live debt-free

Happy to report that the sewing machine is paid off, I no longer have a debt. :-)

Okay, here’s the story. My friend accidently bid on two of the same item on eBay and won them both – a lovely embroidery computerized sewing machine. So, I have agreed to purchase the second one from her so she wouldn’t be stuck with it, on the condition that I would have to make payments on it, I couldn’t afford to pay for it all at once.

To me, this IS a debt. I don’t feel very good about having a debt, as it goes against my grain. At the same time, it’s helping her out of a jam (her choice is to not pay and get a bad mark on her eBay or be stuck with two of them or try to sell it herself or give it to her daughter).

I will plan to pay this off as quickly as I can, without allowing myself to be in a state of financial hardship.

What I have started doing is paying a little extra on my combo phone / internet / long distance bill every month, so that eventually, I will be one month ahead in payments.

Instead of paying the $83 and change, I pay $95.00. I don’t miss an additional $11 and change, and I am hoping that I can keep this up so I won’t be living month to month.

I know that some people would say, well .. that’s kinda stupid, over-pay a bill every month, why not just put it in savings? Yeah, sure .. okay. At 41 years old, I know myself and I know what I do with ‘savings’. I do set aside $20 a month in my sock drawer for ‘emergencies’, but it’s soooo easy for me to come up with ‘emergencies’ – something awesome on eBay that I can’t live without. .. rolls her eyes …

I will feel better knowing that the phone and internet is paid ahead and if some kind of disaster does strike, I won’t be in a panic trying to get the money to keep up the monthly payment.

My phone bill is paid and I am now caught up. On the first of the month, when my cheque is deposited, I can pay the latest phone bill. Tomorrow I will make a payment to Mum’s Visa card for the two charges I put on it. Why did I use it when I had the cash in my pocket? For the reward points, of course! LOL

I was late paying my phone bill, so .. according to Debtors Anonymous, I debted. Why was I late? I had the money, had the bill (hadn’t misplaced it or lost it altogether). Hmmm, forgot? lazy?

Not sure what that’s all about, why did I slip into an irresponsible mode?

This has been much easier to do, now that the credit cards are all gone. All it takes is a snip snip snip! LOL