[MelissaMarie]

I used to visit these boards a lot. I paid down a good amount of my debt. I logged in today because I have been feeling very stressed out lately about my debt. I see my old signature when I logged in, and my debt then was more than half what it is now. What have I wasted all that credit on? I have nothing to show for it.

I've been selling stuff on Amazon and paying down the cards, but I've still been using the cards... big no no. I feel terrible and ashamed. I cut up all but 1 credit card the other day. The 1 credit card I still have I won't use because it has a really high APR for purchases (I have a balance transfer on it though at 0%).

I'm so depressed. I have gathered up a bunch of stuff and will be posting stuff on Ebay over the weekend, getting rid of stuff... whatever I don't sell on Ebay I'm putting out at a yard sale, then craigslist and whatever doesn't sell will be donated. I'm going to start looking for another job that pays more as well. It's so depressing.

I also have 15,242.52 in student loan debt but I want to tackle the CC debt first (but still keep up with the SL payments). I have NEVER been late on any payment, so at least that is a positive. I was planning on going back to school but I don't think that will be a good idea because being in so much debt is stressful enough. I had 1,000 in savings at one point and 3,000 in credit card debt. Now I have 115.15 in savings and 7,177.14 in CC debt.

Sorry for rambling, I needed to get this off my chest. I am going to tackle this debt like I have tackled my weight for the past year (have lost 80 pounds so far).

Thanks for listening.

 

[MelissaMarie]

I meant the debt in my signature used to be half what it is now... err.

 

[Jaded]

It's never too late to start over. Trust me, I've done it more than once. My credit won't be clear until 2009. Two more loooooong years before all the bad stuff is off.

 

[Cricketlegs]

Okay, you slid in both the EF and in the credit department. It happened and now find your positive attitude and get to work.

Sounds like you have a plan to sell things to make some cash. Great idea!

I suggest that whatever you make you put 1/3 in the EF and 2/3 on the credit card.

That way you are increasing the good and at the same time DECREASING the bad.

WIN WIN situation.

Go here and see how much you need to put on the card each month and jiggle it around until you find out what works best for your budget.

http://www.whatsthecost.com/snowball.aspx?country=us

Then maybe you can take a good look at your monthly budget....what can you shave off? What can you drop completely? Where can you locate extra cash??? Groceries, cable, phone packages, clothes shopping, misc. spending?

Gather up that change and throw it in the hopper! Put it on the credit card!

Welcome back to the frugal wagon, hop on and get ready for the ride!

It is NEVER to late to turn it around!

 

[MelissaMarie]

Thank you so much for the support. I cashed in one of my rewards with a CC I have and got a gift card, my dad always shops at Target so he agreed to buy the GC at face value from me, so that money I get from him will be put towards the CC debt. Got another gift card I am going to do the same thing with. I have 25 dollars worth of coins I am going to deposit into my account and put towards my debt. I calculated how much I can make if I sell everything I have that I don't need and I know I can cut the CC debt in half... probably even more... so that is a relief.

I'm going to do this, for sure. Nothing is impossible. Once I tackle the CC debt I am going to go after the student loan. I will also put a good amount back into my EF and I am NOT going to touch it unless I have a real emergency.

The key for me would be finding a new job, more than anything. RIght now I have been putting it off because the less stress I have the more weight I lose... but the debt is a stress in itself and I can do without it.

I am really determined. I wrote down everything I owe, and I am going to get money wherever I can... I'll even look underneath the couch cushions... it all adds up, hehe. Writing this all down has really helped put everything in perspective.

 

[Jenna]

I'm going to do this, for sure. Nothing is impossible.

:cheer4:

Stay focused and maintain the positive attitude! You CAN pay this off.

 

[Little Birdie]

And congrats on the weight loss!

 

[chatterweb]

And I may add losing weight is more beneficial than losing debt.

Heath is key!!!

I am losing debt, but not losing weight, and if I had 1 wish it would be to lose weight over keeping debt...

Health is key!!!

 

[Scattymum]

good luck! you can do it!, congrats on the weight loss as well!!

 

[Its_Donna]

Welcome Back! :cowwave: and :congrats: on the Weight Loss.

We're here for you :hugz:

 

[Darlene]

Melissa is on a mission! :rockon:
You can do this! All kinds of positive stuff in your post. You are on your way to a healthier you, body & soul.
Keep on kicking debt's butt, cheering you on! :cheergrl:

 

[PrairieRose]

Well I just wanna say from the stand point of having been there and done/doing that....(weightloss and debt reduction) that you've accomplished an amazing thing! 80 pounds is a LOT of weight to lose. If I were sitting in your shoes I'd have a very good idea where a lot of that money went....on new clothes! I've lost 81 pounds and I know how danged much fun buying smaller clothes is. Now, you've misbehaved a little bit with credit but ok, so what? Get back in control and do what you gotta do. You know how to accomplish something major, I mean obviously you do. Just do it. No more beating yourself up for it. Just go and do it. WTG on the weightloss! That's awesome (feels great doesn't it? ).

 

[mommy4ever]

I see one key factor in your post.

YOU REALIZED WHAT YOU'VE DONE! And you're ready to be accountable.

We all backslide sometimes. I just returned from my backslide. It sucks to have done it, but beating yourself up over it, just adds to the stress. Set up your budget and go with it. All you can do. Chin up and join the Losers club(Losing debt that is..lol)

 

[ravenmaniac]

Stay focused, on the future not the past. Hind sight is 20/20 but keep it as a lesson as what not to do. Move forward. What you've done doesn't make you a terrible person. I hope you can continue to gather yourself together and get your debt back down. Now how good will that feel? Welcome back and stick with FV for support.

 

[frugalfoster]

I used to maintain that I could control my money or I could control my diet but never both.... until this year..... I paid off over $3000 in debt last month by working a ton of over time and I have lost 45 pounds since April... If I can do it so can you.... We'll do it together!!!!

 

[FrugalMomof3]

I just ay I am proud of you for being honest with us and owning up to your debt. Now you must start all over again and have willpower to not fall into the trap again.

You should be proud of yourself for wanting to tackle this all over again, we all lose track sometimes.

 

[MelissaMarie]

Thanks again everyone. I will continue to visit back to these boards. I know with all of your support I can do it!! I'm cashing in some coins today and I have a check for 25 dollars to deposit along with that (from the GC sale to my dad) starting next Monday I'm also going to start the new job search.

I think that I can continue to lose the weight I want to lose and still lose the debt as well... I keep telling myself: NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. And I am starting to think that if I can lose 80 pounds (80.5 lbs as of today) I can lose all of the debt!!!

I'm getting PUMPED. lol.

 

[DixieJ]

If you have the willpower to loose 80 pounds then getting rid of that debt should be an easily attainable goal for you. Congratulations on your weight loss, I can understand getting a little out of control with the credit cards with buying new clothes.

Dixie Jean

 

[ilovechocolate]

"Tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes."---Miss Stacey in the miniseries Anne of Green Gables

You sound like a determined person, losing all that weight. And here at FV you'll have lots of support losing your debt.

 

[Mom23boys]

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss!! WOOHOO!!

Second, we all fall off the frugal wagon from time to time. The good thing is we can jump back on the frugal wagon.

Welcome back! :wave: