pay off my credit card debt

... with no balance transfer fee. Citibank offered to (temporarily) lower my rate too, just to get me to stay. And they raised my credit limit. Ha! As if a higher credit limit does anything for me.

Of course I made the transfer, and now even if I keep paying at the same rate, I will be paid off sooner and save $700 in interest with this lower interest rate. But I plan to increase my payments and have this paid off in a year.

By making several large payments. (I got our security deposit back from our old apartment, a large payment from my health insurance, etc.) Damn, that feels good!

I was debt free, I never used credit, I just kept my card with me in case of emergencies… and then there was an emergency. Once I had a balance, it was hard to stop again. My balance isn’t that high. But I did just make two online purchases, after promising myself I was done charging things. I am taking the card out of my purse and putting it away in my file cabinet.

Yes, I have a balance on my credit card again. Luckily most of it isn’t mine: there are some health expenses that will eventually be reimbursed by insurance, and there is some money I loaned my sweetie to help him out of a tight spot.

Regardless of how quickly those other people pay me back, I plan on aggressively paying the credit cards down again. I am optimistic that I can do this without upsetting my savings plan. I think there is enough flexibillity in my budget to accomodate regular credit card payments as well.

Now to focus on my save 3 months’ salary for emergencies goal so this never happens again, even if something unexpected happens like getting laid off.

After tomorrow’s paycheck, that debt is toast! It’s going to feel so good.

One more payment left! Woo hoo!

29% remaining. But it doesn’t look like this will be paid at the end of the month like I thought it would. I guess I forgot to factor in interest when I figured out how long it would take me to pay this off.

But still, paying this by the end of the year is fine with me! I know I can do that.

48% remaining. The end is in sight!

69% remaining.

Damn, this feels good!