helped us tremendously. I wish you luck! It might be hard but just think of the end results!

**Shell** · 10-23-2003, 11:43 AM

Perhaps I should start the credit card challenge again.

**duckduckgoose007** · 10-23-2003, 12:05 PM

No credit card debt here..Thank God. We went through that when the kids were growing up...it was hard...always robbing Peter to pay Paul. Now we only buy what we can afford & pay them completely every month.