Hello again

**Sheila1019** · 04-18-2008, 10:01 PM

Well it has been some time since I have posted here. I do come and lurk though occassionally. My full-on frugal lifestyle will be starting TODAY.

Dh and I have alot of cc debt. Things have spiraled out of control and we make payments albeight lately they have been late and last night was horrible. I donot deny we made the debt nor do we intend to *screw* the cc companies out of money however last night was the last straw. I have told some of the cc companies that we are having financial trouble that is why our payments have been late and bc prior to this we were *good* they always understood and were willing to work with us. Well last night we got a call from Wells Fargo our account was 8 days past due and this guy was nice until I told him we just walked in the door and my dd was crying and I know my payment is due and as of that point bc dh's pay gets direct deposit I hadn't sat down to see what was in there(the truth)but they were on my to pay list(the truth)OMG he started telling me he wasn't letting me off the phone that he demanded I make a payment(our payment was for $100 btw) so I tell him again I just walked in etc I would call back and do that payment that was it. He started screaming at me telling me I better make a payment now!! So I panicked then I remembered something in Dave Ramsey's book that they are trying to scare you so that was it. I told this guy he was harrassing me and I was gonna tape him telling me I better make a payment well then the bitch got defensive and said he wasn't harrassing me and proceeded to tell me that he was gonna put a refusal to make a payment so I told him to go

himself. I got myself together called and made the payment and told the nice girl that I talked to what happened and she had logged in quite a few complaints that night from other people getting harrassed. She said Wells Fargo doesn't want their customers to be treated like that. Well damage was done. My anxiety was awful last night. My symptoms were bad.

Anyways dh and I took the plunge and called Consumer Credit Counseling and I found this great kid that helped me see there is a light at the end of the tunnel and using them we will get out of debt by June 2012.

My brother and ex sil used CCCs and they helped them. Sure things are gonna be tight but if we did this on our own we would be paying off our credit cards in 2056 I would be 85. I would rather take the way we will go and sacrifice for 4 years and be 41 when our debt is paid off rather than 85.

Besides getting rid of ccs and crap will do us a world of good. The funny thing is though we don't have lots of things to show for all this debt. Yes some of it was for plane tickets when we adopted our dd and when 2 of our kitties were sick before they died but still it is bad.................

Thank God we can do something about it.

The only thing I will have problems with is food shopping. Never had a budget so there will be some adjustments but I will do it.

Sheila

**Jskell911** · 04-18-2008, 11:30 PM

Sheila,
welcome back! Evan if you don't have much to say, just keep lurking. These ladies are great and have wonderful ideas. Everything is getting tight for so many, we need all the help and brainstorming we can get.

**mom2matty** · 04-18-2008, 11:41 PM

Welcome back!!

**luv-my-lexi** · 04-19-2008, 08:29 AM

Sheila....all of the people here have helped us tremendously. I had aready been well on the way to paying everything off but was having the problem with frivilous spending and eating out. Just from reading here it seems to keep my spending in check. I also went to a "very" part time job at the beginning of the year, only 3 hours a day and LOVE it. I have saved more money in our EF than I did when I was working more hours. You can do it but you have to really "want" to do it. Good Luck and these ladies/men have tons of helpful advice.

**kaykwilts** · 04-19-2008, 11:50 AM

Debt collectors are notorious for being scum when trying to collect debt. They wanted to rattle you and succeeded. Best thing to do is hang up on them if they get out of control. Don't give them the pleasure of upsetting you.

**Athena31** · 04-19-2008, 12:55 PM

Wow that is awful! Hope they lay off so you can have some peace and quiet. Just do the best you can and pay what you can.

**yankeegal** · 04-19-2008, 03:45 PM

Welcome back! This is a great place for all things frugal and the people here are more than happy to lend a hand!
You may want to look into a notifying these collectors in writing that you do not wish to be called. Or else screen your calls so you don't have to deal with someone so rude!